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January
2006
------------------------------------------------------------
Coach Steve Pavlovic's Coaching Basketball Newsletter
"A newsletter of proven tips for youth basketball coaches"
12/31/2005 ** January 2006 Issue **
Steve Pavlovic, Editor, Steve@scoremorehoops.com
------------------------------------------------------------
By subscription only! Welcome to the current issue of
"Coach Steve Pavlovic's Coaching Basketball Newsletter".
You are receiving this newsletter because you
requested a subscription. Unsubscribe instructions
are at the end of this newsletter.
** Feel free to forward this ezine to any coaches that you
think this would benefit, or direct them to:
www.scoremorehoops.com
so that they can sign up for this newsletter! **
Welcome to all new subscribers! This ezine is published
monthly, usually sent out on the first of each month.
------------------------------------------------------------
IN THIS ISSUE
------------------------------------------------------------
=> Sponsorship Notice
=> Feature Article - Take a Minute to Correct Mistakes
=> Offense - Move to the Open Spot
=> Shooting - Take a Good Angle on a Breakaway
=> Dribbling - Keep It Under Control
=> Coaching Tip of the Month - Videotape a Game
=> Subscribe/Unsubscribe information
------------------------------------------------------------
SPONSORSHIP NOTICE
------------------------------------------------------------
Learn about my proven techniques at:
www.scoremorehoops.com
See how I teach shooting, defense, passing, dribbling,
rebounding and advanced skills!
Also, check out my *NEW* guide on Coaching Your Own Child!
------------------------------------------------------------
FEATURE ARTICLE, Take a Minute to Correct Mistakes
by Steve Pavlovic
------------------------------------------------------------
Happy New Year! Can you believe that the basketball season
is almost half over? I hope your team's season is going well.
We all know that there never seems to be enough practice
time. When there is practice time, it never seems to last
long enough. There always seems to be so much to go over!
Don't fall into the trap of rushing through a bunch of
skills, just to say you have covered them. Instead, take
the time to review things, but concentrate on what you
are having the most problems with. No matter what you are
going over though, take the time to correct any mistakes.
Too many times I hear coaches tell me that they don't have
the time to stop practice anbd correct every mistake. But
that attitude is wrong! By not stopping and correcting a
mistake, whether it's a bad pass, someone not in the correct
place on offense, or someone not helping out on defense, you
are telling the player that they are doing things OK. This
leads to bad habits being developed, which are even harder
to correct in the long run.
So whether you are at practice or a game, make sure to let
your players know when they are doing things right, and when
they are doing things wrong. It will help your team in the
long run over the course of your season.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Offense - Move to the Open Spot
Every offense has positions for each player to move to.
Whether it is cutting or setting a screen, there has to be
motion in order for the offense to work.
We want our players to go to these designated spots, yet
we don't want them to be robots. By that I mean if the area
they are to cut through or post up is not open, or the
defense is sagging in there, we need to have the player go
to an open spot. This increases the chance that they will
receive a pass. They won't be open if they cut behind a
defender or into a crowd of defenders.
So work on alternatives within your offense. That way if
your players need to make the adjustment during the game,
they will know what to expect.
----------------------------------------------------------
Shooting - Take a Good Angle on a Breakaway
How many times have you seen this: a player makes a steal
and goes in for an easy lay-up, only to miss the shot. This
is frustrating for both the player and the coach.
There are 2 main reasons that these breakaways get missed.
First, players are moving so fast that they don't lay the
ball up easy, and second, the player doesn't have a good
angle going to the basket.
What is the correct angle to go to the basket? The same
it would be going in for a normal lay-up. That is, going in
from the side, right over the low block. You don't want to
go in too deep, or take off too early, and you don't want
to go straight at the basket. Go off to the side, whether
it's the left or right side, and lay the ball up and off
the backboard. The key is that the faster the player is
going, the lighter they must put the ball up.
This is a good thing to work on during practice.
Whether you do long lay-ups, or having your players grab
a loose ball and going hard to the basket, practicing this
will benefit your team during the game.
------------------------------------------------------------
Dribbling - Keep It Under Control
Sometimes your breakaway lay-up doesn't even happen after
a steal because your player can't keep the ball under
control. The steal is made, but they can't control the
dribble.
This is another situation that can be improved through
drills. Long lay-ups, or a simple drill where you steal
the ball from a coach and go downcourt will help a player
work on keeping their dribble under cobtrol. This will
help your team not only on the breakaway, but also when
your opponent puts pressure on you.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Coaching Tip of the Month - Videotape a Game
I know I have given this tip before, but it is one of my
favorites and worth repeating. If your team has a manager, or
a parent that has a video camera, you can accomplish this.
Tape at least part of a game, then take time to sit down
at some point to review it with your team.
You will be surprised at the reactions of many of your
players. You can tell a player how they are performing on
the court, but seeing it is quite another. They can't argue
that the tape is wrong! I have used this technique many
times over my years of coaching, and it has always helped.
Try it and see.
------------------------------------------------------------
Have a Happy New Year and good luck to your team!
------------------------------------------------------------
Stephen Pavlovic
Send any questions, comments, or ideas to me at:
Steve@scoremorehoops.com
------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright 2006 by Stephen Pavlovic. All rights Reserved.
------------------------------------------------------------
February
2006
------------------------------------------------------------
Coach Steve Pavlovic's Coaching Basketball Newsletter
"A newsletter of proven tips for youth basketball coaches"
01/31/2006 ** February 2006 Issue **
Steve Pavlovic, Editor, Steve@scoremorehoops.com
------------------------------------------------------------
By subscription only! Welcome to the current issue of
"Coach Steve Pavlovic's Coaching Basketball Newsletter".
You are receiving this newsletter because you
requested a subscription. Unsubscribe instructions
are at the end of this newsletter.
** Feel free to forward this ezine to any coaches that you
think this would benefit, or direct them to:
www.scoremorehoops.com
so that they can sign up for this newsletter! **
Welcome to all new subscribers! This ezine is published
monthly, usually sent out on the first of each month.
------------------------------------------------------------
IN THIS ISSUE
------------------------------------------------------------
=> Sponsorship Notice
=> Feature Article - Why Run Up the Score?
=> Defense - Pressure When Dribble Gets Picked Up
=> Shooting - Don't Have Elbow Too Far In
=> Passing - No Rainbows
=> Coaching Tip of the Month - Pay Attention to Everything
=> Subscribe/Unsubscribe information
------------------------------------------------------------
SPONSORSHIP NOTICE
------------------------------------------------------------
Learn about my proven techniques at:
www.scoremorehoops.com
Also, check out my *NEW* guide on Coaching Your Own Child!
Download a sample of the ebook at my site!
This is your last chance to get this guide at the
discounted price of $5.95. Hurry, before the price increases!
