Basketball tips, basketball drills, basketball terms, and basketball rules for players and coaches

BASKETBALL-TIPS

COACH LOK'S FIVE WAYS TO BE A BETTER BASKETBALL PLAYER RIGHT NOW !

#1 - Stay in Stance

PLAY WITH YOUR KNEES BENT. Always stay in stance. It is your point of maximum explosion. Just Like a track sprinter coming out of the blocks. Be ready to move. The lowest person wins.

#2 - Contest EVERY Shot

GET A HAND UP ON EVERY SHOOTER The only person who can score is the one with the ball. Go guard him even if it is not your man. Contest the shot even if it means leaving your feet(but don't fall for a head fake too easily!).

#3 - Two Hands

GAIN POSSESSION WITH TWO HANDS Catch the ball with 2 hands-concentrate on the catch before you do anything else. Rebound with 2 hands-and try for every one. Pick up a loose ball with 2 hands-pick it up don't dribble it

#4 - Run Hard

TRY TO OUT RUN YOUR OPPONENT EVERY TIME You will usually break their will with your first three steps. It will help you get easy shots on offense with your fast break. Getting back on defense will help stop their fast break.

#5 - Pass to the first Open Teammate

PASS TO THE FIRST OPEN PERSON Passing the ball is faster than dribbling it.If you move the ball, you make the defense adjust and they might make a mistake and leave someone(maybe you!) open. Don't wait for a better pass. Remember - "a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush"

OFFENSIVE EXTRAS

#1 Pressure on the Basketball

Always try to put defensive pressure on the player with the basketball. Pressure makes the offense worry more about the defense than what they are supposed to do in their offense. Rick Majerus, the coach at the University of Utah, says that pressure is when the referee is counting. If the defense is within 6 feet, the offense can only hold or dribble the ball for 5 seconds each. Play close enough to the ball to try to get a "5 count"

#2 Jump to the pass

When you are on defense, every time someone passes the basketball, take a few steps in the direction that it is thrown. This will put you in a position to stop your man if he tries to cut to the basket. You also will be in the right spot to help your teammates, if their man dribbles by them.

#3 See your man and the basketball

Always be able to see your man & the man with the basketball. You need to be able stop your man AND help your teammates if they get beat on the dribble.

#4 Stop the basketball

When on defense, react to the basketball and help your teammates. The only man that can score is the man with the ball. If he`s open - go guard him. If he passes the ball back to your man, sprint back and be ready to pressure him again.

DEFENSIVE EXTRAS

#1 Establish a pivot foot

When you catch the ball, plant one foot and establish a pivot foot. This will allow you to use the other foot for a "rocker move" that can fake out a defender, or to set up another move.

#2 Face the basket

When you catch the basketball, turn & face the basket and get into "triple threat position". This is the position that you will be able to shoot, pass, or dribble from. Then the defense has more things to worry about and you will be hard to guard.

#3 Dribble for a reason

If you dribble the basketball, only dribble for a good reason. Good reasons to dribble are: to dribble the ball up the floor, to drive to the basket, to get in better position to make a pass, or to relieve some defensive pressure.

#4 Good shot or Bad shot?

Don't ever surprise anyone with your shot. If your teammates and coach expect you to shoot, it`s probably a shot that they think you can make. They also will be ready for an offensive rebound or to get back on defense. That makes it a good shot. A rebound gives your team another chance to score. If your team is not back on defense, you might give up an easy fast break basket to the other team.

BOTTOM LINE

Offensive and Defensive musts!

The bottom line is when on offense make sure that your team gets a shot every time. On defense contest every shot the other team takes.

Camps

Camps are a great way to introduce youngsters to basketball and refine the game of older players. When looking for a camp, choose one that emphasizes teaching over playing. This will allow players to get the most out of the camp experience by teaching them the fundamentals of the game.

BASKETBALL BOOKS, BASKETBALL VIDEOS, & BASKETBALL SOFTWARE

A Great Way to Learn

There are thousands of books available on every basketball topic that you could imagine. Search the library, bookstores, and the internet for information on the basketball topic that interests you.

BALLHANDLING & DRIBBLING DEVELOPMENT-BALLHANDLING & DRIBBLING DEVELOPMENT is full of descriptions of the fundamentals of dribbling, and a variety of dribble moves to advance the ball up the floor - or set up your dribble drive. A series of ballhandling and dribbling drills begins from the novice to the advanced player and gives a proper progression on how to become the best dribbler that you can be. http://www.basketball4all.homestead.com Basketball4all - the place to go when you need to know !! ORDER HERE

COMPLETE BASKETBALL CONDITIONING-COMPLETE BASKETBALL CONDITIONING offers programs to use all year long. Breaks down strength training into off season, pre season and in season. Programs for quickness and agility, plyometrics, medicine ball drills, and jump training are included, along with a section to build your own pre season conditioning program in order to get your players ready to compete when the season starts.ORDER HERE to know !!

EFFECTIVE PRACTICE PLANNING-EFFECTIVE PRACTICE PLANNING takes the coach through the entire season and offers an organized approach to planning the season, developing a practice plan, and ensuring that nothing is missed in preparation for each week. Provides a sample of strategies, skills, and drills that you may do daily, every other day, weekly, or occasionally. Not just a booklet of drills, but a plan of attack so that no stone is left unturned. ORDER HERE

PASSING MADE PERFECT-PASSING MADE PERFECT is full of descriptions of the fundamentals of passing, and a variety of passes to advance the ball up the floor - or enter your offense. A series of passing drills begins from the novice to the advanced player and gives a proper progression on how to become the best passer that you can be. ORDER HERE

SCOUTING MADE SIMPLE-SCOUTING MADE SIMPLE provides a thorough system of scouting an opponents tendencies, offensive patterns, defensive strategies and individual strengths and weaknesses. Includes a usable 4-page report, that is a simple and efficient checklist for the coach to use with enough diagrams to cover even the most complex teams. A complete explanation of each page and suggestions for its' use is highlighted by a method to chart each player and a assist in developing a game plan to stop them. ORDER HERE

Coaches Clipboard

This is the complete collection of all Coach's Clipboard files on CD-ROM. The CD includes the Playbook and Appendix, the Animated Diagrams, and all of the video clips. The Playbook contains over 300 pages of offenses, defenses, plays, articles, strategy, player fundamentals, etc. as seen on this website. The Appendix contains coaching aids such as practice planning, stats sheets, shot charts, scouting forms, court diagrams, etc. The animated diagrams bring the offenses and defenses to life and help demonstate the important timing of a play. The video clips demonstate important player fundamentals and how to teach them. ORDER HERE

Improve your Court Sense

ACE (Applied Cognitive Engineering) has developed The ACE IntelliGym(tm), a revolutionary training tool that evaluates the skill-set of each player's brain skills and administers a customized training program to fit that player's individual needs then self-adjusts the regimen during the 8 week program as progress occurs in specific areas. The software enables basketball players to dramatically improve their game-intelligence skills.The ACE IntelliGym(tm) directly stimulates the brain-functions responsible for basketball's cognitive skills such as decision making and execution, shot selection and team play, movement anticipation and pattern recognition, peripheral vision and spatial awareness, unpredictability and overall court sense. By doing so, this unique trainer enables super-quick development of proficiencies that, until now, were considered an "instinct", something that the players either have or they don't. In the '60's and '70's basketball training was all about fundamental skill aquisition and footwork. In the '80's and '90's it was about physical training and getting bigger, stronger , faster. Now it's time to address the final frontier...the brain! ORDER HERE

The Swish Video & DVD "A Guide to Great Basketball Shooting"

"Swish" is available as both a 56-minute Video and a 56 -minute DVD, covering two kinds of shots: jump shots and free throws. These shots are where the decline in shooting proficiency in the game today is most evident. Swish is a complete package ... all you'll need (plus a ball and basket, of course) to coach yourself or others in great shooting. The principles are easy to understand. There are not a lot of rules and tips and shoulds and shouldn'ts, but rather simple "wisdom" about how to control the flight of a basketball. ORDER HERE

A History of Basketball in Basketball Videos

Since the broadcasting and taping of basketball games, there have been many great moments preserved on film. The advances in basketball over time can be clearly seen in how basketball videoshave changed. In the 50s and 60s, basketball videos were strictly instructional - aside from the occasional spot on the Wide World of Sports. In the 70s, there were more basketball videos made focusing on great league matchups like Wilt vs. Russell. Since the 1980s however, basketball videos have been made chronicling every major event, league championship, and great player. If you are looking to learn the history of the game, get your hands on basketball videos from every era and break out the popcorn.

Are Basketball Training Videos the Way to Go for Your Team?

If you are a coach looking for a way to get through and truly teach your players, there are many basketball training videos that may help. Many basketball training videos cover pure conditioning drills. Other videos target more advanced basketball theory and skill. No matter what level you coach at, there are basketball training videos that can help you be a better coach and teacher to your players. First, make sure your players wouldn't mind sitting in front of a TV instead of a practice on the floor. If so, choose your videos to match their skill levels, watch them, and then practice what they have learned on the court for the last few minutes of practice. Then, at your next practice, drill the players on what they should have learned from the training video. If it didn't stick, watch it again, and repeat the process.

Basketball Instructional Videos - A Great Way to Learn The Game

When teaching young players the game of basketball, basketball instructional videos sure can make your life easier. It isn't hard to get kids to watch the television these days, so take advantage of this by purchasing instructional basketball videos for them to watch. What they'll learn about dribbling, passing, defensive positioning, and rebounding is astounding. .

I recommend basketball instructional videos to anyone who is looking to teach the game at any level. Rent or buy some basketball videos for your players, and your coaching job will get easier overnight.

Basketball Videos that will Help Your Game

If you are like most, you learn the best through visual learning and instruction. To help you, there have been many basketball videos developed that will assist you in bettering your skills. Whether you want to learn how to dribble better or shoot better, professional trainers have the videos for you. Since the days of black and white film, there have been basketball training videos covering passing, defense, ball-handling, and much more. Don't try to reinvent the wheel. Figure out where the weakness is in your game and get a training video that fits your needs.

Better Free Throw Shooting through Instructional Videos

More than anything else, games are won and lost at the free throw line. Any basketball player who is serious about their game needs to perfect their free throw shooting abilities. Many players have very different free throw shooting routines. In fact, the greatest free throw shooter of all time, Rick Barry, actually shot his free throws 'granny-style'. No matter what your free throw shooting routine is, there are fundamentals that every player should know. The best way to learn about these fundamentals is with the help of a basketball instructional video. Beyond technique, these videos can help you learn how to focus at the line as well as many other important factors aside from your shot. Check out one of these videos, watch it, and take what you learn with you on your next trip to the line.

