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first child's middel mane
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Hey there coach.....i was just wondering if you know of any good resources for the Princeton offense. I know the Sac Kings run a version of it due to having Pete Carril as an asst. coach.
Thank You,
Justin
Hi, I've had 1 child about a year ago. I still have a tummy that hangs over my pants and side handles that I can't get rid of. I weigh about 130, I'm 19 years old. Please help!
Hi, I've had 1 child about a year ago. I still have a tummy that hangs over my pants and side handles that I can't get rid of. I weigh about 130, I'm 19 years old. Please help!
hi steve,
im doing a dissertation on team building on a university girls basketball team. alot of the girls have very basic knowledge of the game and i was wondering if you had any ideas for practices/games i could use. they could be for passing, dribbling, defence, whatever, but they have to stress 'group work' even if it is in small groups of 3 and 4. Any help would be appreciated and acknowledged in my project.
thank you,
helena costen
I AM ABOUT TO TAKE OVER A BASKETBALL PROGRAM AT JERUSALEM HIGH SCHOOL.WE HAVE A HALF COURT TO PRACTISE ON AND IT IS OUTDOORS.WEATHER COMES INTO PLAY.I HAVE BEEN HERE FOR THREE YRS NOW AND HAVE COACHED THE GIRLS BALL TEAM AND BOTH JV GIRLS AND BOYS.THIS YR I WILL TAKE OVER THE BOYS VARSITY ALSO SEEING WE DO NOT HAVE B BALL COACHES AVAILBLE.I NEED TO FIT IN ALL TEAMS ON ONLY A FIVE DAY SCHEDULE.WE DO HAVE FRIDAYS OFF SO I CAN GO ALL DAY FRIDAY IF NECCESARY.HOW WOULD YOU GO ABOUT YOUR PRACITSE PLAN THANKS BINK FINAMORE
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I need basketball drills for 5th and 6th grade girls
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I need basketball drills for 5th and 6th grade girls
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I need basketball drills for 5th and 6th grade girls
Erase this message and add your question here.
I need basketball drills for 5th and 6th grade girls
First I would like to thank you for this site, it has already been a great help. I am going to have a week long basketball camp at our school this summer for girls and boys in grades 4--8. This is a small school and I will be a parent/coach. I was an athelete, even some in college but, I never have really coached very much. I was thinking about 8 AM TO II AM OR 9 TO 12. Can you tell me first if these age groups can be done together and is 3 hours a day the right amount of time. Can you also tell me how or where I may find an outline of activities and time guide line for creating a fun and successful camp. Thanks a lot for your help. Note: Click on link above to see court measurements such as the distance from the backboard to the free throw line.
why do the player spin first the ball before throwing it?what is the use of spining the ball?
hi! i just want to ask,.. why do catcher or the pitcher, spin first the ball before throwing it, in a baseball game setting?
Hi, Does playing basketball makes people taller? Please mail me back.
Hi, Does playing basketball makes people taller? Please mail me back.
I am coaching a 6th grade team. We rebound and play defense well but unless we can get a fast break our offense doesn't move. I have tried to teach the kids some basic plays but in game situations they don't use them. We practice usually only twice a week for an hour and 15 minutes. Often it is hard for our offense to complete the first pass. The wings think they are open but they really aren't. Thanks Steve Sanders
What is the best way to teach a full court diamond defense, or a 1-3-1 defense.
what are the purpose of the different parts of the court?
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I am coaching 5th grade girls basketball and would like to know the easiest way to teach them the full court press and how to break it. We currently play a zone defense. Would you suggest a man to man might be better during the use of a full court press? And also, I am having trouble teaching them how to get open on offense, they seem to not want to move out of their assigned position. Any suggestions? Thank you.
I am coaching 5th grade girls basketball and would like to know the easiest way to teach them the full court press and how to break it. We currently play a zone defense. Would you suggest a man to man might be better during the use of a full court press? And also, I am having trouble teaching them how to get open on offense, they seem to not want to move out of their assigned position. Any suggestions? Thank you.
How many teams are eligable for the ncaa mens basketball tournament? not available brackets, but how many total teams are in the league total... out of the thiry two conferences?
How many teams are eligable for the ncaa mens basketball tournament? not available brackets, but how many total teams are in the league total... out of the thiry two conferences?
Is it appropriate in grade-school basketball (4th through 8th grade) to punish students who arrive late for practice as a rule, no exceptions, and without discussion with the parents? ("Punishment" includes laps and other physical conditioning apart from the team, or sitting out of drills "because you were late" and not because you don't know the drill or your tardiness prevents you from participating.) Our board would like to issue a policy that precludes this type of punishment for our school's sports (it is only happening within our Basketball program) however certain coaches feel that it is their only way to "get to the parents" to ensure promptness, or it's just how they prefer to operate. (Note that if the coaches want to limit playing time for practice tardiness, we have no problem with that.) Unfortunately tardiness can't always be helped, but there is no attempt made to provide some leeway and talk to the parents if it's a habitual problem.
Not sure that this is the kind of thing you can comment on, but if not, could you direct me to any particular authoritative guidance that would illustrate that this policy is not a necessary part of a well-coached program? Thanks.
Q1. Explain the player positioning and ball movement in a five man offensive transition?
Q2. What are the important points of emphasis factors in running a 3 on 2 drill?
Q3. How would you defend a 3 on 2 fast break?
Q4. What are the important factors you consider would work towards your advantage in breaking down a zone defense?
Q1. Explain the player positioning and ball movement in a five man offensive transition?
Q2. What are the important points of emphasis factors in running a 3 on 2 drill?
Q3. How would you defend a 3 on 2 fast break?
Q4. What are the important factors you consider would work towards your advantage in breaking down a zone defense?
How do you get a team to listen to your suggestions in game situations?
I'll presume you mean during the time-out huddle. Well, in practice, practice your huddle. Set the rules. Most kids do not intend to be disrespectful or aloof, they just have poor listening skills, so that's what you teach them. For instance, have them follow these rules when you blow the whistle in practice or when the buzzer sounds in the game:
Now, don't get too discouraged next time when you have a great talk in the huddle and then the kids go out and do something different. It takes time to change game behavior, even when they listen to you. You can immediately burn another timeout to correct their behavior. Or, especially as the kids get older, simply sub in other players who are willing to play the game the way you want. When your team is very young (and you may be constrained by substitution rules), patience is needed.
How do you get your team to cooperate?
The trick is to get them to feel like they need each other, and then to trust each other. The need is felt when the task that must be accomplished cannot be done without assistance from another. For instance, assign your best player to take one five other players in a basketball game. The solo player gets the ball first - out of bounds. The obvious dilemma is that there is no one to pass the ball to. When that is realized, add another player, 2 on 5. With 5 players to guard the receiver, it should be obvious they still need help, add another teammate. It should be apparent soon that you need all five to have balance. This is just one example of a team building exercise. You can do anything along the same lines, even off-court, non-basketball activities, that present a challenge requiring the players to assist one another. Trust will come in time as players see teammates coming to help. Trust also requires that the players discover they make mistakes, too, and need such help.
how can you become a head coach without pride
Do you mean a head coach who has loses his pride or someone with no pride becoming a head coach?
I have a sophmore girl with a great shot but she has lost all confidence. I have worked with her one on one but as soon as she misses that first one.... it's all over. She won't shot again. Any suggestions??
Thanks, D.
That's a real common problem with both boys and girls, especially at that age group. They depend so much on peer pressure and may stop shooting to avoid the embarrasment of missing or maybe to avoid doing anything that may disappoint their teammates. The kids need to learn that the shot is just part of the process. Sometimes the process to earn a a good open shot is long and arduous, and when a player passes up that shot she wastes all the effort it took to create it. Try doing a lot of drills that keep the players busy running and shooting. The novelty will soon wear off. Most of all, don't make a big deal out of it. You want to keep the shooting percentage from becoming a head game. Just provide lots of opportunities to shoot and be quietly supportive. Praise good shot selection whether the shot is made or missed.
1) how do you become a pro athlete? 2) what kind of degree do you need? 3)what kind of money do you make in a pro athlete?
1) Get paid for playing a sport 2) Ask Kobe and LeBron 3) Depends how good you are and how affluent the sport is.
Coach,
Sorry, a typo in my last question changed the meaning of the question entirely. Here is what I meant to ask:
When we use your box low BLOB play, the player who picks away usually is open for the inbound pass when we are playing against a zone defense. But against a m2m, the defender of the player picking away is usually in between him and the basket and we can never get the inbound pass to him. Since a m2m defender will normally play between their man and the basket, that would mean there is always a defender between the inbounder and the screener. Am I missing something here?
