|
January
2010
------------------------------------------------------------
Coach Steve Pavlovic's Coaching Basketball Newsletter
"A newsletter of proven tips for youth basketball coaches"
12/31/2009 ** January 2010 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 - Treating Your Players Right
=> Shooting - The Guide Hand
=> Passing - Work Together
=> Rebounding - Not Under the Basket
=> Coaching Tip of the Month - Only Head Coach Should Talk
=> Subscribe/Unsubscribe information
------------------------------------------------------------
SPONSORSHIP NOTICE
------------------------------------------------------------
** I have updated the newsletter archives with issues up
through July 2009. You can go all the way back to 2002!
** Have you had a chance to check out my new videos? Go to
http://www.scoremorehoops.com/DrillVideos.htm and check
them out. Let me know what you think!
** Are you coaching your own child? Make sure to check out my
"Coaching Your Own Child" ebook for some helpful tips!
** Get some new coaching info at: www.scoremorehoops.com
------------------------------------------------------------
FEATURE ARTICLE, Treating Your Players Right
by Steve Pavlovic
------------------------------------------------------------
Happy New Year! I hope your season is going well. My team has
been playing hard and improving, and that has translated into
some more wins. That's the best of both worlds!
Since many of your teams, like mine, are at the midpoint of
their season, let's take a look at how things are going. Is
your team improving? Are you doing as well as you thought you
would? What has been the biggest surprise so far?
One thing I am constantly looking at is the progress of my
players and how am I getting through to them. I see a lot
of coaches yelling and screaming, but does that really work?
In my opinion, it doesn't. Though calling out a player might
help short term, a lot of players will tune you out if that's
all you do is yell and point out the negative stuff.
I make it a point to say something positive to each player,
whether it is at practice or a game. By starting off with
something positive, you get your players attention. Who
doesn't like to hear that they did a good job? Then if I have
something to correct, I will add that. I have found this
approach to work best in keeping my players attention and
getting them to do what I need them to do.
Let me give you an example. Say a player throws a pass into
the post that gets stolen. I like the fact that the player did
look inside, so I will make sure they know that. I will then
correct their mistake, whether they need to throw a better
pass or not force the ball inside.
If you do say something to try to spark your team, make sure
you acknowledge it when they do perform as expected. Think back
when you were young; did you constantly want to hear only when
you did something wrong? Of course not, you want to hear when
you did something right too.
So think about how you are handling your team and what results
you are getting. A change in your method could lead to a
positive change for your team and a more successful season!
-------------------------------------------------------------
Shooting - The Guide Hand
We all know that the shooting hand is the hand that actually
shoots the ball, but the opposite hand, also called the guide
hand, is just as important.
The guide hand is basically on the side of the ball, guiding
and balancing the ball as you get ready to shoot it. Notice
that I said on the side of the ball, don't let the guide hand
get in front of the ball or behind the ball. It is only there
to guide the ball as the arm gets ready to shoot and extend.
The shot should be completed with just the shooting hand
pushing the ball out and completing the shot, the guide hand
letting go at that point.
Be careful about the guide hand getting overly involved in
the shot. Some players will put this hand in front of the ball
or behind it and actually shoot using both hands. This needs
to be corrected as soon as possible if you have any players
who do this, as it can be a hard habit to break if let go too
long. The easiest way to break this habit is to get your
players shooting a few feet in front of the basket with just
one hand.
------------------------------------------------------------
Passing - Work Together
Passing involves both a good pass and a good reception. I
like to work drills on both catching a pass and throwing a
good pass. But you also need to combine the process during
practice to get it to work during a game.
I like to set up game situations to work on this. I put
one line with passers, one line with receivers, and also a
line with a defender. Then I have the receiving line move to
get open and receive the pass. I use this on the perimeter,
and also use it for passing into the post.
This drill stresses the importance of both good passing and
receiving. The passer must make a good pass to an open
teammate, and that teammate must not only move to get open,
but also step to the pass and use their body to receive it.
