Watch as Coach Mark Few explains, and players demonstrate this 4v2 defensive transition post entry. This drill is run every day in the pre-season and at least twice a week in season. The drill simulates […]
The Basics Really Work with Alan Stein, Jr.
Watch as Alan explains that in today’s world, it is popular to keep chasing what is hot, new, flashy and to ignore what is basic. This is a mistake, as the basics do work and […]
Passing Drill with Kim Barnes Arico – Univ. of Michigan
Watch as Coach Kim Barnes Arico explains, and players demonstrate this offensive and defensive passing drill. Defensively, the players want to pressure the ball, use their length, communicate, and rotate properly. Offensively, the players must […]
Ball Handling and Finishing Drills with Ryan Cottingham – Spring Arbor Univ.
Watch as Coach Ryan Cottingham explains, and players demonstrate this ball handling and finishing drill. The players will work on their ball handling but must finish at the basket versus pads or a blocker. The […]
Developing a Culture
By: Jen Welter Originally Published in: Winning Ways of Women Coaches Provided by: Human Kinetics You must give players a voice in shaping the identity and setting the tone. With the most powerful teams I […]
3 Taps and In Big Man Drill with Saddi Washington – Michigan State Univ.
Watch as Coach Saddi Washington explains, and players demonstrate the ‘3 Taps and In’ Big Man Drill. The player must make three taps with the ball, score, then repeat from the other side of the […]
Transition Tip Drill with Stan Van Gundy
Watch as Coach Stan Van Gundy explains, and players demonstrate this transition tip drill. This can be an everyday drill at the beginning of practice.
3 More Defensive Stops Per Game with Luke Yaklich – Univ. of Illinois at Chicago
Watch as Coach Luke Yaklich suggests analyzing your defensive stats and breaking them down into bite-size chunks, making it easier for coaches and players to digest. After looking at the stats, what would be the […]
4-Ball Screen and Cut Drill with Kim Elders – Cornerstone Univ.
Watch as Coach Kim Elders explains, and players demonstrate this 4-ball screen and cut drill. The drill starts with a down screen and the cutter curls or comes to the top. The next progression is […]
Program Managing
By: Dan Gould & Cliff Mallett Originally Published in: Sport Coaches Handbook Provided by: Human Kinetics Managing a program effectively requires a coach to plan and direct both culture and practice in a specific setting. […]
20 3’s in 2 Minutes Shooting Drill with Krista Gerlich – Texas Tech Univ.
Challenge and Competition. Watch as Coach Krista Gerlich explains that she likes to end practice with drills or conditioning. Her favorite shooting drill is the 20 3’s in 2-minutes – Let’s Make a Deal. The […]
AAU vs. High School with Cornelius Mitchell – Mansfield Legacy HS (TX)
Watch as Coach Cornelius Mitchell discusses how AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) basketball coaches receive more credibility than High School Coaches and the reasons why he thinks this is unfair. He tries to combine the pluses […]
Challenging Athletes Without Destroying Their Confidence with Dr. Greg Dale – Duke Univ.
Dr. Greg Dale explains that it is key to hold athletes accountable but do so without destroying their confidence or undermining their dignity. He talks about the difference between being intense and being emotional as […]
Safety in Sports Includes Mental Health Care
Medical professionals agree that about 20% of high school athletes and 30% of college athletes have or will have a serious anxiety or diagnosable mental health disorder that causes some degree of impairment in their […]
Circle the Wagon Offensive Rebounding and Transition Defense with Robert Lucero – Westlake High School (TX)
Watch as Coach Robert Lucero explains, and players demonstrate this Circle the Wagon offensive rebounding and transition drill including all the variations. Westlake’s rebounding philosophy is to send 4 players for the offensive rebound with […]
Pre Warm-Up Drills with Christina Camacho – Antonian College Preparatory High School (TX)
Watch as Coach Christina Camacho explains, and players demonstrate this series of pre-warm up drills. She wants her team to come to practice prepared to start and the following drills get everyone ready for a […]
Transition Drills with Jennifer Brewer – Louis D. Brandeis High School (TX)
Watch as Coach Jennifer Brewer discusses, and players demonstrate these transition drills. The 1st drill is a timed (1-minute drill) called UConn that has the goal of making 12 baskets in 1 minute. The 2nd […]
Saginaw Valley Men’s Practice with Randy Baruth – Saginaw Valley State Univ.
Watch as Coach Randy Baruth explains, and players demonstrate these practice drills. The first drill is 39 and 3 which is a three-minute timed drill. This is a catch – score drill with no traveling […]
Getting Your Team to Play Hard with Kelvin Sampson – Univ. of Houston
Watch as Coach Kelvin Sampson explains that the #1 goal for any young coach is to get his players to play hard. Do not be afraid of confrontation as sometimes players will test you as […]
Twirl Side with Mike Neighbors – Los Angeles Sparks
Watch as Coach Mike Neighbors explains that the first play they will run in a game is Twirl Side so he can see how the opponent will defend. The player setting the ball screen must […]
Leadership: Own Your Program with Philip O’Neal – Mansfield ISD (TX)
Watch as Executive Director of Athletics Philip O’Neal explains the first thing a head coach needs to do. They need to own the program. What goes on in the program is their responsibility. The AD […]
Setting Goals
By: Dan Gould & Cliff Mallett Originally Published in: Sport Coaches Handbook Provided by: Human Kinetics Setting clear goals helps coaches and athletes achieve success. Goals offer direction and purpose for our day-to-day activities; in […]
Out of Bounds Plays – Home Run and Triple with Mike Fratello – Former NBA Coach
Watch as Coach Mike Fratello explains, and players demonstrate these last second out of bounds plays. These plays are used when the clock reads 3-2-1 or 6-5-4 seconds remaining. Fratello is among the winningest head […]
Shooting Drill – Bull Shots with Felisha Legette-Jack – Syracuse Univ.
Watch as Coach Felisha Legette-Jack (previously at the University at Buffalo) explains, and players demonstrate this five minute shooting drill. Emphasis is placed on getting the hips around and hopping into the shot. The drill […]
Porch Transition Drill with JR Blount – Iowa State Univ.
Watch as Coach JR Blount (previously at Colorado State University) explains, and post players demonstrate this porch transition drill. The bigs work with a guard on speed, back cuts, and the pick and roll.
Three-Man, 2- and 3-Ball Warm Up Drills with Matthew Sandoval – Jack C. Hays High School (TX)
Watch as Coach Matthew Sandoval explains and players demonstrate these three men, 2 & 3 ball warmup drills. The first drill starts with three lines of players with the outside lines being passers and dribblers. […]
What Are We Doing to Create a Championship Culture? with Robert Grasso – La Jolla Country Day School (CA)
Robert Grasso asks the question, “what can we do to create a championship culture?” Every team has a culture – are you working to develop the kind of culture you want? Robert states that if […]
Searching for Confidence? Adopt a “GPS Mindset”
By: Danny Ourian, M.A., CMPC (Certified Mental Performance Consultant) – Hoops Minded Think about a GPS device. What are its features? Here are a few: Real-Time Tracking: a GPS makes changes minute by minute based […]
Defense: Keys to Stopping Stars with Stan Van Gundy
Watch as Coach Stan Van Gundy explains his defensive keys for stopping the opponent’s best player. The keys include: stopping transition baskets, preventing cuts and making the player take jump shots, boxing out, and not […]
Switch Drill with Robyn Fralick – Bowling Green State Univ.
Watch as Coach Robyn Fralick explains, and players demonstrate this switch drill. In a pressure trapping system the defense is often scrambling and the players must communicate and get matched up.