Well, the post away from the ball gets a pick and then breaks across the key. The screener's defender usually switches and covers the post play coming across the key. If not, the pick worked because the picked post got free. Throw her the ball instead. This play breaks down as you described when the post doesn't wait for the screen to set. If she leaves too early, the defenders slip by and the screen/seal never happens.
Hello, I play girls Jr. High/intermediate/middle schoool basketball. i am trying to work on free throws and would like to know how far is the free throw line from the basket?
15 feet will do you just right.
Hello,
Let me first begin by saying my team (4-6 graders) has lost every one of its first 7 games.
Most games were by ~10 points or more.
However, in 2 of these games they played hard 5th quarter full court press defense and had a GREAT showing.
This last game, the opposing defense was too much for them. Pass after pass was picked off. We probably didn't get a shot off for 2 quarters. They scored outscored 48-8 as a final score.
A couple of players were really distraught. We have increased scoring every game until this one. What should the focus be to raise the players spirit?
I need to say that the other team had 3 of last year's allstars. We have none. (So much for team balance during the evaluation Preseason work)
See the article Getting Open. It may be the most under-taught skill in the game even though the concepts are simple. Once your girls get the knack of popping out to catch a pass, you'll be able to move the ball even against better athletes.
I HELP COACH MY SON'S 5TH GRADE BB. TEAM~WE HAVE ABOUT 15 PLAYERS MOST OF THE TIME FOR GAMES BUT MAYBE 12 FOR PRACTICES`ABOUT 7 OR EIGHT BOYS THAT ARE GOOD BALL PLAYERS~WE SPLIT THE TEAM FOR MORE PLAYING TIME FOR THE KIDS ~I COACH WITH THREE OTHER PARENTS~THE OTHER PARENTS WANT TO TAKE MOST OF THE BETTEWR PLAYERS FOR THERE TEAM LEAVING ME WITH MY SON AND ONE OTHER GOOD BALL PLAYER~~HOW DO I HANDLE THIS~DOING WHATS RIGHT~THE OTHER 3 THAT THEY WANT ME TO FILL MY TEAM WITH ARE NEVER THERE TO LEARN~~MY SON AND THE OTHER BOY GET VERY FRUSTRATED PLAYING WITH THESE BOYS THAT JUST DO NOT UNDERSTAND~YET THE OTHER TEAM HAS THE MORE EXPER, PLAYERS~MY SON AND THE OTHER BOY ARE THE TWO BEST OUT OF ALL BUT THEY DO NEED HELP~THANKS FOR YOUR TIME~PLUS I'M A FOOTBALL PLAYER NOT MUCH UPSTAIRS CONCERNING BASKETBALL~.
In the practice time, I don't see whay you can't suggest the kids be split differently time to time. In a real game, you may see all kinds of combinations on the floor. It makes sense that they get used to playing with ALL their teammates.
I coach 3rd through 7th grade girls. I want to pick a captain of the team, but I am not sure how to word the responsibilities of a captain. I want to make sure the girls understand that it doesn't mean that the best player should be the captain, but that it should be someone with leadership skills. Could you email me some advice so I can get something ready that the girls could read and then decide who they should vote for.
Thank you
Kelly King
Choosing captains ... hmmm ... give the girls some warning that captains will be chosen. Tell the the qualities you are looking for and expected duties. Some duties are honorary, like speaking with the refs before the game. Some are like aides, assisting the coach with carrying equipment. Sometimes they can make calls like a phone tree. Most of all, they are expected to be leaders in practice, exhorting the others to play harder and setting the best example they can.
When we use your box low BLOB play, the player who picks away usually is open for the inbound pass when we are playing against a zone defense. But against a m2m, the defender of the player picking away has a defender who is usually in between him and the basket and we can never get the inbound pass to him. Am I missing something here?
Against a M2M you are probably seeing the inbounder's defender sag back to fill the passing lane. One solution is to pass the ball outside then return it to the inbounder who has just entered the playing area at the short corner. However, if your inbounder is clever and good at misdirecting, he can still hit the screener if he pivots and seals well. We have been successful against a 2-3 zone, too, which puts three defenders on the baseline.
I have heard the the proper arc height of a free throw is 13' 6". Is this true? Also, what should the arc height be for a 3-point shoot?
Seems like a minimum arc height to me. The arc height will be a variable dependent upon the size of the shooter and how high the actual release point is.
I coach a junior high team and we have a problem with the scores being very one sided. We have won every game with a massive point spread. I feel bad for the kids on the other team. I only kept 8 players because we ran into playing time issues in the past so I don't have much of a 2nd or 3rd string to put in. I have my players lay off the press, go to a loose zone, and pass the ball five times before they shoot and still we blow teams out. We champion the program "Victory With Honor" and with these scores I can see how other coaches are getting upset. In one game we told the players to take it easy and they got bored and started to display bad habits. All the players want to play high school ball so we train very hard. What can I do?
Well, I am not too pleased with the fact that you have a junior high team with only eight players. You are feeling compassion for the teams you are beating now that your victories are assured, but it would have been better if you had been willing to assume more risk early on and carried more players on your roster. Playing time isn't a problem if you let all the kids play. Junior high teams should be more about opportunity, participation and bringing kids into the sport and helping them to develop their skills.
However, your question is a good one. I'm sure the other coaches see you as a "sandbagger" with the short roster, so there isn't much chance of correcting that. If you are obvious in your efforts to manage the score, it just gets worse. I know ... I've been there. I suggest you stick with a no press policy (unless you need it). You may feel you need to press early to guarantee the win, but why don't you flip it around? Start with a conventional defense and use the press if you need it late in the game. That will force your players to excel in their normal game and you won't appear to be running up the score. Your team shouldn't be dependent upon their press anyway. I never feel like you should tell your players to do less than their best. One thing I have tried is staying in our m2m defense, but allow no player to extend beyond the arc. You may even pull it back within the key. That removes the easy steals and will make your players focus on their team defense.
Its good you all are training hard. You are instilling the work ethic they will need in high. Next year, consider 12 players even if it means the subbing is more challenging. You may even discover a gem at the bottom of your roster.
How many feet is it from the baseline to the near foul line?
19
following statistics in our local news paper they will have the name of the player followed by 6-0-12. I know what the 12 represents (points) what does the 6 or the 0 stand for?
Looks like the player made 6 field goals worth two points each, no free throws, for a total of 12 points.
How high is the rim on the goal from the ground on a regulation basketball goal. I want to put one up and want it to be right. Thanks.
10 feet
What is the distance of the free throw line from the net?
The net is a variable depending where you measure from. I'll say about 13.5 feet.
hey coach... i always hear pple talkin about how they got a "double-double" in a game or a "triple-triple".. i just wanted to know what that ment..
A double double means you recorded double digit stats in two area. For example, 23 points and 11 rebounds is a double double. If you also got 13 assists, it would be a triple triple.
I coach an 8th grade girls team (6 players total!) - the team plays very good defense and can press very well. Offensively my 1 & 2 guards are very weak ball handlers. I have a strong 3 and one post player. My other post is not a strong scorer. Other teams are playing a 1-2-2 half-court trap on us or simlply putting pressure on the guards the entire game. I need to keep my 3 and post player in a postion to score - so I don't want to have the 3 bring up the ball. Can you please explain how we should set up to beat this half-court pressure? Thank you.
I suggest you use one of your post to flash to the middle of their defense and use it to receive and relay the ball. The 122 has openings in the middle. When they shift to cover the middle, the weak side opens up. So, if you have a strong side to move the defense, a middle player and a weak side player, you should be able to reverse the ball against them. Pressure on your two guards will be a fact of life they need to get used to.
with a 2-1-2 zone defense who is responsible for checking the opposing men in the corners?
When the ball is in the corner, your entire defense should flatten down, so your 212 will compress into more of a 23. That means your two forwards will need to go out and defend the corner shot. Or not ... depending on how well your opponent shoots, you may want to provide a token resistance and focus on rebounds by staying closer to home.
I play highschool basketball, and I want to increase my verticle leap. What is the quickest way and best way possible to do so. Im already a sophmore and still cant dunk. I can get rim just cant slam it. Im 6'1 and bout 184 pds. Is there any suggestions you can give me to help me out. thx
Practice jumping, lift weights, skip rope. I'm not too enthusiastic about this question. I would much rather have a player that can make layups consistently than one who can dunk. Usually players just want to dunk to impress their peers.
hi, ummm my question is... can u name all the canaidian players on the lakers team??? cuz i need it for my project for skool cuz im supposed to find a canaidian person that i look up to and my favourite sport iz basket-ball so i look up to basket-ball players so can u please answer that question pleeeeaaaasssseeee!!!!!!!!!!! thanx n e wayz bye
I don't do homework. Besides, I don't know the answer to your question. Try the Yahoo or Google search engines and search on "Lakers" Canada".
