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Basketball Coaches: Made in the Offseason
Posted by: In: General Basketball Coaching Articles 1 comment

This article was written by SUNY Canton Head Men’s Basketball Coach Ben Thompson

 

As coaches, we are constantly preaching to our team that players are “made in the offseason.” We say this because it is true, but also as motivation to inspire our student-athletes to grind and work harder at improving their game. I have used this comment several times with my guys and truly believe that it rings true with them.

However, as coaches, we are “made in the offseason” as well. What do you use your offseason for? We expect our student-athletes to put in the extra hours and early morning times in the gym or weight room; but, how much extra effort do we put in during the offseason to work on our craft?

 

Self Evaluation

Depending on your level, you might be able to work with your team some in the offseason. This is a great thing, but how many of us also work on ourselves. The offseason is a time for you to invest in yourself and improve as a coach.

There are many forms of this, but self-evaluating how you performed this past season, as well as your staff, is crucial. Going back to watch film on games, practices, workouts, or whatever it is that helps you is essential. How much time do you spend trying to evaluate your own performance? This is a great time to review practice plans, does your practice flow, where would you tweak some things, do you need a complete overhaul?

 

Reach Out to Others

Do you reach out to boosters, alumni, parents? Getting with your own administration, picking their brains on things they see, areas you could improve.

Ask questions of those around you and those you trust; asking coaches that you play against or that have seen you play, but have a great rapport with or friendship with can be helpful as well. Meet with people in the community, run camps, do things that will get you more involved in your area.

 

Invest in Yourself

Invest in yourself and your own growth. Find clinics, roundtable discussions, and forums to attend to get different perspectives and give your own perspectives. Sometimes explaining things you do to other peers/coaches and what you believe in, helps remind and refresh yourself of why you do what you do.

Networking is another critical thing in the offseason; this can be done in many ways, but meet different coaches, meet with other administrators, meet others on your own campus that you do not know.

 

Downtime

Lastly, do not forget to take some downtime. Do not use the ENTIRE offseason as downtime, but take some time with family/friends and refresh. Work on your health and your fitness; sometimes during the grind of the season, we lose sight of our own well-being and our health.

Make sure that you get back to your work/life balance. Take some trips, have some staycations, refill your tank, but then get back to work. We cannot tell our players that they are “made in the offseason” if we do not rebuild and re-tweak ourselves in the offseason as well.

 

 

Ben Thompson
SUNY Canton Head Men’s Basketball Coach

In his first season as a head coach, Thompson led the SUNY Canton Men’s Basketball team to a 20-9 record. They also won the first conference championship in NCAA program history and competed in the first ever NCAA sponsored post-season tournament in program history with a win in the ECAC tournament. It was the first NCAA sponsored post-season win for any sport in SUNY Canton history.

 

 

Box Drill: Jab and Go Basketball Move
Posted by: In: Basketball Finishing Drills 1 comment

Having an arsenal of basketball moves makes you hard to guard and unpredictable to the defense. It is important to have counters to all of your moves, because if the defense takes away one move or is overplaying you, then you need to exploit that and make them pay. The box drill is great for making you very hard to guard in the mid-post and on the wing out of the triple threat position. This basketball drill is going to work on selling the jab step and then going opposite.

 

 

Drill Overview

Drill Name: Box Drill: Jab and Go Basketball Move

Equipment Needed: 1 Basketball.

 

Similar Drills and Resources

 

Goals of the Drill

  • Work on your footwork and be able to make a move with either foot being your pivot foot, as well as be able to pivot forward and backward.

 

Coaching Points

  • Really sell your move and imagine the defender in front of you.
  • Don't waste any movement and really push the ball out in front of you when you make your move to the basket.

 

Drill Instructions

  • Start on the right block with the basketball in your hands.
  • Spin the ball out to the elbow and then run out jump stop and grab it with both hands.
  • You are going to use 1 of 4 pivot moves at the elbow.
  • The moves are left foot reverse/forward pivot and right foot reverse/forward pivot.
  • Make your pivot move and square up to the basket.
  • Jab at the imaginary defender and then drive hard to the basket for any finish that you want.
  • Get your rebound and then go to the opposite block and repeat the same move.
  • You are going to do a total of 8 moves, 1 type of pivot move on each lane line.
  • Change up your finish each time.