Improve Your Shooting with a Basketball Shooting Video

Repetition is the key to improving your shooting. There are many basketball shooting videos out there to help you with technique. But no basketball video can make you go outside and shoot 1,000 shots a day. If you need help with your technique, find a shooting video that can instruct you on how to fine-tune your shot. After honing your technique, get a ball and a hoop and shoot, shoot, shoot. Larry Bird said that when he was young, he would shoot over 1,000 shots a day, from all over the court. That worked pretty well for him, wouldn't you say? If you want to improve your shooting, practice, practice, practice.

Teach Your Players Through Basketball Videos

Few coaches can successfully coach their team without some help. Basketball videos are one of the best coaching aids available. These are more than just a way to teach fundamentals to your players. With the easy access to video cameras today, filming your player practices and games for later review can give your players insight into their game that they would have no other way of seeing. If you have the ability, get an assistant who can film more than just a broad view of the court. When basketball players can see themselves from afar, they will better understand how they should be fitting in to different offensive and defensive schemes. Combine this with basketball training videos from professionals, and have at least one practice session a week that is nothing more than players sitting in front of a TV and VCR.

BALLHANDLING

Around the World

Circling the basketball first around your head, than your waist, Finally, put your legs together and take the ball around both legs at the knees. Then spread your legs, bend at the waist, and take the ball around one leg. Then the other. This will give you a feel for the basketball and help you become more comfortable in your ball handling. A good hand speed and coordination drill, also great conditioner for your arms

Ball Circle

A great way to become comfortable with the basketball is to take it and circle it around your head, then around your waist, and, finally, around your knees. Reverse direction and take the ball back up--around the knees, waist, and head.

Between the Legs Scissors

To start the drill, place your left foot ahead of your right and bounce the ball between your legs from your right hand to your left. As the ball gets to your left hand shift your feet so that your right leg goes ahead of your left and bounce the ball back between your legs. This shifting of your feet will occur with every bounce.

Catch-catch-catch

This is a drill to work on your ballhandling. Hold the ball between your legs, with both hands on the ball, right hand in front and left hand in back. Quickly switch your hands,(now left hand in front and right hand in the back), without letting the ball touch the ground. Do as quickly as possible...this drill is one of the hardest to master... but it just takes lots of practice.

Crab Walk

This drill can go from baseline to half court. Step forward with your left leg and pass the ball from your right hand to your left under your left leg. As you take your next step with your right leg, pass the ball from your left hand to your right under your right leg. Continue this pattern all the way down the floor.

Figure 8

Spread your legs, bend at the waist, put the ball through your legs, around one leg, back through your legs, and around your other leg, making a figure eight. This will help you get a feel for the basketball as you move it around. Keep your head up not looking at the ball and increase your speed.

Figure 8 Dribbling

This is a drill to practice your ballhandling. Dribble the ball as quickly as possible in a figure 8 through and around the legs. Use the fingers when you dribble, and dribble very low and quickly. Switch from the right to the left and back to the right. Example: start with the right hand dribbling the ball in front and then dribble through your legs with your right hand, switch to your left hand and dribble from the back, around your left side to the front and back through you legs... then switch to your right hand behind the body and around the right side. Try to go as fast as possible, and your dribbling skills will improve with daily practice.

Figure Eight Drop

The ball is moved around the outside of the left legfrom the back to the front. Then it is passed in front of your body and around the outside of your right leg from front to back. Now the ball is between your legs at the back of your body. Bounce the ball, and as it is bouncing, reverse your hands, bring your right from the back to the front and your left from the front to the back. Catch the ball before it bounces again. Continue to do figure eights.

Figure Eight Drop Reverse

For this drill, follow the procedure described in the Figure Eight Drop Drill, except that when you bounce the ball, your movement will be reversed. After the bounce, circle the ball around the outside of your right leg, in front of your left leg, and around your left leg from the front to the back.

Figure Eight--Running in Place

Move the ball around your legs as in the Figure Eight Drill, but in addition, run in place.

One on two

A good drill to use to better your dribbling under pressure is to try to advance the ball against two defenders. This will force you to use a variety of manuevers while being alert to the defense.

Pass and Catch

With 2 hands, make a bounce pass between your legs from front to back and catch the ball with 2 hands behind you. Then bounce the ball through your legs from the back to the front, and catch the ball in front of your body. This is a good drill for body awareness.

Situp Dribble

While doing bent-knee situps, dribble up with your right hand as you sit up, and around your feet, then switch hands to your left as you go back down, and then dribble with your left hand as you sit up, back around your feet, switching back to your right hand. Continue as quickly as possible.

Squeeze the banana

This is a drill that helps increase the strength in your fingers. Hold the ball in front of you at eye level with two hands. By squeezing your fingers and thumb together with one hand at a time, you move the ball from one hand to the other as quickly as you can. More finger and arm strength will imrove your ball control.

Touch-Touch-Touch

This is another ballhandling drill that seems very difficult at first, but with daily practice, will improve your handles. This drill is called touch-touch-touch because that is what you do... while keeping the ball between your legs, you touch the ball once with your right hand(fingers) in front, then with your left hand(fingers) in front, then with your right behind you, and then with your left behind you. Continue in this manner as fast as possible. Before long, you will master this skill.

Up the Ladder

Hold the ball out in front of you and pass it back from hand to hand using only your finger tips. Go from out in front of your waist to above your head and back. This will help you develop the finger tip control that you will need to properly handle the ball.

Crossover move

This is a popular move in today's game and is exciting to watch. Place the ball in your right hand. Then, while stepping forward with your right foot, crossover to your left hand. The crossover dribble should be lower and closer to your body than all the other dribbles. Your left foot should be hitting the ground just as the ball reaches your left hand. Then, explode to the basket.

Hesitation Move

This is a great move for a guard. Dribble fast past your defender, then slow down like you are going to stop and take the jumpshot, and then go fast past your defense. Often you will catch them flat footed, and you will get an open lane to the basket.

Speed dribble

The speed dribble is used to advance the ball quickly up the floor, against little or no defensive pressure.The dribblers hand should be behind the ball pushing it in front, then running to catch up. This prevents a "palming" or "carrying over" violation. The speed dribble on the open floor can be a little higher than other dribbles. Control dribble moves should be around the knee, but a speed dribble can be waist to chest high.

Spin Dribble

Dribble in one direction then quickly jump stop, reverse pivot, take an extra dribble with the same hand, then push the ball in front of you and explode past the defender. The move must be done low and under control to protect the ball and not create a turnover.

Stutter step move

This is a great move for a guard also. Dribble hard toward the defender, take some hard steps in place, and then go fast past the defense. Often you will catch them flat footed and you will have an open lane to the basket.

Between the Legs

Another more advanced way to change directions and protect the ball is with a between the legs dribble. This should only be used when necessary as a change of pace, and not to be fancy or "showboat". Dribble in one direction, jump stop, and dribble the ball from the front to back and between your legs to protect the ball. Change directions with a big step and explode by the defender.

What Coaches like...

Coaches like a person who can dribble with both hands...someone who doesn't try to show off all the time...who just gets the job done...someone who isn't afraid to make the extra pass to get a teammate more open than you even if you are wide open...and if coaches like you, then they tell other coaches and word spreads very quickly and just by doing the little things you can have a name for yourself by just doing the things coaches like.

Crossover dribble

When doing cross overs a quick and sudden shift of weight and movement will get you past your defender. Make sure you put your weight on the foot opposite the direction that you want to go. This will make your fake look real. Then cross over to the other side with a big step to explode past your defender. The crossover dribble must be lower and than closer to your body than the other dribbles.

Developing your "off" hand

It is important to work right from the start at developing both hand equally well. When practicing your ball handling, make sure that you practice at least as much with your weak hand as you do your strong hand, eventually increasing to twice as much with your weak hand.

Dribbling to avoid pressure

By dribbling the ball over half court on the sideline, you are giving the defense an advantage. They can set up their help side defense or trap you. Change directions and it helps relieve some pressure. As often as possible, bring the ball up the middle of the court.

Figure 8 Dribble

A good way to become more comfortable in dribbling is to use dribbling drills. An excellent beginning drill is the Figure 8 Dribble. Spread your legs and bend at the waist. Dribble the ball through your legs, around one leg, back through your legs, and around the other. By keeping your head up not looking at the ball and increasing the speed of your dribble, you will become a better dribbler.

Finger Tip control

For a beginning basketball player, control of the dribble can often be a problem. It is important to remember that dribbling with the fingertips is the key to control. To develop fingertip control, dribble with just one finger at a time, using only the fingertip of the finger doing the dribbling.

Keep Your Head Up

When doing all drills involving dribbling, it is extremely important that you keep your head up. You must be able to see where you are going and where your teammates are so you can pass them the ball when they are open.

Protect the ball

When dribbling against a defender, ALWAYS protect the ball with your body. You can do this by dribbling with your left hand when you are going left and your right hand when you are going right. This will force the defender to reach across your body to attempt a steal.

Use angles

One of the most important techniques to bringing the ball up the floor is to use angles to your advantage. Rather than trying to put on some great move and go by someone, the novice point guard should concentrate on a low dribble, protecting the ball with their body and an arm bar, then advance the ball up the floor using 45 degree angles. When they feel pressure and the defense is in front of them, they should change directions and attack at another 45 degree angle.

Stationary Dribbles:

stationary dribbles: Crouch down in defensive position and dribble the ball at a moderate height (about 2 feet off ground), then at a high height (shoulder level), and finally low (about 4 inches off the ground) - do with both hands. Change the speed and the "rhythm" of the dribble as you go.

30 second "free style"

30 second "free style"-for 30 seconds practice a variety of your very best moves. Mix up your dribble moves(crossover, inside out, between the legs, behind the back, etc. Change the speed and the "rhythm" of the dribble, change the combination of the dribble moves.

Butterflies

Butterflies: Low and in stance, take two dribbles right between your feet, then reach behind you and take two more dribbles in the same spot. Reach back in front and repeat as often and as fast as you can

Full Court Heads Up

In a full court dribble drill, the coach stands up court and when he shows his target hands, the dribbler must deliver a pass, then cut to the basket and receive a pass back from the coach. With a couple of assistants or managers, you can do this at various spots on the floor.

Heads Up

This is stationary dribble drill with your players on the baseline demonstrating a good form dribble. As a coach you have a basketball in your hands and toss it softly to various players and have them tap the ball back to you with their free hand.

Hesitation Move

In this move, you try to get the defender off balance, and then you explode by the defender to score the basket or to penetrate and dish off to a teammate for the score. Always give equal practice time to both hands. Example: dribble with the right hand, hard and fast towards the basket, then almost come to a stop(still dribbling), and then explode hard to the hoop. Tip: you want to make your defender believe that you are going to stop to take the jumpshot, but then you drive by them instead.

