COBA Player Development

Wondering what COBA is all about? Here is a video highlighting some of the drills/skills and basketball specific athletic development that takes place during COBA skill development sessions. CLICK HERE FOR THE VIDEO. Better basketball players and coaches are developed during the off‐season. However, it is common for players and coaches to put many hours into developing without maximizing their returns. Our development sessions will help you become a better basketball player and coach by developing and refining your basketball‐specific skills, athletic ability and knowledge. There are two types of COBA camps:
2 DAY COBA PLAYER/COACH DEVELOPMENT SESSIONS which combine player development sessions with a coaching clinic as we show you how to teach the drills and skills we use to develop our players.
5-Day COBA PLAYER DEVELOPMENT CAMP which combine on and off court basketball specific player development skills and drills.

Next steps

First of all, Happy New Year to all of you that read this ongoing blog, attend COBA camps, make an annual trip to the Can-Am coaches clinic, as well as support our team.

At an average of one blog entry every two days, this has certainly been an active year of sharing and growth. As coaches do with their teams, we are focussed on the journey of this blog, not just making it a destination. With that in mind, we welcome your feedback. If you have enjoyed it, let us know (cobacamp@hotmail.com). If you have questions, thoughts, or suggestions then please do share a quick email.

As we look ahead to 2011, this blog will continue to evolve. COBA player development camps will grow to meet new challenges and demands (look for updates very soon). The Can-Am On-Court Basketball Coaching Clinic (June 3-4) will once again provide coaches and players with superior value - announcements confirming speakers will be forthcoming. True learning develops through teaching.

Keep on learning

The summer sessions of COBA camp may have ended but the learning continues - for campers and instructors. The last two weeks have been fantastic and intense. Basketball boot camp is challenging, both physically and mentally. The planning for next year has already begun. Bookmark the COBA site and watch for updates and details. In the meantime, amongst many topics, players are reminded to work on the following skills:

• first step footwork
• shot fakes (remember it is "a shot not taken")
• offensive ballscreen reads (have patience)
  
• high post series
• ball handling (get the work done but also be creative)
  
• perimeter attack series
• low post footwork (start from the proper area)
• ball tough stance (varies based on location on the court)
• spacing off of ballscreen and dribble drive action
  

Less is more

This summer, as basketball camps like COBA make their annual impression on young athletes that want to improve, some camp directors have reported attendance numbers are slightly lower. The main reason seems to be that families are spending more time together as opposed to sending kids to camp for as many weeks. That is a good scenario. Regardless, coaches need to remain positive and provide strong leadership. Some positives of lower attendance:

• economically speaking, it is a good lesson to have to do more with less - forces creativity and deeper thinking
• if staffing maintained, the coach to player ratios improve (good PR)
• easier logistics due to moving fewer groups of people around
• station work becomes more meaningful because of targeted instruction
• fewer potential distractions - better effective management time
• greater enjoyment due to the freshness of coaching a different size of group
• further review of daily practice plans will likely lead to new approaches (energizing)

Get more from camp

Summer and basketball camps go together like lemonade and ice. The COBA player development series of camps is continuing this week. Once again, players are enjoying a high level experience and are being stretched from their comfort zones. In general, coaches owe it to their players to help them get the most out of camp experiences. Some tips regarding camps:

• research camps, near and far, and always have updated camp resources - match the intensity and demands to the goals of the camper
• take two pairs of court shoes (whether indoor or out) in order to alternate and dry
• bring OTHER shoes (i.e. sandals) to give feet a break from basketball footwear (put on asap after sessions)
  
• take more socks than any other item of clothing
• pack a water bottle (proper and regular hydration is essential)
• maximize learning - bring a notebook and pen and, for future development, take notes after each session
  
• be outgoing, make new friends, work smart, and ENJOY the week
  

Can-Am coaching clinic a success

Following in the success and tradition of previous Can-Am coaching clinics, the 2010 clinic has now wrapped up, been enjoyed and appreciated by plenty of coaches. Special thanks to ALL of the attending coaches, especially those that brought friends and traveled great distances! Once again, we are grateful to the many friends and supporters that promoted the clinic and reinforced the values of sharing.

This years guest presenters, coaches Dave Odom, Don Casey, and Greg Kampe, gave all of the coaches tremendous content, shared several stories (illustrating examples of what is required to be a better player at any level), and demonstrated their expertise with wonderful passion. Thanks again to all three of them for their support and willingness to share. When combined with Coach Oliver's session of practice drills and individual workouts, the overall clinic provided a fantastic opportunity for learning. Stay tuned to the blog, Twitter, and Facebook fan pages for continued learning from the clinic.