------------------------------------------------------------
FEATURE ARTICLE, Why Run Up the Score?
by Steve Pavlovic
------------------------------------------------------------
Have you seen some of the scores at the College and High
school levels lately? One score was 117-34, another was
98-17. Does this do either team any good? One of these was a
nationally ranked women's team, so I guess they were trying
to impress the people that vote in the polls. But what has
that team really accomplished against an obviously overmatched
opponent?
I see this at the grade school and High School levels also.
It's not as bad as the above examples, but why beat a 6th or
7th grade team by 30 or 40 points when you have some players
on that team getting only a few minutes of playing time?
My current team has been competitive in almost all of our
games this year. The most we have lost by is 12 points. In
the past, I have had teams that were overmatched at times,
and we could lose big. I just always want to put myself in
the other coaches shoes, because I have been there. No one
wants to be embarassed on the court. Most teams we play are
around the same skill level as us, so this usually doesn't
come in to play. But there are a few teams that are just not
at our skill level.
So if your team is up big, look at getting your lesser
skilled players some extra playing time. Slow the ball down
and set up your offense, or work on an offense you don't
always get to practice. Sag back on defense and don't press.
Make it so that your team gets something out of the game
instead of just running up and down the floor shooting layups.
That will actually hurt your team in future games, when they
are going to have to run an offense. Put yourslef in that
other team's place, because you will be there one day yourself!
-------------------------------------------------------------
Defense - Pressure When Dribble Gets Picked Up
On the man-to-man defense, I have my player guarding the
ball coming out, with the other players sag in to help out.
They don't some out until the ball gets closer to their
player, while the weak side sags in.
The one exception to this is when the offensive player
picks up their dribble. When that happens, I want everyone
out on their player, the hand closest to the ball out to
deflect a pass. Why do I do this? Well, when the player
picks up their dribble, they can only pass or shoot at
that point. I want to put pressure on that team, hopefully
to force a turnover or to get a steal.
----------------------------------------------------------
Shooting - Don't Have Elbow Too Far In
The way I teach shooting, I tell my players I want their
elbow straight up and down and not out to the side. Some
players go to the opposite extreme, which causes a different
problem.
The extreme that they go to is that they have their elbow
too far in. Instead of the elbow being straight and relaxed,
they pull it way in so that it is stuck against their ribcage.
But by doing this, instead of the ball going straight, the shot
from a right handed player will actually go to the right. If
their elbow was too far out, the ball would actually go to the
left.
Stress this point to your players about the elbow being
straight, but not too far in or too far out. By you as the
coach watching the shot and seeing where the ball finishes,
you can help the player with their shooting problem.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Passing - No Rainbows
I have seen teams lately, including my own, throwing some
very weak passes. They throw a pass that I call a rainbow,
which is just as the name suggests. This pass is many times
picked off by an alert defense.
I stress to my team that there are only 3 types of passes
I want them throwing. This is the bounce pass, which is what
I want to see the most. There is the chest pass, only to be
thrown in the open court or an entry pass to the post if the
post is wide open. Then there is the overhead pass, which is
used to throw the ball downcourt or if our post person has a
big height advantage.
Just as I continue to do, correct your players when an
inappropriate type of pass is thrown, and continue working
on your passing techniques during practice. This should limit
and hopefully eliminate the rainbow passes.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Coaching Tip of the Month - Pay Attention to Everything
As a coach, there are many things that you are responsible
for on the court during a game. Keeping an eye on your players,
who is in the game and on the bench, how much time each player
has played, who has how many fouls, etc. The list seems
endless!
Hopefully you have at least one assistant coach that is
helping you. Make sure that you give that coach or coaches
some of these responsibilities. I like to have one of my
assistants talk to players who are coming off the court or
about to go into the game. This makes our team much more
prepared and allows me to concentrate on making any
necessary adjustments.
------------------------------------------------------------
Good luck to your team on the rest of your season!
------------------------------------------------------------
Stephen Pavlovic
Send any questions, comments, or ideas to me at:
Steve@scoremorehoops.com
------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright 2006 by Stephen Pavlovic. All rights Reserved.
------------------------------------------------------------
March
2006
------------------------------------------------------------
Coach Steve Pavlovic's Coaching Basketball Newsletter
"A newsletter of proven tips for youth basketball coaches"
02/28/2006 ** March 2006 Issue **
Steve Pavlovic, Editor, Steve@scoremorehoops.com
------------------------------------------------------------
By subscription only! Welcome to the current issue of
"Coach Steve Pavlovic's Coaching Basketball Newsletter".
You are receiving this newsletter because you
requested a subscription. Unsubscribe instructions
are at the end of this newsletter.
** Feel free to forward this ezine to any coaches that you
think this would benefit, or direct them to:
www.scoremorehoops.com
so that they can sign up for this newsletter! **
Welcome to all new subscribers! This ezine is published
monthly, usually sent out on the first of each month.
------------------------------------------------------------
IN THIS ISSUE
------------------------------------------------------------
=> Sponsorship Notice
=> Feature Article - Worry About Your Team
=> Defense - Sag and Help Out
=> Shooting - Head Fakes
=> Rebounding - Don't Stand Around
=> Coaching Tip of the Month - Reward a Good Effort
=> Subscribe/Unsubscribe information
------------------------------------------------------------
SPONSORSHIP NOTICE
------------------------------------------------------------
It's not too late for this season, and it's not too early
for next season! Check out all of my info at:
www.scoremorehoops.com
------------------------------------------------------------
FEATURE ARTICLE, Worry About Your Team
by Steve Pavlovic
------------------------------------------------------------
Hello coaches and players, I hope your season is going OK.
If you are like my team, our season is coming to a close.
Why does it always seem that the season ends when we are
playing our best basketball?
Being in charge of our basketball coaches in our program,
I get to talk to a lot of coaches. It never fails that I
hear complaints about referees. So I will share with you
the same thing I tell them when we talk about referees.
I find I don't really have time to worry about what the
referees are doing during a game. Sure, there are always
calls that you feel should go your way but didn't. But did
you ever stop to think how many calls went your way that
probably shouldn't have?
During a game, I spend my time worrying about what my
players are doing. Once you start worrying about every call
that an official makes, you are not paying attention and
coaching your team. And that is what usually causes a team
to fall apart, as no one is giving them direction and
correcting any mistakes. So not only are you not going to
win an argument with an official, but you are letting your
team go without guidance. Not a good thing!
So pay attention to your players and coach them. I have
found that losses are more a result of my team not executing
rather than 1 call that an offical missed. Keep that in mind
and put your players first!
-------------------------------------------------------------
Defense - Sag and Help Out
As you teach your players man-to-man defense, you want each
defender to stay between their player and the basket. You
also need to discuss with them the concept of helping out.
You don't want your weak side players standing way outside
and not being involved in the play.
