Clinic notes - Renato Pasquali part 4

Another entry in the continuing series of notes from a recent clinic featuring Renato Pasquali, hosted by Ontario Basketball, facilitated by Mike MacKay of Canada Basketball. More thoughts from Coach Pasquali:

• "tactical" coaches teach game to game, teach different matchups, apply teaching to a certain player in that game on that day
• "fundamental" coaches teach longterm, teach HOW to play, apply teaching to every situation in every game
• coaches need to ask themselves the question "What kind of coach am I?"
• if your team can effectively defend screen/roll action and defend post then 70% of defensive teaching is done
• in order to know effectiveness of screen/roll defense and defending of post entries, these actions and stats need to be charted (otherwise how do you know) - use your assistants!
• "Two Dribble Rule" - don't allow the ballhandler more than two dribbles, force a pickup with strong defense otherwise shot could open up or ball could drive to the rim
• overall defensive goal should be to have the offense play in areas of discomfort (if they like to enter with a wing pass then deny that wing and force a catch well beyond the 3 point line)
• make the offense work hard, no easy catches, they must have to move in order to catch
  

Clinic notes - Renato Pasquali part 3

Some more concepts from a recent Renato Pasquali clinic hosted by Ontario Basketball, facilitated with the help of Mike MacKay from Canada Basketball. if you're looking for an upcoming clinic, the Can-Am is only three weeks away - runs June 4th-5th, features Dave Odom, Don Casey, and Greg Kampe.

• when learning, players understand 80% what they SEE, 20% what they HEAR
• coaches must incorporate different ways of learning into their teaching
• more than ever, need to get the attention of today's player, there are many distractions and players are learning in small sound bites due to shorter attention spans (adapt!)
• whole/part/whole - teach players in 5 on 5 setting to show (especially young players) how the game should look, then develop individual skills, then put back together 5 on 5
• do not coach in negatives (i.e. "don't shoot that way"), use positives with constructive feedback (i.e. "that shot had good arc but try holding the ball the way a waiter holds a tray of food")
• always strive for greater offensive effectiveness, fewer turnovers (better passing decisions), and higher FG and 3 point percentages (better shot selection)
• at all levels, coaches need to plan in a way that makes their players want to come to the gym (players need to be self-motivated but coaches can help that concept)
  

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.

Clinic notes - more from Can-Am

Coach Don Meyer spent a weekend in Windsor and ran multiple sessions at a recent Can-Am On-Court Basketball Coaching Clinic (next clinic is June 4-5). Some coaches are still talking about that particular session, MANY are still referencing the notes they took. Beyond making good plain basketball and life common sense, Coach Meyer loves to use (and offer) helpful short forms and acronyms. Here are some to ponder:

• the 3 R's (as it relates to notes) - Retrieve, Review, Reinforce
• OBC - Offensive Board Coverage (teams must have it)
• MBO - Must Block Out (do whatever it takes, fight for what is yours)
• BOPCRO - when rebounding, get a Body On a Player, Chin the ball, see the Rim, Outlet the pass AND Block Out, Pursue the ball, Chin the Rebound, Outlet
  
• SOSO - Screen Out, Seal Out (offensive system strategy in a 3 out rotation)
• H2G - players need to be Hard to Guard (team needs to help get others open)
• PHPSPT - teams need unity - Play Hard, Play Smart, Play Together
• TEAMS - Tough, Effort, Attitude, Motives, Servant Leaders
  

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"
  

Program Foundations - Don Meyer

Anytime that Coach Don Meyer speaks at a clinic, he leaves quite an impression. That can certainly be said of his visit to the Can-Am On-Court Basketball Coaching Clinic two summers ago. Coach Meyer, beyond many pearls of basketball wisdom, laid out some of the foundation upon which he has built his basketball team programs over the years.

• everybody takes notes (players are expected to have their notebooks with them at all times)
• everybody is polite (not just around the gym, but in every situation)
• everybody picks up trash (a very humbling gesture, applies to wherever the players are)
• TEAMS - Tough, Effort, Attitude, Motives, Serve others
• players need to have an "other" focus - make other people important, find out what matters to them (that leads to personal growth)
• when passing a water fountain, players must take a drink (proper hydration is so important)
• use the Socratic method with players - ask them questions, encourage thinking, engage their brains (don't simply provide easy route of giving answers)
• play, coach, or officiate - players need to choose one, can't do two or three
  