Getting your players to perform this drill will help when a
team pressures you during a game.
------------------------------------------------------------
Rebounding - Not Under the Basket
One thing that can really frustrate a coach is to see their
players standing under the basket when a shot goes up. The
only thing they are going to catch under there is a made basket!
Stress to your players about blocking someone out when a shot
goes up, and not running to the basket. The first reaction
needs to be, who am I blocking out? Going under the basket is
where the other team wants you to be, then they can get any
rebounds.
Talk to your players about the rebounding triangle - the
2 blocks and a spot in the center of the lane. If you practice
having your players control those spots, they will dominate
the boards. Practice this on both the offensive and defensive
end of the court, it will also help you get a lot of 2nd-chance
points.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Coaching Tip of the Month - Only Head Coach Should Talk
One thing I have seen a lot of this year is 2 or 3 coaches
yelling instructions from the bench. How confusing is this for
the players! You don't know who is talking to who or if
contradicting info is being related to the players.
The head coach of the team should be the voice of the team.
If instructions need to be related onto the court, players
should be accustomed to listening for the head coach. If
other coaches see something, they should relay it to the
head coach and he can address it.
Time-outs should be the same way, players focused on the
head coach. If the head coach wants an assistant to diagram
something, that is fine, but don't have coaches all talking
at once. Players can only focus on one thing at a time, just
like us coaches!
------------------------------------------------------------
Happy New Year and Good Luck to everyone!
------------------------------------------------------------
Stephen Pavlovic
Send any questions, comments, or ideas to me at:
Steve@scoremorehoops.com
------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright 2009 by Stephen Pavlovic. All rights Reserved.
------------------------------------------------------------
February
2010
------------------------------------------------------------
Coach Steve Pavlovic's Coaching Basketball Newsletter
"A newsletter of proven tips for youth basketball coaches"
01/31/2010 ** February 2010 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 - Breakthrough Basketball site
=> Shooting - Ball Rotation
=> Dribbling - Keep it Low
=> Rebounding - Think Block Out First
=> Coaching Tip of the Month - Keep Your Players Motivated
=> Subscribe/Unsubscribe information
------------------------------------------------------------
SPONSORSHIP NOTICE
------------------------------------------------------------
** I have updated the newsletter archives with issues up
through July 2009. You can go all the way back to 2002!
** Have you had a chance to check out my videos? Go to
http://www.scoremorehoops.com/DrillVideos.htm and check
them out. Let me know what you think!
** Are you coaching your own child? Make sure to check out my
"Coaching Your Own Child" ebook for some helpful tips!
** Get some new coaching info at: www.scoremorehoops.com
------------------------------------------------------------
FEATURE ARTICLE, Breakthrough Basketball site
by Steve Pavlovic
------------------------------------------------------------
Welcome back! February is upon us, the last month of our
shcool's season. Since we started in November, this is what
I consider the last quarter of our season. Make sure to read
my Coaching Tip of the Month to keep your players interested
and motivated!
This month I wanted to highlight another great basketball
site. Breakthrough Basketball is run by brothers Joe and Jeff
Haefner. They do a really great job of presenting basketball
information, whether it's ebooks, articles, or videos. They
even offer a free ebook of basketball drills and coaching
tips.
I highly recommend that you get this free eBook with
72 basketball drills and coaching tips. It's an excellent
resource provided by Breakthrough Basketball. It includes
full diagrams, step by step instructions, and coaching tips
for some excellent drills. Get the eBook for free right here:
http://www.winningdrills.com
Also, click the link at the bottom of the above page to go
to their Breakthrough Basketball site. You can tell that a lot
of time and effort is put into each of their products. I
highly recommend that you check out the above links and
subscribe to their free newsletter. It will definitely help
you as a coach to help your players!