Teach your defenders that if the ball is not on their
side of the court, they need to sag in the lane. They still
need to be between their player and the basket, but by
sagging in, they can help out if the player with the ball
drives by the defender. They can step over to help out.
By sagging in, they are not losing anything, because they
are still between their player and the basket, and can
come out to guard them if the ball is passed. They just
need to keep an eye on the ball and the player they are
guarding and be ready to move.
----------------------------------------------------------
Shooting - Head Fakes
We played a team a few weeks ago that let us get the ball
inside. Unfortunately, they also blocked quite a few of our
shots. Do you know how to overcome this?
The answer is by using head fakes. By getting my players
to give a good, believable head fake, you can get these
shot blockers off their feet. We caused them to commit a
lot of fouls by getting them to jump into us. Once they
got into foul trouble, they needed to stand their ground,
which made it much easier for us to make our shots.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Rebounding - Don't Stand Around
The key to rebounding on either the offensive or defensive
end is to be active. If you are not moving when the shot
goes up, it is too late!
In my practices, I teach my players they must move to get
position as soon as the shot is released. This goes for both
the strong side and weak side rebounders. The weak side must
act especially quick, because most outside shots will come
off to the opposite side that it is shot from.
During practice, I run drills, sometimes 1 on 1 or 2 on 2,
where players must get into position when a shot is put up.
The group that gets the most rebounds doesn't have to run
sprints. That gives them an incentive. Then I stress to my
players before the game how we must execute that same way
that we did in practice. As players get older, they grasp
this concept. It has really helped our rebounding on both
ends of the court.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Coaching Tip of the Month - Reward a Good Effort
I always try to strike a balance with my team between
correcting them and praising them. They won't know they
have done something wrong if they aren't told, but they
also need to be complimented when they play well.
One thing I try to do is reward a good team performance.
For example, if we have played a good defensive game, I
will cut out a defensive drill, or I will let them do a
fun drill or a shooting contest. This gives them an incentive
to play well, and gets them to play to the best of their
ability. If not, we know we have a weak area to work on
during practice until we get the concept and can execute it
well.
------------------------------------------------------------
Good luck to your team on the rest of your season!
------------------------------------------------------------
Stephen Pavlovic
Send any questions, comments, or ideas to me at:
Steve@scoremorehoops.com
------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright 2006 by Stephen Pavlovic. All rights Reserved.
------------------------------------------------------------
April
2006
------------------------------------------------------------
Coach Steve Pavlovic's Coaching Basketball Newsletter
"A newsletter of proven tips for youth basketball coaches"
03/31/2006 ** April 2006 Issue **
Steve Pavlovic, Editor, Steve@scoremorehoops.com
------------------------------------------------------------
By subscription only! Welcome to the current issue of
"Coach Steve Pavlovic's Coaching Basketball Newsletter".
You are receiving this newsletter because you
requested a subscription. Unsubscribe instructions
are at the end of this newsletter.
** Feel free to forward this ezine to any coaches that you
think this would benefit, or direct them to:
www.scoremorehoops.com
so that they can sign up for this newsletter! **
Welcome to all new subscribers! This ezine is published
monthly, usually sent out on the first of each month.
------------------------------------------------------------
IN THIS ISSUE
------------------------------------------------------------
=> Sponsorship Notice
=> Feature Article - Getting Ready for the Off-Season
=> Shooting - Summer Drills
=> Dribbling - Take a Ball With You
=> Rebounding - Jump Into Action
=> Coaching Tip of the Month - Sharpen Your Coaching Skills
=> Subscribe/Unsubscribe information
------------------------------------------------------------
SPONSORSHIP NOTICE
------------------------------------------------------------
See all you can get with my "Score More Hoops Series":
www.scoremorehoops.com
Also, check out the *F*R*E*E* sample of my new
"Coaching Your Own Child" ebook!
------------------------------------------------------------
FEATURE ARTICLE, Getting Ready for the Off-Season
by Steve Pavlovic
------------------------------------------------------------
With the NCAA Tournament in full swing, basketball season
is coming to an end. It won't be long before the weather gets
warm and summer vacation starts for your players!
One thing I like to do to help my players is to give them
a note card with things they can work on over the summer. I
think this is really helpful to them, rather than just
telling them "Go out and practice". I think they need some
direction and specific skills to work on. Just telling them
to practice will probably result in them just shooting the
entire time. The players will need more than that to improve
their skills.
So what types of things do I give to my players? Well that's
what my ezine is all about this month! Though things differ
from one player to another, I will give you a general idea of
what to tell your players and what drills to give. You can
then adjust it for your individual team. Bringing your players
in to meet and go over these drills will benefit them also.
They will know what you want them to do, and how you want them
to do it. Give it a try, it will really help your team next
season.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Shooting - Summer Drills
Giving your players a shooting program is the first step
of a summer workout program. You don't just want your players
working on their 3 point shots. Giving them a program will
give them some goals to work on.
The first part of shooting should be about 3 feet in front
of the basket. Get your technique correct by using only
your shooting hand. This will force the elbow to stay in.
You should make 3 in a row before moving back a few feet.
As you move back, add the opposite hand back in to help
keep the ball in place. The last part of this will be
when you get out at 15 feet, which is the length of a free
throw. Measure off the free throw line so you know where
it is at.
The next part is working on your lay-ups, both right and
left hand lay-ups, using the correct technique. Make sure
to go off the correct leg and use the correct hand on each
side, concentrating on laying the ball off of the backboard.
Shooting 15-20 of these on each side is enough. Shoot more
on your weak side if you are having trouble making it the
right way.
The next part is shots you would take during a game. If you
are a post player, work on your inside shots and moves. You can
flip the ball to yourself to simulate a pass, unless you have
a friend or teammate with you that can help. If you are a wing
or guard, work on shots from the elbow and wing area. With
either inside or outside positions, start with shots from one
position, then add some movement to simulate game situations.
These are the basics that I use. You can modify and add others
as are necessary for your players. Just remember to keep it
simple, and keep it realistic. You don't want to tell your
players to shoot 1,000 free throws each day. I tell my players
to do a basic workout a few times a week. It shouldn't take
them more than 30-45 minutes each time. You want them to be
fresh and not dreading any of the drills. If your players
stay committed, it will really pay off next season.
----------------------------------------------------------
Dribbling - Take a Ball With You
Another part of the summer workout is ball handling.
Keeping the dribble low and under control without looking
at it is a skill that all players must have.
Simple dribbling can start by dribbling around each leg
while standing in place. Focus on an object other than the
ball, keeping your head up. Then progress to moving, even
if it's going up and down your driveway. Getting dribbling
glasses that don't let you look down is also helpful, and are
only 3-5 dollars a pair.
If you have access to a court you can dribble sets of lines
and work on dribble spins. You will also be working on your
dribbline when you work on your lay-ups, so focus on keeping
your head up at all times. I would suggest dribble of 10
minutes for each session.
