Preparing for the 1st Game

As we all begin to develop practice plans for the upcoming season, there are always a certain amount of items that we need to get in before that first game. Granted, these items can vary from team-to-team, but there are some definite constants. I have generated a list of items that you can keep in mind when preparing for your first game.


Offense

1. Base man offense

2. Base zone offense

3. Primary break

4. Secondary break

5. The number of sets and/or quick hits (Man/Zone)

6. The number of BLOBS (Man/Zone)

7. The number of SLOBS (Man/Zone)

8. Man/Zone counters / reads

9. Delay game

10. End of game full court specials

11. End of game ¾ SLOB specials

12. End of game ½ SLOB specials

13. Dead corner SLOB specials

14. End of Game FT transition special

15. End of Game FT Miss, offensive rebound, and put back

16. Jump Ball Tip (offensive / defensive)

17. End of game rebounding

18. Come back game approach (when to start shooting 3’s to make a comeback, quick 2’s)

19. Approach to a Triangle-2, Box-1

Defensive

1. Base defense

2. Complimentary defense (man, zone, match-up, junk)

3. Press defense

4. Trapping / stunting schemes

5. Defending off ball screens (narrow pins, wide pins, double staggered, doubles, cross, back screens, flex, shuffle, away…)

6. Defending ball screens (flat, wing, points, corner, staggered, double, hand-backs, drag…)

7. Delay defense

8. Defending with the lead

9. When / how to foul?

10. Pick up points

11. Verbals

12. BLOB defense

13. End of game rebounding

14. End of game foul court defense situations (lead/behind)

15. End of game ¾ SLOB defense situations (lead/behind)

16. End of game half court SLOB defense situations (lead/behind)

17. Post defense (front, 3/4, full front)

This is just a generic list and a lot of it depends on your philosophy to the game. The important thing is to plan with your coaches and figure out in detail what it is that you MUST have in for the first game. It is our job as coaches to do the planning and preparation to equip our players with the skills they need to succeed.  I have attached a planning resource that you use to input your items in an organized manner.  Hope it helps you prepare for that first game.

1st Game Checklist