Clinic notes - Renato Pasquali

Renato Pasquali, known for his coaching expertise and international experience, is a passionate coach, especially in a clinic setting. At present, through promotion by Ontario Basketball, Canada Basketball, and the on-court help of Mike MacKay, the successful EuroLeague coach is on a clinic tour and is well worth the price of admission. Renato is one of those coaches that make you pause and think about the terms you use when coaching (such as, how do you describe the concept of 'balance'?), as well as the way in which you teach - all with great attention to detail. Here are the six points of emphasis from one of his recent sessions:

• good offense is based on spacing, cut and replace principles, making eye contact with ball and teammates
• teams need to exploit the "one second advantage" - need to create it then take advantage of it (in order to keep the defense "a second too late" all the time)
• teach the concept of attacking 2 on 1 in the half court and full court, make sure players have the attack mentality of score first, pass second
• playing 1 on 1 as a team of 5 players - play properly as a team and know how to finish a 1 on 1 matchup on your own as well as how to deliver a pass for another player's 1 on 1 opportunity
• don't stop the ball - read the defense and know what to do with the ball BEFORE catching it, concept of "anticipation is better than action/reaction"
• teach using progression - teach the skill (1 on 0), teach the read (add a guided defense), teach in active setting (go "live" with the action), teach when to use the skill (1 on 1 in a game situation)
  

Keys traits of successful coaches

At a previous Can-Am On-Court Coaching Clinic, Dave Smart (Head Coach, Carleton Ravens) worked with all of the attending coaches and shared some great insight. Coach Smart has experienced success at many levels, most notably at Carleton, and is deservedly well-respected. Beyond discussing many technical topics (such as keeping score in drills, elevating practice intensity, defensive rotations, etc - more on those in later posts), Coach Smart offered some terrific general thoughts on coaching traits. He suggested that successful coaches:

• have a team "on the same page" as the coach
• keep themselves in check and do what is in the best interest of TEAM success
• keep their plan simple, focus on it's execution
• know their philosophy, know WHAT they are doing and WHY they are doing it
  
• recognize that they will never know it all, so they keep learning
• embrace leadership - in order to coach, need to be able to lead (note that trust must be gained before players will be led)
  
• treat everybody fairly, have no problem treating people differently (respect, develop trust in individuals)
• stay within their personality and coach the way they are as people (be true to themself)
  

Great notes from BCAM clinic

Special thanks are offered to the very organized and generous Dave Ginsberg (Traverse City St. Francis Varsity Coach) for recently making his clinic notes available. If you visit the excellent BCAM site, you will find all of the notes that Coach Ginsberg took during the October clinic. Coaches in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and Ontario are fortunate to have so many terrific local coaching clinic options available to them - sessions such as the Can-Am On-Court Basketball Coaches Clinic in the offseason, and the BCAM clinic in preseason.

The notes from the presentation by Coach Jim Boylen of Utah are especially pertinent at any time of the year - a great reminder of some solid fundamentals. Simple is good. Don't complicate the game. Take care of the basics. When the long road of the season hits a fork or a bump, what do coaches say? Many times, they can be heard offering the tried and true statement of "we need to get back to basics." Thanks Coach Boylen and Coach Ginsberg for reminding us.

Sharing and preparing

If you have the chance, attend a clinic that has Coach Don Meyer as a presenter - it will be well worth your time. Coach Meyer spoke at our Can-Am On-Court Basketball Coaches Clinic in 2008 and many coaches still mention that experience. In the meantime, if you come across any "Meyerisms" then take a moment to read them. Given Coach Meyer's success, there are many pearls of wisdom that he has passed along. Beyond the list of some favorites that apply to coaching young athletes, the more powerful message is that Coach Meyer is always willing to share and help teams prepare. Truly, he is an example of that servant attitude that so many coaches strive for in their programs.

Of the many gems from Coach Meyer, we are especially fond of the following:

• effort and attitude are the two most important changes you can make (in yourself and in others)
• move people mentally
• you get what you accept, expect, and inspect
• have a servant attitude (program, coach, player, volunteer, etc.)
• a great team does not need a coach to tell them to talk
• appreciate hard work and effort
• learn how to compete on nights when you don't have it
• you can measure a person's character by how they treat people that can't do them any good or can't fight back
• in skill development, go fast enough to make a mistake
• confidence comes from demonstrated ability
• it's not what you teach, it's what you emphasize
• assess your personnel - are they energy givers or energy drainers?
• understand that loyalty is a two-way street
• be passionate about teaching and helping others improve their lives
• give more than what is asked, take less than is deserved