------------------------------------------------------------
Rebounding - Jump Into Action
The best time to work on increasing your jumping ability
is during the off season. For rebounding, jumping rope and
a simple drill of bouncing the ball off of the backboard and
jumping to get the rebound are 2 easy things to improve your
skills. Ankle weights are also an option, but supervision
of this is required. You don't want your players getting hurt
or injuring themselves!
There are jumping programs out there that claim to increase
your jumping ability. I can't recommend any specific one
because I don't have enough results from players that have
used them. It is an option for your players if you have had
a good experience with any of these.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Coaching Tip of the Month - Sharpen Your Coaching Skills
Just as your players are preparing themselves in the off
season, you as a coach need to do the same thing. To increase
your skills, go to a coaching clinic. These are a great place
to learn new drills and philosophies, and also a great place
to network with other coaches. See what works for them and
how they get their players to perform better.
Another is to get books or videos. Look for these on the
internet or a bookstore. I use this to pick up new drills
and to learn different ways of explaining plays. This
usually gets me excited about the upcoming basketball season,
and though I really enjoy summer, I can't wait for the next
basketball season to start!
------------------------------------------------------------
Good Luck to everyone!
------------------------------------------------------------
Stephen Pavlovic
Send any questions, comments, or ideas to me at:
Steve@scoremorehoops.com
------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright 2006 by Stephen Pavlovic. All rights Reserved.
------------------------------------------------------------
May
2006
------------------------------------------------------------
Coach Steve Pavlovic's Coaching Basketball Newsletter
"A newsletter of proven tips for youth basketball coaches"
04/30/2006 ** May 2006 Issue **
Steve Pavlovic, Editor, Steve@scoremorehoops.com
------------------------------------------------------------
By subscription only! Welcome to the current issue of
"Coach Steve Pavlovic's Coaching Basketball Newsletter".
You are receiving this newsletter because you
requested a subscription. Unsubscribe instructions
are at the end of this newsletter.
** Feel free to forward this ezine to any coaches that you
think this would benefit, or direct them to:
www.scoremorehoops.com
so that they can sign up for this newsletter! **
Welcome to all new subscribers! This ezine is published
monthly, usually sent out on the first of each month.
------------------------------------------------------------
IN THIS ISSUE
------------------------------------------------------------
=> Sponsorship Notice
=> Feature Article - Summer League Coaching
=> Shooting - Game Situations
=> Passing - Don't Leave Your Feet
=> Defense - Hand Closest to the Ball
=> Coaching Tip of the Month - Review Old Game Film
=> Subscribe/Unsubscribe information
------------------------------------------------------------
SPONSORSHIP NOTICE
------------------------------------------------------------
See all you can get with my "Score More Hoops Series":
www.scoremorehoops.com
Also, check out the *F*R*E*E* sample of my new
"Coaching Your Own Child" ebook!
------------------------------------------------------------
FEATURE ARTICLE, Summer League Coaching
by Steve Pavlovic
------------------------------------------------------------
Welcome back to another issue! First of all, I'd like to
thank all of you who emailed me about last month's summer
drills issue. I'm glad many of you found it helpful.
Now let's get into this month's issue: coaching a summer
league team. Do you handle it the same as you would the
regular season? What things should you as a coach do the same
and what should you do differently?
When coaching in a summer league, I don't handle it the same
as the regular season. I look at summer league as a way for
my players and my team to improve their skills. It's a time
for me to experiment with some players at a position I might
have them in next season. So I really don't pay attention to
the scores of the games or the standings. If we play well, we
will win some games. I can remember what we have done in the
regular season, but I can never remember our record is in
summer league!
I am also much more relaxed in my coaching style. That doesn't
mean that my team is goofing around and not paying attention.
Instead, I remain much calmer on the sideline. I will keep
coaching during a game whether we are winning or losing, but
I won't be getting on anyone's case about making the same
mistake. Most summer leagues are optional, so I don't want
to scare anyone away!
The things I will do the same include players paying attention
and pointing out to my players when a mistake has been made.
They can't correct an error if they don't know about it, right?
But I do it in a much more relaxed method, yet still getting
my point across to them.
Summer league is a great way for your players to keep playing
during the off-season. It keeps many teammates playing together
in preparation for next season. That in itself is a big benefit
for next season, and can really help individual players improve
and your overall team to improve.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Shooting - Game Situations
It's great when I see players practicing on their own.
Whether it's at a park or in their driveway, I know they are
trying to improve their skills.
Besides practicing on your own, you need to work against
another player so you can put yourself in a game situation.
It's fine to shoot shots from the elbow and on the block,
but how will you react when there is a defender there? I
see many players who can hit shots during warm-ups, but
not during a game. This has to do with pressure being applied.
So remind your players to not only work on their own, but
work with another player. It can even be a sibling or friend.
Then work on getting the ball where you will take shots
during a game. Even just having them there with a hand in
your face will help you adjust when a defender pressures
you during a real game.
----------------------------------------------------------
Passing - Don't Leave Your Feet
When you are on the floor, you always need to be thinking
ahead. I tell my players when they are driving to the basket,
they should keep their option open, because the lane could
get shut down, or a teammate might be open on the block. They
need to be ready.
One thing I never like my players to do is to leave their
feet when throwing a pass. This only gives you one option,
and that is to get rid of the ball. The only time I tell my
players it is OK to leave their feet is if they are throwing
over a trap, and even then they need to have an open
teammate.
Remind your players to think before they pass, dribble or
shoot. Make sure that the option they are choosing is a
good one. You don't want to be caught in the air with no where
to go.
------------------------------------------------------------
Defense - Hand Closest to the Ball
On defense, you want your players to have the hand closest
to the ball out and ready to deflect any pass that they can
get to. Too many times I see players shuffling along, but
their hands are not ready to disrupt a pass. That's giving
the offensive player a big advantage.
By being in correct defensive position and having your hand
out, your are making yourself bigger than you really are. You
as a defender are taking up more space, making the offense
work harder to get the ball past you. The defender can cause
a turnover and get the ball back for ourteam.
Summer league is a great time to make sure your players
are doing this. Get them in the habit of being in the passing
lanes with the hand closest to the ball out. You can even
work with them on anticipating passes and knocking them away.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Coaching Tip of the Month - Review Old Game Film
I hope many of you have taken my advice and have had a few
of your games taped. I know during the season it is hard to
sit down and really watch the entire thing. But now during
the off-saseon, we can take our time and watch these games
closely.
I like to go through the games that are taped and take notes.
Who made good plays and played good defense. Who still needs
help with a certain area or a certain skill. All of this can
then be worked on during summer league and the beginning of
next season. I will also be able to see how to attack a
certain tye of defense or press. All of this information will
help our team be even more prepared.
------------------------------------------------------------
Good Luck to everyone!