 

Fake Hand Off Basketball Drill
Posted by: In: Basketball Team Drills 2 comments

Using basketball drills like this is a great way to incorporate an offensive action into your practice breakdown. The dribble hand-off is a common offensive action that players need quality repetitions to master. Along with the hand-off though, players can work on their footwork, timing, finishing, and shooting all in this drill sequence.

This drill will work on the fake hand-off action when the defense gets out of position by trying to expose the action too early. The drill will allow the post player to get repetitions at selling the hand-off, followed by an explosive move to finish at the rim. The perimeter player will work on the timing of the fake hand-off and shooting off a down screen.

 

 

Drill Overview

Drill Name: Fake Hand Off Basketball Drill

Equipment Needed: Two basketballs, two players, and a passer.

 

Similar Drills and Resources

 

Goals of the Drill

  • Work on footwork, agility, and timing to sell the hand-off action.
  • Work on keeping the hand-off and getting to the rim for the finish.
  • Develop the correct footwork when incorporating a hand-off action, and then curling back to the ball for a shot.

 

Coaching Points

  • The player needs to flash hard to the high post to receive the basketball.
  • The high post player needs to stay low and sell the hand-off to the perimeter player. They should protect the ball with their body to shield the defense.
  • On the drive, they need to have a big first step and push the ball out on the dribble. The more separation they can get from their defender, the better.
  • Challenge the post player to get to the basket in one bounce.
  • The ball needs to be kept high, and they need to use their body to protect it as they drive to the basket.
  • The player coming off of the hand-off needs to cut hard to work on timing and set up the imaginary defender. Cutting hard will help sell the hand-off action and misdirect the defense.
  • On the down screen shooting action, the player needs to focus on footwork and getting hips and shoulders around on the shot.

 

Drill Instructions

  • The perimeter player will start on the left wing with the ball, while the post player will begin on the right block.
  • There will be another passer with a ball at the top of the key and a chair on the right elbow.
  • When the drill starts, the post player will flash to the left elbow and receive a pass from the perimeter player.
  • Immediately after this, the perimeter player will cut hard off the post player as though they are receiving a hand-off.
  • The post player will fake the hand-off and then take one dribble to the basket for a finish.
  • After the perimeter player comes off the fake hand-off, they will use the chair on the right elbow as a down screen and come back to the passer for a shot at the top of the key.
  • The post player will get into rebounding position and put-back any missed shots from the perimeter.
  • This completes one repetition.
  • The players will reset and repeat with this action for the desired amount of time.

 

Recommended Time, Scoring, and Repetitions

  • Depending on the number of players you have in the drill, you will want to increase or decrease the amount of time or repetitions. Whatever you decide on, make sure to work both sides of the lane equally.
  • If you have a group of players working on this drill, have them continue to cycle through and get a good rhythm going.
  • If you have hybrid post players or wing players, have them work on both sides of this drill.
  • To vary the drill, have the post player work on a set type of finish at the basket. Also, you could have the wing player work on different kinds of cuts off of the down screen, or a one-dribble pull up off of the screen rather than a catch and shoot.

 

Fake Hand Off Basketball Shooting Drill

 

Fake Hand Off Basketball Drill Conclusion

A quality offense is based on spacing, timing, reading the defense, and creating advantages. For any offense to be successful, players must be able to execute these skills within the action. This is a great basketball drill to use with your team or with a small group of players. Multiple players and positions are involved in the fake hand-off action, which maximizes repetitions. Players will gain confidence in working with each other in this drill, which will lead to them being more comfortable in a game situation with defense.

Post players will have the opportunity to work on attacking and finishing strong at the rim while guards will work on footwork for hand-off and then shooting off a down screen.