Machine Gun

machine gun: Builds coordination and gives you a good feel for the ball. Dribble very low and very fast. Vary the angle at which you strike the ball.

Multiple ball dribbling

Practice dribbling with more than one basketball at the same time. Try switching the balls by going behind the back and through the legs. When you get good with two balls move up to three. Try to keep all of them bouncing at all times. It isn`t easy. This will help you be more comfortable dribbling through traffic in a real game situation.

One-handed side

one-handed side "V": Also know as the "push-pull" dribble, dribble ball at a moderate height forward and back in a rocking motion. With the right hand, and a stance with your left foot in front and the right foot in back and your knees bent, dribble with the right hand at the side of your body,front to back and back to front(with only the right hand). Key: in order to dribble from the front to the back, you must place your hand on top and towards the front of the ball, and push the ball to the back. When you dribble from back to front, you must place your hand on the top and rear of the ball to push it to the front again. Make sure you give equal time to practice with your left hand.

Power dribbling - 10-5 repeat drill

This drill exercises power dribbling with one hand at a time. Choose which hand your would like to practice. Power dribble for 10 seconds, then soft dribble for 5 seconds. Repeat multiple times. This exercise teaches your arm muscles how to alternate between various dribbling speeds that occur during game play.

Power dribbling - Dribble between legs while walking

In order to do this drill you will need a segment of floor, such as a basketball court floor, a street`s sidewalk, or a wide hallway that is deserted. Power dribble while walking up and down the walkway. Power dribble the ball between your legs to practice fancy dribbling skills. To enhance the drill, perform the drill at a quicker walking pace, maybe at a light jogging pace.

Power dribbling blindfolded

Wrap a cloth around your head as a blindfold, or you could simply close your eyes...no peeking. Power dribble a ball for at least 60 seconds. This drill helps you enhance your tactile sense of the ball. You can enhance the drill by performing it in the center of a deserted basketball court, walking around while dribbling. To make the drill even more challenging, try power dribbling two balls, one in each hand, while being blindfolded and slowly walking around a deserted basketball court.

Power dribbling crossovers -

Power dribble in your right hand, and then quickly bounce the ball to your left hand. Power dribble with your left hand for a few seconds before bouncing the ball back to your right hand.

Power dribbling sprints

This drill requires you to power dribble for an extended period of time and run back and forth on the basketball court. Stand at one end of a basketball court. Dribble to the nearest foul line, and then return to the baseline. Dribble to the middle of the court, and then return to the baseline from which you started. Dribble to the farthest foul line, and then return to the baseline from which you started. Finally, dribble the entire length of the court, and return to the baseline from which you started. This entire continuous power dribbling exercise counts as one complete cycle of the drill. Repeat multiple times to practice your dribbling, speed, and direction-changing abilities.

Power dribbling-3 chair dribbling

Set up 3 chairs or cones in a line, spacing each chair/cone 10 feet apart. Power dribble around the chairs/cones in different shapes, such as figure-eights, circles, or any shape. Use your imagination.

Power dribbling-Dirt dribbling

This drill actually requires you to leave the basketball court and find a patch of dirt. Do a Power dribble on the dirt for 1 or 2 minutes. You will need to power dribble the ball even harder than usual in order to get the ball to bounce on the dirt. This drill is an extremely good arm workout with power dribbling.

Power dribbling-Double ball

Power dribble two balls, one in each hand. This will increase your arm strength for dribbling and enhance your dribbling control. Since you can`t look at both hands at the same time, this drill will also practice your ability to power dribble without looking at the ball.

Speed Dribble Heads Up

Put 4 lines at each baseline and a coach at each FT line. Have one player speed dribble up the floor and around 1/2 court; the coach can then hold up fingers(1,2,3 or 4). The passer must throw the ball to the appropriate line and then the receiver speed dribbles to the other end and repeats the process. More advanced teams can have players going in both directions at once to increase reps.

Stutter step move

This similar to the hesitation dribble. Always give both hands equal practice time. Example: dribble hard with the left hand, trying to go by your defender, then brake hard, quickly stutter your left, right, and left foot... then explode to the basket!

BASKETBALL DRIBBLING

KENTUCKY DRIBBLING WORKOUT

NOTES: Make each move from a position outside the 3-pt arc. Always start on the right side. Make the move to the basket. Use the moves with lay ups, power lay up and jump shots, rebound, dribble out and make the same move out to the other side. Repeat.When using with jump shots take 1 or 2 dribbles by the defender before shooting. Make the moves in this section at GAME speed. *** You can also do these moves at the top of the key, using right and left hand.

#1: Crossover Dribble up to defender about 3' away. Execute a QUICK hop stop, and crossover dribble low to the other hand. The dribble must be LOWER and CLOSER to your body than the other dribbles. If the ball is in your right hand when crossing over, your left foot should drop while your right foot goes with the ball across your body. By this time, you should be by the defender. Then crossover back to the right. The move is opposite with left hand.Dribble up to defender about 3' away. Execute a QUICK hop stop, and crossover dribble low to the other hand. The dribble must be LOWER and CLOSER to your body than the other dribbles. If the ball is in your right hand when crossing over, your left foot should drop while your right foot goes with the ball across your body. By this time, you should be by the defender. Then crossover back to the right. The move is opposite with left hand.

# 2: Inside Out

When dribbling with the right hand, fake to left with left foot and fake the dribble to the left, then bring your hand on the INSIDE half of the ball, keep it in the same hand and explode to the basket. The move is opposite with left hand.

# 3: Stutter Step

The stutter step is made by dribbling up to the defender about 3' away and make the move. The move is made by dribbling up making sure not to allow the ball to get too high then making 4 QUICK choppy steps and then exploding past the defender. The move is opposite with left hand.

# 4: Hesitation

The move is made about 3 ' away from the defender. Dribble up making sure not to allow the ball to get too high, stop, but keep the dribble alive. Your weight is on the left foot, rock back to the right foot and explode past the defender. Vice versa when using left hand.

#5: Stutter crossover

This move is made by combining the stutter and crossover moves. Stutter first then Crossover.

# 6: Reverse Pivot (spin dribble)

When making this move with the right hand, your left foot should be straight in front of the defender's right foot. Pivot on your left and rub against the defender's right shoulder and drive to the basket. The ball should stay in your right hand for one extra dribble. The move is opposite with left hand.

# 7: Between the legs

When you start your dribble between the legs, the left foot should be in front. Execute a QUICK hop stop and dribble the ball from front to back between your legs. After the ball goes through the legs, the right foot drives by or around the defender. The move is opposite with left hand.

# 8: Behind the Back

When you begin to dribble behind the back, if the ball is in your right hand, you should be stepping with your left foot around the defender. Opposite with left hand.

2 MINUTE DRILL: FULL COURT DRIBBLING

Perform moves at full speed using alternate hands for each move . Practice right hand / left hand: stutter, cross-over, fake cross-over, through legs, behind back, spin-dribble, hesitation, and combination moves.

DRIBBLE X-OUT LAYUPS

Dribble with your right hand for a right hand lay-up; dribble out left handed to left elbow(corner of the key and the free throw line)and back in for a left hand lay-up and continue alternating hands. Do the drill for 1 minute. Dribble and shoot with alternating hands and go for SPEED, but still under control

BASKETBALL COACHING & PRACTICE PREPARATION

Cutthroat-Play three-on-three four-on-four game called cutthroat which is hugely effective in teaching kids how to move.The rules are simple. 1) The game is best played with three or more teams of four (any leftover players can be rotated in at your discretion). To minimize confusion, each team should have its own practice jersey. 2) Every player on a team must touch the ball at least once before any shot can go up. 3) If a player catches the ball and fails to face the basket in triple threat position before dribbling or passing, it is a turnover. 4) If a player passes the ball, then fails to cut to the basket and fill to an open spot or go screen for a teammate, it's also a turnover 5) A player can dribble no more than three times -- either to open up a passing lane or to attack the basket. 6) Only the guy with the whistle in his mouth (the coach!) is allowed to officiate. Points are automatically and instantly deducted any time a player protests a call. 7) One point is awarded for each basket made, one point for each offensive rebound, and one point for each steal (unforced turnovers don't count!). At every change of possession (turnover and defensive rebound) and at every made basket, the ball is passed back to the coach. If there's been a change of possession, the offensive team *sprints* off the floor and the defensive team goes to offense. The third team, waiting on the baseline, *sprints* onto the court and matches up on defense. The coach encourages this quick change over by passing the ball to the offensive team almost as soon as he receives it. After a made basket, however, it is the defensive team that vacates the floor. The offense stays on as long as they continue to score, which they can only do by passing and cutting and staying in motion.

Bench Charts-Organization at game time is crucial during pressure situations. Have an assistant coach with a list of plays and the situations in which you want to use them. Schedule time to practice these plays periodically so the players are prepared when any special situation arises.

Playbooks-Playbooks are a tremendous amount of work, but the pay back CANNOT BE MEASURED! Your players will truly become students of this game and it will help you to realize your team's potential by optimizing your time. You are teaching your players an incredible life lesson ,and that is simply "ORGANIZATION IS CRITICAL TO SUCCESS.

Be demanding-Players will generally give you what you demand from them. Don't be afraid to push them beyond what they think they can give you. You (and they) will be surprised when you see that the results far outweigh what your team initially thought you were capable of.

Clinics-A good source of coaching information is clinics. You can generally listen to a number of coaching experts at one site for a reasonable rate. If you can come away with one idea that helps your program, the clinic has been well worth it.

Coach Within Your Personality-One of the most important pieces of advice that can be offered to a new coach is to coach within your personality. Don't try to coach like someone else or emulate someone else's style. Be yourself. Players can sense right away when you are insincere or not being yourself. You will go further if you will coach in a manner that you are comfortable with.

Coaching is teaching-Good coaches are good teachers, and good teachers follow certain patterns. For the most part, they are clear in what they teach, are adamant about what they want, and demand that they get it. Apply this to your coaching and you will be amazed at the results.

Developing a Philosophy-When developing your coaching philosophy, make sure you choose a style of play that suits your personality. For instance, if you are laid-back, it won't necessarily make sense to coach an aggressive style of play. However, keep in mind that there are many winning styles of play. So choose the one that you are most comfortable with.

Discipline the player, Praise the person-A VERY successful division one college coach uses a tactic that is very interesting. In practice, he does NOT call players by name when he is scolding/questioning them. Rather, he uses their jersey #. For example, "Come on 20, you need to set up that screen. Otherwise it's just an exchange," Or "32, that was a bad decision. Couldn't you see that she wasn't open?" The idea is that when he corrects them, he doesn't use their name. Therefore, it is not directed toward the person, it is directed toward the player. Off the court, and in situations where he is praising something that is worthy, he uses their name. He wants them to associate themselves only with positive reinforcement. Thus, you discipline the playerm but praise the person.

