COACHES SHARE 7-28-12

Your contribution to COACHES SHARE are appreciated.  To contribute, all you have to do is respond today to the question listed below by emailing it to dietelgreg@gmail.com and then your response could be posted in Sunday's blog post.  Look through at some of our past Coaches Share responses from the past three Saturdays and see all the helpful information coaches have shared with us.  It's been great!

Question:  What did you do as a coach this summer to make yourself better as a coach?

Share your response by emailing dietelgreg@gmail.com

3-ON-1 DEFEND THE POST DRILL

3-on-1 Defend The Post Drill

The purpose of this drill is for  players to work on getting to the proper position in the post.  That position depends on your philosophy on defending a post-up player.  You may want to 1/2 front, 3/4 front, or full front.  Focus should be on effort, technique, and footwork.  The diagram and description will show the defender working on full front of the post-up player.


ALIGNMENT
1 starts with the ball at the top, starting lane line extended at the three point line. 2 is in the corner at the three point line, and 3 is on the block area. Defender 3 will start behind 3.

EXECUTION OF THE DRILL
To start the drill 1 will slap the ball. When the ball is slapped Defender 3 will use proper technique to step over 3 so they can get to the front position. 3 will let Defender 3 get to the front to start the drill. This gives us technique work with getting to the front. Two ways to get to the front:
1. Defender 3 is behind 3. Defender 3 will step with their right foot (foot closest to baseline) around 3. Now Defender 3's backside is on 3 and they are in the front.
2. Club & Swim. From this position Defender 3 will use their left hand/arm as leverage as they place it with force on 3's left side (this is the club). Defender 3 will then put their right arm over the
top and around 3 while stepping through with their right foot (as they did in the first example). This will get them to the front.

Once Defender 3 gets to the front the drill is live. 3 tries to pin Defender 3 to get open. They have to stay in the block area. Defender 3 works to stay in front. 1 and 2 pass back and forth until they can get a pass to 3.  Over the top lob passes are not allowed in this drill as there are no backside help defenders.

The drill rep ends when 3 scores, Defender 3 gets a turnover or a defensive rebound. The drill rep can also end if the coach feels Defender 3 is doing a great job after a few passes back and forth by 1 and 2. Blow the whistle and rotate.

7 QUICK WAYS TO CHANGE MOMENTUM

There are times in every game where your team needs to gain the momentum back.  Listed below are 7 quick ways to gain back that momentum and give your team a lift that can change the outcome of the game in your favor.

1. Three point baskets. 

• A made three point basket does more than give you an "extra" point for a made shot.  There always appears to be a psychological edge to a made three.  Put together a few made 3's in successive possessions and the momentum will quickly swing your way.

2. Taking a charge.

• Taking a charge is one of the most unselfish plays in basketball.  A player giving up their body for the team can provide a huge lift to the players and fans of your team.

3. Scoring in transition.

•  Running the floor once your team gains possession of the ball helps increase your chances to score in transition.  Try to get good shots before the defense is set.

4. Forcing turnovers.

• Increase your defensive pressure on the ball.  Get in the passing lanes.  Trap the ball.

5. Offensive rebounds.

• Scoring on second or third shots can be disheartening for your opponent.  Send more of your players to the offensive boards to get those second shots!

6. Hustle plays.

• Like taking a charge, making a hustle play can provide a big energy boost for your team and fans. Diving on the floor for a loose ball, saving a ball from going out of bounds, and sprinting from behind to tip the ball from an opponent are a few examples of hustle plays.

7. Made free throws.

• To get to the free throw line your team needs to be in more of an attack mode with the ball.  This might be getting the ball inside or attacking the basket from the perimeter off the dribble.

TRANSITION DEFENSE & OFFENSE DRILL

SKILLS COVERED

*Half court defense
*Transition defense
*Offensive execution
*Transition offense

ALIGNMENT

*Set players up on offense and defense (5-on-5) at one basket.
*One player on offense has a ball.
*Coach is along a sideline with a basketball.