-------------------------------------------------------------
Shooting - Ball Rotation
Have you seen a player who seems to always get a good bounce
on the rim and the ball falls into the hoop? And have you
seen a player who never seems to get the shot to fall, it just
spins out? That issue has a lot to do with the rotation of
the ball as it is being shot.
Watch as your players shoot a jump shot. Does the ball have
the correct backspin on it? It should roll right off of the
fingertips. With the correct backspin and rotation, a shot
that catches on the rim will a lot of times go in. But if
the shot has no backspin, like it is being shot from the palm,
or if it has sidespin, the shot will a lot of times spin out,
unless the shot lands perfectly centered in the basket.
So take some time and review each player's shot. Make sure
that the shot is coming off of the fingertips and that they
are following through correctly. Make sure the shooting hand
is behind the ball and not on the side, which can cause
sidespin. Work with any players having problems by having
them shoot just a few feet in front of the basket, using only
the shooting hand so that they can see and feel the proper
rotation. Once the muscle memory kicks in, their shot will
greatly improve.
------------------------------------------------------------
Dribbling - Keep it Low
I have seen more steals off of the dribble this year. Not
only at the junior high level, but all levels, including
high school and college. Is it better defense or bad
dribbling?
I believe it has a lot to do with dribbling. The biggest
problem I see is players dribbling the ball high, and a
defender coming from below the ball and tipping it away.
The ball should not be dribbled higher than the waist,
even lower if you are being guarded by a quicker player.
Also, the ball needs to be dribbled strongly. A weak dribble
takes longer to get from the floor back up to the hand, which
gives a defender extra time to steal the ball.
I like to work on this with a 1-on-1 dribbling drill. You
can start by keeping the dribbler and defender in one lane.
The dribbler needs to get down the court using a dribble spin,
crossover, etc. Also, don't just match up players by height
or position. Make guards go against post players, and posts
dribble against guards. You never know when that situation
will arise during a game, so it's best to be prepared!
------------------------------------------------------------
Rebounding - Think Block Out First
I have talked a lot about rebounding lately, it seems like
a lot of players just want to jump for the ball and not
block anyone out. Unless your team is very athletic, this can
lead to a lot of over the back fouls.
I keep stressing to our players that the first thing they
need to think about when a shot goes up is, block out my
opponent. If your player's aren't thinking this, they will
just turn and run to the basket. And how many times have you
seen the ball then go over their head and end up in the
other team's hands?
To get this across to your team, it takes repetition and a
change in their mindset. They must focus and know that they
need to block out their player as soon as a shot goes up.
Focus on this during your rebounding drills. One way is to
get your defense to all yell "Block out" when a shot goes
up. keep working on this until your team can do it
automatically, it will amaze you how much your rebounding
will improve.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Coaching Tip of the Month - Keep Your Players Motivated
I know for the teams at my school, the season will finish
by the end of February. Since we started at the beginning of
November, this last month can be demanding for the players.
Trying to keep them motivated and focused on this last
month can be a challenge, especially as it starts to warm up
outside.
So how do you keep your players motivated? Switch things
up a little bit. Add a new twist to a drill, or add
another option to your offense. Teach them something new on
defense. Or add a fun team drill. Set some goals for the last
month for your team, something like improving your free throw
percentage.
Just don't so the same old things. Players love to learn new
skills, so help them improve and keep them focused for the
entire season.
------------------------------------------------------------
Good Luck to everyone!
------------------------------------------------------------
Stephen Pavlovic
Send any questions, comments, or ideas to me at:
Steve@scoremorehoops.com
------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright 2010 by Stephen Pavlovic. All rights Reserved.
------------------------------------------------------------
March
2010
------------------------------------------------------------
Coach Steve Pavlovic's Coaching Basketball Newsletter
"A newsletter of proven tips for youth basketball coaches"
02/28/2010 ** March 2010 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 - End of Season Talk
=> Shooting - Shoulders Must be Square
=> Passing - Ball Fakes
=> Defense - Palms Up
=> Coaching Tip of the Month - Stay Involved Over the Summer
=> Subscribe/Unsubscribe information
------------------------------------------------------------
SPONSORSHIP NOTICE
------------------------------------------------------------
** I have updated the newsletter archives with issues up
through December 2009. You can go all the way back to 2002!