Final thanks are owed to the University of Windsor Athletic Dept. and staff, valued clinic sponsors, COBA, host hotel (Holiday Inn Select, Windsor), Windsor Lancer coaches and players (the men and women that worked very hard on court both days), drivers of the guest coaches, and countless volunteers that helped along the way. Next year's clinic is only 12 months away, and the work has already begun!

Player Development Camp - Shooting

Elite Shooting Camp presented by COBA/Windsor Basketball

Date: June 25-26
Ages: 8 to 16, Male and Female Players
Cost: $80

Time: 8 hours of instruction

• Session 1 - Friday, 6:00-9:00pm
• Session 2 - Saturday, 9:00am-12:00pm
• Session 3 - Saturday, 1:00-3:00pm

COBA/Windsor Basketball Elite Shooting Camp
Pure shooters are made, not born. Pure shooting is a learned behavior. Learn and practice the fundamentals of shooting, working towards shooting excellence. Drills and programs will emphasize footwork and the mental aspect of shooting, to help maximize execution from the perimeter and to improve consistency in different offensive situations. Instruction will be led by Coach Chris Oliver plus a staff of university players and coaches.

DURING ELITE SHOOTING CAMP

• Develop a confident mindset and elimination of fear
• Knowledge and understanding of the bio-mechanics of the shot
• Identification, cause, and correction of the most common shooting errors
• Knowledge of the skills necessary to catch and shoot, dribble and shoot
• Instruction necessary to do an analysis of a person shooting a basketball

Go to https://web4.uwindsor.ca/units/athletics/scforms.nsf/Registration?OpenForm to register online or contact Coach Oliver directly at coliver@uwindsor.ca or 519-253-3000, ext.4047.

Player Development Camp - Perimeter Skills

Elite Perimeter Skills Camp presented by COBA/Windsor Basketball

Date: June 18-19
Ages: 8 to 16, Male and Female Players
Cost: $80

Time: 8 hours of instruction

• Session 1 - Friday, 6:00-9:00pm
• Session 2 - Saturday, 9:00am-12:00pm
• Session 3 - Saturday, 1:00-3:00pm

COBA/Windsor Basketball Elite Perimeter Skills Camp
This is a special camp to improve your offensive skills. Taught by Coach Chris Oliver plus his staff of university players and coaches, this camp focuses on only one thing - offensive basketball! Designed for both female and male basketball players, this is a unique opportunity to learn about aggressive offensive skills. Your entire camp experience will be tailored to shooting, passing, ball-handling, moving without the basketball, and one-on-one moves. This is all about YOUR offensive skills, so no full-court games will be played (just one-on-one, two-on-two, plus three-on-three in order to practice what will be taught).

DURING ELITE PERIMETER SKILLS CAMP

• Develop a confident attacking mindset
• Knowledge and understanding of the concepts of offensive basketball
• Identification, cause, and correction of the most common fundamental errors
• Knowledge of the skills necessary to catch, shoot, dribble, and attack on offense
• Game-like understanding of the application of offensive perimeter skills

Go to https://web4.uwindsor.ca/units/athletics/scforms.nsf/Registration?OpenForm to register online or contact Coach Oliver directly at coliver@uwindsor.ca or 519-253-3000, ext.4047.

Schedule for coaching clinic

With the Can-Am On-Court Basketball Coaching Clinic (June 4-5) set to begin one week from Friday, the schedule has been confirmed as the following:

Friday evening - Kampe, Casey, Odom
Friday night - coaches' social
Saturday morning - Odom, Casey
Saturday lunch - free, provided on-site
Saturday afternoon - Oliver, Casey

The clinic begins at 5pm on Friday June 4th at the St. Denis Centre on the campus of the University of Windsor. Registration tables will be set up in order to confirm attendance and receive last minute registrations. The coaches' social will likely begin 30 minutes after the final Friday evening session concludes.

It's not too late to register and experience all that Coaches Dave Odom, Don Casey, and Greg Kampe have to offer. Email Coach Oliver at cobacamp@hotmail.com if you're planning to register at the door. For clinic information and a registration form simply go to the cobacamp.com site. See you in 9 days!

Ball Tough Drill

Happy to be posting our 100th post for the COBA Coaching Development Blog. Would love to hear any feedback about our posts and any requests for specific info. Please send me any feedback at our Can-Am Coaching Clinic facebook page, my twitter page Chris_Oliver or email us at cobacamp@hotmail.com. We want to help you with your coaching development needs so please don't hesitate to contact us.

In honor of our 100th post here is a video from a past Newmarket Coaching Clinic. The drill is one we use at our COBA camps and individual workouts to develop proper ball toughness, pivoting skills and general toughness/competitiveness.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHIhdGqvleE

Clinic notes - Renato Pasquali continued

When Coach Pasquali presented at a recent coaching clinic, he outlined a daily team practise plan (within the context of long term player development). In both percentages and minutes (based on a two hour practise), Coach Pasquali suggested the following format.

