HoopClinics

Contributed by Coach Creighton Burns On all out of bounds plays the most important factor is to get the ball in-bounds, then to look for an opportunity to score. 1 comes off O5′s screen. Note that O5 moves into the lane to set the screen, this is because if X1 sags, there must be a [...]

Brian Williams The Coaching Toolbox In most situations during a basketball game, there is no substitute for hustle.  However, like most skills and intangibles, “hustle” can be overdone.   Working hard is of no use to your team if it is not channeled into your team concept. For example, when a player dives for a steal [...]

Contributed by Coach Ken Sartini I was talking to one of my prior players…. he was a point guard on my sophomore team that went 19-2. He was telling me how I used to explain everything we did and the reason why…. he said all of his other coaches just say “do it my way.” [...]

Brian Williams The Coaching Toolbox I learned from my mentor, Coach Mike Sorrell, that the five most important TEAM statistical categories are: 1)  Field Goal Percentage 2)  Free Throw Percentage 3)  Rebounds 4)  Turnovers 5)  Fouls We never ranked them in order of importance, but Coach Sorrell always geared each season’s overall plan and then [...]

by Brian Williams The Coaching Toolbox Regardless of what level of basketball you coach, if you have to make cuts, it is tough on both the coach and the athlete.  But, to paraphrase businessman Harvey Mackay: “It’s not the players that you don’t cut who make your season miserable, it is the players that you [...]

by Brian Williams The Coaching Toolbox My belief is that there are some areas that coaches should not discuss with parents: 1)  Other Players on the Team 2)  Playing Time 3)  Strategy Basketball coaches should not ignore all parent requests for meetings, but the purpose of the meeting should be to help the player in [...]

This play was contributed by Coach Creighton Burns #1 brings the ball into the attack zone and #4 and #5 set a staggered double for #3. #3 uses both screens to free himself on the opposite wing. #2 slides down to the block to get a good screening angle. Note: This is a great set [...]

by Brian Williams The Coaching Toolbox In their book Everyone’s A Coach Don Shula and Ken Blanchard point out that there are 4 ways for a coach to react to a performance in practice by an athlete.  Each of the four reactions sends a different message.  As coaches, we have to consider our intentions and [...]

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 [...]

by Brian Williams The Coaching Toolbox Seldom is a bad call the reason that a player fouls out, even if it is his or her fifth foul.  Obviously, neither a coach nor a player has control over what the officials call.  What a player does have control over, and what a coach can influence, is [...]