Coaching Clinic - 2009 workout highlight

As mentioned in previous posts, the annual Can-Am On-Court Basketball Coaching Clinic is fast approaching (June 4th-5th) and will offer the attending coaches excellent value for time and dollars spent.

For a highlight from one of last year's intense sessions with Coach Larry Shyatt (Assistant Coach to Billy Donovan at University of Florida), please go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3zMleGByPY or http://www.youtube.com/user/cobacamp and enjoy. You will be watching a Windsor Lancer forward working very hard to get in the target number of high quality reps of a sprint to ball screen, slip, shoot, and shoot of a second ball. Coach Shyatt was always clear in his instruction - in order for players to reach their next level, they need to put in the quality work in the gym (both in season and off season).

Watch for an announcement over the next few days. Coaches Don Casey and Dave Odom have confirmed for June 4th-5th, and the third coach is about to be announced. Again, for those coaches wishing to attend the clinic please simply go to the online form at cobacamp.com.

Offense - using ball screens

If players remember only one word when thinking about ball screens, it should be 'patience' (especially on the offensive side of the ball). Players need to remind themselves that they are not able to read and react with effective moves if they are hurrying and rushing the ball screen action. Yes, screeners do need to sprint screens, and ball handlers need to make a quick and decisive move (after their read) but overall the action needs to have patience as a guide. From an offensive standpoint, some ball screen scenarios follow:

• in every case, the screen needs to be above (further from the scoring hoop) the ball (conversely, the ball needs to begin below the screen)
• the player receiving the screen needs to be a good reader (of movement and defensive positioning)
  
• the ball handler needs to be patient and wait for the screen to be set (VERY important)
• the screener must get low and wide and take up plenty of space
• offensive players need to remember that hitting their OWN player is NOT a foul
  
• beyond making the correct read, the ball handler and screener must look to create space
• reject the screen - if the ball defender goes under the screen (with a plan to meet the ball on the screening side) and the screen defender hedges then both defenders should be far enough removed from the ball that the ball handler should look to attack the rim in a straight line (but may need to "sell" acceptance of the screen first)
• play behind the screen - if the ball defender goes under the screen (sold based on previous movement) and the screen defender zones off (drops to the lane) the screen then the ball handler will have the opportunity to use their screener as enough of a wall and then shoot behind that screen (a tough shot in basketball, needs to be practiced, very effective)
  
• accept the screen - if the ball defender chases over the screen then the ball handler will have the opportunity to attack their screener's outside shoulder and drive to the rim (not allowing space for the defender to get between the ball and the screen, thus keeping the defender behind the ball), the screen defender needs to then space to the right area away from the defense (either roll opposite or flare or pop back)
• split the screen - if the ball handler chases over top of the screener and the screen defender hedges but does not hang on to the screener then the ball handler will have an opportunity to split that gap between their screener and the screen defender (with the ball defender chasing behind them), again look to attack and the screener should space
  

In celebration of Coach Wooden

For some of you, this may be a reminder of what you've already enjoyed reading last October. For others, this will be a surprising list of facts about the great Coach John Wooden (but don't call him 'The Wizard of Westwood' as he's not fond of that nickname). Click on the link (courtesy of Mike Penner and the Los Angeles Times) to enjoy 99 facts about Coach, as described at the time of his 99th birthday last October. Hard to believe that he'll be 100 this Fall.

http://articles.latimes.com/2009/oct/14/sports/sp-john-wooden14

Shot form - expanded BEEF

There are plenty of resources available to coaches and players to help them teach/learn proper shooting techniques - books available at Barnes & Noble or online at Amazon or Indigo, dvd's listed at Championship Productions and Human Kinetics, to name a few. Coaches often use the acronym of B.E.E.F. to help simplify shooting instruction - what follows is an expanded version with some extra teaching:

• Before - you catch the ball, need to be ready to catch and shoot, legs loaded, fingers pointing to the sky
• Base - feet far enough apart so a coach could not tip you backwards if they pushed a finger at your forehead
• Balance - be centered in every way and not leaning (to a side or front/back)
• Behind - need to get it down low enough to use big powerful muscles in the legs
• Eyes - focus them at the rim (visualize the ball going in)
• Elbow - under ball for power and direction, holding a ball should look like a waiter balancing a tray of food
  
• Elevate - shot power comes from legs, up through the body to the arms, and the ball must use that power to go up with a good angle of arc (for entry into the hoop)
• Extend - shooting arm should take the ball up (over a defender's hand) NOT out (toward a defender)
  
• Every time - repetition, get in shots using the same routine on a daily basis, must develop the muscle memory
• Evaluate - be the master of your own shot, understand enough to know why a ball is missing left or right or coming up short
• Energy - do shooting drills on the move, simulate game conditions, transfer forward motion into upward energy
  