Can you please give me tips on how to do the running jump shot, those shots that are frequently utilized by Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant? I think it's a great shot and I too believe that it's simply unstoppable. I keep on practicing that shot but I always become unbalanced as I shoot, thereby missing the shot. Thanks!
Exactly ... you are off balanced and you miss. You need to build a solid foundation of normal shooting technique to be a great shooter, then maybe add some more difficult shots. One thing you might notice is that Kobe doesn't make many of his off balance shots either. Check out how many games he may score 20 points but shoot about 30% from the field. As a coach, I don't want numbers like that. On the other hand, somebody with Kobe's talent who gets good looks instead is truly unstoppable.
What does the term full court press mean Thanks REM
Basically it means spreading your defense all across the floor. Your intent may be to pressure the offense into making turnovers or it may mean you simply want to slow down their progress by forcing them to methodically pass the ball upcourt.
Is it legal for a player to block a pass with her foot? If it is, who gets the ball if it is still in play?
No, you cannot kick the ball or intentionally block a pass with your feet. If you do, the ball is given to the other team. If the ball incidently hits someone's foot, it is not a "kicked" ball.
I asked about what I should start to teach first in my 3rd and 4th grade boys team. I thank you for the reply. Now I am wondering about if I should bother with a play. I tried to teach the basic motion play but I am not sure if it is doing much good. What do you think would be the best thing to do?
Thanks for your time, Tiffany McKane
I wouldn't invest time in a play. I would probably try getting across the idea of triangles. The point passes to a wing who then looks to a post, passes and cuts. Reverse the ball and then have your post follow the ball to make a new triangle on the other side. That's a very basic pattern they can use and it is the foundation for most offensive plays.
Was wondering if you have any examples of a "situation" tournament set up?
Nope.
HOW DO YOU DEFEND THE FLEX CUT
Play zone.
Hello I am a youth basketball coach. I am looking for tips on how to beat the 1-2-2 full court press. Can you help?
Hello I am a youth basketball coach. I am looking for tips on how to beat the 1-2-2 full court press. Can you help?
I suggest you use one of your post to flash to the middle of their defense and use it to receive and relay the ball. The 122 has openings in the middle. When they shift to cover the middle, the weak side opens up. So, if you have a strong side to move the defense, a middle player and a weak side player, you should be able to reverse the ball against them.
We is the actual definition of a basketball assist?
I have designated one of my parents to keep a team book on points, attempts, rebounds, steals and assists. The question has come up what we mean by an assist, including, e.g., does an actual basket have to be made, how many people can participate in the assist, is a pick considered an assist, etc.
Thanks.
An assist is the pass that leads to a basket. The assist is given when a player finds the open man and provides the basketball. If the player receives the ball then makes a move to shake a defender and get open, there's no assist. If a player receives a pass at mid court and dribbles uncontested to score, there is an assist. If a player is fouled and thereby misses the shot (but scores on the free throw), no assist. You have some leeway as a coach to define your stats. Just keep them consistent within your team.
can you please give me the teaching points for the lay-up shot and describe a full drill that will help me improve?
I have already provided an entire article - Teaching Layups.
hey coach. Iv been playing basketball for a long time now. I think I started playing grade 4 or 5. I play as a point gaurd. I would just like to know how to jump higher. I have really big caff muscles but i jump soo low. Iv been going to the gym and working out my legs but it doesn't seem like i get any higher. So do you think you can help meh out. Like what musles are use for jumping or like making a lay-up. Becuase i cant dunk yet. thanks..
You may need to work on things like jump rope and trying to touch the backboard as many times as you can in 15 second sets.
analysing only the lower half of the body identify and descrive the types of bones and joints involved in a long jump or vertical jump?
That's not a question. Its an assignment. Your assignment.
what are the advantages and disadvantages of a full court press and half court press?
The article Implementing a Press goes into detail on that question.
how can i increase my vertical without paying a lot of money my vertical is about 25inches i would like a least a 35 someone please help
what is the new techniques in teaching
Try Teaching Tips on this site.
my team very good but my player loos game whean losse 3.point
Devote practiice time to your end game situations. Give the kids one minute to play and a certain score situation, and practice that with game intensity.
As the new school counselor I have been assigned the wonderful privilage of coaching boys basketball for Supai Elementary School, located in Arizona on the Havasupai Reservation. Our school is located in the bottom of the Grand Canyon, accessible only by hiking or riding a horse/mule on an eight mile trail, hiking, or by chopper. Mail is delivered by mule, and even our school lunch food is packed in on mule. I have zero experience with basketball and could really use some help from anyone. I would like to find three or four VERY basic offense and defense plays to teach the boys here (and share with the girl's team as well) that can be applied simply. Theses boys are not an agile or speedy bunch, in fact obesity is common, so a strategy game needs to be implemented. I can figure out the stretching, wind sprints and warmups with little difficulty. We have a zero budget for items like videos and manuals, but If you have anything at all that may help, please send or email it to me. Next week I will be starting practices Tuesdays and Thursdays after school, and my first game is Friday the 16th -- which means choppering the team out of the canyon and chaperoning till sunday when the choppers are running (pray for me). Our postal address is PO Box 40, Supai, Arizona 86435 and you can email me also to counselorcoach@hotmail.com Thank you, Jerry Nelson, school counselor and boys BB coach
Anyone who cares to donate materials, please email counselorcoach@hotmail.com
how far is the nba three point line from the basket to the line
23' 9".
8th grade boy's team is struggling to break a back court press. Average to good team speed, and basketball skills with power forward, forward, and three guard set. Competition is exceptional with some of the top 12/13 year olds in the state. What would you recommend for breaking the press?
Well, your question is pretty broad, so my answer will be, too. Most full court presses are zones, so use the same tenants as you would against a half court zone offense: overload one side, reverse the ball as needed, attack gaps and pass the ball quickly as opposed to dribbling. Against any press, avoid floating passes, don't pass over traps (pass around or through them) and move hard to the pass to receive it as the defense is probably moving towards it as well. It doesn't matter so much if you vigorously attack a press or beat it in a methodical fashion. That should fit the style of your team. Make sure the kids understand that as long as they have the ball, they are in control of what happens next, so stay clam and don't let the press force you into hasty decisions.
I'm not a coach, and i'm just beginning to learn how to play basketball. What I want to learn is, what is the triple threat position? How do you do it?
Triple threat means being in a position to shoot, pass or dribble. That means your shooting foot is forward a bit, the ball is in the shooting hand and held a little above the hip. The body is couched somewhat, ready to spring into action. The key is that the defense can't tell what that action will be. Whenever you catch a pass, unless you need to relay the ball immediately, go right into that position.
I am starting to coach and 3rd and 4th grade boys basketball team. What would you start teaching first? They have never played before.
Layups, passing, dribbling (using each hand) and basic man to man. At that age, its all about learning fundamental skills.
hi
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I lost my E-mail and I try to get it back but I can not
maby some body chang my informaito plz tel my for esay way to get it back
or if you can retirn it to me here you are (( hindchoukri@hotmail.com ))
THANK YOU FOR THES HELP
I COACH A 7TH AND 8TH GRADE ELEMENTARY TEAM. I AM HAVING TO GO WITH FIVE GUARDS, AND NO POST PLAYERS. ANY SUGGESTIONS ON AN OFFENSE? WE HAVE THREE GOOD OUTSIDE SHOOTERS AND SPEED. NO REBOUNDING.
Well, an obvious answer is an uptempo game that relies on fast break baskets. Another answer is the Spread Offense (in the article, Stalling) that has five men out. My team this year is small and we are using the Swing Offense which requires everyone to play a post position. I like it and the interaction with the post position makes the offense work, even if you have the smaller team.
how far away from the goal is the free-throw line?
15 feet.
I coach a fifth and sixth grade boys team. We run an offense based soley on fundamentals such as screen & rolls Back door cuts etc. Also we teach the kids to Go back door when dribbled at, float the baseline for a kick-out if the ball is taken to the basket and other principles. They really do a good job of moving without the ball and using these principles and we have no problem getting good looks and lay-ups. Problem is we shoot very poorly evan from what I call Jump stop lay- up range and 10-15 feet out. I have had coaches tell me that they can't figure out how to stop our Offense but we shoot so poorly that we lose to better than average teams and of course have no problem with the equally talented or below teams. I have read the articles on your sight along with several others and have implimented drills based on them in practice and we look like we are in a zone but once the game starts we can't take the lid off. Are there any drills out there that teach good reps and can be done with an average of 8-10 kids a practice.
Thanks,
I wonder if you have an underlying problem of poor confidence shooting in games or perhaps your players are simply rushing their shot attempts. Try putting pressure on your shooters during their drills and see what happens. Do the players change their form once someone is close to them? I have seen all kinds of crazy things when I play defense against the kids - sometimes they even close their eyes when they shoot! Try the layup drill Two Lines, Two Balls in the article, Pregame Warmups . You can name any shot style and location you want and you can play token defense on the players to see how they react.
