Monthly Recaps
January 2004

“If you get the right people participating, in the right spirit, pursuing the right objectives, all sorts of good things can follow.”   - Anonymous

“If a man hasn’t discovered something he will die for, he isn’t fit to live.”   - Martin Luther King Jr.

“If you don’t want anyone to know, don’t do it.”   - Chinese Proverb

“The coach’s most powerful tool is love.”   - John Wooden
 

Transition Drill Tip #3!
Transition drills continue their popularity this week.   Mike Petrino from Central Catholic High School in Portland, OR, incorporates this 3 on 3-transition drill into their practice plan.  Split your squad into two teams.  We will call them Red and Black.  Put the Black team on one end of the floor in two lines off the court, free throw line extended, one line on each sideline.  Do the same for the Red team at the other end of the court.  Begin with three Black offensive players against three Red defensive players.  Once the Red team gains possession off either a make or miss, they immediately outlet to one of their lines (free throw extended).  Two players from the outlet side and one from the opposite sideline on the Red team become the new offense and the Black will now transition back on defense.  Once the Black team gains possession, they will outlet and the drill continues in this manner.  Once a group plays defense and outlets, they fill the lines.  Each team goes from offensive to defense and out.  Remember that the Red and Black teams will always defend the same basket.  “Players need to think and react quick after an offensive possession to stop a new quick hitting offense,”  states Coach Petrino.  For more information or details please contact Coach Petrino at mj_petrino@yahoo.com

Lay-up and Conditioning Tip!
Member Brian Sudis from Avila University in Kansas City brings us a drill he used when coaching in Hawaii.  “We called it "Chairs" because we didn't have any cones to use,” stated Coach Sudis.  Start by placing two chairs at opposite ends of the floor, where the three point line meets the baseline.  Have one line of players on each end of the floor opposite the chairs.  Put one player (1) in the lane with a ball.  First player (2) in line on same end as player with ball.  (2) Steps out to sideline, foul line extended as the first outlet spot.  Player (1) tosses the ball of the glass, rebounds, pivots, hits outlet player (2) and starts sprinting down court.  Player (2) returns pass to player (1) (at about half court) who continues down court to complete a lay-up.  At the same time player (2) sprints down the sideline and circles chair on baseline and rebounds the lay-up, without the ball hitting the floor.  Now with rebound in hand, player (2) outlets to player (3) who is from the line on the current side of the floor and is on the sideline, foul line extended.  Player (1), having completed his lay-up, sprints outside the court to the opposite line from where he finished his lay-up.  Player (3) returns pass to player (2) for lay-up while player (3) sprints around chair for rebound and outlet to next player in original line.  “We would run the drill for a certain number of makes or length of time.  After shooting right hand lay-ups we would switch the chairs and shoot left handed lay-ups,” explained Coach Sudis.  With a large group of players or for more difficulty, add a second ball to the drill.  For more information or variations, please contact Brain Sudis (sudisbc@mail.avila.edu).
 
Leadership Tip #1!
At a recent presentation in Olathe, KS for the School District’s Physical Education Teachers and Coaches, member Bruce Brown explained his philosophy on team rules and guidelines.  “Instead of calling them team rules or guidelines we called them team standards.  Players will strive to meet team standards, stated Bruce Brown.  We only had one standard when I was coaching, “don’t let your teammates down.”  This covered everything on and off the court.”  Visit Bruce Brown’s web site at www.proactivecoaching.info

Transition Tip #4!
Member Tom Oswald at Texas Lutheran University in Seguin, TX explains a transition drill they use to work on stopping the ball and adjusting to unique match-ups.  Start with 5 offensive players spread on the baseline and 5 defensive players spread FT line extended.  A coach will pass to any offensive player (they have to get it to the PG) while calling out either 1 or 2 defenders names, this sets up an odd man rush.  Those called must touch the baseline and sprint back to the weak side of the ball to fill in for ball rotations (hopefully after no more then 3 passes everyone is matched up correctly 5 on 5).  The defense will be in a diamond (4 players back) or triangle (3 players back) and a guard must lead the point and stop the ball.  You then play essentially zone behind them with a different player picking up the next pass until everyone can match-up.  We emphasize that the remaining players have a pass to the right or left of the ball and possibly the basket.  To mix it up call the names of both posts, your PG and 2 or PG and post that way you teach players to run to the paint and not next to their man, as they may have to help guard the basket.  On a stop or score the defense takes it back the other way and then you switch O & D to start the drill again.  For more information please contact Tom Oswald at toswald@tlu.edu

Leadership Tip #2!
Four leadership tips taken from member, Rob Miller’s presentation at the 2003 Win the Tip! Basketball Coaching Retreat held at Ottawa University in Ottawa, KS.  1) Are your most talented players your best workers?  2) Reward what you think is important.  3) What is important to you should be important to them.  4) Teach the W.I.N. concept  (What’s Important Now).

Motion Tip!
Member Matt Grahn from Texas Lutheran University shares a motion drill called “50 Pass.”  “Too many times, when all 5 players are put together, they are looking for quick hit situations.  We want to establish a flow to our motion,” states Coach Grahn.  The “50 Pass Drill” is a live 5 on 5 drill where the only way to score is by passing the ball.  The first team to get 50 passes wins.  If the defense gets a stop, they get the ball.  Some modifications might include 1 point for each pass and 3 points for any basket scored off a back screen.  Another is to take away dribbles after the initial entry pass and/or limit the offense to only lay-ins.  If you decide that you are going to let an open offensive player shoot the ball, it is imperative that you let the offense have the ball on a made basket.  You don’t want to penalize the offense for taking a good shot.  For more information or variations please contact Matt Grahn at matt_grahn@yahoo.com