• Feet - need to be squared to the target every shot
• Fingers - last two to touch the ball on release should be the index and middle (fork)
• Follow through - when ball leaves the shooting hand, fingers need to be pointing at the target and held there (don't pull the shooting hand back)
• Free Throw - beyond shots from in close to the hoop, FT line is a great place to practice shot form (same distance, same form, routine, lots of reps)
• Feet moving - active feet, follow your shot, rebound the ball (you have the advantage over the other team as you took the shot and know the path)
• Far - take your shots from further away ONLY when you have mastered your technique and are shooting a high percentage closer to the hoop
• Fun - shooting is one of the most enjoyable aspects of basketball, do it properly, take plenty of shots
  

Coaching Clinic in early June

In just over two months, the University of Windsor Lancers men's basketball program and the COBA player development camp will have the great pleasure of hosting Don Casey and Dave Odom at their annual Can-Am On-Court Basketball Coaching Clinic. Once again, the clinic is being held in Windsor, Ontario over the first weekend in June (4th-5th), with a special third guest to be confirmed very soon.

Both coaches are terrific presenters that will provide attending coaches with excellent value for time and money spent. Simply go to http://www.cobacamp.com/New/2010%20Basketball%20Clinic%20Brochure.pdf to print a form and register for the upcoming clinic. Coaches can appreciate tremendous savings when they register with friends as a group.

Learn from games you watch

This time of the year offers plenty of basketball to be watched, whether on TV or in the gym. Beyond the enjoyment and scouting aspects, there is much personal learning that can take place. Based on what coaches see, they should take time to evaluate their own teams. Ask the simple question - "when I see movement such as those listed below, am I happy with how we run it or defend it?"

• side or wing ballscreen
• quick ball reversal to low post entry
• slip to the rim (out of ballscreen) by a big
• high ballscreen
• split (of ball and screen defender) by a ball-handler
• perimeter shot opened up by a back side screen after a skip pass to weakside
• dribble handoff at the wing
• lane penetration to a kick out pass
  

Strategy - plan for special situations

At all times, coaches should know which players need to be in the game and why. They should also have some deliberate and strategic play calls at their disposal. The following represent a small list of the many eventualities for which every coach must have a plan:

• who to put in if the best player/shooter/defender/ball-handler/rebounder is hurt or has too many fouls (for that stage of the game)
• a late game three pointer is needed
• end of shot clock or game clock out of bounds play (sideline and/or baseline)
• an intentional miss of a free throw (which side, where is positioning, what is movement, how to miss)
• up by three points with little time left on the game clock and the opponent has the ball (to foul or not)
• down by five with enough time for two expected possessions
• subbing offense for defense and vice versa (if possible based on stoppage of play)
• a small and fast lineup (which five players should be in the game)
• type of trap or defense to promote a turnover and recovery of the ball
  

Tournament strategies - apply them all season

For a basketball coach, player, or fan there simply is no better time of the season than championship tournament time! Big tournaments (at the university, college, high school, and club levels) are taking place all over the U.S. and Canada. It is always interesting to hear the messages and philosophies offered by coaches at tournament time. Some would contend that the concepts, such as those offered below, should apply ALL season, not just in the most important tourney. Ask yourself if you should be applying the following lessons all the time:

• "Focus on how you have to work, or what you have to do, to be your best right now" (John Calipari, Men's BBall HC, Kentucky)
• "It is all about matchups" (Bruce Pearl, Men's BBall HC, Tennessee)
• "You should have to beat good teams to get to where your team wants to go" (Bill Self, Men's BBall HC, Kansas)
• "He just told us to run our plays......Coach really settles us down and calls good time outs at the right time" (Cape Breton Capers player Jimmy Dorsey on Head Coach Jim Charters)
• "If you start thinking about where you are playing or who you are or what your seeding is then you are not going to last very long...simply say 'we're going to play whoever we draw and we're going to do the best we can'" (Bob Knight, ESPN analyst and former Men's BBall HC, Texas Tech, Indiana, etc)
• "The bottom line is that he gets his guys to play mentally tougher on every possession more consistently. They execute technically, compete physically, and never beat themselves" (Chris Oliver, Men's BBall HC, Windsor commenting on what distinguishes Head Coach Dave Smart and the Carleton Ravens)
• "We need to make sure we're focused in and we're playing the way we need to play...we have got to defend and rebound" (Tom Izzo, Men's BBall HC, Michigan State)

Coaches Toolbox - Twitter

There are many terrific sources of information for coaches - books, dvd's, clinics, other coaches, watching games, online resources, blogs, etc. Add Twitter to that long list. Twitter is yet another avenue where coaches who want to learn can connect with coaches and leaders that like to share.