I am coaching my daughters little league team this year (reluctantly agreed). What is an easy offensive set to use for these kids to get some good shots. some of these girls have played little ball. We will see some man to man and some zone. Practice time is limited and these girls have short attention spans. Thanks for the help. Dan
Look at the article, Easy Offensive Sets and choose one of those simple patterns. They are designed to teach the kids some basic looks that you will find on most sophisticated plays, but in a modular fashion. Practice time is minimal to learn the sets.
Coach,
We are using your box low baseline out of bounds play with fairly good success, however it usually doesn't go exactly as planned because of the third defensive player (center)in a 2-3 zone. Any suggestions on what to do about the defensive center?
Often we can still hit the screener if he does a good job of sealing. It just takes a bit of misdirection on the part of the passer, and it helps to get the pass on the way as the screener is turning around. The next best option (if neither low person is open) is for the inbounder to hit the wing and then move to the short corner for a pass from the wing. The defender who is sagging in the middle will be too far away to help.
Could you give some ideas on how we handle the following, from a coach's perspective? Handling playing time situations, large team, etc. - that is, helping the player cope, how to approach the coach to ask if there something your child needs to work on, etc. Situation - our son has suddenly found himself bench-warming the entire game (along with 5 or 6 others) on a 7th grade junior high team with 18 (yes, 18) players, after playing for several years on very good teams. Because he is a good player (not a superstar), well-behaved, bright, and has fortunately had excellent instruction (has a coaching dad, who has the special gift of being objective with all kids' skills), he is beside himself and can't understand what's happened. He sees the other kids out there still shooting with two hands, using only the right hand, unable to follow plays. We are trying to keep him encouraged, but we see the writing on the wall and don't understand it ourselves. We do not interfere - we are not "sideline parents"; we teach respect for the coach regardless and maturity in handling such things. There are additonal problems with this young coach regarding the whole team, but he has scared the kids and told them that he doesn't care what any parents think and if anyone talks to him that he will know the kid has "whined" at home (not true - we've had to pry everything out of our son). Perhaps some comments for other parents or coaches in handling this would be helpful. Thanks for a very informative website.
I had the exact same problem when my son was in seventh grade. The team wasn't as large, but the coach only played about 7-8 players (which I thought was ridiculous for a middle school team) and was very unapproachable about anything. I was very resentful after investing so much time in my son only to watch him sit or play with the second team. However, I had to deal with it by remembering that he was getting daily practice, their schedule was very short and I was still able to coach him in our YMCA league which was bigger and better organized anyway. The irony was that although the 7th grade team was undefeated that year, very few of the players who were given playing time in 7th grade made their high school teams due to poor grades or moving away. Eventually, my son and his friends made high school varsity. They look back on that 7th grade year with a shrug. It was very important to them that they were on the team, and it hurt to not play at the time, but in the long run it wasn't a life-event, not even close. So, the best advice I can give is to share that experience with your son, keep him active in sports, and to keep looking ahead to a brighter future. The chances of you changing playing time this year is very slim, and if you interfere, the results will be more negative than the situation is now.
hi! i want to know what are good very good vertical leap exercise to do because iam having problem geting pack with the basketball all the time when i try to shot and iam geting upset i want you to tell me what are very good exercise to do i get pack all the time iam short i been going in the internet to find out what exercise should do but it does work so i want you to tell me very good exercise to do. PS
I don't think the answer is to simply jump higher. In fact, that is the "lazy" answer because you are trying to solve the problem by using your body and not your mind. You can improve the situation most by choosing better shots. If your shot gets stuffed, you probably should not have taken it. How much have you worked on your fakes? Being short, you must have noticed that everyone wants to block your shot. All you need to do is get good at pretending to shoot (lock, load, head fake) and when when the defender jumps, go around him to an open area. Defenders who leave their feet are effectively out of the defense. When you go around them, someone else must pick you up which gives you a chance to get some "dimes" by passing inside. Add shot fakes to your game and share the basketball and you will find that others want you on their team.
Hey Coach I coach 7th/8th boys I just got hammered today by a real big team, with lot of pick and rolls.I was in man to man but went to a 2/3 def. Any suggestions?
streetball_hotsauce@hotmail.com
Hey Coach I coach 7th/8th boys I just got hammered today by a real big team, with lot of pick and rolls.I was in man to man but went to a 2/3 def. Any suggestions?
Note: Click on link above to see court measurements such as the distance from the backboard to the free throw line.
Hey Coach I coach 7th/8th boys I just got hammered today by a real big team, with lot of pick and rolls.I was in man to man but went to a 2/3 def. Any suggestions?
You need to stay in m2m and learn to "jump" the picks. When your player who is guarding a screener sees his man set a screen for a ballhandler, he needs to anticipate the drive as early as possible, go around in front of the screener and stop the dribble. As soon as that happens, the ballhandler's original defender should be able to recover as well as the screener's defender. There is usually no need to switch.
How tall is the average high school basketball hoop?
Ten feet. They are all the same height.
What kinds of drills can I do with kids new to basketball that are not agressive at all? The other teams are planning to run a fast paced over turn the ball kinds of game, they don't have shooters or heigth but they are fast and experienced. We have shooters and heigth but are bigger, slower, what would you suggest as a line of defense and offense? Thanks for any advice you can offer.
Drills don't teach aggressiveness. Coach's must help kids find that trait within themselves. Generally, competition brings it out. Make every drill you do a contest with consequences for the outcomes (read Making Practice Fun on my site). Right now, my team needs more aggression on the boards. So we did a simple drill where the players toss the ball off the backboard, jump high as possile to get it, then fire an outlet pass to a sideline player. I told them to do this as aggressively as possible and I contested their rebounding efforts by bumping and impeding them. I also has the rest of the team get involved by loudly encouraging the rebounder. Once the kids got active and noisy, the agression improved. Note - don't hurt your players. A coach can be physical, but know where to draw the line with your particular team!
As for defense, get back quickly and stay close to the basket. Whatever m2m or zone defense you're teaching is OK, just stay close to home. Offensively, big team need to choose high percentage shots and ALWAYS crash the boards for 2nd and 3rd attempts.
I am coaching girls middle school basketball in a small southeast Alaska community and feel that the season has gotten too short and am wondering if any other coach would be interested in putting together a game or tournament? If so, please let me know and see if we can keep these girls busy in the gym and off the streets.
Thanks, D.
Good luck. How about hosting your own tournament? You might be surprised at the interest level and you would have control of the timing.
what is the average height for a basketball hoop.
Ten feet. They are all the same height.
my jump shot isnt as consistent as i would like it to be, i would like to kno how can i develope the perfect jump shot?
A consistent shot takes a lot of repetitions. Have a friend parent pass you the ball, catch (in the air), hop and shoot. If you have no helper, bounce ball off a wall or something to simulate the pass. Video tape yourself and study your own jump shot form ... you might find it educational.
what is the latest basketball drill and can you help me to do a basketball program? can you teach me to do a indurance and streghting program?
That's a tall order for this forum. Try the 48 Championship Drills tape. I am about to publish a review of it and its pretty good.
my coach has been talking about teaching my basketball team how to do the St. John's basketball play i was just wondering if you could tell me a little about this play
Sorry ... I do not know a play called the St. John's, at least not by that name.
I actually have two questions. First I have two teams I am coaching (due to shortage of coaches), I am not sure how I will do it but prays will help. :-)
Question one: Can you tell me what I should work on (give examples) for children ages 9 and 10?
Question two: My second age group (11-12) age group (my entire team have to move up to this age group due to date of birth) yet they are just 10 and will turn 11. This will be the first session they will be exposed to full court press. What would be the easies way I could teach them to break out of a full court press and also how to set one for this age group. v/r God Bless! Kimo 808-348-5424
1. Concentrate on dribbling, passing, shooting and playing man to man defense. That's a short answer, but a challenge for any coach. Don't waste time on plays.
2. Check out my article, Press Breaker. You'll see there are two elements to breaking a press, inbounding the ball and then moving the ball upcourt. With young kids, you see a lot of pressure on the inbound pass where as you do not with older kids, because the older kids can throw the ball so much further. Anyway, read the article, and then I can try to help with specific questions.
how many feet are nba hoops
Ten.
what is a full court press?
Any defensive configuration where the defense is spread out all over the floor. The idea is to provide pressure defense for 90 feet.
Two questions: 1. Do you have drills for screenig / picks 2. can you suggest an offense that uses mostly picks and screens?
This is for a 3rd and 4th grade boys team. We seem to run up against mostly zones in our rec league. Thanks
I find I teach screens the most when teaching 2:2 basketball, like the pick and roll. Its a nicely isolated play that makes it real clear if the player understands screening. Another opportunity is when practicing BLOB plays, where screening is essential. As for using screen against zones - don't really do that. The emphasis against zone should be overload and reversal. Make the defense move and take advantage of the defense's decision making.