 

Hold Off the Defense Basketball Finish
Posted by: In: Basketball Fundamentals 0 comments

The use of ball screens and motion offense that incorporate this action is extremely popular in basketball. Players who can effectively use a ball screen, immediately create an advantage situation for their team. A great offensive player reads the defense and seeks out the best opportunity for his team to score. This basketball finishing drill will help players work on their timing, spacing, and finishing off this action.

When a defender trails a ball handler, this creates an advantage for the offense. This drill will focus on the ball handler holding off their defender. By doing this, the player creates space and better timing for the offensive post rolling to the basket. Once the ball handler gets into the key they will work on finishing with a floater. This is a great basketball drill to use with your team or with a small group of players.

 

 

Drill Overview

Drill Name: Hold Off the Defense Basketball Finish

Equipment Needed: 1 basketball, a chair (something to use as ball screener), and a dummy defender (optional).

 

Similar Drills and Resources

 

Goals of the Drill

  • To work on holding off the defender when using a ball screen.
  • Focus on finishes in the key when coming off the ball screen.
  • Creating separation and space from the defense.

 

Coaching Points

  • Players should be low and tight with first 1-2 dribbles coming off the ball screen. This will force the defender to be on their hip or backside.
  • Once the defender is on their back, players need to use their body and a wide base to hold off the defender.
  • Players should slow and change speed once the defender is on their back and they get into the key.
  • Players need to have their eyes up and survey the floor to read the help defense as they come off the ball screen.
  • Keeping eyes on the rim and defense on backside, this will either freeze or force the post defender to rotate.
  • Offensive players should work on finishing with a floater in the paint.

 

Drill Instructions

  • Place an object on either wing, which will serve as the screener.
  • Offensive player will start with the ball on the same wing and come off the ball screen.
  • The defender will start on the outside/hip of the offensive player.
  • The offensive player will attack off the ball screen to get into the paint.
  • As the player uses the screen, they will slow down to keep defense behind and hold them off for a brief second.
  • Once the player has the defense behind, they will then take an explode dribble forward to create separation.
  • The offensive player will then finish with a floater in the key.
  • This series is continued for the desired amount of time or repetitions.

 

Recommended Time, Scoring, and Repetitions

  • This drill is done with players working on the ball screen action sequence for 3 minutes on each side.
  • To vary the drill, players could continue with the series until they make a specific number of shots.
  • Rather than setting the ball screen to the middle of the floor, the ball screen could be set to the baseline side.
  • Instead of only finishing with a floater, players could differ their finishes at the basket.
  • A second offensive player at the low post could be added so that the ball handler has to make a lob or bounce pass to them for the finish.
  • A dummy help defender could be added in the key, in order to contest the shot from the ball handler.

 

Hold Off the Defense Basketball Finish Conclusion

An offensive player must know how to use their body to stay low and hold off the defense once they've gained an edge. A ball screen can create a high percentage scoring opportunity if used properly. Great offensive players read the defense and exploit it. This basketball drill will help players understand how to get the defender on their back, and keep them there in order to take away space. This also allows time for the post player to roll to the basket, setting up another scoring option.

Players in this drill will work on getting into the key and finishing with a floater. However, repetitions can be done using various finishes around the basket. Players will gain confidence by doing this drill; making them more comfortable in a game situation with defense. For more videos that breakdown game moves, check out our basketball training groups.

Walking Double Crossover Basketball Dribbling Drill
Posted by: In: One Ball Basketball Dribbling Drills 0 comments

A lot of the times it really isn't about how fast or quick of a player you are when trying to breakdown a defender off of the dribble. Yes, those things are important, but it is really about being able to change up speeds, sell your move, and then read the defender.

This double crossover dribbling drill is going to work on a specific move, but it is really about learning to be able to change up your speeds and sell your moves. Add this drill to your training plan today, or check out our basketball player training groups for a details breakdown of this drills and many more.

 

 

Drill Overview

Drill Name: Walking Double Crossover Basketball Dribbling Drill

Equipment Needed: 1 basketball.

 

Similar Drills and Resources

 

Goals of the Drill

  • Work on selling the between the legs behind the back move and really changing up speeds.