Getting started is easy. Finding resources is easy. Staying connected is easy. The rest is then up to you. If you wish, simply follow people that offer material that interests you - whether on nutrition, quotes and phrases, physical development, mental training, x's and o's, motivation, leadership, coaching resources, the list is endless. If you want to share, then that is available too - who knows, you may develop a list of learners that want to follow you.

Regardless, it is yet another great tool in your box. The best part of all is that the information comes to you - after you set up the list of people from who you'd like to learn, they automatically teach and share with you on a regular basis. Unlike books, dvd's, and watching games, you don't have to go looking for this information - it comes to you. Going to http://twitter.com/ will get you started.

Championship Week

As the bids for NCAA tournament berths heat up during this championship week, there was also some great basketball played in the high schools. The OFSAA championships took place in Sturgeon Falls, Windsor, Kingston, and Oshawa earlier this week.

Many past attendees of the annual Can-Am On-Court Basketball Coaching Clinic (June 4th-5th in Windsor) were coaching in pivotal games in their respective divisions. Congratulations to all coaches and teams that made it to championship week. Special mention needs to be given to two teams.

During their run to the AA title in Windsor, Dan Meyer and Nick White of Parkside Dundas (ranked 3rd) posted wins over #18 Sir Winston Churchill, #8 Montcalm, #6 St. Basil, #7 Timmins, and #5 Herman. With many highly ranked teams suffering losses, it became a matter of survival and Parkside Dundas got the job done.

With the AAAA trophy on the line, Anthony Miller and his team from Oakwood let the Durham region know they were there to earn the top prize. On their journey, the 6th ranked team earned victories over #16 St. Matthew, #1 Pickering, #3 J. Clarke Richardson, #2 Blessed Mother Teresa, and ultimately #12 St. Thomas More.

More excellence from Coach K

Take time to find out what makes a person who they are - their passions, dislikes, their views, what is important to them, etc. Coaches need to know their players. Players need to know their coaches. After all, teams are comprised of people and those people will determine team outcomes.

Coach K at Duke, despite how he is sometimes portrayed in the media or by opposing fans, is most definitely a people person that cares about others. Like him or not as a coach of a certain team, as we all are, he is to be respected. When you read the following article from Andy Katz of ESPN.com, you will gain another perspective on an excellent and caring coach along with a likely deeper level of respect.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/columns/story?columnist=katz_andy&id=4961273

Is it any wonder that the phrase (especially in coaching) "people won't care how much you know until they know how much you care" is used so often? At least now you know just how much a very busy and successful coach from Duke cares.

MSU thinks outside the box, sleeps inside the gym

Be creative. Think differently. Make memories. See the game another way. Foster leadership in your players. These are all wonderful ideals. Go to the link below and read the story that outlines some creative thinking by the men's basketball program at Michigan State.

http://www.greenandwhite.com/article/20100302/GW0201/3020334/1026/GW0201

Essentially, they needed to change things up, bring in something fresh to replace a stale atmosphere, improve communication, and develop a better cohesion and chemistry. How did they do it? A sleepover at mid-court - they camped out on the floor of their home gym. Not only that but it took place the night before an important game. For now, it seems to have been a good idea. In a few weeks, if they win it all, it will be a legendary idea. Regardless, they embraced a change. The best part of all, as described by Head Coach Tom Izzo, is that "it was a player decision" and showed initiative. His players took responsibility, offered a solution, and put it into action.

Motivation for ANY time of year

What follows is applicable all year, forever - not just today or this season. However, if you do need a motivational boost NOW then read on. Finish Strong (a title from Simple Truth's), by author Dan Green, was recently made popular again due to the success of the New Orleans Saints. The Saints, led by their determined quarterback Drew Brees, adopted the Finish Strong book, bracelet, and movie as their "battle cry" early in 2009.

After 41 tough seasons, the team was determined to achieve success and win the ultimate football team prize - the Vince Lombardi trophy. One year later, they did it, and are now Super Bowl champs - some say the party has not ended! Looking for similar motivation, watch the 3 minute Finish Strong movie at http://www.finishstrongmovie.com/miami/ - indeed, VERY inspiring. Go to Dan Green's site, www.finishstrong.com, for more information on what he has to offer.

NCAA vault - FULL of treasures

Every now and then, you learn of a book or dvd or website that makes you stand up and pay attention. The link below will make most coaches say "wow" and question if it could be possible that such a great site would exist. When time allows, go to http://vault.ncaa.com/ - you will likely be stunned by all that you see! It truly is a tremendous resource. Here are some features:

• an enormous collection of complete NCAA games (yes, in their entirety)
• highlights and game-changing moments
• 10 years (2000 to 2010) of games involving the best men's basketball teams in the NCAA
• outstanding players and current stars
• GREAT dunks, shots, plays, blocks, finishes
• stats and history
• a search engine by team or year or player (or other filters)