What should you do to improve your dribbling and shooting skills?
What do I do? Nothing. I am too old to play anymore. For the kids, we do a series of dribble drills. They need to dribble with both hands, learn to exchange from one hand to the other, drive around obstacles, learn to create space with a dribble, protect the ball - man, there's a bunch of skills here. I simply line them up at the baseline, define a lane they must stay within, define the exercise, and send them down court and back. When they get control, add defense. For shooting, check out the Nordland tape. See Reviews on my front page.
I coach Junior Varsity basketball, boys 11-12 years old. We use the high post to set up all of our offensive sets. With good passing and motion, they work more often then not. However, we have run into teams with good quickness that are pinching the point guard once he passes the mid-court circle. With 2 and sometimes 3 people suddenly guarding him, it's been taking away the passing lanes and it's bee turn-over city.
What are some good plays to run to counter act their point of attack?
Thanks, Coach Tom
Well, you need to be willing to adjust your initial attack. Whenever the defense takes the initiative, as they are in your case, they are giving something up. If your PG has 2-3 defenders, you have someone else open. I suggest you have you next best guard near midcourt. Your pg can drive until he attracts the trap, but before it sets, pass the ball to the guard at mid court. He should be able to spot who is open. When the defense is trapping that high, you should be scoring layups and not trying to execute your normal offense. Be sure to read the article on Getting Open. Your guard who receives the pass from the pg will need to get open in a timely, efficient manner.
Would your "Box Low" play (in your article: "OB Play - Base Line") work against a zone defense. If not, what would you suggest. Your two plays in "OB Play - Basline vs. Zone" look too complicated for my 5/6 grade inexperienced girl's team and besides, we do not have a great outside shooter. We need something that gets us closer to the paint.
Also, we need a good Ob - sideline play for the same team which will mostly be playing against a zone.
I use the box low and box high against a zone. you need to be more careful on the pass because they will have a defender right in the middle of the key. That's OK because you are not going to shoot the ball there anyway. The box low is designed to create an imbalance on the block away from the ball. All your screener needs to do is seal out that defender on the block and she will still open for a quick inside shot.
When faking before shooting, would you suggest faking up or to the side. (5th and 6th grade girls)
Answered by private email.
What type of offense should my freshmen girls run against a 2-3 zone?
What kind of plays can I run to generate some offense, because our defense is great?
Look on the Easy Plays page. Your girls should overload one side of that zone, look for unguarded teammates, move and pass to open areas and if all that fails, reverse the ball to the other side of the court and start over. If your defense is great, you should be scoring off fast breaks and transitions. Be sure to practice full court 2on1 and 3 on2 drills.
What are some basketball drills that my 10 year old guards can do in my youth league.
Look through the Drill Masterfile on this site (Topic Menu, upper right hand corner). Its huge and indexed.
I am coaching 10 and under boys....I have two boys that are head and shoulders above the rest of the team. (They just happen to be the sons of the asst. coach and myself so I have to be aware of this issue.) If we don't have them in the game we will be lucky to get the ball across half court. Any suggestions about how to get the rest of the team into the game? The two leaders get frustrated by passing to other boys who have trouble even catching the basketball. We continue to work on fundamentals each practice but my two kids are bored and frustrated. They just want to take the game into their own hands.
Phil Harris
This is a tough one. You may try to inspire them with examples like Magic Johnson who excelled at making his teammates better. You can also try to assign specific roles to the inexperienced players as screeners and decoys, but most likely the best answer is to enlist the help of your stars in assisting the other kids in developing their overall skills, despite the pain. Next year, try to get your sons on a team where they match up more competively. This is a move many father-coaches must face as their kids improve and surpass their friends abilities.
My daughter plays on the Varsity Girls Basketball for her High School. She has been playing basketball since she was 5 years old (from recreation to AAU). She loves to play the game and she even loves to practice. This is her Freshman year (she played on varsity inthe 8th grade).
My daughter plays for a coach who is very positive, yet the coach comes from the school of "no-pain-no gain" and it seems as though my daughter and the rest of her team are suffering from overtraining. Between school and basketball, my daughter is averaging less than 6 hours a day. The coach is also a believer in weight lifting and has the girls lifting a day before game day. The girls are playing basketball (games or practice) six days a week (they have a 5:30 a.m. practice on Wednesday's), and it seems by game time that they are exchausted and their muscles are sore. Is this the norm for higher league play?
This seems extreme to me but I am hesitant to criticize because the methodology of the most successful caoches is usually built around superb conditioning, especially with female teams. Weight training is very beneficial in the long term and may likely be an effective preventative measure against injuries, especially knee injuries that plague female athletes. Should your daughter end up playing for a competitive college team she may expect to find a rigorous physical training regimen, so there is a strong argument that her coach is preparing her for the next level.
Hey coach just had a question for ya. Im 25y/o and in the U.S Air Force and have 3 years left before I get out, I ve always been interested in coaching ever since my high school playing days. I recently talked with my old HS coach and it really confirmed my desire to get into coaching. I was wanting to get your advice on how to go about getting started in coaching?
Thanks alot, Chris
Jump into it. Coaches are always needed for youth. Isn't there a youth league on your base? You can really find a lot about yourself as a coach by training a group of 10 year old kids. You get invaluable experience and the kids benefit, too. You can test your theories, your ability to teach fundamentals (which is crucial at all levels), your game strategies and your ability to communicate with parents and kids. With a couple seasons under your belt, explore the possibility of assisting an experienced high school coach. You won't believe how much more you will learn working in a good high school program. Don't shoot for varsity ball right at first. Why would that be so important? Your ego? Coach for the kids and you'll find the level isn't so important. You can advance as your new skills develop.
Hey Coach!
I'd like to know how you would deal with a talented team of girls (14-15 yrs old) who need a lot of motivation to play to their ability? Their coach is a friend of mine, and he was asking me about this. I told him to motivate them as he seems fit, but what's your opinion?
Why do they need a lot of motivation? Do they not have a competitive environment? There are many reasons for a team not playing to their best ability. It could be they are not challenged. It could be they don't have a strong sense of team identity. Generally, a common "enemy" unites people in a "cause" to excel. Sometimes a coach needs to make it clear to the team why they get together to play. The motivation needs to come from within the players rather than them feeding off the coach. The secret is for the coach to find the right buttons to push to spark that self motivation.
What exercises can i do to help increase my verticle jump?
Weight lifting is very helpful ... and don't forget to practice jumping. How many times can you touch the rim in 15 seconds? Merely testing yourself on that every day can increase your leaping quickness and height.
how many people play basketball a year?
More thanI can count.
how to shoot the ball properly in the three point shot line?
There are several good shooting articles on this site. Check the Topic Menu (upper right hand corner).
in your view what is sportsmanship and how do you develop it
Read the Sportsmanship article on this site. Simply stated, sportsmanship is a commitment to play hard but within the rules, and to show respect to your teammates, coaches, opponents and officials. To develop sportsmanship, the coach must carefully define the rules (of the game and of the conduct that is expected) and then set a strong personal example upholding those rules.
I'm doing a research paper on the affect of arc on a basketball jumpshot. I can't find any sites that include any valuable information. Do you know of any sites/books that could help me?
Try this site.
Hi there!
First, Many thanks for your site...SO HELPFUL!!!
I coach a 7th grade girls JV team this year, I've played basketball through first few years of college, so i have a good idea of the game. I am having a devil of a time coming up with an offense that works well against a zone, at the skill level of my girls. We can not get the ball into a viable shooting opportunity, and often time don't even get a shot off!!
Help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
thanks so much!!!
dj
You need to teach the girls some basic concepts for beating a zone. They are:
Some coaches do not even use plays against a zone. They just overload and take advantage of the defensive adjustments.
how far away is a basketball hoop away from the free throw line?
For information on court dimensions (like the distance for free throws), click on this link:
How would you decscribe how to shoot a right hand free throw to someone in one short paragraph.
Sure. Just read the two excellent free throw articles already posted on this site. You can get the input from reknown shooting coach, Tom Nordland, and in another article, Free Throws, advice from several other coaches.
Learning to shoot free throws takes a lot more than reading a short paragraph. If it were that easy, anyone could be an expert free throw shooter. To be better than the other players, you'll need to work harder and learn more than them. Are you up to the challenge?
Hi my name is christian okeze, and I am a basketball player, I play for my school called stewart middle school and I am the starting power foward, I am only 13 years old and I am an 8th grader, well i never had a real basketball coach to talk to about my basketball game. so I just want to know if you would help me with pointers on how to make my game better, for example; how to shoot better, how to get my vertical jump higher, how to dribble the ball better etc. so I need you to help me. thank you for your time.
p.s. please help me.