Efficiency Ratings-A good way to show your team how effective they are being on offense and defense is with efficiency ratings. For your offensive efficiency, take the number of points you score and divide by the number of possessions you had. You can count your possessions by adding the number of shots you took with your turnovers and number of times you went to the free throw line. Anything over .85 is a good offensive rating. Likewise, take the same numbers for your opponent. This tells you your defensive efficiency. Anything under .75 is good.

Have Confidence-If you are going to coach, you must have confidence in your own ability. You are unique. It is all right to borrow ideas from other, more experienced coaches, but don't just copy those ideas. Understand the philosophy behind them.

Keep Things Simple-There is an old rule in coaching-KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid). A key to coaching success is to do a few simple things well. Repetition in practice will perfect those things that you want to do.

Lopsided Scores-A one sided game is not good for either team. The overmatched team could feel humiliated and the victor is not challenged. To make the game more challegeing, the better team could ask themselves some questions like: Did you play everybody? Did you continue to take advantage of a player or team by applying extended defensive pressure? Did you continue to run for layups off steals against a team that couldn't run back to protect their hoop. All of the above and more are coaches decisions. I've seen teams use games like these to give boys/girls quality playing time (more minutes than they usually get). I've seen teams use games like this to work on their perimeter shooting and refuse to shoot inside the lane. I've seen teams use games like these to work on passing the ball by taking the air out of the ball and never dribble. I've seen teams use games like these to work on their defensive sliding by staying between the ball and the basket WITH THEIR HANDS BEHIND THEIR BACKS allowing the opponent to pass and not trying to steal the ball. I've seen teams NEVER press an overmatched opponent BECAUSE IT WASN'T IN THE BEST INTEREST OF ANYONE INVOLVED. Oftentimes, there is a game within a game. When it's over was it about dignity and respect or was it about win at all costs?

Praise and Instruct-Something that I learned real early in coaching that always stayed with me I read in an article from "Psycholgy Today" about John Wooden titled, "What a Coach Can Teach a Teacher". Nearly 90% of all communication(verbal and non-verbal)from Coach Wooden contained teaching information, and over 80% was positive. These #'s included techniques like scold/reinstruct and praise/reinstruct/hustle (Mary, you're a better player than that. Let's see the defense before we make that pass. C'mon now let's focus and get going!)or even scold/praise/reinstruct(as Wooden may have said it..."Goodness, gracious, sakes alive, what were you looking at!?!Mary, you're a better player than that. Let's see the defense before we make that pass.) You can find out about Coach Woodens Pyramid of Success at http://coachwooden.com I always felt that these methods let the players know that even if you are demanding(no sense in doing something if you aren't going to demand your best)and intense that they at least know your intention is to teach them and make them better.

Praise/Scold/Re-instruct-A good method of communicating to players when they exhibit negative behavior is to praise/scold/re-instruct. Tell a player how good they can be, then admonish them for a poor play, but then follow that with instruction on how they should perform or how to do it better.

Teaching is Coaching-Good coaches are good teachers, and good teachers do several things consistently. They are clear in what they are trying to get across to their students; they are demanding in what they want in return; and they are adamant about getting it. Apply these principles to your coaching and you will be amazed at the results.

Team Chemistry-When selecting your team, you obviously need to be concerned with talent, but also important is how those talented players are going to work together. You need to select players who will accept your philosophy and are willing to blend their talents with those of their teammates in order to win. A headstrong player who is only interested in his or her statistics can destroy a good team.

the Bottom Line-If you are: 1)knowledgeable and organized, 2)work as hard as you expect your players to, and 3) care about them as people your players will: 1)Listen and try to understand, 2)show the desire to play as well as they can, and 3) Play hard.

Time-Management-When starting out as a coach, one of the best areas that you can begin studying is time-management. There are only so many hours a day that you can put in, and coaching will demand a large number of them. Learn to budget your time and use it most efficiently.

Aggressiveness-As far as teaching aggressiveness, simply make as many drills in practice as you can competitive, with a winner and a loser. Then have the losers do a task, like a sprint or two, five pushups, or reward the winners by letting them get a drink first. Eventually the will to win starts to spread, and aggressiveness becomes a necessity.

Competitive Practices-As often as possible, make practices competitive. Games are played to be won and lost, so the more competition you can have in practice, the more used to competition your players will be.

Drill Time-When running drills, break your team into groups and spend no more than five minutes on a drill. You want to keep practices fast-paced and this will help. By breaking down into smaller groups, you keep everyone active and give them several repetitions in the exercise. By keeping the drill time short, you keep their interest.

GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR COURT TIME-If you are going to put in a new offensive play tomorrow, then at the end of practice tonight - distribute to your players a written copy to go right into their Playbook, and for them to know tomorrow. When tomorrow arrives have them walk through it.In a matter of just a couple of minutes, you are now working 3/4 speed and discussing KEY components of execution such as timing, floor spacing and the sequence of options.

Practice-Always take practice seriously because the way you practice is the way you are going to play. If you don't put much effort into practice, those habits will show on the court during the game. Practice hard and you will play hard in the games.

ECHO SYSTEM

Players should communicate using the ECHO SYSTEM. The coaches tell one player the drill or play, he calls it out to the team, team echoes it.

Practice Length-Practices should rarely, if ever, last longer than two hours. Players have a difficult time maintaining focus beyond that time. You will end up accomplishing less by going longer.

Practice Plan-A good practice should be well organized and well run. One of the best ways to achieve this is throught the use of practice plans. Decide what you want to accomplish in your practice, how much time you will devote to each thing you want to do, then the drills you will use and how much time you will need to complete them.

Practice structure-Have an idea on how you want your basketball practices to flow. There should be a natural progression to what you do. Practices should start slow, for warm up purposes and gradually get more intense. Try developing a chart or checklist to make sure that you cover skills and strategies as often as you'd like. A sample of one can be found at: http://www.coachlokhoops.homestead.com/practiceplanning.html

Pre-Practice Walk Thrus-You might want to try doing your teaching of new plays during a pre-practice walk thru before the team is stretched and loosened up. Their minds will be more focused on learning. If they stand and listen too long after warming up, they will get tight and it might be hard to get them going again.

Simplify your scouting-One of the most important things to know about your opponent is the players individual habits. Try to find out if a player is a shooter, passer or a driver. If they are a shooter, do they like to shoot off the pass or the dribble? If they drive, do they go left or right? Do they drive to score or to draw the defense so they can pass to an open teammate. Know these individual tendencies and you will have a better chance to defend you opponent.

CONDITIONING

Agility Ladders - The Best All Around Agility Training Accessories

As with any training utility, the more uses you can get from a single tool, the more that tool is worth. Agility ladders give you so many uses in agility training that they are easily worth as much as any accessory. Agility ladders can help you train for speed, strength, power, and all around athletic control over your body. Use them for high-stepping drills to increase power and strength. Use them for change of direction exercises to increase speed and control. The versatility of the agility ladder is in a league of its own and should be a staple of any serious agility training program.Agility Training for Speed

There are many ways to increase your speed through <a href="http://www.jumpusa.com/agility_training.html">agility training</a>. For the most effective workout, very your exercises between classic sprint training, and more advanced agility training drills and equipment. Let's cover classic training with windsprints, which have always worked to increase speed and agility. Start from one baseline and sprint to the closest freethrow line and back. The move on to the halfcourt line and back. Next is the far free throw line and back. And finally the opposite baseline and back. Make sure you sprint at all times and that when you reach each line, you bend down and touch the line with both hands. Performing this speed agility training exercise correctly will definitely help your game.

Benefits of Agility Training-Agility training is at the core of any athlete's endurance level. If you want to last longer without getting winded or jump higher before landing back on the ground, is the key. Most athletes have their careers cut short because of injury or fatigue. Agility training will reduce your risk of injury and give you the extra wind you need to make it through a long season. Proper agility training will give you more flexibility and let your body take on the abuses that can come in any competitive sport. Take advantage of the advanced agility training accessories and drills that are out there and make the most of your game.

Choosing the Right Agility Equipment for You-Whether you are looking to leap higher, run faster, or simply last longer, the right agility equipment can make the difference. When choosing your agility equipment you should first determine what you are looking for. Do you want more balance? Are you looking for more 'spring in your step'? There are agility training equipment makers for every type of agility training. Until you determine your needs, however, you should not just jump into any equipment or regimen. Get the agility equipment that will help you accomplish your specific goals.

Effective Basketball Agility Training at Any Level- is important in any sport. In basketball, agility training is of extreme importance because of the tempo of the game. No matter what your level of play, you must instill effective agility training in yourself and your teammates if you want to play at your best potential. When it comes to agility training, the oldest methods are still strong. The agility training that you can get from simple medicine ball exercises are as effective as they were in the 1950s. There are, however, new basketball agility training exercises and tools offered by many companies. These new agility tools take advantage of scientific study and advances to truly hone your agility training. What is most important is that you choose agility training that is comfortable for you.

Essentials to Agility Drills in your Agility Training-There are certain things that are essential to your agility drills and agility training. First, make sure that you are properly warmed up, stretched, and prepared for your drills. Flexibility is key and warming up before hard training is very important. Next, be sure that when you do your agility drills, you do them at full speed. Train with game-like conditions and you will be better prepared for your games. Most importantly, for agility training, keep moving! A strict set of agility drills should be done in sequence with as little pausing as necessary. Keep that heart rate up, and you will get the benefits of agility training you are looking for.

Strengthen Your Passes with the Right Agility Equipment

If you are looking to strengthen your forearms and the muscles, agility equipment</a> is out there for you. There are many options for agility training with the goal of more accurate and stronger passing ability, but one particular drill will increase your strength more than any other. A 'wrist rolling' agility tool makes you focus on all of those important muscles we mentioned above. You simply hold your arms straight out in front of you and, well, roll. A stick or dowel is attached to a string, which is attached to a weight. By using only your forearms to roll the string and weight all the way up, your forearms are forced to do all of the work. Using this and other specific agility equipment and drills will quickly increase your strength in shooting, passing, and ball handling.

Condition with a ball-I prefer to do most of the conditioning with a ball, or by doing some activity that works on a basketball skill. We might do an intense full court dribble drill, offense vs. defense, a full court passing drill or some type of transition drill. One of my favorites is playing full court 3 on 3, no dribble. Watch how fatigued they get running, trying to get open, pivoting to protect the ball, and defending all of the above. Players focus on the activity and skill, rather than thinking that they are just "conditioning".

Dribble while you run-Everyone knows that running is an essential part of playing basketball and it helps you get in shape. Most people just jog or do sprints but why not dribble when running? This will help you get in shape and with your dribbling at the same time.

