Basketball Post Moves
by Brian Williams
The Coaching Toolbox
Here is something for basketball coaches to consider as you work to develop post up scorers. I believe in having a go to and a secondary move on both sides of the floor for post players and that those moves do not necessarily mirror each other from one block to the other.
In a perfect world, every post player would have several moves that they could do equally well on both sides of the floor. The reality is different. Regardless of how hard we (and the post player) work on developing multiple moves, there will come a time as the season starts that you must decide what moves they should use in a game.
I do not feel in mirroring moves from one side of the basket to the other with every player. Not only does the shooting hand change at times, but more importantly, so does the angle of the shot and the footwork for both feet. For instance, if a player has a strong right handed jump hook turning to the middle from the left block, that player may not be as effective with a left handed jump hook turning middle from the right block. The footwork and hand coordination required might not allow every player to score with that shot in a game.
We can work in practice and in off-season workouts to improve the moves, but should limit what specific moves they will use in a game to the ones that they can score with and that the move depends on each side of the basket.
In order to determine which moves are the most effective for each player, have a manger chart in practice the shooting percentage for each move that is made by each post player. On your shot chart in games, have a different symbol for each post move and use those instead of your usual symbol for shots. We feel that it is also important to track how many times each player was fouled on each move (both in practice and in games) that did not count as a statistical shot attempt. Over time, you will develop some reliable data on which moves produce baskets or fouls and which ones should be scrapped for each individual player.
Coaching Basketball
Here is something for basketball coaches to consider as you work to develop post up scorers. I believe in having a go to and a secondary move on both sides of the floor for post players and that those moves do not necessarily mirror each other from one block to the other.
In a perfect world, every post player would have several moves that they could do equally well on both sides of the floor. The reality is different. Regardless of how hard we (and the post player) work on developing multiple moves, there will come a time as the season starts that you must decide what moves they should use in a game.
I do not feel in mirroring moves from one side of the basket to the other with every player. Not only does the shooting hand change at times, but more importantly, so does the angle of the shot and the footwork for both feet. For instance, if a player has a strong right handed jump hook turning to the middle from the left block, that player may not be as effective with a left handed jump hook turning middle from the right block. The footwork and hand coordination required might not allow every player to score with that shot in a game.
We can work in practice and in off-season workouts to improve the moves, but should limit what specific moves they will use in a game to the ones that they can score with and that the move depends on each side of the basket.
In order to determine which moves are the most effective for each player, have a manger chart in practice the shooting percentage for each move that is made by each post player. On your shot chart in games, have a different symbol for each post move and use those instead of your usual symbol for shots. We feel that it is also important to track how many times each player was fouled on each move (both in practice and in games) that did not count as a statistical shot attempt. Over time, you will develop some reliable data on which moves produce baskets or fouls and which ones should be scrapped for each individual player.
Seattle Basketball