------------------------------------------------------------
Stephen Pavlovic
Send any questions, comments, or ideas to me at:
Steve@scoremorehoops.com
------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright 2006 by Stephen Pavlovic. All rights Reserved.
------------------------------------------------------------
June
2006
------------------------------------------------------------
Coach Steve Pavlovic's Coaching Basketball Newsletter
"A newsletter of proven tips for youth basketball coaches"
05/31/2006 ** June 2006 Issue **
Steve Pavlovic, Editor, Steve@scoremorehoops.com
------------------------------------------------------------
By subscription only! Welcome to the current issue of
"Coach Steve Pavlovic's Coaching Basketball Newsletter".
You are receiving this newsletter because you
requested a subscription. Unsubscribe instructions
are at the end of this newsletter.
** Feel free to forward this ezine to any coaches that you
think this would benefit, or direct them to:
www.scoremorehoops.com
so that they can sign up for this newsletter! **
Welcome to all new subscribers! This ezine is published
monthly, usually sent out on the first of each month.
------------------------------------------------------------
IN THIS ISSUE
------------------------------------------------------------
=> Sponsorship Notice
=> Feature Article - The Right Coaching Attitude
=> Shooting - Good Setup Position
=> Passing - Use Both Hands
=> Dribbling - Work on the Crossover
=> Coaching Tip of the Month - Practice Early or Late
=> Subscribe/Unsubscribe information
------------------------------------------------------------
SPONSORSHIP NOTICE
------------------------------------------------------------
See all you can get with my "Score More Hoops Series":
www.scoremorehoops.com
Also, check out the *F*R*E*E* sample of my new
"Coaching Your Own Child" ebook!
I have also updated the archives, so feel free to browse them
online!
------------------------------------------------------------
FEATURE ARTICLE, The Right Coaching Attitude
by Steve Pavlovic
------------------------------------------------------------
No matter whether it is the regular season or a summer
league game, you as a coach must have the right attitude in
order to help your team. This means you must strike a
balance between correcting your players and complimenting
them.
Let's face it, no one wants to hear only negative comments.
If you as a coach just keep harping on your players, they
will soon tune you out and lose interest in what is going on.
But throw in some compliments while also correcting a player
and you will keep that players attention, and they will work
harder to improve their skills. So you can start off any
corrective talks on the floor by saying something positive
or pointing out what was done well. That will get your players
attention and keep it while you also talk about the
improvements that need to be worked on.
As long as I know a player is giving me their best effort,
I will work with them and be patient. When a player is not
giving a good effort, that's when I will get after them and
get them back into basketball mode! But as long as your players
are giving their best effort, that is all you can ask for.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Shooting - Good Setup Position
Shooting is a very important part of the game. If you can't
score, you are not going to win too many games. I'm sure you
and your team work on shooting as much as I do. We go over
the proper technique and all of the things that go with it.
But there is a lot of times that the beginning of the shot
gets overlooked.
This is the setup position of the shot. What I mean by that
is when we receive a pass or are getting ready to shoot off
of the dribble. If the setup position is not correct, the
entire shot will be off.
So what is a good setup position? Receiving the ball the
proper way, having your feet shoulder-width apart, and making
sure you are squared to the basket. At that point, you can
make sure the elbow is straight and the rest of our shooting
procedure. But make sure you start off the right way and
get into a good setup position.
----------------------------------------------------------
Passing - Use Both Hands
The proper way to throw a good pass is to use both hands.
Whether it is a bounce or chest pass, you should use both
hands and finish with your thumbs pointing toward the floor.
Why is this important? You don't want to get in the habit
of throwing from only one side of your body. True, there are
going to be times that you are going to have to throw from the
right or left side of your body because of defensive pressure.
However, by using 2 hands and throwing from the middle of your
body, you will be more comfortable when you have to use a pass
from your right or left side. By using both hands, you will
also keep better control of the ball as you go to pass it.
------------------------------------------------------------
Dribbling - Work on the Crossover
Dribbling is a skill that gets neglected. We as coaches only
have a certain amount of time, so sometimes we don't have the
time to devote to the basics as we should.
I always try to find time to do some dribbling drills
during practice, even if for just 5 or 10 minutes. As players
get older, I move from simple dribbling drills, to using the
crossover dribble. I have found that the crossover can really
help during a game. If you are being guarded by a slower
defender, the crossover allows you start one way, get the
defender leaning, then perform the crossover dribble and get
around them. You will also use the crossover if your team is
setting picks and screens.
So take some time and work on the crossover dribble. It will
help your team make the defense play honestly and give your
players another offensive weapon.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Coaching Tip of the Month - Practice Early or Late
As we get into summer, many teams will be having practices
and league games. I like to have my summer practice either
early in the morning or later at night. This is because it
is cooler, and I can get my players to focus better on what
we are doing.
If you have an air conditioned facility, this probably
won't matter. But for the majority of our teams, this is not
a luxury that we have. So by having practices early or late,
it should be cooler inside. You can do some scrimmaging and
running. Doing this during the middle of the day is not a
good idea, as players can quickly dehydrate.
Make sure no matter when you practice during the summer to
give plenty of water breaks and don't overdo the running!
------------------------------------------------------------
Good Luck to everyone!
------------------------------------------------------------
Stephen Pavlovic
Send any questions, comments, or ideas to me at:
Steve@scoremorehoops.com
------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright 2006 by Stephen Pavlovic. All rights Reserved.
------------------------------------------------------------
July
2006
------------------------------------------------------------
Coach Steve Pavlovic's Coaching Basketball Newsletter
"A newsletter of proven tips for youth basketball coaches"
06/30/2006 ** July 2006 Issue **
Steve Pavlovic, Editor, Steve@scoremorehoops.com
------------------------------------------------------------
By subscription only! Welcome to the current issue of
"Coach Steve Pavlovic's Coaching Basketball Newsletter".
You are receiving this newsletter because you
requested a subscription. Unsubscribe instructions
are at the end of this newsletter.
** Feel free to forward this ezine to any coaches that you
think this would benefit, or direct them to:
www.scoremorehoops.com
so that they can sign up for this newsletter! **
Welcome to all new subscribers! This ezine is published
monthly, usually sent out on the first of each month.
------------------------------------------------------------
IN THIS ISSUE
------------------------------------------------------------
=> Sponsorship Notice
=> Feature Article - Lessons From the NBA Finals
=> Shooting - Don't Force Your Shot
=> Defense - Beat Them to the Spot
=> Rebounding - Release and Go for the Ball
=> Coaching Tip of the Month - Use Visual Aids
=> Subscribe/Unsubscribe information
------------------------------------------------------------
SPONSORSHIP NOTICE
------------------------------------------------------------
See all you can get with my "Score More Hoops Series":
www.scoremorehoops.com
Also, check out the *F*R*E*E* sample of my new
"Coaching Your Own Child" ebook!