Finish on a positive note-if the last thing that players do at practice before they hit the locker room and go home is something that they do not enjoy (or even dislike!), that is what they will be talking about until the next practice comes around. A negative atmosphere may be brewing, without even knowing it. A much better method is to end practice on a positive note, and have everyone looking forward to getting back to work at the next practice.

Intense practices-During the season it is best to do a majority of your conditioning within the body of the practice. Practices should be intense and physical enough that they are actually more difficult than the games. It is a good idea to mix in some conditioning in between drills at various times throughout practice.

Ready-Set-Go!-The game of basketball requires running. If you can't run, you can't play. The most horrible loss you can have as a team is when you just get outlasted by the opposing team. You must get in shape for basketball, in which the game is full of sprints and stops; this is how you must train... lots of sprints and lines, resting in between. Remember, "no pain, no gain"!

Sets of lines-This common conditioner has many different names. The player starts on the baseline and sprints to the free throw line, touches the line then sprints back to the baseline. The player repeats this to half court, the opposite free throw line, then the opposite baseline.

Build Your Jumping-In order to better your jumping, you need to increase your leg strength and stamina. A great way to do this is by doing a consecutive jumping drill. Begin by jumping as high as you can off both feet. Your hands should be above your head and rotating to help you jump high. As soon as you land, go right back up. Repeat this twenty-five times. Next, jump twenty-five times off your right foot, then twenty-five times off your left. Keep your hands up and go up as quickly as you can after landing. Next, jump twenty-five times bringing your knees to your chest. You can now bring your arms down in order to maintain balance, but continue jumping as quickly as possible. Then jump twenty-five times trying to kick your heals into your rear end. Finally, perform twenty-five Jerry Wests. A Jerry West is a jump in which you bend forward at the waist extending your arms at forty-five degree angles. Try to touch your fingertips to your toes.

Plyometrics-To improve your jumping try plyometrics exercises. These exercises involve the athlete dropping (not jumping) to the ground from a raised platform or box, and then immediately jumping up. The exercise will be more effective the shorter the time the feet are in contact with the ground. The loading in this exercise is governed by the height of the drop which should be in the region of 30-80 cm. Drop jumping is a relatively high impact form of plyometric training and would normally be introduced after the athlete had become accustomed to lower impact alternatives, such as two-footed jumping on the spot.

Enhance Movement Efficiency-The ability to change direction quickly and move laterally or backwards with minimal loss of speed is contingent upon two factors: (1) an athlete's ability to send a message from brain to the body about how and when to react; and (2) how well an athlete can coordinate upper and lower extremities while maintaining balance and speed of movement. Incorporating agility drills that focus on coordination and reaction time will help in enhancing movement efficiency.

17's-A 17 is a very common conditioning practice . You start behind one of the sidelines. You run to the other sideline counting as 1 then you run back to count as 2. You do this until you reach 17. (Always ending on the opposite side from which you started). To be in very good basketball shape you should be able to do this in under 1 minute.

Ball Bounces-Hold the ball in front of you with your legs spread wide. Bounce the ball hard between your legs so that it will come up behind you. Quickly move your hands behind your back to catch the ball. The harder that you bounce the ball, the more quickly you will have to move your hands.

Ball Jumps-Stand next to a basketball with your feet together. Jump back and forth (sideways) over the ball as quickly as possible. Go for thirty seconds, counting the number of times that you return to the starting point. Try to better yourself every day.

Bench Jumping-Either face a bench that is about one and a half feet high or stand beside it. You can either jump over and back or sideways. Feet should be kept together. Go for thirty seconds and count the number of times that you return to the starting point. Attempt to increase the number every day.

Clap Hands Drill-Ball Behind the Knees-Hold the ball behind your knees. Release it, clap your hands in front of your knees, then return your hands behind your knees and catch the ball before it hits the ground.

Cobra Drill-When you are practicing with a partner, you can work on your hand quickness with this drill. Both of you stand inside the jump circle in a defensive stance. Try to hit the inside of each other's knees while remaining inside the circle. Whoever touches the inside of the other's knees an agreed to number of times is the winner.

Four Squares-Find a place on the floor where two line intersect. These create four areas that are numbered one through four. Jump 1-2-3-4, then 4-3-2-1. Count the number of times you return to square #1 in thirty seconds. Try to better yourself every day.

Front-Back Catch-Pass the ball from in front of your body to behind it between your legs. Move your hands quickly to behind your body to catch the ball before it hits the ground. Once you have caught it, pass it back to the front of your body through your legs and catch it again.

Hand Claps-Start holding a basketball. Toss it up, clap your hands twice, then catch the ball. Repeat, clapping twice. Continue to increase the number of times that you clap your hands. See how many times you can clap your hands and still catch the ball.

Jump Rope-One of the most important pieces of equipment a basketball player can possess is a jump rope. Daily use of a jump rope will develop stamina, leg strength, agilty and coordination, timing, quickness, and hand-eye coordination. All of these are extremely important to becoming a good ball player.

Lane Shuffle-The lane shuffle is a progressive drill that is outstanding for developing body control and coordination. You shuffle across the foul lane from one line to the other, first touching the line with your outside hand, the second time touching the line with the inside hand forcing a crossover step, then, the third time, touching the line with both hands. The drill can be run for a set time period with players counting the number of times they touch the lines.

Line Jumps

Stand beside any line on the floor. With your feet together, jump forward and backwards over the line, then sideways back and forth (two separate exercises). Repeat for thirty seconds, counting the number of times that you return to the starting point. Try to better yourself every day.

Mimic Basketball Skills

A basketball player's quickness and agility program would include drills which emphasize lateral movement, change of direction, and sudden starts and stops (with or without ball) because these movement patterns are specific to the sport of basketball. By implementing these drills, inevitably, a basketball player's skill acquisition is enhanced.

Reduce Ground Time Contact

To develop quicker movements for various drills, a basketball player should strive to reduce the amount of time spent on the ground when performing drills. Whether a player is fresh or fatigued while performing a drill, the goal should be to move the feet quickly and forcefully while constantly spending the least amount of time possible on the ground.

Side Catch

Place the ball between your legs with one hand holding it in front of your body and the other behind. Let the ball go and switch the position of your hands, front to back and back to front, and catch the ball before it hits the ground.

Wall Passing

A good way to increase both hand quickness and hand-eye coordination is with wall passes. Stand in front of a wall and pass the ball hard against the wall, catching it upon its return. As you improve your hand coordination, decrease the distance you stand from the wall so that the ball will come back more quickly and you have to react more quickly.

Advantages of strength training

Participating in strength training and conditioning for basketball will help you be the best player possible, and could give you that extra edge to win a championship. Attaining strength and power through weight training will not only help your body resist injury (very important during the long season), but also allows you to gain the stamina necessary for basketball's physical play.

Catching a Medicine Ball

Prior to a catch, make sure that you: keep your arms extended, keep your hands together, keep eyes on the ball, reach out to meet the ball prior to making contact, and do not attempt to catch balls thrown wildly.

Keep it safe

Always wear cross-trainers or basketball shoes when conditioning, as this supports your ankles during cutting drills. If you're participating in jumping drills (called plyometrics), then always perform them on grass or thick exercise pads and mats. Weight training exercises should be performed using slow and controlled movements. Try to use mostly machines to ensure maximum safety.

Keep it simple

Use basic drills to improve your basketball performance. Running stairs, suicide runs, and interval training are time-tested and great ways to get in "basketball shape". In fact, playing and practicing basketball is the BEST way to get in "game shape". If you participating in weight training to develop your strength, use simple exercises like lunges, step-ups, push-ups, pull-ups and sit-ups.

Medicine Ball Safety

To ensure personal safety and good technique while doing medicine ball exercises the following points should be remembered: Complete throws with full extension of the arms. On standing exercises, plant your feet before beginning to throw the ball. Always use the full joint range in the correct sequence in carrying out each exercise. Maintain technique - do not sacrifice control for distance. Inexperienced athletes should not take the ball too far back behind the head when carrying out overhead throws. When picking up a ball, ensure the knees are bent and the back is kept straight. When carrying out exercises lying on your back, ensure the lower back always remains in contact with the surface.

Train effectively

To get the results you want, you must train HARD! You must make a commitment to never miss training sessions. Always apply your maximum effort to each drill. Consistency and effort are in your control and are the keys to reaching your performance potential.

When to start

Start only after a thourough check up from their Doctor...my advice is prior to high school just use resistance against own weight...(push ups, pull ups, sit ups) and tons of stretching( REAL IMPORTANT TO BE FLEXIBLE)...BODY MASS WILL INCREASE WITH AGE..DON'T RUSH IT... Secondly, when they start lifting weights...always exercise both sets of muscles e.g. biceps AND triceps...push/pull group...hamstrings and Quads...etc... go slow...in the case of Football...neck rolls combined with light weights will help the neck But GO SLOW..and use full extension...contrary to popular opinion...not how heavy you lift...better to have more reps ( with full extension) with Light weights rather than a few lifts of Heavy weights...i.e. let the body develop as a result of GOOD NUTRITION rather than weights and the other stuff at an early age...good luck!

Baseline to Sideline - Quick Guide to Basketball Court Lines

There are so many 'lines' on a basketball court, it can be tough to differentiate. Here is a quick guide to the lines that make up every basketball court. First, there is the sideline. This is where you can find the team benches and usually the scorer's table. Next, there are the baselines. The basketball court baseline is beneath the backboard and is sometimes called the "low post" when the player is close to the basket. The halfcourt line is just as it sounds, right in the middle of the court. On offense, the team must advance the ball past the half court line in a certain time or turn the ball over to the other team. Perhaps the most important basketball court line is the free throw line. More than any other line, games are won and lost at the free throw line.

A Great Drill to Help You Jump Higher

If you want to jump higher, here is a great drill for you. All you need is a medicine ball or overweighted basketball. Hold the ball against your chest as if you were curling with freeweights. Try to touch your knuckles to your chin when holding the ball. Crouch down low like you were doing a leap frog. In a fixed position, begin bouncing at the knees to propel yourself upwards. Bounce with more force each time until you are coming off of the ground as high as you can. After many reps, bring the ball over your head and repeat the reps. Doing this exercise will not only increase your jump, but will provide you with a great warm-up for any game

Advantages of Increasing Your Vertical Jump

Recent basketball stars have made it abundantly clear that increasing your vertical jump</a> can give you an edge on your opponents. How many times a night do we see highlights of a player who was able to convert an assist because they had just an extra second of time before landing to pass the ball? You can all but count on it every game. From Michael to Lebron, the game now requires you to be able to float as long as possible. Defense has adjusted to these changes as well which means you definitely need that extra time. Get the training equipment that can help you increase your vertical and do the drills that come with them.. You will be leaping higher in no time.