Christian, I'll be happy to help, but I need you to do some homework first. Read the articles on this site that already address your concerns, and then write back with specific questions where I can provide more details. Its hard for me to answer general questions because I have never seen you play and I do not know anything about your present skill level. Here's what I mean: pick one of your topics, like how to shoot better. Read the shooting articles (there must be eight good articles on this site). Think about how they apply to your personal game. You will probably have questions about what a particular point in an article meant or maybe you went to the gym and tried one of the things you read about and it didn't seem to help. Write me back and ask me exactly what you need to know. Then I can figure out the best advice to give you. Giving you general pointers on shooting right now requires me to guess which pointers you need. I can do better for you if you can be more specific. Don't give up. Read and learn. Then I can help you.
What is the best way to shoot a free throw?
Rather than me writing a lot here, just read the two excellent free throw articles already posted on this site. You can get the input from reknown shooting coach, Tom Nordland, and in another article, Free Throws, advice from several other coaches.
wondering if you have specific drill that should be used in a basketball tryout?... ala dribbling through cones etc.???
thanks, David Lawrence
You didn't mention the age group of your prospective players. I suggest the drills be simple so they can be easily learned by the newest players and that will allow you to watch closely for how well the skills are executed. I would also evaluate how well the players follow instrcutions. Before ech drill. explain exactly how you want th drills performed. For instance, when you ask them to shoot lefthand layups, do they try to change their habits and conform to the teaching, ie jumping off the proper foot, shooting with the correct hand, or do they worry more about making the basket than learning a new skill? Test them on all the primary offensive skills - ballhandling, passing and shooting. On the shooting, don't keep score on how many shots are made. Instead, look at who has good form and who is willing to change their habits. Defensively, the shell drill is good for isolating individual defensive skills, including rebounding. Check out the two shell drill articles on this site.
Hello Coache, "It's a great thing finding pleasure in sport but when it's becoming reality of life we don;t have to neglect it. I will be nice to notice one's dream and planning to fulfil it at the instant". I have so much interest in basket ball than anyone and I think it not going to work out just being stagnant or something. I am a 6 ft tall guy not fat and fit for this game. My dream is to become a International Bball player and bringing out the stuffs and the hiden potentials. Sir, it will be appreciative if you can reply me and tell me what to do and how to work this out. I know there are lots of bball players out there but mine is some kind of different. I am just hoping for the dream to come true. Thankx in anticipation.
Private email sent 11/27/2003.
Hello. My name is Aleksandar and im from Macedonia. Im student on Belgrade basketball akademy. I want to aks about your opinion for one coach question. How is coach behave after and of the game.
Well, here are some ideas I think help define sportsmanlike behavior once the game is over. Don't involve your team in a long talk while you are on the floor. Do that in the locker room. Instead, line up quickly to shake the hands of the other team. Win or lose, congratulate the other coach. Say thank you to the officials and that includes the scorekeeper and the timekeeper. If a reporter or spectator asks you to comment about the game, say something positive and gracious about your team and the opponent. Never criticize the referees or blame a loss on them. Never say anything negative about the players. Once you start making detrimental remarks, you sound like a poor loser and a whiner.
How high can a basket ball bounce ? Click on link above to see court measurements such as the distance from the backboard to the free throw line.
That would depend on how forcefully it hits the floor and how much air pressure is in the ball. I suppose there is a physical limit where the ball would burst before it could be bounced any higher, but what that maximum height is - I don't know.
Coach - I have been coaching a 5th grade girls team since last May. They have now played and practiced together for several months. Skill wise we have progressed very well and are able to execute our offense and defense most of the time. We have progressed to the point that we are in good shape physically. We usually are not tired at the end of the games. The problem I am having is getting the team to play with passion and fire. We just lost again to a team we should beat every time. Basically it was because of our lack of intensity. How can I get the team fired up and able to play 4 quarters as hard as they can? Speeches, excitement on my part, etc, so far hasn't worked. Any help would be appreciated.
Let's see if I can grasp this - you have coaching 11 year old girls for 6 months and you are wondering where their passion is? Give it a rest. It is so easy to impose adult commitment levels on young kids and all you accomplish is that the kids burn out and quit the sport. Its OK to have an intense season that lasts a couple months, but then the girls need a break and a chance to do something else. If they play basketball at all during their break, they should do something that reinforces their individual skills, but with a self-paced, fun approach. With enough rest, they will return to the next season with all the passion you want and more. As they get older, they will want to play for longer periods of time. Right now, though, you should stop trying to fire them up and concentrate on helping them have fun playing. When your current season is done, give them some space. They'll need a rest from you, too. Trust me on this one - I've been there, done that.
I have a little problem with shooting. I cant find the right stance so ive been experimenting. I have some questions. When I shooting and and I move my elbow inward to follow the proper technique, my wrist and my hand flick to the inward to side and not straight. I know that if that happens I wont get the results I want. Do I shoot to the side farther away from my face and just turn my body to be in a position to shoot accurately? Im not sure what to do.
A couple things might help. One, as you raise the ball to shoot, your shooting hand should be at your shoulder (on top), then your arm straightens out and you release with your fingers snapping down and everything is pointing toward the basket. Don't try to bring the ball in front of your nose. That makes your arm angle awkward like you described. Two, and this works well on free throws, angle your body so your shooting shoulder is closer to the basket than the other shoulder. Your feet point straight ahead, not at the basket. This way, you are looking over your shooting shoulder, somewhat, and your arm has a very natural angle to the basket. I've tried this style and really like it. You don't need much of an angle, but experiment and see what you think.
What should you do to get into shape for making the basketball team?
Run a lot. You need to run some long distance on one day and run sprints the next. Vary your workout. Another thing that helps is staying active all year year long. If you are not playing basketball, do another sport. That will help your general fitness and you will have more fun, too. Talk to your coach or your PE teacher at school for more advice. I don't know your age or physical condtion so I do not want to give you specific direction.
What would be the best offense to counter a 1-1-3 defense?
Make a court diagram on paper, then get some pennies and dimes. Your team is the dimes. Put the pennies in a 113 formation. Now put the dimes as follows: one on the block, one in the corner (same side), one near the midcourt at the top of the key, one about the same level but closer to the sideline. You have four players on one side of the court, right? Put the fifth player on the other side of the court at a wing position. You have overloaded the defense on one side. Their 113 must change to cover the open people. Move the pennies accordingly. Are they still in a 113? I don't think so. Reverse the ball to your player on the weak side. Your big guys and your middle guard move to the ball side so the overload is where the ball is. Repeat. It won't be long until they make a mistake and leave someone wide open.
how much money will i make being a high school coach? will i enjoy it? how will i get there? how long will it last? is it a job i will want to stick with it? would i need a diploma? will i travel to other towns?
A. Depends where you work and how long. B. That's up to you. C. In a car? D. It last until you quit. E. That's up to you. F. Yes, a big part of coaching is influencing players to get good grades. You need to set a good example. G. Other towns are where the bus goes on game day.
how do i add inches to my vertical jump?
Practice jumping. Look below at the answers to this question. Its been asked many times.
During a free throw can any player occupy the block space at the lower end of the lanes, or does everyone need to stand on each side of the block and no one can occupy the block ? Thanks!
Tony
Two defensive players must occupy the lower block spaces. The other spots are optional, but there can be no more that 6 players total.
I have never liked zone defense for kids and have always been in leagues which do not allow it. We moved and my 5/6 grade team are in a league that runs a lot of zones. So we now have to learn to run a zone in practice so we can practice against it, but I am completely clueless. For example, I am not even sure whether each zone player follows the ball or follows the man that enters his zone. And what happens when one zone is overloaded. Can you give me some basics. (The article:"Basic Zones" really does not get down to the specific basic fundamentals of the zone.) Or can you recommend some other resource.
The main use I have for zones is when you need to pack everyone in the key and force longer shots. They are also an easy retreat from a press. Anyway, the fundmental concept is that each defender guards an area of the floor, not an opposing player. You have flexibility on the initial configuration, but that's the idea. One way to determine if the opponent is playing a zone is to watch what happens when your player cuts through the key. If no defender follows him, its obviously a zone. Zones shift from side to side to follow the ball. They also try to prevent dribble penetration by having the closest two players come together to "close the door". The way to beat a zone is to overload an area. That puts one or more of your players in area guarded by one defender. It also removes your players from guarded area(s) so their defenders are useless. The only thing the zone can do is abandon its original shape and adjust to cover everybody. This requires decisions and communication by the defense, and that means a higher chance of error on their part.
I'm coaching a 7th/8th grade boys team, and have a coordinated center that's 6-2, but doesn't have a lot of basketball experience. I also have a gifted point guard and left-handed wing...and thus am looking for a simple, effective inside/outside play.
