LA Pop Ball Screen Continuity

A third ball screen offense to consider is one called LA Pop.  This offense uses back screens and wing ball screens to create scoring actions.  Again, you will notice the gaps that this offense creates to create strong driving actions.

LA Pop Ball Screen Continuity

Corner Continuity Ball Screen Offense

Here is another ball screen offense that emphasizes creating gaps for a corner ball screen.  This approach would be beneficial to a team who has a good spot up shooter on the weak side.  One thing to be ready for, however, are teams that really blitz or hard hedge that corner ball screen.  You are really going to have work with your players on slips and skips.

Corner Continuity Ball Screen Offense

Butler Ball Screening Offense

Here are some generic diagrams showing some of the ball screen actions used by Brad Stevens at Butler.  You will notice that they have great spacing which is extremely important when running any type of ball screen offense.

Butler Ball Screening Offense

Gary Waters: 3 Out 2 In Motion Offense

For coaches who are looking to implement a 3 out motion offenses should look into this resource on Gary Waters motion offense.  This motion offense is geared heavily on screening actions with post duck ins after the screen.

Gary Waters: 3 Out 2 In Motion Offense

Detroit Pistons Training Camp Practice Notes

If you are curious to see what an NBA practice is like, you should take a look at these notes that were taken from a Detroit Pistons training camp.  I am not sure what year these are reflective of, but they are very detailed and gives a great perspective of an NBA practice.

Detroit Pistons Training Camp Practice Notes

Make Today Matter…What Matters Most

The average person spends
-100 hours a year commuting to work compared to 80 hours of vacation time.
- 91 hours a week at work for dual – career couples with kids.
- 1.8 hours a day doing household activities.
- 2.6 hours a day watching television.
- 8.6 hours a day sleeping.

Time is a non-renewable resource. Once it’s used up, you can’t get it back.

TAKE ACTION TODAY
1. Stop and think…then make a list of what matters most to you.
2. Create a list of how you currently spend your time each week.
3. Organize your list of weekly activities and identify activities that are required and those that are optional and waste time.
4. Take steps to rearrange your schedule or reduce optional activities so that you can spend time doing what matters most.
5. Don’t waste time.

--- An excerpt from EveryMonday Matters ByMathew Emerzian & Kelley Bozza

Coaching Quote #74: Inconvenience

"Temporary Inconvenience = Permanent Improvement"

--- Point Guard College

Man Motion Offense

Here is a very detailed approach to teaching a motion offense from coach Douglas Leichner, who is the new head coach for Great Britain’s Under-20 men’s team.  This offense has some different approaches to using motion principles including starting from a 2-3 high set.

Man Motion Offense

Motion Pressure Releases

We are going to stay with the motion theme here for a while.  Therefore we are going to look at some strategies that can be used as pressure releases within your motion offense.

1. Ball screen
2. Pop and screen
3. Screen away
4. Dribble out
5. Shallow cut
6. High/Low screen and pop
7. Back screen and pop

Motion Pressure Releases

4 Out Motion: Secondary Break

Here is a nice a secondary break that flows into a 4 out motion offense.  This secondary break has some nice ball screen actions built into it which will help keep pressure on the defense.

4 Out Motion Secondary Break

Pete Gillen: 3 Point Shooting Motion Entry Set Plays

If you are a motion coach who is looking for new strategies to get quality 3 point opportunities, you might want to check out this resource on Pete Gillen 3 Point Shooting Motion Entry Set Plays.  Even if you are not a motion coach but you have players who can shoot the 3, you can still incorporate these actions into your playbooks.

Pete Gillen: 3 Point Shooting Motion Entry Set Plays

Rick Majerus: Setting Picks

Keys to setting good picks from legendary coach Rick Majerus

1. Be Low
2. Be Wide
3. Be Big
4. Be A Pain In the Butt

Always locate the man you are supposed to go screen for with your eyes.

Screener always spaces

Coaching Quote #73: Screener

"Anybody can be a good screener"

--- Rick Majerus

Coaching Quote #72: Determined Spirit

"The miracle, or the power, that elevates the few is to be found in their perseverance under the promptings of a brave, determined spirit."

--- Mark Twain

Ken Shields: Building Man to Man Defense

Coach Shields provides us with his man to man defensive philosophy.  Not only does he cover the primary philosophical elements of his defense, but also specific defensive situations that go hand-in-hand with his defensive philsophy.  His defense focuses on:

1. Transition Defense
2. Stop penetration
3. Rebound - loose ball situations
4. Contest shots
5. Force the extra play
6. Don't foul

Ken Shields: Building Man to Man Defense

Don Meyer 2007 Coaching Academy Notes

Here is another great resource from a Don Meyer clinic.  One of the things that really stuck out to me in reading these notes are his list of GREATEST OPPONENTS.

1. Negative attitude

2. Energy sucker

3. Injuries

4. Illness

5. Ineligibility

6. Over training

 

Don Meyer 2007 Coaching Academy

Secondary Break Options

For teams that have transition offense built into their philosophy need to have a seamless way to get from their early break to their base offense.  There are a wide variety of secondary breaks out there and it is vital that you find or create something that easily flows into your base offense.  Personally, I prefer simplistic secondary break packages that emphasize quick scoring looks and quick ball movement.