Make sure to browse the Archives for any issues you might
have missed!
------------------------------------------------------------
FEATURE ARTICLE, Lessons From the NBA Finals
by Steve Pavlovic
------------------------------------------------------------
I have just finished watching the NBA Finals, seeing the
Heat beat the Mavs 4-2. If you were like me, I thought the
Mavs were going to win easily after winning the first 2 games
of the series. What happened that got the Heat back in the
series and able to win 4 games in a row? It's a lesson that
should help any coach's team next season!
The 2 main lessons that I got out of the NBA Finals are
teamwork and execution. The Heat looked disorganized and
played like a bunch of individuals the first 2 games.
Dallas looked crisp and ready to sweep the series. But the
Heat finally figured out that they needed to come together
as a team. They worked together and got themselves back in
the series. Everyone, whether it be starters or bench players,
stepped up to do their job. Though Dwyane Wade led them in
scoring, the other players stepped up and contributed. That's
a lesson every team should take note of!
The other lesson was execution. Dallas executed their offense
very well the first 2 games. They found the open players and
hit the big shots. But the Heat seemed to step it up in game 3.
Not only did the Heat execute their offense the rest of the
series, but they also defended Dallas. There were not a lot of
open looks for them. By executing at both ends of the floor,
Miami was able to come back and win the series.
I will be talking to my players about this during Summer
League and during the season. It was a great lesson also about
no giving up. With only a few teams coming back from a 2-0
deficit in history, Miami could have easily given up and went
home for the summer. Instead, they played harder and earned
a championship. That is something I hope my team keeps in mind
every time the take the floor this season!
-------------------------------------------------------------
Shooting - Don't Force Your Shot
Every player likes to shoot and score. That's the name of
the game! But players must know what is a good shot and what
isn't. As a coach, you need to give your players guidelines
on this. If not, every shot will look like a good shot!
For a guideline, I tell my players I want shots that are
within the framework of our offense. That means that I want
to hit a player cutting to the basket, or an open jump shot
from 12-15 feet, or a drive to the basket, or a pass into
the post. I don't want the first person that receives a pass
on the perimeter to just fire up a shot!
I also want the players to be aware of what is goin on around
them. If there is a player or two guarding you and you don't
have a clear look at the basket, do not force the shot! I would
rather have my team set the ball back up, or look for the open
player. Forcing a shot to me is like committing a turnover.
We want to take care of the ball and get a good shot, giving
our team 2 more points.
----------------------------------------------------------
Defense - Beat Them to the Spot
Whether an offensive player is cutting to the basket or
trying to post up, we need to get our defenders to beat them
to the spot. By this, I mean getting into the passing lane and
going to the spot that the offensive player wants to go to.
By doing this, we accomplish 2 things. First, we take the
player out of their comfort zone. This player was probably
running their team's offense, and is used to getting a shot
from a certain spot. By beating them there, they are now
forced to receive the ball somewhere else.
Second, we have now frustrated that player. By being a step
ahead of the offensive player, they are not getting to where
they want to be, and we are not letting them receive the ball.
By taking them out of their game, we are forcing our opponent
to change tactics and commit turnovers.
------------------------------------------------------------
Rebounding - Release and Go for the Ball
When we rebound, we know we need to make contact with our
opponent. But a lot of times, that's where the players stop.
Once the ball starts coming off of the rim, release the
block out position and go for the ball.
If you have positioned yourself correctly between your person
and the basket, you will grab a lot of rebounds. By making
contact, you are prohibiting your opponent from getting the ball.
But the only way you are going to retrieve the rebound is by
going for the ball yourself!
Focus on this concept during practice with your players. By
making the block out, then going for the ball, your team can
dominate the boards.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Coaching Tip of the Month - Use Visual Aids
I find myself talking strategy with my players a lot. One
mistake I try not to make too often is talking in the abstract.
By this I mean telling my players something that is not
crystal-clear to them. For example, I might be talking about
a variation on an out of bounds play. I know what I'm trying
to tell my players, but they might not completely understand.
So make sure you use visuals to get your players to
understand. The visual can be as simple as lining your players
on the court in the correct positions, or it could be
diagramming it on a chalkboard or erasable board. It can be
whatever you need it to be, jsut make sure that your players
are all on the same page as you are!
------------------------------------------------------------
Good Luck to everyone!
------------------------------------------------------------
Stephen Pavlovic
Send any questions, comments, or ideas to me at:
Steve@scoremorehoops.com
------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright 2006 by Stephen Pavlovic. All rights Reserved.
------------------------------------------------------------
August
2006
------------------------------------------------------------
Coach Steve Pavlovic's Coaching Basketball Newsletter
"A newsletter of proven tips for youth basketball coaches"
07/31/2006 ** August 2006 Issue **
Steve Pavlovic, Editor, Steve@scoremorehoops.com
------------------------------------------------------------
By subscription only! Welcome to the current issue of
"Coach Steve Pavlovic's Coaching Basketball Newsletter".
You are receiving this newsletter because you
requested a subscription. Unsubscribe instructions
are at the end of this newsletter.
** Feel free to forward this ezine to any coaches that you
think this would benefit, or direct them to:
www.scoremorehoops.com
so that they can sign up for this newsletter! **
Welcome to all new subscribers! This ezine is published
monthly, usually sent out on the first of each month.
------------------------------------------------------------
IN THIS ISSUE
------------------------------------------------------------
=> Sponsorship Notice
=> Feature Article - Set the Tone at Your 1st Practice
=> Shooting - Get to the Open Spot
=> Defense - Don't Get Screened
=> Dribbling - Push the Ball in Front of You
=> Coaching Tip of the Month - Start Planning
=> Subscribe/Unsubscribe information
------------------------------------------------------------
SPONSORSHIP NOTICE
------------------------------------------------------------
See all you can get with my "Score More Hoops Series":
www.scoremorehoops.com
Also, check out the *F*R*E*E* sample of my new
"Coaching Your Own Child" ebook!
Make sure to browse the Archives for any issues you might
have missed!
------------------------------------------------------------
FEATURE ARTICLE, Set the Tone at Your 1st Practice
by Steve Pavlovic
------------------------------------------------------------
With a new basketball season about to start in just a few
months, I am often asked, "What's the most important thing to
do at my 1st practice?". My answer to them is quite simple:
Set the tone for your upcoming season.
What exactly do I mean by setting the tone? I mean running
your first practice like you will run all of your practices
during the season. Let your players know what will be expected
of them, and how you expect them to act at practice. How they
need to pay attention when a coach is talking, and how they
should hustle at all times.
Too many times I see coaches just let players get away with
too much goofing around. That tone says to your players, "It's
OK to do that". Once your players get used to not paying
attention or goofing around, it will be hard to get them back
under control. Your team will have a hard time improving their
skills and getting better, especially if they are not listening
to you.