** Have you had a chance to check out my videos? Go to
http://www.scoremorehoops.com/DrillVideos.htm and check
them out. Let me know what you think!
** Are you coaching your own child? Make sure to check out my
"Coaching Your Own Child" ebook for some helpful tips!
** Get some new coaching info at: www.scoremorehoops.com
------------------------------------------------------------
FEATURE ARTICLE, End of Season Talk
by Steve Pavlovic
------------------------------------------------------------
Wow! Can it be the end of the season already? It just goes
by much too fast. We finished our season this past week, and
I know most schools around us will end in the next week or two.
Another season in the books!
One thing I like to do with my teams is to review our season.
At one of our last practices, I will talk to my players about
what we did well and what we need to improve on. I like to
start with what we did well, as players like to hear that and
it gets their attention. Then I can move on and talk about
what needs to improve. I will also give each player an idea of
what they need to work on during the off season.
Will all of the players listen? probably not, but at least I
have given them the information that they need if they want to
take action. Players who are committed and want to get better
will work on the areas that need to improve, and that will show
next season when the players are evaluated and assigned to a team.
So take some time and have an end of season talk with your team.
Tell them how you appreciate their effort and how they can become
even better. It will help your team going into next season.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Shooting - Shoulders Must be Square
One problem I see players having is that their shot will miss
to the side because they are not squaring their shoulders.
The shot will usually miss to the left for a right handed
shooter. The fix is actually pretty straightforward.
When receiving a pass, a player needs to get into shooting
position. When done correctly, the shoulders should be squared
to the basket and the ball moved off to the side so that the
elbow is straight. Then a player must bend straight down,
keeping their shoulders squared, not turning their shoulders
for additional power. By doing this, the shot will go on a
straight line.
One of my favorite drills to stress this is to be in the
middle of the lane, about 5 feet in front of the basket. The
player needs to focus on keeping the shoulders square and using
legs to generate power. Once they can do this consistently,
they need to work on receiving a pass and going up for the shot.
------------------------------------------------------------
Passing - Ball Fakes
It can be frustrating as a coach to see your team throw away
a pass, especially when they let everyone in the gym know where
they are going to throw it! It is sometimes like your team
doesn't see that there is a defense on the court.
The thing to stress to your team is to use ball fakes and
not staring at the player you are going to pass to. It is
also important to know where your teammates are going in
your offense, so you don't need to stare them down.
Using a ball fake will get the defense moving away from
your intended target, especially when it is an aggressive
defense. A good ball fake will force the defense to play
honest and not cheat out. It will ulimately help your offense
run more efficiently and find open players sooner.
------------------------------------------------------------
Defense - Palms Up
Playing defense effectively takes a lot of effort. Moving
your feet and having your hands ready to steal the ball are
essential components. Bt having your hands in the correct
position will help limit your fouls.
The best way I have found is to position your hands with
palms up. Or have one hand palms up and the other hand up to
deflect a pass. But by having the palms up, a defender can
pop the ball up when it is in an unprotected area. By doing
this, you are not making contact with the offensive player.
If you reach from the top down, you are almost certain to be
called for a foul.
So play defense smart. Have your hands in the correct
position and be ready for the offensive player to put the ball
in front of you.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Coaching Tip of the Month - Stay Involved Over the Summer
Just as players need to put in some practice over the
summer, you as a coach need to do that too. Whether it's
coaching a summer league, helping out at a clinic or camp,
or watching a video to learn a new drill or play, stay
involved and keep learning.
That is the great thing about basketball, you never know
everything. There are always new techniques and plays that
people come up with. Watching or participating in a summer
league will expose you to different teams. Watch them and
I'm sure you will pick up some new ideas! Then incorporate
what you have learned into your own program to help your
players next season.