The following resource gives you some simple secondary break options to consider.  The actions are simple and allow you to put pressure on the defense while the defense is trying to get organized.

Secondary Break Options

Bill Self: Kansas Press Breaker

If you are looking for a new press breaker, you might want to take a look at the Kansas press breaker.  It has all of the elements for breaking different types of presses. 

1. Multiple cutters
2. Ball reversal option
3. Sideline option
4. Middle option
5. Deep option
6. Spacing

Bill Self: Kansas Press Breaker

Coaching Quote #71: Hard Work

"The most profound basic of all is simple HARD WORK"

--- Pat Riley

Indiana Fever: Top Iso

Here is a nice little quick hitter that the Indian Fever run. It has a unique hand-off and ball screen action.

Indiana Fever: Top Iso

Troy Culley: Diamond BLOB

Coach Culley shows a baseline out of bounds play called Diamond.  I think you will like the different scoring options you will get out of this play.

Troy Culley: Diamond BLOB

Indiana Fever: Box Out SLOB

Here is a nice scoring sideline out of bounds action used by the Indiana Fever.  I like how it overloads the ball side and then looks to get a lob back over the top.  Would be a good end of quarter hitter with only a few seconds left.

Indiana Fever: Box Out SLOB

John Kresse: Multiple Trapping Defense

If you are looking for an aggressive trapping defense, you might want to look into the multiple trapping defense by John Kresse.  Coach Kresse has a number of really good ideas to increase defensive pressure that can lead into easy transition baskets. 

John Kresse: Multiple Trapping Defense

Coaching Quote #71: Good Coaching

"Good coaching may be defined as the development of character, personality and habits of players, plus the teaching of fundamentals and team play."

--- Claire Bee

Trent Johnson 2009 LSU Clinic Notes

Here is a nice set of clinic notes from a Trent Johnson presentation.  I particularly like the comment he made in regards to assistant coaches make suggestions based on fact and research.  That is something that will stick with me.

Trent Johnson 2009 LSU Clinic Notes

Dave Bollwinkel: What Makes Good Guards

Dave Bollwinkel wrote this nice resource on what makes good guards.  There is a number of important concepts in here that I like.  Particularly number 4, being able to run the show.  In my opinion, this can be the most challenging part to teach guards. 

What Makes Good Guards

UCLA Across Set

Here is another nice quick hitting action out a 4 high set.  It gives you a number of hitting actions including a variety post touches and a norrow pin down.

UCLA Across Set

Providence Post Set

Here is a nice scoring action that you can use to get a quality post touch as well as a ball screen and pin down action.

Providence Post Set

Pat Summitt's Definate Dozen

1. Respect Yourself and Others


2. Take Full Responsibility

3. Develop and Demonstrate Loyalty

4. Learn to Be a Great Communicator

5. Discipline Yourself So No One Else Has To

6. Make Hard Work Your Passion

7. Don’t Just Work Hard, Work Smart

8. Put the Team Before Yourself

9. Make Winning an Attitude

10. Be a Competitor

11. Change is a Must

12. Handle Success Like You Handle Failure

Coaching Quote #71: Passing

"Every time you pass, be the hardest player on the floor to guard."

--- Pat Summitt

Mike Dunlap Metro State Clinic Notes

Here is another great resource on Mike Dunlap and his philosophical approach to coaching and teaching.  This resource covers a wide variety of topics giving us some great insight as to why Coach Dunlap does what he does as a coach.

Mike Dunlap Metro State Clinic

Mike Dunlap: 10 Steps to Improve Coaching

As some of you have gathered from some of my earlier posts, I am a big Mike Dunlap fan.  I appreciate the level of planning and detail that he puts into his work.  I am hoping that I get to hear him speak in person in the near future.  On that note, I am sharing a resource that covers 10 different topics that Coach Dunlap believes can help improve coaching. 

Mike Dunlap: 10 Steps to Improve Coaching

Jump Rope Workout

I found this jump rope workout in some clinic notes.  I do not know where the workout came from or who uses it, but thought it was interesting enough to share.



How many jumps can you do in 20-30 seconds
Skip for 20-30 seconds and then go onto the next jump.
Start skipping for 3 minutes and build up to 5 minutes plus.

Use this as a warm up in conjunction with ball handling and dribbling before stretching

1. Jump both feet

2. Right foot only

3. Left foot only

4. Forward and back with both feet

5. Forward and back with right foot

6. Forward and back with left foot

7. Side to side with both feet

8. Side to side with right foot

9. Side to side with left foot

Advanced

10. Triangle both feet -- Jump in the form of a triangle and maintain good balance

11. Star jump – Jump in the form of a start and maintain good balance

12. Letter “W” jump

13. Double jumps

Coaching Quote #70: Will to Win

"The will to win is grossly overrated. The will to prepare is far more important."

--- Bobby Knight

2003 Italian National Wheel Offense

Here is a breakdown of the wheel offense from the 2003 Italian National team.  The offense has great spacing and a number of great scoring cuts built into it.