So start off by letting them know that all of you are there
to have fun, but also to learn, and they can't listen and learn
if they don't follow what you say. By having your players dialed
in from the first practice, you can get through more during
practice and help your team get even better!
-------------------------------------------------------------
Shooting - Get to the Open Spot
Want to get your players more open shots? Teach them to
move to the open spot on offense.
Most teams have a set offense that they run, but many times
the players turn into robots. They go to the same spots,
whether there is a defender there or not. You as a coach
need to remind your players that if the lane or area that
they are going to is being defended, that it is OK to go
to an open spot. A quick clap can let your teammate with
the ball know where you are at, and being ready to shoot
will give you an open, uncontested shot.
This is also true on a fastbreak. Don't run along side
your teammate that is dribbling down the floor. Get to the
other side of the floor and bust your tail to get to the
block. By letting all of your players know where they should
go, your teammates will know where to look for you, and once
again, get an easy open shot.
----------------------------------------------------------
Defense - Don't Get Screened
As players get older, they will run into more teams that
will run a motion offense with picks and screens. You need
to have your players aware of how to react to being picked
or screened.
The first thing to teach your defenders is to communicate.
If they see someone setting a screen, they need to yell it
out so that the player being screened knows something is
happening. This is also why it is important for defenders to
have their heads moving and watching not only the player they
are guarding, but also the ball.
The next thing to teach is to get around the screen or pick.
If noticed early enough, the defender should be able to step
around and get back to the player they were guarding. If not,
they may need to call out "Switch!" so that a teammate gets
to them.
By playing good defense and sagging and helping out on
defense, your team can negate picks and screens. I practice
situations like this a lot, so my players are not surprised
when they see them during a game.
------------------------------------------------------------
Dribbling - Push the Ball in Front of You
During a recent Summer League game, I saw a team that kept
trying to run a fastbreak. They would get the ball to the
middle of the floor, but their point guard kept have trouble
getting the ball down the court. Instead of pushing the
dribble in front of him, he had it by his side. This was
slowing him down and allowing the other team to catch him
every time!
When a player is in the open court, they need to push the
ball in front of them. Not so much that they lose control, or
that they have it taken away from them. But enough so that
they can be moving quickly have the ball coming with them.
Do this correctly and your team will get a lot more fastbreak
baskets.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Coaching Tip of the Month - Start Planning
It's not too early to start planning for your season! As
long as you know the age group that you will be coaching, you
can start planning what drills to run, as well as your offense
and defense.
If you know how many or who your other coaches will be, you
can sit down with them and start dividing up tasks. This way
once your season officially starts, your team will have a
head start on the competition!
------------------------------------------------------------
Good Luck to everyone!
------------------------------------------------------------
Stephen Pavlovic
Send any questions, comments, or ideas to me at:
Steve@scoremorehoops.com
------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright 2006 by Stephen Pavlovic. All rights Reserved.
------------------------------------------------------------
September
2006
------------------------------------------------------------
Coach Steve Pavlovic's Coaching Basketball Newsletter
"A newsletter of proven tips for youth basketball coaches"
08/31/2006 ** September 2006 Issue **
Steve Pavlovic, Editor, Steve@scoremorehoops.com
------------------------------------------------------------
By subscription only! Welcome to the current issue of
"Coach Steve Pavlovic's Coaching Basketball Newsletter".
You are receiving this newsletter because you
requested a subscription. Unsubscribe instructions
are at the end of this newsletter.
** Feel free to forward this ezine to any coaches that you
think this would benefit, or direct them to:
www.scoremorehoops.com
so that they can sign up for this newsletter! **
Welcome to all new subscribers! This ezine is published
monthly, usually sent out on the first of each month.
------------------------------------------------------------
IN THIS ISSUE
------------------------------------------------------------
=> Sponsorship Notice
=> Feature Article - The World Championships
=> Shooting - Getting Open - Part 2
=> Passing - Review Correct Form
=> Dribbling - Practice All Variations
=> Coaching Tip of the Month - Review Fundamentals
=> Subscribe/Unsubscribe information
------------------------------------------------------------
SPONSORSHIP NOTICE
------------------------------------------------------------
See all you can get with my "Score More Hoops Series":
www.scoremorehoops.com
Also, check out the *F*R*E*E* sample of my new
"Coaching Your Own Child" ebook!
Make sure to browse the Archives for any issues you might
have missed!
------------------------------------------------------------
FEATURE ARTICLE, The World Championships
by Steve Pavlovic
------------------------------------------------------------
As I write this issue, the FIBA World Championships are
going on in Japan. The U.S. team is trying to regain its form
from a few years back, when we would dominate such a
tournament, before the rest of the world started to catch up.
What can we learn from these games? First of all, the
international game has improved a lot. There are so many good
shooters around the world, plus they have learned to play as
a team as well as playing good defense. By playing a team game,
these international teams have been able to neutralize what
goes on in the NBA, which is usually a lot of 1-on-1 play.
As the U.S. plays more of a team game, we can start to get
back to our place as a basketball powerhouse.
The other point we can learn is that your team can never
sit back and assume they are going to win. Once we started
using NBA players, everyone thought these games and the
Olympics would be a breeze to win. But the other teams have
not run away from us, instead they have tried to improve
even more. Our U.S. team must realize that they are playing
players just as good as them at all times, and we must give a
good effort in order to win.
These 2 points also pertain to your upcoming season and mine.
By stressing the important areas of teamwork and giving a
good effort at all times, your team can come together and be
very successful. Use these as a foundation of your first talk
and build on them during the entire season!
-------------------------------------------------------------
Shooting - Getting Open - Part 2
As I talked about last month, if you want more open shots,
move to the open spots on the floor. That seems easy enough,
but what about if you are being closely guarded and can't
get open?
The first move I like to use is called the V-cut. Just
as the name suggests, the offensive player moves in a V
shaped pattern to get some space between themself and the
defender. This move is performed with quick feet. Be careful
not to push off of the defender, because referees will watch
for that! Use your body to shield the defender, and you
should be open as you move back to the ball.
The other move to use is called the jab step. I have my
players use this when they are being overplayed and the
defender is biting on every move. A quick move either
toward the basket or away from the basket will get the
defender out of position, and get your player open for the
ball by moving opposite where they initially moved. So if
you want to get open on the wing, you would take a hard step
toward the basket, forcing the defender to go back, then you
can break out to the wing for an open pass.
By using these 2 techniques, as well as looking for the
open spot, your players should be able to receive passes
in your offense and get good, high percentage shots.
----------------------------------------------------------
Passing - Review Correct Form
One basic skill that gets overlooked during summer workouts
is passing. Players either practice by themselves or do a lot
of 1-on-1 drills. So passing is not something that gets a top
priority. Either weak passes 1 hand passes will get thrown.
Once your team comes back, take the time to review the proper
technique. Passing is extremely important in moving the ball
down the court, so make sure your team is doing it right!