------------------------------------------------------------
Good Luck to everyone!
------------------------------------------------------------
Stephen Pavlovic
Send any questions, comments, or ideas to me at:
Steve@scoremorehoops.com
------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright 2010 by Stephen Pavlovic. All rights Reserved.
------------------------------------------------------------
April
2010
------------------------------------------------------------
Coach Steve Pavlovic's Coaching Basketball Newsletter
"A newsletter of proven tips for youth basketball coaches"
03/31/2010 ** April 2010 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 - Practice the Right Way
=> Shooting - Point Feet at the Basket
=> Passing - Head Up
=> Defense - Take an Angle
=> Coaching Tip of the Month - Watch the Tournament!
=> Subscribe/Unsubscribe information
------------------------------------------------------------
SPONSORSHIP NOTICE
------------------------------------------------------------
** I have updated the newsletter archives with issues up
through December 2009. You can go all the way back to 2002!
** Have you had a chance to check out my videos? Go to
http://www.scoremorehoops.com/DrillVideos.htm and check
them out. Let me know what you think!
** Are you coaching your own child? Make sure to check out my
"Coaching Your Own Child" ebook for some helpful tips!
** Get some new coaching info at: www.scoremorehoops.com
------------------------------------------------------------
FEATURE ARTICLE, Practice the Right Way
by Steve Pavlovic
------------------------------------------------------------
Being a coaches coordinator besides a coach, I spend a lot
of time at our gym. I not only see teams playing during game
situations, but also while they practice. Though players are
usually good about doing things the right way when coaches
are around, what happens when players work out by themselves,
like over the summer?
I stress to my players that they must really focus on proper
technique, no matter if they are practicing with their team,
their friends, or by themselves. Only practicing a skill the
proper way will help you get better. If you shoot 100 free
throws and shoot them all incorrectly, you are actually
making yourself worse! Practicing the wrong technique then
just makes it a bad habit, and the longer that goes on, the
harder it is to change.
This is why I strongly encourage my players to join our
summer league and to go to camps. Supervised instruction
will help insure that you are performing your basketball
skills correctly. I break down any skill into simple parts,
that way my players can focus on each one and make sure they
are performing it correctly. That goes for shooting, dribbling,
passing, etc. Then remind your players that they are only
going to get better by practicing the right way. Once players
see that you are talking about, and the light bulb goes on in
their head, they will improve over the summer and come back
an even better player.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Shooting - Point Feet at the Basket
I was working with a player last month who was really
having a problem with his shot. It would fall short sometimes,
and others it would miss way to the side. At first glance,
the ball was in the right position and he wasn't turning his
shoulders. But I quickly found the problem once I looked at
his feet - they were pointed to the sideline instead of
pointing at the basket!
This can be a common problem if you don't use your inside
foot to square yourself to the basket. By pointing his feet
to the sideline, he actually had his body twisting. When he
would bend to shoot, his balance was thrown off, and his
body leaned to the side.
Once I got him to suqare up properly, his shot was back
to normal. So review with your players the importance of
all parts of the body working together to make a shot
successful. Keep everything pointed at the basket and you
will be on your way to a great shot.
------------------------------------------------------------
Passing - Head Up
Just as keeping your head up is essential to be a great
dribbler, it is just as important to keep your head up to
be a great passer. Think about it: you are driving down the
lane and a defender steps into your path. If your head is
up, not only will you see the defender, but you can see where
he came from and who should be open.
If you watch any great passer, they are able to handle the
ball well too, so these things go hand-in-hand. The first
step then is to handle the ball with your head up. Work with
your players on ball handling skills, both standing in place
and dribbling. Have them focus down the court, anywhere but
at the ball.
Once they can do this, it makes the passing part much easier.
Since their head is up, now they can focus on where a player
is most likely to be open in a situation. Knowing where
everyone is moving in your offense will help too. I like to
set up decision drills for players where they have to pass
to a player based on whether a defender picks them up or not.