Basketball Before the Age of Jump-Many young basketball fans wouldn't even know that before the late 1970's there was no "slam dunk". There were no "alley oop's". There were certainly no slam dunk contests. Julius Erving changed how <a href="http://jumpusa.com">airborne jumping</a> impacted the game of basketball when he showed the world what jumping really was. Before then, basketball was a game of set offenses and passing, passing, passing. Only a few truly dominant players like Wilt Chamberlain or Kareem Abdul Jabbar played "above the rim" until this time. Since then, players continue to change the game by astonishing crowds with jumps that seem to always get higher. To keep up with players today, get out the jump shoes and train away.

Flexibility - The Key to Jumping Higher

Often overlooked as a factor in leaping ability is a player's flexibility. Jumping high is based on the elasticity of your muscles and tendons. Without extreme flexibility, you will never jump as high as you could with proper training. Be sure that before you practice you employ a series of stretching drills to help with your flexibility. Basic hamstring and quadricep stretches can be done in just a few minutes either standing or seated on the floor. There are also many basketball training accessories now available to provide you with a stringent warm-up routine for flexibility. Take advantage of these to increase your flexibility and increase your jump.

Increase Your Game by Increasing Your Jump

Many basketball players wonder how they can move their game to the next level. Today, more than ever, basketball is a game played 'above the rim'. This means that the most important feet movement is how high they can propel you in the air. If you want to increase your game, increase your jump. Point guards will look to you more if they think you can get to the ball. Increasing your jump will also make you quicker all-around, which will give you the edge when chasing a loose ball down the court. Take advantage of the tools that have been developed just to help increase your jump and you will be happier with your game

Jump Shoes - Increase Your Vertical Jump With Ease

By now, you have surely seen those shoes that look like high-heels tuned inside out. Jump Shoes have been in the marketplace for over a decade now and their effectiveness has been proven over and over again. Many people see these shoes and do not understand their benefit. It is simple, these shoes raise your heels off of the ground as you walk, forcing you to use your calves and quadriceps in all of your motion. These are the muscles that aid in you jumping higher, and if you wear the jump shoes for just 10 minutes of a workout, you won't have any more doubts about their effectiveness. When it comes to accessories that can help you jump higher, there are none more proven that these unique pieces of footwear.

Methods to Jump Higher

Jumping has become as much what basketball is about as dribbling is. Everyone wants to increase their vertical leap so they can make airborne moves to the hoop. If you really want to increase your vertical jump, try these tips. Have you thought about the jump shoes? I know, you never see people playing in these, but that is because you are not supposed to. These shoes with the 'high-toe' as opposed to 'high heel' are made for training and doing specific drills. These drills are the fastest way to build your calves, quads, and hamstrings. These are the muscles that will make you jump higher, fast. If you want to jump high and are willing to use the training, the jump shoes are the way to go for the results you are looking for.

Tricking Your Muscles to Make You Jump Higher

Only two things keep us grounded on the earth; resistance from gravity and from our own muscles. There is not much we can do about gravity, but your muscles do not need to know that. New training accessories have been developed that can help you in your battle against gravity and trick your muscles into helping you <a href="http://jumpusa.com">jump higher</a>. Among the most reliable of of these new tools is a weighted belt. These have been around for a while, but the new incarnations of this classic utility are made for more comfort and effectiveness. By weighing yourself down as you practice, your muscles think you have more weight to propel on your body. When you are done using the belt, your body will remember that extra weight and you will move quicker and jump higher as a result.

Build Your Jumping

In order to better your jumping, you need to increase your leg strength and stamina. A great way to do this is by doing a consecutive jumping drill. Begin by jumping as high as you can off both feet. Your hands should be above your head and rotating to help you jump high. As soon as you land, go right back up. Repeat this twenty-five times. Next, jump twenty-five times off your right foot, then twenty-five times off your left. Keep your hands up and go up as quickly as you can after landing. Next, jump twenty-five times bringing your knees to your chest. You can now bring your arms down in order to maintain balance, but continue jumping as quickly as possible. Then jump twenty-five times trying to kick your heals into your rear end. Finally, perform twenty-five Jerry Wests. A Jerry West is a jump in which you bend forward at the waist extending your arms at forty-five degree angles. Try to touch your fingertips to your toes.

Don't over do it

Platform shoes keep you off your heels, allowing a wider range of movement for your calf. Each jump is therefore more effective and can help you reach new heights. Many training programs will tell you to jump every day, hundreds or even thousands of times. This causes wear and tear on your body, especially your knees and back. Jumping fewer times with more effectiveness is the way to go, which is why platform shoes have been used for decades with great success. Because of this, our training program recommends only one to three workouts a week, depending on the season of your sport!

Jump Soles

The new frontal platform shoes (Jump Soles) have been shown to dramatically improve the efficiency of plyometric exercises. Training in frontal platform shoes is increasingly becoming the method of choice for serious sprinters and jumpers. No other method develops as quickly, the specific muscle groups and neural connections essential for running speed and jumping height.

Plyometrics

New advances in science make it possible to run faster and jump higher than ever before. Plyometrics is a form of exercise which links strength with speed of movement. There are two phases of muscle contraction during the running or jumping motion. Muscles go through a stretch phase, and then a contraction phase. Plyometric exercises are designed to shorten the cycle time between the two phases. A rapid cycle time allows maximum energy transfer between stretch and contraction phases.

BASKETBALL DEFENSE

Ball/Man Line

When you are guarding a player without the ball in man to man defense, it is important to be aware of the "ball/man line". The ball/man line is an imaginary line between your man, and the man with the ball. You should be on the basket side of the ball man line and away from your man enough to help your teammates. This position helps form what is called the "defensive triangle"

Cover Down

Whenever the ball penetrates on a pass or a dribble, all players should cover down to the level of the ball and force it back out. When the ball is dribbled toward the baseline, the nearest help side defender must quickly stop the ball before it reaches the lane. If the ball is passed to the post, we keep him from dribbling by quickly covering down. When we cover down to the baseline from on top. When the ball is passed back out, all players recover to their man. USE THE CLOSEST MAN TO THE BALL RULE ON RECOVERY.

Defensive Triangle

On Defense always be able to see your man and the ball (this is when your man doesn't have the ball). When your man is 1 pass away, you can deny the player from getting the ball. You must be in a defensive triangle position with you, the ball and your man. Flatten out the triangle, with you at the center point of the triangle. Try to get a hand in the passing lane(straight line between the ball and your man). Position your head so that you can see both with your peripheral vision. Then slide up and back with your man, keeping that triangle position.

Double Down

This is a defensive strategy that is used when a very good low post player gets the ball. When the ball is passed to the post, the perimeter (outside) player quickly will double team the post player. This will make it difficult for a good post player to make their offensive move and force them to pass the ball back out.

Jump to the Ball

Any time the ball is passed YOU MUST JUMP TO THE BALL. Make gradual, quick, immediate adjustments in your stance. You must be in position before the ball is caught. Jumping to the ball allows you to be in proper position to front cutters, avoid screens (be a moving target), and help teammates. Any time the ball is dribbled you must make the proper ball side or help side adjustments in positioning.

Quick Help and Early Recovery

There is no such thing as helping too quickly. When your teammate steers the ball into the next gap, be ready to provide quick help with your rear to the ball. When you help, you must recover on line to your man as the ball is picked up.In all screening situations you must talk, provide quick help and then recover early.

Strongside Lane Closure

Strongside lane closure is the way you play defense when your man passes the ball and cuts to the basket. As soon as your player passes, make a quick jump to the ball side of your man, and slide down the lane with your player, putting yourself in the passing lane, and denying a pass from going into your man.

Weakside Defense

When your man is 2 passes away from the ball, you must learn to play weakside or help defense. Help defense means just that... if someone else's man is driving to the hoop and has beaten the defender, you must leave your man and move to a position in front of them with both feet on the ground, (facing the player)and stop the drive; then once the ball is stopped, go back to your man. Point one hand to your man and the other to the ball and maintain a position that allows you to see both your man and the ball. Align yourself with the center of the basketball floor. Stopping the ball, no matter who is guarding him, is your first concern. This contributes to good team defense.

Weakside Lane Closure

You are in your weakside defensive stance in line with the basket, pointing to your man and the ball. Weakside lane closure to how you defend a player on the weakside who cuts to the ball.What you must do as your player cuts towards the ball is to slide up into deny position, make contact with the cutter, and make him cut behind you. As he cuts behind you, you then still deny the pass into your man.

Close Down

This is a strategy to use when you are coming to defend a player from a distance away, such as sprinting out to your man on a skip pass after help defense . What you do is sprint half way to your player and then in a low defensive position, use shuffle steps to assume good defensive position.

Contest All Shots

Never allow an opponent to shoot the ball uncontested. The problem, however, with players attempting to block shots is the tendency to commit fouls. Therefore, the proper way to contest a shot is to stay on your feet facing the shooter until the shooter leaves his or her feet, then attempt to get your hand on top of the basketball. At the very least, get a hand up so it limits his vision of the basket or he has to shoot over you. While you may not block the shot, you will put the shooter under a maximum amount of pressure.

Defensive Slide

The proper way to move when guarding the dribbler is to step and push off. This is accomplished by stepping sideways with the lead foot (the foot closest to the direction in which you wish to go), then pushing off with your trail foot to catch up. Always keep your feet in contact with the floor. Stay low and keep your feet wide. Make quick slides.

Force Baseline

On the defensive side, force baseline because the baseline is an excellent defender. The baseline won't move and will always get in the way of the offensive dribbler. The backboard is also a good defender in that the dribbler can often times get behind it. With the on-ball defender, possible off-ball help as well as the baseline and backboard, that can make one heckuva trap if the ball-handler picks up his dribble.

Half a Man Ahead

When guarding the dribbler, your head should be even with the ball, which puts you slightly ahead of the man you are guarding. Make the dribbler turn and change directions. This will slow him down and make it more difficult for the dribbler to beat you.

On The Ball Defense

One of the most important defensive concepts is the theory of keeping your body between your man and the basket. Your defensive positioning should always be between the ball and the man you are guarding. Be within an arms reach of your man, so you can put pressure on the ball. Focus on his belly button...where it goes, he will go. You can be faked out by his eyes, head and shoulder fakes. Try to make him go where he doesn't want to go. From the middle of the court... force him to the sideline. From a wing position, force him baseline 12-15 feet away from the basket.

Pressure the Ball

A key to being a good defender is to always put pressure on the ball. Don't let an offensive player do anything with the ball--dribble, pass, or shoot--without having one of your hands trying to get into the way. Force him to his weakest side. Make him go where he doesn't want to go.

Stance

The proper defensive stance is necessary in order to play good defense. On the ball, feet should be shoulder width apart, with the knees bent, and your butt down and your back straight. Your hands should be outside your knees with the palms up. You should be low(your nose to your man's chest) in "nose-chest" position. When you are low, you can change directions more quickly, which is a key for playing great defense.