Make sure your players are throwing the ball from the middle
of their body, stepping forward, and finishing with their
thumbs pointing down at the floor. Also make sure that the
receivers are stepping toward the ball with their hands out
and ready. Get this to become a habit as soon as your season
begins!
------------------------------------------------------------
Dribbling - Practice All Variations
The other area that often gets neglected is dribbling. Players
love to shoot, but they don't always work on dribbling correctly.
So you need to reinforce their dribbling skills. This means not
only dribbling in place, but dribbling around cones, using the
crossover dribble, the dribble spin, and dribbling with a
defender guarding them.
Passing and dribbling go hand in hand. If you can't perform
both well, your offense will suffer. Dribbling makes a good
conditioning drill, as you are moving with a basketball in
your hands. Do a lot of this at the beginning of the season,
no matter what age group you are coaching.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Coaching Tip of the Month - Review Fundamentals
To go along with the them of the last 2 items, work on all
of the fundamentals. Don't assume that your team has been
working on everything you think they have. Go back to the
basics of dribbling, passing, defense and rebounding. Once
you are satisfied where your team is in each area, then you
can cut back to focus more on another area.
Build some time into your practice schedule for these
reviews. I know, the season starts and you have a few weeks
to practice and then the first game. But I would rather spend
the first few practices reviewing and knowing where my team
is for the rest of the season, rather than overloading them
with drills and plays that the team may not be ready for.
So take your time and make sure you and your team are on the
same page. It will pay off as the season goes along!
------------------------------------------------------------
Good Luck to everyone!
------------------------------------------------------------
Stephen Pavlovic
Send any questions, comments, or ideas to me at:
Steve@scoremorehoops.com
------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright 2006 by Stephen Pavlovic. All rights Reserved.
------------------------------------------------------------
October
2006
------------------------------------------------------------
Coach Steve Pavlovic's Coaching Basketball Newsletter
"A newsletter of proven tips for youth basketball coaches"
09/30/2006 ** October 2006 Issue **
Steve Pavlovic, Editor, Steve@scoremorehoops.com
------------------------------------------------------------
By subscription only! Welcome to the current issue of
"Coach Steve Pavlovic's Coaching Basketball Newsletter".
You are receiving this newsletter because you
requested a subscription. Unsubscribe instructions
are at the end of this newsletter.
** Feel free to forward this ezine to any coaches that you
think this would benefit, or direct them to:
www.scoremorehoops.com
so that they can sign up for this newsletter! **
Welcome to all new subscribers! This ezine is published
monthly, usually sent out on the first of each month.
------------------------------------------------------------
IN THIS ISSUE
------------------------------------------------------------
=> Sponsorship Notice
=> Feature Article - Keep Adding on to Basic Drills
=> Shooting - Use Inside Foot to Square Up
=> Defense - Mix in Some Offensive Drills
=> Rebounding - Use the Tip Drill for Conditioning
=> Coaching Tip of the Month - Rotate Drills Often
=> Subscribe/Unsubscribe information
------------------------------------------------------------
SPONSORSHIP NOTICE
------------------------------------------------------------
See all you can get with my "Score More Hoops Series":
www.scoremorehoops.com
Also, check out the *F*R*E*E* sample of my new
"Coaching Your Own Child" ebook!
Make sure to browse the Archives for any issues you might
have missed!
------------------------------------------------------------
FEATURE ARTICLE, Keep Adding on to Basic Drills
by Steve Pavlovic
------------------------------------------------------------
Well if it's October, it's about time for basketball to be
starting! As I've talked about before, make sure to review the
basics, no matter what age group you are coaching. This will
give you a solid foundation to start the year with.
Once you have done that for a few practices though, start
adding options on to these drills. There are 2 reasons for
this. First, it challenges your players to adapt to something
new. Making them think on the court will help them during a
game situation. The same thing never happens on the court
twice, so your team needs to be able to react.
The second reason is to keep your team's attention. Even
though the underlying drill might be the same, by adding more
options, it is something different for your players. For
example, you might want to add a layup to one of your dribbling
drills, or add a jump shot to a passing drill. You are still
focusing on the basics, yet adding another skill that your
players need to develop.
So look at your basic drills before you get started for the
season. Sit down with your other coaches and come up with
some options. It will really help your team develop their
overall basketball skills.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Shooting - Use Inside Foot to Square Up
I always want my players to be ready to receive a pass
and be in a shooting position when they receive a pass. Not
that they have to shoot, but they need to be ready in case
they are open for a quick jumper.
One thing to work on is having them use their inside foot
to square their body to the basket. By taking the step and
pointing the inside foot at the basket as they are going
to receive the pass, their shoulders should come around and
get them squared up. Just to review, the inside foot is the
one closest to the basket.
This can be accomplished with a simple drill of having your
players on a wing position and having a coach or player throw
them a pass from the top of the key. By using this technique,
your players will face the basket and are open for a shot, or
they can get a quick pass to an open teammate.
----------------------------------------------------------
Defense - Mix in Some Offensive Drills
I know a lot of coaches that really like to stress defense
during the preseason. There's nothing wrong with that, except
that your players will think it is monotonous after a while.
A tired player and one that is not thinking is not a productive
player.
Make sure to throw in some different types of drills to keep
your players motivated. If they have a favorite drill, use it
in between other drills that they may not like as much. This
helps keep them focused and alert, so they will absorb more
of what you are teaching them.
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Rebounding - Use the Tip Drill for Conditioning
To get my players used to getting off of their feet and
reaching for the ball, I often run a tip drill where the
players line up single file on one side of the backboard and
bounce the ball off for the player behind them. They then go
back into line. We usually aim at doing 25 in a row before
stopping, concentrating on extending up for the rebound with
the arms extended and grabbing the ball with 2 hands.
This can also be used as a conditioning drill. Instead of
doing this at only 1 basket, use both baskets. Divide the
team up and instead of going back to their own line, they
need to sprint downcourt and get to the other line. This
gives them running with a purpose, and builds up their stamina.
As with any running drills, do this within reason and watch
for any players who are struggling. I only do this drill for
a few minutes, then I make sure they get a break. The more
players you have, the longer you can do it, the less players,
the shorter this drill should be.
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Coaching Tip of the Month - Rotate Drills Often
As I have talked about a few times in this newsletter, keep
your drills short. I would rather do a drill at 2 different
times during practice for 5 minutes each than to do it once
for 10 minutes. Also, the younger the players you are
coaching, the less time you can spend on a drill.
So keep rotating drills, no more than 5-8 minutes each in
length. This will keep your players from being bored. Going
from one drill to another will keep them alert and there is
less chance of them goofing around. By having them focused,
your team will greatly benefit as the season goes along.
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Good Luck to everyone!
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Stephen Pavlovic
Send any questions, comments, or ideas to me at:
Steve@
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