EXECUTION OF THE DRILL

*Offense will run through a half court offensive set called by the coach.
*Defense will run the defense called by the coach.
*As the teams are playing 5-on-5 at some point the coach will blow the whistle to alert the teams that there will be a change of possession.
*On that whistle the player with the ball will throw the ball off to the side (off the court) and the offense starts to sprint back on defense (they are now the defensive team).
*Meanwhile the defensive team now becomes offense.  Coach passes the ball to a player in the backcourt as they are transitioning to offense.  The team now on offense will focus on your transition offense, while the team now on defense will execute your transition defense philosophy.
*NOTE:  If the offense scores while running their half court offensive set the drill rep will end there.  Reset at the top  and start the next rep.

VARIATIONS

*If the offense scores while running through their half court offense you can continue the drill by having the new team on offense NOT take the ball out-of-bounds. Simply take the ball out of the hoop and start your transition offense.  This will put more pressure on the defense to get back.

*To put even more pressure on the team transitioning back on defense have each player on that team slap the floor with their hands before they sprint back on defense.  This will give the offense an extra step advantage and force the team on defense to really understand the necessary speed it takes to get back on defense.

SWITCH EM ON THE BALL DEFENSE DRILL

DIAGRAM A

SKILLS COVERED
*On the ball defense
*Ball handling
*Applying and dealing with pressure

ALIGNMENT
*Players need a partner. Each pair needs a ball.
*One player will be on offense. One on defense.
*Pairs that are waiting to take their turn will be out of bounds.
*1 starts with the ball on the baseline.
*Defender 1 will start right in front of 1, in a good defensive stance.  You can also start the drill with a closeout by the defensive player by having Defender 1 start 12-15 feet in front of 1, pass the ball to 1, execute a closeout and then 1 can begin.
*Out of bounds will be the sideline and the lane line extended on the way to half
court. On the way back, there is no out of bounds along the lane-line extended.

EXECUTING THE DRILL
*This is done at full speed.  Must be high energy and intense.
*1 tries to get to halfcourt as quickly as possible. They will use any ballhandling moves they can on their way to half court. (DIAGRAM A)
*Defender 1 will try to make 1 change directions as many times as they can. If Defender 1 gets a steal, they give the ball back to 1 and the drill continues immediately.
*When 1 gets to halfcourt they put the ball on the ground.  Defender 1 immediately grabs it to become the offense. 1 now becomes defense.
*The new offensive player will try to score, and the new defender will try to prevent the score. Offense has five seconds to get off a shot. We want them to think "attack" the basket. (DIAGRAM B)

DIAGRAM B

*It is very important for the defender to "close the gap" on the ball handler as they get closer to the basket.  Try to get your defender to chest up the ball handler once they get to the lane area.  You cannot give ground with the ball that close to the basket.  Be physical.

COACHES SHARE RESPONSES-What Motivates You As A Coach?

Thank you to all the coaches who shared their thoughts for this week's Saturday Coaches Share:  What motivates you as a coach?  Your willingness to share your thoughts gives all of us a chance to continue to learn, and motivates us as coaches. 

"What motivates me as a coach is to coach a group of girls who are doing whatever they can to get better in the offseason. Going to camps, playing pick up games, and in the weight room. It shows me that they want to succeed and want to win so that motivates me to show them how much I care about their success."
~Coach D.L. (TN)

"I see basketball as a forum to help others reach their potential.  Nothing is more motivating to me than to see a player get as much as they can out of their abilities."
~Coach T.R. (WA)

"Many things motivate me as a coach.  A few of them are (not in any special order) 1. Working with young people and being able to teach them the sport and help them develop a work ethic. 2. The thrill of competing.  I still enjoy it.  3. The challenge of making myself better."
~Coach W (TX)

"I have been doing this for 26 years and I am still motivated to keep learning."
~Coach R.S. (IA)

"Making a positive impact on others and getting a chance to continue working with a sport that I have been around my entire life."
~Coach B (IL)

"I get motivated by others.  I have been a coach at the college level, and now high school, and I have been around so many great coaches.  They have taught me so much.  I want to share what I've learned from these great coaches with others.  I am constantly motivated by the things other coaches do, whether it is a drill I have seen or the success they've had on the court."
~Coach S.N. (NY)

"I am motivated by my players."
~Coach T (MN)