Wall Sits

A great exercise for increasing the strength and stamina needed in the legs for defense is wall sits. Take a position as if you were sitting in a chair with your back flat against a wall but with nothing underneath you to support your weight. Gradually build up the amount of time that you can do this.

Watch his midsection

When guarding the dribbler, watch his midsection(waist). He can't go anywhere without it, and you won't fall for foot fakes or ball fakes.

Defensive post position.

If a defender is posting you up (having his back to the basket looking for the ball)try to get in front and deny him the ball. If you can't, get a good wide base and don't let him back you in any deeper.Any contact with his elbows on your chest should be a foul on him.

High Post Defense

The basic rule for guarding the high post(post player at the free throw line) is to deny the pass in from the side. This is a position where the defensive player is at the ball side of the post player, with the forward arm denying the pass into the post. Use the back of your other hand to maintain contact with your man. When the ball moves to the other side, go on the basket side of your man and assume the side denial position on the other side.

Low Post Defense-ball above the Free throw line

if the ball is above the free throw line extended(imaginary line extending from the free throw line to the sideline), then you should deny on the high side. You should be chest to chest with the post player with your arm closest to the ball in the passing lane.

Low post defense-ball is below the free throw line

If the ball is below the free throw line try to get around the post player and "Full Front". Your teammates will need to help you on any lob pass. The post player probably is not going to want you in this position, so it is a constant fight for position between the post player and defender. Be active and try to AVOID contact. The post player will have more trouble "pinning" you in a position where they can receive the ball.

Low Post Defense-he's pushed you out

The low post player might try to push you out after you "full front". If you get out too far you can release and get behind so that your feet are OUTSIDE of the key. Now you are between him and the basket and have him 12'-15' away. This makes it a tough shot for the offense and you have rebounding position.

Blockout and Outlet

The defensive effort is completed when we have POSSESSION OF THE BALL. When the ball is shot we must have ALL FIVE PLAYERS fulfilling their rebound responsibility until the ball is CHINNED. The team will rebound covering the paint in a triangle shape. Then you can outlet the ball and apply your offensive pressure with the primary and secondary break.

Transition and Communication

Quick, organized transition with communication by all five players is a must for a great defensive team. You must STOP THE BALL. You must sprint to the level of the ball, eliminate all cheap baskets, and make opponents go against your set defense. NO LAYUPS, NO THREES, NO FOULS, NO SECOND SHOTS

Why play a zone defense?

A team should look to play a zone if their opponents can't attack it consistently, they can't guard the opponent man-to-man, they need to control an excellent penetrating guard, and finally, they can sandwich (or front and back) the post player.

A Short Checklist of Basketball Coaches Equipment

Here are a few basketball coaching equipment essentials for any new coaches out there looking to make an impact. First, get yourself a good whistle and use it. Conditioning is key with a basketball team and whistles start windsprints like a pistol at a track and field meet. Next, get a large markerboard. In basketball, a coach can get their visions across much easier by diagramming rather than verbally explaining. Finally, be sure to surround yourself with good assistant coaches. We cannot all be Norman Dale from Hoosiers, and even he needed 'Shooter'.

FAST BREAK

Attack the basket

On the fast break, try to take the ball hard to the basket and get a high percentage shot. The more easy shots you can get, the better off your team will be.

Court Vision

Every time players get the ball they should square up and look up the court before initiating transition. Poor court vision results in forced passes, offensive fouls against an unseen defender, and inability to see open teammates who might more easily advance the ball up the court with more effective results.

Dribbling

Only after the player looks ahead should they put the ball on the floor - and then only to advance the ball up the floor, drive to the basket, or improve a passing angle. Then when advancing the ball with a dribble, you must be able to dribble without thinking about dribbling or about the opponent who is guarding you. This will free you to see the court, ready to pass to a teammate who is open.

Early Offense

If the fast break does not get your team a good shot, the players should flow into an organized "early offense" to try to get a good shot before the defense is set.

Look for your shot

Try to get a shot quickly, before the defense gets a chance to set up. If you don't have a shot, pass the ball quickly while your team has more players on that side of the floor than the defense.

Look up the floor

On the fast break the player with the ball should look up at all times. This allows the dribbler to see open players ahead. Always throw the ball ahead to the first open player.

Outlet Pass

Once the team has the rebound, send the players to the outlet areas. These are about at the free throw line extended to the sidelines. The rebounder should turn away from the defense and try to throw a pass up the floor to the outlet to start the fast break.

Pass-don't dribble

Passing the ball is faster than dribbling. Always look to pass the ball up the floor, instead of dribbling to beat the defense for an easy shot.

Rebound

The key to starting a fast break is getting the rebound. Play good defense, force a miss, then send all the players to the defensive boards.

Run the Floor!

Always try to outrun your opponent on the fast break. If you get ahead of everybody, the player with the ball will be more likely to pass to you.

Run the Lanes

Try to run down the floor in the "fast break lanes" close to the sidelines. This keeps the offensive players spread out and makes guarding them more difficult.

Secondary Break

A secondary break/early offense is an organized method that has you on a constant attack from the point of possession, without the need to reset your offense. The problem that I have found is that some teams are more concerned with running thru "the pattern" than searching for scoring opportunities. Always run everything looking for scoring opportunities that present themselves.

Shot selection

When running the fast break, the offense should try to get: 1. an uncontested layup, 2.an Uncontested short jump shot, 3. a Contested power shot close to the basket, 4.an Uncontested 3 pt shot if the team has offensive rebound position.

BASKETBALL TRAINING EQUIPMENT

Advantages of Portable Basketball Equipment

I can still remember pouring the concrete as my Dad and I put in my first basketball hoop; it took us all day. Recently, I recalled this when I was pouring water into the new portable basketball hoop I got for my son; it took us 25 minutes. <a href="http://jumpusa.com">Portable basketball equipment</a> today is more than just a convenience. It has helped the game grow through providing the ability for children anywhere to learn the game of basketball. Not every kid has a park with a hoop they can shoot on, or a driveway they can get their father to dig up and plant a big metal pole in. The new portable basketball equipment is less expensive and easier to maintain than previous equipment. These are only a few of the many advantages of portable basketball equipment.

Auto-Rebounding Accessories - Great for Your Basketball Court

For people with a basketball court or <a href="http://www.jumpusa.com/basketball_hoops.html">basketball hoop</a> of their own, practicing shooting can be tough. Often, it becomes a game of shoot, chase the ball, shoot, chase the ball. If you want to practice you shooting more effectively, we recommend an auto-rebounding basketball hoop accessory. These great utilities attach to either your basketball rim or your basketball hoop pole. After each shot, the ball is returned right to the shooter. You can shoot at least 20% more shots during your practice with one of these court accessories. Get an auto-rebounder and be able to focus on honing your shooting skills.

Auto-Passing Basketball Training Equipment

Practice is practice, and there is only so much you can replicate about real game situations. For those who do not have a practice team, or for those who simply prefer to practice by themselves, there is basketball training equipment out there that can help you better prepare for real games. For spot-up shooting practice, an automatic passing machine is a great way to replicate a real game scenario while practicing by yourself. These machines work like a pitching machine. They can automatically pass you the basketball to any spot on the floor so you can practice stepping into a pass and a shot. For perfecting game-time technique, there are few other pieces of equipment that help as much as these.

Basketball Equipment to Help Improve Your Skills with Both Hands

The most effective basketball player is the one who can go to either side of the court and lose their defender on the way. Whether dribbling, passing, or shooting, having the equal use of both hands will give you an edge on your competition. When I was a kid, my Dad taught me how to shoot a layup with my left hand by tying a string from my left wrist to my left knee. By shooting the layup with my left hand, my left leg was forced to rise off the ground. To tech players today how to use both hands, there are far more advanced versions of this important <a href="http://jumpusa.com">basketball practice equipment</a>. If you want to teach your kids or players how to be ambidextrous on the floor, take a look at the many pieces of equipment designed to accomplish just that.

Basketball Training Equipment that Will Make the Difference

Too many training regimens don't provide you with a real return for your time and effort. For basketball training, this is for too often the case. The effectiveness of your training is grounded in good planning and better equipment. Basketball training equipment such as stretch bands for passing exercises can age over time. Since the best training equipment doesn't change too often, it is important to get the equipment that will last through several seasons. Quality training equipment will make the difference in your game.

Choosing the Right Basketball Equipment

When choosing your <a href="http://jumpusa.com">basketball equipment</a>, think about your needs. Are you looking for a hoop for your driveway? Do you need coaching equipment for a whole team? There are many stores and merchants who specialize in basketball equipment and supplies. Determine what your goals are and then shop around. If you need equipment for outdoor play, you will want basketball equipment that will weather better. For indoor play, wear and tear is not as much of a concern. Choosing the right basketball equipment is just a matter of figuring out your needs.

The Essential Basketball Practice Equipment - The Ball

When it comes to "essential" basketball practice equipment, there is only one real answer. You just need a ball. You do not necessarily need a hoop, or even a real court. Too much basketball practice today focuses on shooting. There are not too many players who get the ball in their hands and do not want to shoot it. The most basic basketball skills like dribbling and passing have taken a back seat to shooting and scoring. The drills for enhancing dribbling and passing skills require only one piece of basketball practice equipment... a basketball.

A Basketball Bin - Preserve Your Spaldings With This Basketball Accessory

For any coach that has their team practice in the outdoors, a basketball bin is a necessary basketball court accessory. Between weather and outdoor court materials, basketballs tend to have a shorter lifespan. A basketball bin can attach to any basketball hoop and provides you with a secure, weather-safe storage unit. If you are tired of players walking off with basketballs after practice, use a basketball bin. With the locking capability, you can be sure that at the beginning of the next practice, you will have the same amount of basketballs as when you finished your last practice. Anyone with their own basketball hoop would do well to use a basketball bin. You can fit up to four basketballs, volleyballs, or soccerballs for all of your little athletes.

Basketball Coaching Accessories - Beyond Whistles and Markerboards

Over time, coaching accessories have ranged from a pad of paper to draw up plays on to a towel to chew on the let your players know how you are feeling about their performance. Every coach seems to find the right <a href="http://www.jumpusa.com/index.htm">basketball accessories</a> for their style of coaching. How can you find yours? The greatest coaches carefully examine their own coaching style and choose their coaching accessories accordingly. If you are an aggressive motivator, but you like to keep your voice, a megaphone can be a very effective accessory. If you have a more soft spoken style, a whistle would suffice. The key is to look at the coach you want to be, and the right coaching accessories will come to you. And of course, don't forget to choose the most important basketball coaching accessories very carefully; your assistant coaches.