These drills will pay huge dividends during a game.
------------------------------------------------------------
Defense - Take an Angle
As coaches, we all understand about staying between the
offensive player and the basket. If we don't, we give the
offense a clear path to the basket. But what do you teach
when your defender is guarding a quicker player and starts
to get beat to the basket?
You need to show your players how to drop step and take an
angle to get back in front of the offensive player. You can't
just move straight across, you will run into the offensive
player and commit a foul. By dropstepping and taking an angle,
you are giving up a little bit of territory, but you are getting
back between your player and the basket. And that's where you
need to be to stop the other team's offense!
-------------------------------------------------------------
Coaching Tip of the Month - Watch the Tournament!
My tip this month is very easy - watch the NCAA tournament!
Whether it's the men's or women's tournament, you as a coach
will learn something new. Watch how teams move the ball on
offense. Watch how they play defesne and rebound. Watch away
from the ball and see what's happening on the weak side.
Watch the strategy each coach uses as the game goes along.
Are you going to be able to run these things with your teams?
Probably not the way they are running it, but you can get
some ideas on offensive sets and out of bounds plays. Make
sure to take notes on what you see so you don't forget
anything. What a great time of the year - learning and
enjoying yourself at the same time!
------------------------------------------------------------
Good Luck to everyone!
------------------------------------------------------------
Stephen Pavlovic
Send any questions, comments, or ideas to me at:
Steve@scoremorehoops.com
------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright 2010 by Stephen Pavlovic. All rights Reserved.
------------------------------------------------------------
May
2010
------------------------------------------------------------
Coach Steve Pavlovic's Coaching Basketball Newsletter
"A newsletter of proven tips for youth basketball coaches"
04/30/2010 ** May 2010 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 - Balancing the Summer Schedule
=> Shooting - Being Consistent
=> Dribbling - Work on Weak Hand
=> Defense - Helping Out
=> Coaching Tip of the Month - Get Team Into a League
=> Subscribe/Unsubscribe information
------------------------------------------------------------
SPONSORSHIP NOTICE
------------------------------------------------------------
** I have updated the newsletter archives with issues up
through December 2009. You can go all the way back to 2002!
** Have you had a chance to check out my videos? Go to
http://www.scoremorehoops.com/DrillVideos.htm and check
them out. Let me know what you think!
** Are you coaching your own child? Make sure to check out my
"Coaching Your Own Child" ebook for some helpful tips!
** Get some new coaching info at: www.scoremorehoops.com
------------------------------------------------------------
FEATURE ARTICLE, Balancing the Summer Schedule
by Steve Pavlovic
------------------------------------------------------------
Spring has arrived! As we enter the month of May, the NBA
playoffs are in full swing, so there is still plenty of
basketball to watch.
With Summer coming up soon, it's time to start thinking
about the sumer schedule for your team. Will you have some
camps? Open gyms? Will your team be in a summer league?
All of these things need to be decided before the kids get
out of school. Plan now to get in on everyone's busy schedule!
I know of some teams that make summer basketball mandatory
for all of their players. If you want to play in the fall, you
need to participate over the summer. That can really limit a
player who wants to particiapate in multiple sctivities. So
where do you draw the line?
I try to keep the summer activities balanced. I may have
some sessions in the morning, but a lot of the league games
will be at night. I also understand if a player has another
commitment. I always tell my players to balance out their
schedule so that they get in a lot of basketball, but it
shouldn't be the only thing they do. There will be plenty of
time for that commitment when they get to high school.
So encourage your players to come to the summer workouts,
but also understand if they must miss sometimes. Make sure
you have at least 12 players on a summer team for this reason.
If you don't have enough to put a team in a league, then get
together for some practices. Summer is the time that real
basketball players are made!
-------------------------------------------------------------
Shooting - Being Consistent
One reason I like summer basketball is because it is more
relaxed, and you have time to work on issues you might not
be able to during the season. One of those issues is proper
shooting technique.