 

Coaching Points

  • Stay low in a low athletic stance the whole time.
  • Don't be a robot with your movements, really look to pause, sell your move, and changeup speeds as you go through the drill.
  • Keep your eyes up as you do the drill and also use your eyes to sell the move.

 

Drill Instructions

  • The player is going to start on the baseline with a basketball.
  • The player will take a stationary dribble (the only one during the drill), pause, and then make an explosive double crossover combo move while leading themselves forward with the move.
  • Without taking any stationary dribbles in between, the player is going to pause again and then execute the same move.
  • Continue this pattern all the way to the free throw line and then retreat dribble back to the baseline.
  • Repeat the same action, but this time starting with your other hand.

 

Bob Knight Mid Range Basketball Shooting Drill
Posted by: In: Catch and Shoot Basketball Shooting Drills 0 comments

Being able to shoot on the move is a different feel from simply just catching and shooting. It is important to be able to do both so that you are a complete shooter. This basketball shooting drill is great because it works on so many things at one time. It improves your footwork, mechanics, form, gives you repetitions, and also builds up your conditioning. Being able to shoot when you are tired is mental as well as physical. This drill will help you break through both of those barriers.

 

 

Drill Overview

Drill Name: Bob Knight Mid Range Basketball Shooting Drill

Equipment Needed: 2 Basketballs and 1 Partner.

 

Similar Drills and Resources

 

Goals of the Drill

  • Improve your shooting and learn to shoot when you are fatigued.
  • Be able to shoot on the move and build your mental endurance.

 

Coaching Points

  • Shoot the ball the same every time, jump straight up and down, and hold your follow through.
  • Fight through the fatigue and stay mentally strong.

 

Drill Instructions

  • The shooter is going to stand at the right elbow and get down ready for the shot.
  • The passer/rebounder has both of the basketballs in the paint.
  • He/she is going to pass one of the balls out to the shooter and they will shoot the ball.
  • As soon as they land they will run to the opposite elbow for the next shot.
  • The rebounder must pass them the ball before they go get the first rebound.
  • The shooter will continue back and forth for the set amount of time, between 1-2 minutes is recommended.
  • Once the time ends the players will immediately switch spots and repeat the drill.
  • This drill can also be done from the corner to wing, and wing to top of the key.
  • Also, you can make this drill into a competition between your team and see which two players can get the highest score.

 

Tony Parker In and Out Crossover Pull Up Basketball Move
Posted by: In: Off of the Dribble Basketball Shooting Drills 0 comments

The reason this is called the Tony Parker move is because he is one of the players that has given this move notoriety, but it is used by a lot of different players. This move is really good for smaller players that need to create some space to be able to get their shot off.

The goal of this move is to sell that you are attacking with the in and out move, but then as soon as the defense shifts their weight to cut that move off, you snap the crossover back using the cross to also create more space from the defender so you can get right into your shot.

The more you can sell your move and then use the crossover to create space with, the more time you will have on your shot. Check out more great moves like this in our basketball training groups app.

 

 

Drill Overview

Drill Name: Tony Parker In and Out Crossover Pull Up Basketball Move

Equipment Needed: 1 basketball and a dummy defender (optional).

 

Similar Drills and Resources

 

Goals of the Drill

  • Work on coming off of a ball screen and holding the defender off to open up space and time to finish.

 

Coaching Points

  • You are not stopping on the in and out move, you need to be attacking forward.
  • Really use the crossover to create space into your shot.
  • Sell the move with your eyes, face, and body positioning.
  • Really make the transition from your in and out to crossover really quick.

 

Drill Instructions

  • The player is going to start at top of the key 4-5 feet off of the 3 point line with the ball.
  • They will begin to attack downhill towards the dummy defender (if you have one).
  • At about the free throw line they will make an in and out move selling that they are attacking one way, but then they will immediately cross the ball over the other way leading themselves into their shot.

 

Walking Behind the Back Crossover Basketball Dribbling Drill
Posted by: In: One Ball Basketball Dribbling Drills 0 comments

If you ever really study the best ball handlers in the game you will see that they are not only able to control the ball and put it where they want it to go, they are also really good at changing up speeds and selling their moves.