2003 Italian National Wheel Offense

Don Meyer: Northern State Defensive Package

Here is a great resource that explains Don Meyer's defensive package when he was at Northern State University.  It is something that you could easily modify and use as a resource for the coaches and kids in your program.

Don Meyer Northern State Defesive Package

Things That Kill A Team

1. Negative attitudes


2. Energy suckers

3. Illness

4. Ineligibility     --- Don Meyer

Coaching Quote #69: Attitude

"What would the team be like if everyone had your attitude?"

--- Don Meyer

Don Meyer: Close Out Rules

#1 Sprint half the distance—then breakdown;


#2 Close out short (bigger gap- 6-8 feet);

#3 Close out with your weight back;

#4 Hands up (take away shot), a. Body—no shot b. Position—no drive

Coaching Quote #68: Championships

"To win championships, make your lay ups and free throws"

--- Don Meyer

Middle School Offensive Playbook

Here is a playbook that I put together for our middle school program.  Our middle school teams run an open post offense that focuses on spacing, simple cutting actions, and dribble penetration.  We do not want players being classified as just a post player or guard.  Instead, we want all of our players to learn to handle the ball on the perimeter, as well as develop simple post play.

Middle School Offensive Playbook

Boston Celtics Punch 5

The weather this past few days has caused quite a stire in these parts.  I have never seen so much devestation from an ice storm.  I literally had to use a hammer to get get the 3 inches of ice off of my car in order to get into it. 

Anyway, today we take a look at a nice little quick hitter to get your post man a quality look.  Doc Rivers is as good as it gets when designing plays and making X and O adjustments.

Boston Celtics Punch 5

Wayne Walters: Swarm Enterprises (Free Downloads)

If you are looking for some free resources, I encourage you to check out Wayne Walters Swarm Enterprises.  Coach Walters, the inventor of the Swarm defense, offers a ton of free resources for coaches at Swarm Enterprises.

Also, if you are looking for some new ideas to put into your playbook, I would also encourage you to contact Coach Walters or order one of his instructional DVD's.  I have purchased many of his DVD's and have personally seen the benefits of using some of his concepts.

Swarm Enterprises

Larry Shyatt: Constructing a Productive Practice / Season

Many of us have begun planning for next year's season.  Effectively planning for a season is not something that is done in a couple of weeks.  It is something that takes the entire off-season.  Larry Shyatt provides a great resource on Constructing a Productive Practice / Season.  There is a wealth of information in this clinic packet, and would be a good resource to use as a guide for planning your own season. 

Larry Shyatt: Constructing a Productive Practice / Season

Troy Culley: Fast Break Quick Tips

Coach Troy Culley shares with us a resource on Fast Break Quick Tips.  These tips are great coaching points of emphasis for coaches who are looking at playing a more up-tempo style.  Being a coach who as an up-tempo style philosophy, I can attest to these points of emphasis. 

Fast Break Quick Tips

Kevin Stallings: Vanderbilt Clinic

Today, we are looking at some drills provided by Kevin Stallings.  There some combination, dribbling/passing, footwork, positional and shooting drills diagrammed along with drill descriptions.  60 pages of drills. 

Kevin Stallings: Vanderbilt Clinic

Coaching Quote #67: Dreams

“It’s not about how to achieve your dreams. It’s about how to lead your life. If you lead your life the right way, the karma will take care of itself. The dreams will come to you.”

--- Randy Pausch

Coaching Quote #66: Knowledge

"Knowledge is good, but your players must believe in your knowledge."

--- Doc Rivers

Seton Hall Individual Workout Drills

Today's workout resource is on the Seton Hall Individual Workout.  I really like the 42 game drill.  It is competitive, intense and has high repititions.  All of these things make for a good drill.

Seton Hall Individual Workout

John Beilein Quiqs

In my opnion, Michigan has been one more entertaining teams to watch this tournament.  Their offensive efficiency is really amazing.  They do some many little things, such as spacing, movement, and screening, really well, it is evident that Coach Beilein pays close attention to detail.  Therefore, I am sharing a resource on some thoughts from Coach Beilein that gives us a little more insight into his approach to coaching.

John Beilein Quips

Defending Screens and Cutters

Coach Troy Culley shares a resource on different ways you can defend screens and cutters.  This is hand-out covers various screening and cutting actions.  Now is a great time to look at how you are currently defending these types of actions and then decide whether you need to make adjustments for the next season.

Defending Screens and Cutters 

Coaching Quote #65: On Time

"Be on time. It's disrespectful to your teammates to be late and we don't tolerate it."

--- Terry Francona

Drill Survey Results

Coach Culley shares a great resource from John Carrier that has a list of drills along with descriptions.  There is a something for everyone in this resource.  Coach Carrier has a great basketball blog and I encourage you to check it out.

Basketball Drill Survey

Coach Culley and Coach Preheim: Variations to the Horns Set Playbook

Coach Troy Culley and myself put together this playbook on different actions that can be ran out of the Horns / A Set.  These plays are a combination of things seen directly from game footage as well as things that have been passed along from various great coaches.  Our goal was to simply combine them into a single free resource for other coaches.

Variations to the Horns Set Playbook