Part A - 30% or 35 mins.
Shot form, dribble start or pivot, combination (dribble, pass, shoot), defensive skills

Part B - 30% or 35 mins.
1 on 1 decision-making, 2 on 2 game situation, 3 on 3 game situation with a built-in handicap, 2 on 1 transition drill, 3 on 3 with a built-in handicap

Part C - 40% or 50 mins.
4 on 4 breakdown, 5 on 5 offensive and defensive systems, 5 on 5 scrimmage

The Can-Am On-Court Basketball Coaching Clinic is fast approaching - only 5 weeks away. If you're interested in learning from Dave Odom, Don Casey, and Greg Kampe then use the form on the COBA Camp site and register ASAP. Be sure to make note of the coach's social event on the first evening of the clinic - a great event for networking and sharing.

Lots of shots - Dave Arseneault

Spend any amount of time with Dave Arseneault of Grinnell College, Iowa, and you'll quickly discover that his enthusiasm for his team's style of play is contagious. When Coach Arseneault worked with coaches at a recent Can-Am On-Court Basketball Coaching Clinic, every coach left the gym with the challenges to make practices more upbeat, take more shots, and increase the tempo (by getting out and running) in games. Coach Arseneault's philosophy includes each player taking 100 three's in every practice, shooting (in game) by the 12 second mark of each possession, and taking 60 team three's per game. Beyond that, he offered clinic attendees the following:

• coaches should develop a system that is 'player friendly' and makes kids want to come to the gym each day (takes creativity and lots of prep)
• every practice drill at Grinnell ends with a three point shot
• players need to work on getting shots off quickly (as there is very little time versus a pressure defense)
• shooters need to think in terms of fractions of time and not waste any fractions
• passing is SO important - a good pass (delivered to a shot pocket) makes a good shooter 15% more effective
• a pass on target to the shooter will allow them to no longer think of catching the ball and simply focus on the muscle memory of the shot routine
• on catch, shooters need to keep the ball high and never let it get closer to the floor
• as discussed every season at the COBA camp, "good shooters don't shoot quickly - they PREPARE to shoot quickly"
  

Brief glimpse of Coach Kampe

As mentioned recently, Coach Greg Kampe has enthusiastically agreed to present at the upcoming Can-Am On-Court Basketball Coaching Clinic, taking place June 4th-5th in Windsor. For a brief look in on Coach Kampe's basketball program at Oakland this past season, take two minutes to watch the following clip on YouTube.

The clinic is now only weeks away. If you've not yet sent in your registration, please do so. To download and mail a form, simply go to the clinic link at cobacamp.com.

Offense - screener responsibilities

When screening on the ball, the screener has just as many responsibilities as the ball-handler that receives the screen. If the ball-handler needs to be patient (in the waiting and reading of the screen) then the screener needs to sprint to the screen in order to buy some time for that action to occur. As mentioned in a previous post, the screener must screen above the ball (further from the hoop) in order to cause enough of a defensive disruption. The screener must make contact with the defender and therefore needs to be low and wide enough (must take up space). A screener must have a strong basketball I.Q. - after all, they need to read both the defensive reaction as well as their ball-handler's decision. Screeners need to consider:

• opposition coaches will be instructing their defenders to NOT get hit by the screen so emphasis needs to be placed on making defender contact
• must pay attention as the action may require a re-screen (which will happen quickly) based on movement, don't assume job is done after the initial screen
• if ball-handler accepts the screen and drives defender into it, then screener will need to roll if screen defender hedges or flare away if screen defender zones off to the lane
• if ball-handler rejects the screen (because of defender leaving a drive line) then screener will need to space away opposite or step back (as a fill) into space away from defenders
• if ball-handler splits the screen and the hedging defender (because the ball defender chased behind and the hedge defender left a gap) then screener should look to flare away from the two defenders (to open space)
• if screen defender zones off the action to the lane, and ball defender goes under the screen, then the screener should read and stay as the wall for the ball-handler to shoot behind
• overall, the screen must be aggressive and the screener should be a threat and space to an area that is effective and does not draw defenders to the ball
• screeners must always be aware that teams may trap the ball-handler and therefore need to be visible to the ball on all movement out of a screen
• all of this, and much more, is covered in great detail every summer during the weeks of intense basketball instruction at COBA
  

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.

Warming up - practices and games

Taking time to evaluate your program is essential. The obvious time for most coaches to do so is in the off-season. The spring and summer months are great for attending clinics (such as Can-Am), going to camps (like COBA), as well as for reflection. However, in-season evaluation should be an ongoing process. Ask yourself if you are happy with each and every aspect of your team. What can be improved? It is never too late to mix in some changes.