Any ideas?
Thanks....
Try the hi-lo play in the offense patterns in the article, Easy Offensive Sets. The posts are key spots but do not need tohandle the ball much..
Click on link above to see court measurements such as the distance from the backboard to the free throw line.
I have a group of freshmen girls with no prior organized experience. What should be the main focus of my practices.
Spend 50% of your practice time on the basic offensive skills, 25% on basic man to man defense, and 25% on very simple team plays. For offensive skills, check the Drill Master article for suggestions. Use the Shell Drill Article and the two man to man defense articles for pointers. For team skills, choose a press breaker, a easy offensive set (see above) and one out of bounds play. Aftera few practices, you can budget 10 minutes or so of 5on5 practice to help get the game flow, but your main mission right now is to provide fundamental skills as all else is based on those.
who are some wnba basketball players?
Come to think of it, I can only name a few. Shame on me.
MY name is noel I want to now If jumping or keeping your feet on the ground make shooting free throws make more accurate.
I don't think jumping is necessary, but you should definitely bend your legs and then straighten them and be on your toes as you release the ball. I've seen some small players jump a little as they push so hard to get enough power behind the ball. One problem with jumping is if you go forward, you may cross the line which is a violation.
I am coaching kindergarten to third grade basketball. I need to know what to teach them at practice to make them learn the game for their ages. Please help me, I volunteered and our first practice is Monday. I played in jr. high and high school so I am not at a total loss. I just need the basic fundamentals for their ages. Also we are not playing man to man, just zone, so could you tell me a little more about that? Thanks Lisa
Lisa, the younger players need to learn the most basic elements of the game. Spend at least half your time with drills (make them fun - there's an article here about how to do that) and make sure they have enough time to scrimmage at the end and have fun playing the game. You can breakdown parts of the game and practice certain skills. Just make each drill a game in itself and keep it short, maybe 5-6 minutes. Too much time on a drill makes it work, not play.
I coach a 6th grade girls CYO team and use a 3 out, 2 low post set. I am looking for a few things we can do which are simple to attack a zone defense such as 2-3, 2-1-2, and 1-3-1.
Why lock into a 3:2 set? What if you overloaded 4 on one side and just had 1 player on the weak side? That much overload forces the zone to distort so much that it won't look like a 2-3, 2-1-2 or 1-3-1 anymore. When the ball is reversed to the weakside, have 3 players go to ball side to create a new overload.
I am 7th grade Girls coach after being 5th Grade girls coach. I have been following your website for a couple of years. I was wondering If I could Print the Drill Master File and some other info so I could have at hand.
PS This has been a great site being a youth coach. I have used it alot. Thanks for the time and effort put into it.
Thanks - and feel free to print the articles for your own use at practice. That's what I do!
do you know of any good playing time charts or software programs?
No, but I will ask around.
I need ideas for encouragement to get my highly talented 6th grade post player, who has rarely seen any bench time, through a season on a 7th and 8th grade team. Coach can see her talent, but will be playing the 8th graders and using her as a 2nd string sub. She also plays on a 6th grade competitive traveling team. Any ideas would be appreciated.
Its a good thing she plays on the traveling team where she will get ample time on the floor. That will make it easier to deal with sitting more with the older girls. She needs to understand this is an important learning experience and she will need to really earn those minutes. One idea is to try and put more basketball into your minutes, meaning to play with as much intensity as possible. There's no reason not to. Just maybe the extra effort will buy a few more minutes as well as instill a lifelong habit of playing at her top level all the time.
I am coaching a 1st Grade Girls Basketball team. Do you have suggestions for age/beginning level appropriate drills and hints on conducting a scrimmage for this age group.
We have made it through 3 practices and have done fairly well but I would like to have more suggestions for drills. Could you suggest a reference book, video, etc.
Thank you.
Try the Drill Master article for drill suggestions. Check out Tom Nordland's video review on my site, too. Its my favorite shooting video and there are techniques quite appropriate for the youngest players.
hi, i just wanted to know what sorta drilss should be done to improve ball handling skills.Also i wanted to know what exercises to do in order ro improve my jump. Thanks for your advice, jeremy pereira
You know, one good trick is to carry your basketball with you everywhere and dribble anytime you can without annoying people. Like walking down the sidewalk, across a parking lot. After a while, it just feels natural. Pretty soon you can dribble between your legs as you walk, frontward or backward, crossover - no problem. If you make it feel natural, then you don't have to do a lot of drills. Drills work, but I like the idea of making the ball part of your normal movements so you don't even think about it.
As for jumping, practice jumping. Try to touch something you can barely reach when you jump your highest. Then see how many times you can touch it in 15 seconds. Once you get to where you can touch it 15 times in 15 seconds, pick a higher target. Jump up stair steps. You can do both feet at once, or just work on one leg. If you have a long stairway somewhere, this exercise can be very challenging. Keep a hand on the railing so you don't fall!
I am unable to see all but the first diagram from the Mac Shuffle. Is there some place I can get them. great web site.
thanks, tom
Private email sent.
Hi! I'm a student in high school. I'm doing a research paper about whether how to dribble would affect the way you shoot.I will like to know the answer and how long would it take us to shoot. You know our Reflexional time. Were the eyes send infomation to the brain and the brain to the muscle and then you shoot.Please Thank you.
No homework questions, please. I haven't taken your class and I haven't done the research required to answer your specific question. What I suggest is that you think about some ways to test your hypothesis. Get some of your friends to participate. Try to time them and write down the results. Then you can form an educated opinion and your opinion will be much more valuable to you than mine would.
Hello, I am doing a project about being a College Basketball Division 1 coach and I would like to know when you are coach do you have a supervisor or do you work independently? Also I wanted to know what type of credentials do you need?
Everybody has a supervisor of some kind. A college head coach will have full say about running the basketball team, but still has a reporting relationship to the school administration. As for credentials, that will depend on the school. Typically, coaches train for many years as assistants, then hopefully get a chance at a head coach job.
does the tequinque you use to shoot a free throw effect how and if the basketball goes in?
Absolutely. The main point of technique is to provide a consistent delivery. Once you have consistency, you can make adjustments to improve accuracy. Without a reliable technique, your shots will vary and your results will be ... inconsistent. The difference between good techniqu and bad technique is simple. Good technique creates a shooting path that maximizes your chances for success. In the case of free throws, good technique provides a nicely arced shot with good ball rotation.
I have just agreed to coach a 5th grade basketball team. My team strengths are: a good point guard and a second excellent ball handler with above superior size and shooting ability. I anticipate that we will play against mostly 2/1/2 or 2/3 zones. What type of offense should I run that will take advantage of the team's strengths?
Use a standard 3 out 2 in configuration, but have your point guard start more at one side, not at the top of the key. Have your two big men play high and low post on the same side as the ball. This will ensure you have a strong side that overloads a zone. Have your good shooter at the wing. He'll pass to a post and V cut through the key and come out to the other wing. Meanwhile, the guards rotate to the ball, and reverse it back to the shooter on the weakside. Repeat as needed. If you look at the article, Easy Offensive Sets, you'll see this theme throughout the offenses I use.
My daughter is in 3rd grade which has a Saturday League only if a parent is available to coach. I am the only one who is willing. I have played girls basketball in high school and watch numerous games and feel very comfortable with the game. I have noticed that the other girls do not know anything about basketball (which I am sure is normal for most). I am not sure what to start them with and not overwhelm them, and yet get them to really understand and enjoy the game instead of just running around, not getting the ball or getting really bad habits from other after school programs that have been available. Any ideas?
The best advice I have is make the main emphasis of your practice learning basic skills. They need to learn to dribble, pass and shoot to be able to enjoy the game. Winning is nice, but the main enjoyment will be the realization that they are improving. If they cannot handle the ball, pass or shoot then the game is just frustrating. Practice the elements of the game in controlled situations (like 2vs2 or no defense) and limit the 5vs5 to minimize variables. Teach m2m defense from the footwork up so they learn how to move and where to look when guarding someone. Accomplish these things and you have made a significant contribution.
what are the positions
The offensive positions in basketball are point guard, shooting guard, small forward, power forward and center. Unlike baseball, where the positions are distinct and need to filled a certain way, in basketball you mix and match any way you want. You can have all guards on the floor or all centers, theoretically.
I coach 5th grade girls and my most difficult challenge is getting them to "pick up " their man on man-to-man defense. They literally bang into one another trying to get to their man and pay no attention to anything else that is going on with the ball or on the court. Any suggestions?
Once the other team gets the ball, the first move should be to get back to the key to defend as quickly as possible, then find your man and move out to play defense. Often, if the other team is fast breaking, a player will need to defend the ball even if its not her man. Anyway, if your players get back to the key quickly, they should be able to fan out on defense to get to the assigned man without colliding too much because the other team will have spread out some by then.