The more you can; freeze a defender, sell a move, and then read them, the more you will be able to do whatever you want and go wherever you want with the dribble. This ball handling drill is going to work on the behind the back crossover move, but it is really going to emphasize all of those keys as well.

 

 

Drill Overview

Drill Name: Walking Behind the Back Crossover Basketball Dribbling Drill

Equipment Needed: 1 basketball.

 

Similar Drills and Resources

 

Goals of the Drill

  • Work on selling the behind the back crossover move and really changing up speeds.

 

Coaching Points

  • Stay low in a low athletic stance the whole time.
  • Don't be a robot with your movements, really look to pause, sell your move, and changeup speeds as you go through the drill.
  • Keep your eyes up as you do the drill and also use your eyes to sell the move.

 

Drill Instructions

  • The player is going to start on the baseline with a basketball.
  • The player will take a stationary dribble (the only one during the drill), pause, and then make an explosive behind the back crossover move leading themselves forward with the move.
  • Without taking any stationary dribbles in between, the player is going to pause again and then execute the same move.
  • Continue this pattern all the way to the free throw line and then retreat dribble back to the baseline.
  • Repeat the same action, but this time starting with your other hand.

 

Five Lessons I Have Learned from Coaching Basketball
Posted by: In: General Basketball Coaching Articles 2 comments

Five Lessons I Have Learned from Coaching Basketball

This article was written by University of South Alabama Graduate Assistant Andrew Steele.

 

From my earliest memories, I knew I wanted to be a professional athlete when I grew up. Whether it was a basketball or football player, it didn't matter, just as long as I was going to be able to play the game that I loved. However, for my first serious Career Day at school in 5th grade, I dressed up as a coach.

Not an NBA or NFL player, but a coach; football coach to be exact, wearing a Clemson hat, it will always be Roll Tide though. I guess I got it honestly because my dad was a longtime high school basketball and football coach. Throughout this story, I will talk about the five lessons I have learned in coaching. Discussed in no particular order, these are lessons that I feel will help anyone aspiring to get into the coaching business:

  • Have Faith
  • Take a Risk on Yourself
  • Work Extremely Hard
  • Love Your Players
  • Find Good People to Work For and With

 

Fast forward to my redshirt sophomore season at the University of Alabama in 2010-11. After missing a majority of the previous season due to a stress fracture in my ankle and the first 13 of games that 2010-11 season, I had a lot of time to view the game differently. It killed me not to be able to play for over a full year, but what happened during that timeframe has changed my life forever.

It was during that period, one of the hardest of my life, that I discovered my true passion in life: coaching. I was typically a leader on all the teams that I played for, not because I was always the most talented, but because of my ability to connect seamlessly with my coaches and teammates. I considered myself a coach on the court, and I took tremendous pride in that role. So, it came as no surprise that once my college eligibility was up, the natural step would be to transition into coaching.

After I finished playing in 2013, I planned to stay on at Alabama as a Graduate Assistant. I had constant conversations with my coach, Anthony Grant, about my future after basketball because we thought that day had come a lot earlier than it actually did. The short story is that I had a concussion near the end of the 2010-11 season, and after constant monitoring throughout that following offseason and summer, the symptoms never got better.

Thus, I decided to move into coaching, getting invaluable experience as a student assistant to start the 2011-12 season. In January 2012, I finally healed well enough to return to playing, but the coaching seed was already planted in me. So, when my eligibility was done, I knew what the next step was. At least I thought I knew.

Instead of becoming a GA, I took a job as a marketer with a nonprofit dental company and traveled throughout the state of Alabama talking to kids about the importance of doing the right things. Part of my talk would be for me to incorporate my basketball experiences, and the conversations would end with me playing basketball with the kids and signing pictures from when I played at Alabama.

I was never far away from basketball, even when I thought I wanted to be. The biggest blessing that happened was that my boss decided to keep me stationed in Birmingham at the last minute, instead of moving me to Huntsville as initially planned. That decision allowed me to be an assistant coach at my alma mater, John Carroll Catholic High School, and that experience as a coach furthered my conviction that coaching is what God was calling me to do.