Whether you are shooting a free throw or a jump shot, the
ball must be in the same position for both. The actual act
of shooting must be the same also, with the knees bending
and the shoulders staying squared to the basket.
Take the time now to become consistent on your shot. Work
with your players so that they can shoot the ball the same
way every time. This is done through repetition. Shoot 10
free throws making sure the same technique is used, then
shoot 10 jump shots. Most of what you want is muscle memory,
so that your body remembers how a good shot feels and can
be reproduced each time. As a coach, you need to watch your
players, encourage them, but also correct their shooting
technique when required.
------------------------------------------------------------
Dribbling - Work on Weak Hand
Another good thing for your players to work on is dribbling.
But don't just get them to focus on their dominant hand.
Make them work on their weak dribbling hand to make that
strong too.
Think about who is harded to guard - a player who can
handle the ball well with just their right hand, or a player
who can dribble with either hand? The one who can dribble
with either their left or right hand is harder to guard.
They can't be overplayed to one side of the court. They are
a real headache for the defense!
There are some simple drills that your team can do. First,
they can dribble sets of lines (ladders) with their weak
hand. They can dribble around the perimeter of the court
with their weak hand. You can even turn that into a race
competition when everyone starts improving! You can have
them dribble around cones, or have them go one-on-one with
a defender. I'm sure there are plenty of others I am
forgetting too. Use your imagination to come up with even more.
------------------------------------------------------------
Defense - Helping Out
I have actually noticed some defense being played in the NBA
playoffs! Though some teams are still run-and-gun, there are
others that are really playing tough D. You as a coach can
learn from this.
The one thing that stands out to me so far has been the
help defense. When a player has gotten beat on top, I have
seen players rotating over to pick up the offensive player.
Another player then rotates to pick up the open offensive
player.
When you get together with your team, walk through some
of these situations. Show how the first rotation has a defender
picking up the player with the ball, then show another
rotation where someone picks up the open player who doesn't
have the ball. After walking through these, try running them
at full speed. Switch players around so that they can see this
on both the offensive and defensive sides. It will really
help your team if they can get this concept and react quickly.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Coaching Tip of the Month - Get Team Into a League
Though I really like practicing and improving over the
summer, the players really enjoy some games too. It's fine
to scrimmage amongst yourselves, but it's also good to play
someone different. This is why I encourage you to get your
team into some type of summer league.
Leagues are different depending where you are at. You can
find school leagues, travel leagues, mixed leagues, etc.
Try to find one where your team will be competitive, yet
challenged. I as said before, make sure that you will have
enough players. Keep your team together as much as possible,
keep them playing, and your team will be toiugh to beat in
the fall!
------------------------------------------------------------
Good Luck to everyone!
------------------------------------------------------------
Stephen Pavlovic
Send any questions, comments, or ideas to me at:
Steve@scoremorehoops.com
------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright 2010 by Stephen Pavlovic. All rights Reserved.
------------------------------------------------------------
June
2010
------------------------------------------------------------
Coach Steve Pavlovic's Coaching Basketball Newsletter
"A newsletter of proven tips for youth basketball coaches"
05/31/2010 ** June 2010 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 Basketball
=> Shooting - Go Straight Up
=> Passing - Give a Target
=> Rebounding - Height Doesn't Matter
=> Coaching Tip of the Month - Be Positive
=> Subscribe/Unsubscribe information
------------------------------------------------------------
SPONSORSHIP NOTICE
------------------------------------------------------------
** I have updated the newsletter archives with issues up
through December 2009. You can go all the way back to 2002!
** Have you had a chance to check out my videos? Go to
http://www.scoremorehoops.com/DrillVideos.htm and check
them out. Let me know what you think!
** Are you coaching your own child? Make sure to check out my
"Coaching Your Own Child" ebook for some helpful tips!