How do I print out a particular piece? When I print it I only get the heading "Coaches notebook" without the text.
Select anything in the area you want to print, then choose print. That will assure the frame that has the content will be printed. If that fails, after you choose print, click in your pint properties and select the option "Print only the selected frame".
When you are making a right hand layup which knee should be in the air?
Right elbow - right knee. Like there is a string attaching them. Think of Superman - up, up and away! See the Teaching Layups article.
i play j/v high school b-ball. i used to be a dead eye 3 point shooter, even when i was in 8th grade i was shooting almost 45% from 3. But last year i started missing more and more, all season long. Now i've moved from the 2 guard to the 3 position (small forward). Now i rely mostly on a mid range jumpshot and posting up near the basket. Well anyway i want to know if u have any idea why my 3 point shot is now off, i think it could be becuz i grew from 5-5 to 5-10 from 8th grade to 9th. Also my 3 point shot has almost no rotation on it, but my mid range shot has normal rotation. If u have any help it would be much appreciated
Go Yankees! (Just teasing!) I doubt your growth is a factor. You have made a fundamental change in your form at the longer range. The best clue you gave me was the fact that your three has no rotation. That would be due to a lack of follow through. You need to maintain the "wrist flip" at the release. The reason that would go away is if you have lost the rhythm of your shot. If you don't bend your knees and get some lift generated with your lower body, your arms need to work harder and that can cause you to push the ball instead of flipping it. One way to practice and get your timing back is to shoot from a relaxed, balanced position at the three. Bend your knees, straighten, tip toes and leave the ground a little as you release the ball. You should still be rising as you release. Once you get the timing it will be effortless. The good news that once you find it, you'll have your shot back (and your confidence) just like before.
How can I effectively teach young players how to set screens? Particulary back and cross screens? Is there a website, video, or book that can help?
Is there a website? Oh, my, yes. Read the article, Screens. Click here or look in the Topic Menu.
I run a mens basketball league and need to know if there is a site that I can download to use that will automatically put together the averages of the players without me having to do it all manually.
Hmmm ... not sure what you mean, exactly. If you look here (Topic Menu) for the Downloadable Tools page, you can download a nice, free stat program.
What would be a good tr aining session for a beginnner U/14 basketball team? The session would have to incorporate a warmup, technique learning, intensity, tactical learning, speed and agility, power training, aerobic endurance training and a recovery. This would be greatly appreciated Sincere Thanks Jessica large
Well, OK, you have a good start already. Make a template practice plan. At the top put the practice date and then list your items above as headers. Each day list appropriate drills or discussion under each header, one or two drills is enough for each. If you check out the free Drill Master File on this site, you even get an index that break the drills down into categories.
What is the new rule for the free throw lanes? Thank you.
There is a limit of 6 players that can be at the key when the free throw is attempted - 2 defense, two offense, 2 defense.
I have a question. I'm not that good at shooting, so can you give me a list of things I should check before I shoot, such as hand or foot positioning and how to shoot with my arms? I've looked for it all over the net, but they are all "pay $15, buy this book, buy this video." Thank you.
I have several articles related to shooting form. Just check the Topic Menu in the upper righthand corner. After you've read those, and have a specific question(s), write back. Otherwise I'm just guessing at what you need to know.
how can a one-man team win a strong team which has players who are tall and strong?
I don't think a one man team has a much hope of winning at all. The first thing to do is figure out how your one man team can work as a five man team. Until that happens, your competitors are irrelevant.
I coach a team of 4th graders and we rotate kids from position to position. Any idea how I can teach a basic offense so they don't look disorganized and keep yelling their name for a pass?
Pick one the offense patterns in the article, Easy Offensive Sets. They are simple enough the kids can learn all the spots.
what are the key strategies involved in performing a three on two fast break? How would you defend a three on two fast break?
On offense, the ballhandler must make a believable drive to the basket. The purpose is to make one defender commit to him. His two teammates must be wide enough apart to force the second defender to make a choice. Obviously, the ballhandler will get the layup or have an open teammate.
On defense, the closest defender takes the ball handler. The second defend hedges and covers the receiver of the first pass. The first defender then goes to a help position in the key and covers the second pass. The defensive goal is to delay the shot long enough that the rest of the defense can get back and help.
how high is a regulation hoop for the high school level?
Ten feet.
what is the length from the free-throw line to the basketball goal
Our local park league for 1st through 4th grade makes each player where a colored wristband. The red person needs to cover the red person and so on. This forces man to man defense. Zones are not allowed. I have a team of 3rd graders and 9 of 12 have played 2 years already. Is there a simple motion offense I can teach? Or, is there a zone offense that requires a lot of movement? Any advice would help.
I used two very simple m2m offenses with kids that age. They are called the Two Low and the Hi Low in my article Easy Offensive Sets. What they are designed to do is to get the kids to pick away to get a man open. Once they learn to screen properly (and understand the timing), simple screens that get a man open and moving toward the ball are very effective.
We have several kids who do not understand 5 out offensive plays and parents are asking for some information of diagrams to help explain? any suggestions would be helpfull!
The only 5 out play I use is our Spread. Its is diagrammed fully in the article Stalls. You don't need to use the offense as a stall, in fact I have run this play for a full game, but it requires good ball handlers and good use of backdoor cuts to sustain.
I AM 14 YEARS OLD AND HAVE PURCHASED SOME JUMPSOLES AND PROPRIOCEPTORS. TOGETHER THEY SAY THEY WILL INCREASE VERTICAL AROUND 10 TO 12 INCHES.I AM ALSO USING A TRAINING PROGRAM CALLED THE PHI SLAMMA JAMMA PROGRAM.DO THEY REALLY WORK AS WELL AS THEY SAY THEY WILL?
I think the Jump Sole program will work if you follow their directions carefully. Don't overdo it. At your age you are suceptible to growth plate injury if you overwork. Be patient and go slowly!
i am 18 years old and im a basketball player but the only problem is that i am 5,8 and i want to grow some more and it seems like im not growing no more. what do i do? is there something i can naturally do?my only problem is that i also stoped working out daily. is that a problem?
There is no way to control your growth. All you can control are your skills and your attitude. Practice often, love the game and enjoy your friends. When you stop worrying about your height, you'll be happier and no one will even notice how tall you are. It just doesn't matter.
what is the minimum ceiling height recommended for an indoor basketball court?
I don't think there is an offical measurement. I have seen basketball courts crammed into all kinds of buildings. I would guess you'd need a minimum of about 18 feet.
My daughter has just been given the Point Guard position. I am not very familiar with basketball, so what can I do to help her develop in this area?
Thanks!
Rachel
Tennessee
I am working on an article that will cover this topic. Won't be done for a while yet, so ... what you can do is encourage her to practice her ballhandling and shooting. I liked to play basketball in the driveway with my sons. I didn't coach them, just helped by returning the rebounds or by being a post player. They would pass to me, make a cut, get the ball back and score. Little things like that help a lot. Be careful of offering a lot of advice. Consider it quality time and have fun with it.
What is the best way to go about teaching 3rd & 4th grade (boys and girls) offence?
Emphasize floor spacing, breaking to the ball to catch a pass, and always moving after making a pass. Practice the simple plays - give and go, pick and roll. They are all you need and they are the foundation of all the offenses they will learn later in their playing careers. You can do all of this in a 2on2 format. Avoid 5on5. Break the game down to simple elements where they can all be active and understand the 2 man game.
what are the biomechanics of a righthanded layups?
Sorry, no home work questions, please. If you read the Teaching Layups article on this site, it painstakingly describes the movements.
Hello coach-
i am krista phillips, i am about to try out for 8th grade basketball..i just learned my lay ups and i have good free throw shots but i am not good putting the ball in between my legs and i am not very good at playing defense... can you give me any pointers? and i need to work on my free throw shots and when my coaches tell me to shoot with form, it messes up my shot sometime...any pointers on that? thanks for listening
please email asap!
thanks Krista Phillips aim-ShortNfine55@aim.com lilbabyhawk03@aol.com\
Good luck in your tryouts. Here are a couple quick suggestions. If your coach suggests changes in your shooting form, do what he says even if you think it messes up your shot. The important thing is to show that you are willing to change and get better. I will cut kids who won't take advice because I know they are already as good as they will get. Ball handling takes a long time to learn. Don't try crossovers when the pressure is on until you are comfortable with them. Pass the ball. Kids who dribble too much make a bad impression anyway. As for defense, try to keep your man from catching any passes. If she does get the ball, stay low and move laterally as needed to block the path to the basket. The main idea on defense is to frustrate the offense. Its usually pretty obvious what the offensive player wants to do at any given point, so position yourself to take advantage of that knowledge. Defense is very much a thinking ahead thing instead of just reacting. If you just react, yo