I planned to go back to UA as a grad assistant, but the head coach I worked under at JC retired, and I was presented with the opportunity of a lifetime. I was offered my first head coaching job at the age of 23, and it was at my alma mater of all places. The same place that helped mold me into the man I am today would be the same place that launched my coaching career.

In the back of my mind, I always knew I wanted to coach in college, but the opportunity to be a head coach was simply too good to pass up. There are times that I question if I made the right decision, wondering if those two years at John Carroll slowed my progression through the college ranks. But, those two seasons as a head coach will stay with me for the rest of my life.

The lessons that I learned, both good and bad, both easy and hard, will undoubtedly help when I am someday a college head coach. It will surely help me when I am promoted to Assistant Coach, and it has helped me in my current role as a GA. As painful as it was to leave John Carroll, I knew it had to be done if I were ever to fulfill my dream.

As excited as I was to start a new chapter, I was equally sad about leaving my old one behind. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think that I would get so attached to my high school kids, but I truly love each of them like the little brothers I never had. From coaching those kids, I learned firsthand that they do not care how much you know until they know how you care.

I know it is a coaching cliché, but kids can tell when you are genuine and when you are not. That group gave me everything they had, and I believe that a coach can ask for nothing more of his team. No matter how far I hopefully go in my career, that group will always hold a special place in my heart.

In taking this job at South Alabama, I have grown even more as a coach and person than I could have ever hoped to in such a short period. A significant part of that is because of my wife, Brittany, who has been so supportive that words cannot do it justice. Without her, I would not have a great shot to be successful in life, much less coaching, so I can never fully repay her for what she has done.

My time here at the University of South Alabama has shown me so many things that go into running a college program that it even shocked me, and I considered myself an insider. Again, I would not trade these experiences, as I know all the things I have learned and the truly wonderful people that I have worked with will stay will remain relevant factors in my life going forward.

My advice to aspiring coaches would be to take a risk on yourselves and follow your dreams. No one on this earth can see into the future, so I believe that faith is extremely important. I am not one to quote Bible verses at the drop of a dime, but my relationship with Jesus Christ is the most important thing in life.

That belief in His promise is what drives me every day, so I know that I am in good hands all the time. So, while faith is important, faith without work is dead. If you want to be successful in this business, you cannot be afraid to take risks. And if you are blessed enough to land a job, work as hard as you can at the job you have.

Your work in the job you have is the best indicator of your potential in a future job, and you only get one chance to make a first impression. I believe that “luck” is when hard work meets opportunity, and there is so much beauty in that concept. We can control the hard work, but we cannot control who opens the doors of opportunity. The good thing for me is I know who does control those doors of opportunity, and He has yet to let me down.

 

How to Do the Hesitation Pull Up Shot in Basketball
Posted by: In: Basketball Fundamentals 0 comments

This type of move is more of an end of clock situation move, or when you are able to get a mismatch with a slower player guarding you. It is a more difficult shot, but if mastered it can be a really good move. Russell Westbrook is probably one of the best examples of a player that has really mastered this move.

The quicker and more explosive you are, the more the defense has to respect the blow by. So if you can really be a double threat to either blow by the defender or pull up, you will have the player guarding you at your mercy. Add this move to your basketball training and start developing your off the dribble shooting.

 

 

Drill Overview

Drill Name: How to Do the Hesitation Pull Up Shot in Basketball

Equipment Needed: 1 basketball, dummy defender (optional).

 

Similar Drills and Resources

 

Goals of the Drill

  • Work on selling that you are going to attack to the basket, but then really pulling up into a shot.

 

Coaching Points

  • Stay low and athletic and really try to sell that you are going to blow by the defender.
  • Stay balanced on your shot and hold your follow through.

 

Drill Instructions

  • The player is going to start with the basketball out above the 3 point line and begin attacking forward with the dribble.
  • The player is going to hesitate to sell like they are going to blow by the defender, and as the defender backs up, they are going to pull up into a jump shot.
  • Work on both midrange and 3 point shots.