** Get some new coaching info at: www.scoremorehoops.com
------------------------------------------------------------
FEATURE ARTICLE, Summer Basketball
by Steve Pavlovic
------------------------------------------------------------
Well, June is almost here my players will be getting out of
school shortly, and Summer basketball will start too. Though
the purpose of summer basketball is to get your players ready
for the fall season, summer basketball must be handled a little
different than the regular season. I wrote a little about this
last month, but let's take a closer look at it.
First, I mentioned last month about there being a balance.
Unless a player only plays basketball, they will have other
committments too. You as a coach need to be understanding of
this fact. Make your players aware that you do understand
what they are going through, and encourage them to attend
your sessions and give their best effort when they are there.
Second, don't get carried away with a lot of new things. I
do like implementing some new things during the summer, but
you need to realize that differenet players could be attending
on different days. Work more on the basics of shooting, ball
handling, defense and rebounding. Players always need to improve
in those areas, so the more individual time you can give each
of them, the better they will get.
Third, be relaxed! The quickest way to get your players not
to come back is to be all over them. If they are making the
commitment to come to summer basketball, they want to improve!
Work with them, correct them when they are doing something
incorrectly, but keep it light.
As I have said before, summer is the time that players will
make the most improvement. Keep them interested, and keep a
baksetball in their hands, and you will see a big improvement
both individually and as a team in the fall.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Shooting - Go Straight Up
Watching the NBA can be both a good thing and a bad thing
for your players. Though there are some great shooters in the
game, your players can also pick up some bad habits. One of
these is fading away from the basket when taking a shot.
NBA players practice hours at a time on their shooting. So
a fade-away jump shot is a repetitive process that they can
do naturally. Your players will have a difficult time
duplicating their shots. So the key to stress to your players
is to go straight up on their shot. Using the same technique
each time will make them a better shooter. Picking up a bad
habit like fading away will not only lower your shooting
percentage, but take you out of rebounding position.
So work with your players on going straight up on their
jump shot. Make their technique consistent and correct, and
they will become much better shooters. They can worry about
shooting fade-away jump shots when they make it to the NBA!
------------------------------------------------------------
Passing - Give a Target
One of the things I do like about the NBA is the passing.
Seeing how a player gets the ball to another player in a sea
of people in the lane is just amazing. Though our players
don't need to throw no-look passes, we can learn to hit the
open player for an easy basket, just like the pros do.
The key to this is both the passer and the receiver. Not
only must the passer know where their teammate is going, the
receiving teammate must move to an open spot. They must also
perform one other vital item: They need to give the passer a
target. That may seem very basic, but I see most grade school
having players cut and their hands aren't ready. Giving a
target, so the passer knows where you need the ball low, high,
or on one side or the other, will make both players better.
Once again, it's a form of communication, and we know that's
important for our team.
------------------------------------------------------------
Rebounding - Height Doesn't Matter
Do your players like using the excuse, "The other team is
bigger, that's why we can't get any rebounds." Have them watch
the Celtics. Rondo has been everywhere, including outrebounding
taller players. How does he do that?
This just goes to show that positioning and knowing where the
ball is going are both more important than height. The people
that Rondo is outrebounding are usually just standing there and
not blocking out. That let's him slip in, get position, and
come up with some rebounds. If they want to be like an NBA
player, this is one way to do it!
-------------------------------------------------------------
Coaching Tip of the Month - Be Positive
As you coach your team this summer, remember to be positive.
You don't want summer basketball to be a job for your players.
You want it to be a good experience where they can all improve.
That doesn't mean you want players goofing off though. As
long as they are trying, be patient, encourage them, build up
their confidence, and your entire team will benefit when the
season starts in the fall.
------------------------------------------------------------
Good Luck to everyone!
------------------------------------------------------------
Stephen Pavlovic
Send any questions, comments, or ideas to me at:
Steve@scoremorehoops.com
------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright 2010 by Stephen Pavlovic. All rights Reserved.
------------------------------------------------------------
|
