Introduction

This outline is what I plan to teach in the upcoming season. It will eventually become a notebook of its own as I will keep the season schedule and copies of the daily practice plans with it. Then, in the following years, I will have a very structured and detailed basis to use with each new team. It will also be helpful to look back and review and evaluate how different topics worked out. For now, this list may provide some food for thought as to what you plan to cover with your team. If have ideas of your own and suggestions for additions, please email me.

Notice: This article was written by Steve Jordan, Coach's Notebook. Email the author at sjordan@alaskalife.net.

Objective

The C Team program has two complementary objectives. The first is to develop the concepts of teamwork and fair play. The second objective is to introduce the players to individual and team skills that will be required for them to compete at the Junior Varsity level.

Preparing players for advanced competition requires more than honing individual game skills. C Team players usually have a vague understanding of the appropriate conduct and mindset expected of a varsity athlete. Therefore, the C Team season plan will include discussion of protocols, sportsmanship and character.

The following list is a guide to topics to be introduced and taught to C Team basketball players:

General

Protocol

1. Maintaining grades
2. Hand shaking
3. Listening skills
4. Adherence to school policies
5. Dressing for practice, game and travel
6. Practice behaviors – what to do when the whistle blows
7. Game day procedures
8. Rules of the game
9. Terminology
10. How score sheets and shot charts work
11. Personal conduct while playing
12. Bench conduct during games
13. General conduct as representative of the school and team
14. Fundraising participation

Sportsmanship

1. Respect toward self and others
2. Taking responsibility for game results
3. Behavior towards opponents
4. Attitude toward referees
5. Language, courtesies

Character Development

1. Concept of team entity
2. Power of personal responsibility
3. Trusting teammates
4. Strength through sacrifice; commitment
5. Value of conditioning
6. Risk Management, decision-making

Offense

Team Skills

1. Tip Off Play
2. BLOB play set
3. SLOB play set
4. Zone Offense
• Overload concepts
• Ball reversal to weak side
• Perimeter cuts and rotations
• Post cuts and rotations
5. Man 2 Man Offense
• Importance of adequate spacing
• How to get open
• Delivering ball to wings
• Delivering ball to posts
• Action always required after passing; cut, pick away or rotate
• Recognize the 2 man opportunities: give and go, pick and roll
6. Control (spread)
7. Offensive Spacing
8. Press Breaker
9. Fast Break Strategy
10. Free Throw Procedures and Tactics
11. Specialty Plays

Individual Skills

1. Shooting
   • Confidence and positive mental outlook and visualization
   • Power of possession
   • Value of possession
   • When and how to use the backboard
   • Cover form mechanics for following:
     • Layups (emphasize ambidexterity)
     • Free Throws
     • Jump Shots
     • Three Point Shots
2. Passing
   • Bounce pass
   • Chest pass
   • Baseball Pass
   • Catching passes
   • Use the “flash”
   • Provide targets
   • Recognize windows
   • Using fakes and misdirection. Manipulate the defense.
3. Ball Handling
   • Triple threat position
   • Pivot foot, traveling
   • Protecting the ball
   • Basic dribbling (L&R)
   • Crossover
   • Shoulder fake
4. Post Play
   • Protecting ball
   • Creating space
   • Fakes and bumps
   • Finding the defender
   • Drop Step
   • Power Dribble
   • Handoffs to cutters
5. Screens
   • On Ball Screen (pick and roll)
   • Off Ball Screens
   • Sealing Defenders
6. Moving without the ball
   • Back door cuts
   • Getting open for passes
   • Moving after passing
   • Creating space for teammates

Defense

Team Skills - emphasize value of intensity in all defensive areas

1. Man 2 Man Priorities
   • Pressure the ballhandler
   • Deny passes to your man
   • Anticipate passes and intercept
   • Help stop dribbler
   • Transition quickly to defense
   • Front the post
   • Sag into the key and cheat
   • Sink to the level of the ball
   • Box out
2. Man 2 Man Half Court Pressure
3. Man 2 Man Full Court Pressure
4. Zone Priorities
• Close the door (no dribble penetration)
• Hands up near any shooter of passer
• Sag on the weakside
• Front post players
• Anticipate lob passes
• Don’t follow the ball or cutter; be responsible for your area
5. Zone Closed (packed in close to the basket)
6. Zone Presses
   • Introduce special press roles: trappers and interceptors
7. Zone Half Court Traps
8. Zone Full Court Press

Individual Defensive Skills

1. Defensive Stances
2. Footwork; stutter steps, slide steps
3. Positioning relative to ball
4. Guarding passing lanes
5. Guiding dribblers
6. Shot blocking
7. Defending screens
8. Rebounding
   • Know the value of your real estate
   • Understand the angles
   • Go with the odds
9. Boxing out
10. Help defense
11. Communication
12. Using floor locations (corners, key)
13. Dealing with screens
• Switching
• Fighting through
• Under or over the screen
• Showing early help

Managing Game Resources (from a player’s perspective)

1. Team fouls
   • Cost of foolish fouls
   • Define unnecessary fouls (trapped players, blocking shots, poor positioning, hugging the rebounder, etc.)
   • Define expected fouls (fouls from reasonable risks and 'either-way' calls are acceptable)
2. Time outs
3. Substitutions
• Playing when tired or hurt is detrimental to self and team
• Subbing helps overall team motivation
• Subbing provide opportunity for mental reset
4. Remaining time
   • Understand when the clock is (or is not) your friend
   • Manage game risks according to time and score differential