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 – Univ. of Arkansas
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 […]
Gamecocks Finishing Drill with Saddi Washington – Univ. of Michigan
Watch as Coach Saddi Washington explains, and Bigs demonstrate the Gamecocks Finishing Drill. The drill starts with a Big passing the ball and running to the left side of the foul line where they must […]
Be Recognizable and Go Out and Meet People with Andre Cook – St. Edward’s Univ.
Watch as Coach Andre Cook explains that as the basketball coach, you are a recognizable person and he recommends you get out to meet people in your school and community. It is key that you […]
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.
Encouraging Players to Coach Their Teammates with Duane Gregory – (Retired) Mansfield Timberview High School (TX)
Watch as Coach Duane Gregory explains that he believes in his players coaching and communicating with each other. A player must have the courage to coach another player and that player needs to be receptive. […]
Kill Drill: 3 Stops in a Row with Jeff Boals – Ohio Univ.
Watch as Coach Jeff Boals explains, and players demonstrate this defensive kill drill. The objective is for the defenders to get 3 stops in a row without using their hands for the first 20 seconds. […]
Adversity Is Part of the Journey with Seth Greenberg – ESPN
Watch as Seth Greenberg explains that adversity ‘visits the strong and lives with the weak,’ so the only option is to deal with it. He encourages no whining, no complaining, no excuses, and no regrets. […]
Why Should Coaches Coach?
Coaches at high levels at prestigious programs need to win to keep their jobs. Winning consistently makes recruiting easier, keeps the fan base energized, the administration and boosters happy, and the financial bottom line healthy. […]
Bigs’ Boxout Drill with Cornelius Mitchell – Mansfield Legacy High School (TX)
Watch as Coach Cornelius Mitchell explains, and players demonstrate this big man boxout drill. This drill focuses on contesting and boxing out on defense. On offense, the drill deals with boxing out and stacking the […]
2-on-2 Blockout Drill with Kim Barnes Arico – Univ. of Michigan
Watch as Coach Kim Barnes Arico explains, and players demonstrate this 2-on-2 blockout drill. Coach emphasizes not running to the rim and being too far under the basket. The defense players must blockout and rebound […]
Ball Screen Bump Drill with Jason Hooten – Sam Houston State Univ.
Watch as Coach Jason Hooten discusses this ball screen bump drill that will give your big an open lane to the basket.
Pick and Roll vs. a Trap with Shaka Smart – Marquette Univ.
Watch as Coach Shaka Smart explains, and players demonstrate these pick and roll options versus a trapping defense. A “go” is when the defender guarding the picker is approaching the trap and the picker slips […]
3 Lane – Turn the Dribble Defensive Drill with Ryan Cottingham – Spring Arbor Univ.
Watch as Coach Ryan Cottingham explains, and players demonstrate this three-lane defensive turn the dribble drill. The drill focuses on not putting the hands on the offensive player and picking up a cheap foul. The […]
Leading a Staff
By: Tara VanDerveer Originally Published in: Winning Ways of Women Coaches Provided by: Human Kinetics Whoever you have, make the most of it. Be efficient with your time, and be specific about what you want […]
Transition: Rebound and Bring It with Andy Bronkema – Ferris State Univ.
Watch as Coach Andy Bronkema explains, and players demonstrate this transition rebound and bring it drill. This is a three-trip drill with the 2 rebounding the ball and bringing it up the floor, the 3 […]
Why Pack Line Defense with Jacey Brooks – SUNY Cortland
Watch as Coach Jacey Brooks explains her defensive philosophy and the pack line defense. It is important that your players practice the defensive fundamentals, learn the system, and buy in.
Players Are a Reflection of Their Coach in Practice with Kelvin Sampson – University of Houston
Watch as Coach Kelvin Sampson explains how confidence makes the difference in coaching. He doesn’t believe the old saying that the players are a reflection of their coach but more to the tune of a […]
Oregon Passing Drill with Darris Nichols – Radford Univ.
Watch as Coach Darris Nichols explains, and players demonstrate this Oregon Passing Drill. The drill is 2 minutes long with a goal of making 12 baskets. The player must catch the ball with both hands […]
Accountability and Empathy with Dr. Greg Dale – Duke Univ.
Watch as Dr. Dale discusses accountability and empathy. Your program should have high standards, and everyone should be held accountable to those standards. He describes empathy as the ability to put yourself in someone else’s […]