One example is your team's warm up routine. Are you happy with it? Are they getting ready to perform at their expected level and demonstrating great energy, or are they simply going through their usual routine? Why not freshen it up? When Coach Dave Arseneault of Grinnell College shared with attending coaches at a recent Can-Am coaching clinic, he outlined his warm up expectations. Every practice, his team must impress him with a warm up routine when they sprint in to the gym - it needs to be fresh, loud, creative, and show plenty of energy. If it does not have the right spirit then his team must head back out the door and try again - obviously, they begin every practice awake and ready to get to work.

How about games? Is your team ready to play? Are they properly warmed up and energized? With thanks to Alan Stein of StrongerTeam.com, if you watch the clips that follow, you may see a few moves that you want your team to coordinate into it's warm ups (games and practices). Alan is an excellent teacher, shares willingly, and has posted great clips of both Maryland and Duke warming up for games. Enjoy:

Duke - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOwSUEvm1Bk&feature=related

Maryland -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UosNG9aVMXk&feature=youtu.be&a

Coaching Clinic in early June

In just over three 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 coach to be announced very soon.

For coaches that would like to watch Coach Casey and Odom in action prior to attending the Can-Am clinic, they can go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emZxQHcQmkU&feature=player_embedded# for Coach Casey and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVlz7GTEtvM for Coach Odom. Both are strong, entertaining presenters that provide excellent value for time and money invested by attending coaches. Simply go to www.cobacamp.com/New/2010_Basketball_Clinic_Brochure.pdf to print a form and register for the upcoming clinic. Coaches, especially groups, can realize significant savings by sending in their form and payment early.

2 minutes with Coach Don Casey

As mentioned, the upcoming Can-Am On-Court Basketball Coaching Clinic is happening June 4th-5th at the University of Windsor, Ontario. We are delighted that two presenters, Dave Odom and Don Casey, have confirmed their desire to share with the attending coaches.

For a quick two minutes on court with Coach Casey, go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emZxQHcQmkU&feature=player_embedded# and enjoy his enthusiasm for zones. The clip is courtesy of a recent clinic that took place at The Ohio State University. The clip even offers a script to make it easier for coaches to follow along with Coach Casey's teaching.

We are very pleased that two successful coaches will be sharing their knowledge, and will let you know as soon as the third coach has confirmed their commitment. To register for the upcoming clinic, please link to cobacamp.com and locate the form through the "Coaches Clinic" banner. The direct link to the clinic is www.cobacamp.com/New/2010 Basketball Clinic Brochure.pdf. Coaches, especially groups, can realize significant savings by sending in their form and payment early.

Sharing ideas

In order to gain an edge in any sport today, many coaches are looking outside of their sport for ideas. Football coaches are reading about successful baseball managers, hockey coaches are looking to soccer for different agility drills, and basketball coaches are using lacrosse balls in their dynamic practice warm ups. The sharing of ideas is truly great to see. Go to a coaching clinic, such as the Can-Am On-Court, and observe coaches outside of the structured sessions - they're sharing, and their athletes will soon be improving because of that unselfishness.

Mike MacKay of Canada Basketball is a constant promoter of sharing amongst coaches and certainly leads by example. Any coach that has looked inside Mike's tickle trunk (his basketball tribute to the late Ernie Coombs) is likely a more creative coach today! Mike, with great regularity and humility, willingly sends out ideas to his email broadcast list - coaches can email him at mmackay@basketball.ca. Dave Cross, of Yes I Can Volleyball, is another example of unselfishness in coaching. He recently sent a marvelous reminder of the importance of proper practice planning in volleyball. As you read it, you will quickly discover how much the concepts described by Dave relate to basketball. For many of you, Dave's article is likely a refresher. For some, it may be a very timely reminder. For others, it may be just the help you were looking for. Regardless, the real power is in the sharing by coaches - for the sake of all of us, that needs to continue. Without it, many coaches and athletes would not be enjoying as much success as they do today. The promotion and practice of sharing is at the core of the values of our program and our Coach Development blog.

Like a fast break, the COBA blog is up and running

Read, enjoy, learn, visit often, and share in return. That is all we ask as you make our blog a destination in your
travels of the electronic basketball coaching world. Our entries promote sharing of knowledge and ideas,
as well as basketball coach and player development. Through regular visits, you will discover concepts, clinics,
plays, health guidance, drills, camps, and insight.

Upcoming Can-Am On-Court Basketball Coaches Clinics include a special visit by Dave Odom (plus other insightful
coaches) in June, 2010. For an intense and fun week of individual player development, consider COBA camp in
August. Want updates on clinics and camps? Be sure to save www.cobacamp.com. We look forward to sharing
with you!