Basketball Uniforms - More Than Just Accessories

In any league, every basketball hoop is the same height from the floor, every free throw line is the same distance from the baseline, and every basketball is the same size. So why are there so many variations of basketball uniforms? The reason is simple; the rules do not dictate uniforms. It is important that your basketball team feel comfortable in their uniforms and, often, this means that different teams want different basketball uniforms. Because your players need freedom of movement to play their best, you should consider their uniforms as more than just <a href="http://www.jumpusa.com/index.htm">basketball accessories</a>. Make sure that your basketball team is comfortable with the length of their shorts and sleeves. The right uniform will make your individual players happier and your collective team better.

Cones - The Best Basketball Court Accessories

Every now and then new fads in basketball court accessories and basketball coaching accessories come on the scene. These can be effective and are definitely expensive, but more and more they are focused on a single training skill. If you are looking for time-tested coaching tools, small cones are the most versatile basketball accessories available. Use the cones for dribbling drills. Use them to teach your players set offenses. Use them for conditioning training. The number of drills that can be done with just a few of these inexpensive cones cannot be calculated. Every day, coaches are discovering and designing new ways to use these classic basketball accessories.

The Best Basketball Coaching Accessory to Improve Passing

So, your players are having trouble distributing the ball. If you want to find the best <a href="http://www.jumpusa.com/index.htm">basketball coaching accessory</a> to improve your team's passing, you should try a toss-back net. These great basketball accessories give your players an actual target to aim at when practicing their passing. Few kids are focused on assists these days. That doesn't mean that coaches shouldn't do everything they can to instill solid passing skills in their players. Make sure that you provide them with these skills with passing drill after passing drill. Doing so will give your team better motion on offense and more readiness on defense.

Too Many Accessories on Your Team's Basketball Uniforms?

The clothes make the man, right? Should your teams' basketball uniforms make the players? Maybe not, but the reality for many basketball coaches in any league is that they do. Giving your players what they want in a basketball uniform is important, but how far should you go with your basketball accessories in order to keep them happy? Remember, the uniform is more than just shirts and shorts to players today. Do your players all like a similar sneaker? Would they feel more as a team if their feet all matched? If so, the coach simply needs to determine if this feeling of unity would make it worth giving them those sneakers, which are as much of a basketball uniform accessory as anything. If it is worth it, do it. At any level, happy players are more easily coached that unhappy ones.

Video Cameras - Underestimated Basketball Coaching Accessories

When it comes to <a href="http://www.jumpusa.com/index.htm">basketball accessories</a>, most coaches have their dry-erase marker board and their whistle. Coaching a basketball team is a greatly about relating to your players and getting them to understand how you see the game. To that end, perhaps the most underused basketball coaching accessory is a plain old VCR. Visual learning has always been effective and from Sesame Street to the evening news, we all learn visually throughout our lives. Tape your games. Make sure your players can watch themselves from an outside perspective. This can make them learn from mistakes and fine tune their individual and team games. Video cameras and VCRs are perhaps the most under-used basketball coaching accessories out there.

Basketball Court Diagrams as a Coaching Device

Making basketball players understand offensive and defensive schemes is best accomplished using basketball court diagrams. Whether on a markerboard, chalkboard, or in the dirt in a pickup game, diagramming plays is the only way for a coach to put their vision across to their players. Many basketball accessory companies make pads of paper or even electronic files of basketball court diagrams for coaches to use. Depending on your league, your basketball court may have specific dimensions. Once you have the right measurements, get an accurate basketball court diagram so that you can teach your players through visual learning. Draw up set offenses, set defenses, and much more with these great utilities. You can even have them with you in crunch time for that 'special' last second play.

Building a Basketball Court - NBA Size Basketball Court Dimensions

The correct dimensions of an NBA size <a href="http://www.jumpusa.com/index.htm">basketball court</a> are summarized below from the NBA rules, Section 1. First, the basketball court should measure 94 feet from baseline to baseline and 50 feet from sideline to sideline. The halfcourt line should be marked in the middle, 47 feet from either baseline. The 'jump circle' at halfcourt must have a 2 foot radius and be surrounded by a second circle that has a 6 foot radius. From each baseline, measure 18 feet and 10 inches to mark your free throw line and the length of the 'lane', which should measure 16 feet total width. For further information about basketball court dimensions, check out a free copy of the NBA Rules & Guidelines.

Not All Basketball Court Measurements Are The Same

Depending on what level of league or part of the world you <a href="http://www.jumpusa.com/index.htm">play basketball</a> in, the basketball court measurement that you play on may not be the same. For example, Olympic regulations dictate different basketball court measurements and dimensions than NBA regulations. On a smaller scale, youth basketball leagues often have their own specific basketball court measurement rules. All of these changes are simply aimed at maintaining balance throughout an individual's growth in the sport. A team of 10 year olds certainly could not run up and down a 94 foot floor like a team of men in their 20's or 30's. The basketball court measurements are not the only things that can differ. Everything from the size of the basketball to the height of the rim can vary depending on where you play. No matter what your league, however, the goal remains the same; put the ball in the hoop more than the other team.

From Dirt to Parquet - History of Basketball Court Flooring

When basketball was invented by Dr. James Naismith, the only basketball court flooring was the ground at your feet. Along with moving from a peach basket to a round hoop, it was soon apparent that a sooth surfaced floor was needed. Since then, basketball court flooring has been made of tarmac, variations of wood types, and even new rubber composites. Perhaps the most storied basketball court flooring was the parquet that covered the ice in the old Boston Garden. Built in sections, players said that the bolts from the individual flooring pieces made diving for a loose ball a move to make 'at your own risk'. For the most part, indoor basketball courts today are made from durable wood planks. Outdoor courts are laid with either concrete or tarmac.

Protect Your Players with Safe Basketball Court Flooring

With so many different basketball court flooring types, which is the best for your team? If you are concerned about safety, the actual type of basketball court flooring that you use is not as important as keeping the surface free from impediment. Invest in dry mops if you play on wood like most teams. Dry mops can keep your wooden basketball flooring sticky and safe. No matter what your playing surface, keep a slip protective floor mat on your sideline. These mats are impregnated with a sticky resin that will keep your team from sliding around in their new sneakers. Make sure that as often as possible you use your dry mop to clean the floor and your players use their floor mat to clean their shoes.

A Brief History of the Basketball Hoop

Many people don't know why basketball called a 'basket'-ball. Well, the answer is simple, when basketball was invented the hoop was an actual basket. A peach basket to be precise. There was no net or even, originally, a backboard. As time went on, the basic backboard became bigger until it reached a similar proportion to what we see used today. The net was added after the rules were changed to dictate a circular rim, or hoop. The <a href="http://www.jumpusa.com/basketball_hoops.html">basketball hoop</a> has seen many changes since Dr. Naismith created the game, but the game remains the same - put the ball into the 'basket'.

Advances in the Lifetime Basketball Hoop

The latest incarnations of the Lifetime Basketball Hoop line are vastly improved and a great purchase if you are looking for a new basketball hoop. The Lifetime backboards are made from Steel Framed, Break Resistant Acrylic and are as sturdy as they come. The poles are made with a powder-coated rust, weather, and fade-resistant finish. If you go for the easy adjust model, you will want to get the break-away rim for those slam dunk competitions. The Lifetime also comes with a 5 year warranty. Combine all this with the very reasonable price and you have a best buy when it comes to basketball hoops.

Basketball Hoop Accessories to Protect Your Arms & Wrists

With more players skying high these days to throw the ball down, the classic metal basketball rim can do major damage to wrists and forearms. To protect your player's when they are trying to 'be like Mike', get a <a href="http://www.jumpusa.com/basketball_hoops.html">basketball hoop</a> rim softener. These accessories will make the rim on your hoop less dangerous without affecting the shots that come off the rim too greatly. The game is not gonna be played below the rim like it used to any time soon. Do what you can to make sure that the advances in the game don't lead to setbacks in player health. These are for practice only, but they can help teach your players what to avoid during real game situations.

Differences in Portable Basketball Hoops

There are many variations on the <a href="http://www.jumpusa.com/basketball_hoops.html">portable basketball hoop</a>. When choosing your portable basketball hoop, look at all of the different types before you decide. There are hoops with a base you fill with water. These tend to move around easier should you shoot the ball hard. There are also portable hoops with a base that you fill with sand. The sand makes them a little heavier and a little less portable. These hoops, however, are far harder to make sway, move, or shake from hard play. The different portable hoops have different prices, so take all of your needs into account before making your purchase.

Make Your Standard Basketball Hoop Challenge You More

Aside from those games at the local fair, basketball hoops are the same size in diameter. For players who desire to be real sharp-shooters, there are basketball hoop accessories that are made to enhance your skills. The most effective of these tools are 'second-rims' that fit inside of your standard basketball rim. These make the basketball hoop diameter a little smaller, and therefore force you to be more accurate to sink the shot. Practicing your shooting with one of these on your hoop will provide you with more challenging drills. At first, these can be frustrating, but stick it out and you will reap the benefits.

Mini Basketball Hoops - Great Office Accessories

When you sit in an office for most of your day, what are the best ways to relieve a little stress towards the end of the day. For me, the little mini basketball hoop that hangs on my door always hits the spot. A few people in my office have the mini hoops that you can put on your garbage pail. Myself, I prefer the mini basketball hoop that I have to shoot over my head to make a goal. Even my clients can't help but take a shot or two themselves when we are in meetings. If you are looking for a great office accessory, get yourself a mini basketball hoop, you won't regret it.

Wanna Feel Mike? Try an Adjustable Basketball Hoop

Everyone wants to know what it feels like to slam dunk a basketball. For many of us, this is a far off dream. The closest most can get is by using an <a href="http://www.jumpusa.com/basketball_hoops.html">adjustable basketball hoop</a> and lowering it from 10 feet to 9 okay maybe 8. All kidding aside, buying an adjustable basketball hoop is the smart way to go if you have children. From shoes to basketball hoops, kids grow out of everything. Most kids do not begin learning basketball on a full height hoop. By getting an adjustable basketball hoop for your children, you can start them with it lower and be sure you don't have to buy a new one every few years when they grow out of a size.

FOOTWORK

Balance

Balance is one of the most important things to remember in the game of basketball. To have good physical balance you should have a wide base of support by keeping your feet at least shoulder width apart. A good bend at the knees and the waist will also help. Now, try to keep your head just above the midpoint between both feet . In this position you have the most physical balance possible.

How To Pivot

The pivot is a fundamental skill that can get a player relief from pressure defense, and can be a great skill to have to begin an offensive move. To pivot, turn on the ball of your foot. Once you choose your pivot foot, it must maintain contact with the ground until you dribble, shoot or pass. (You can go airborne to shoot or pass) If your pivot foot moves and you do not dribble, shoot or pass, it is a violation called traveling, and the ball is awarded to the other team. A reverse or back pivot is when you turn backwards and when you turn forwards it is called a forward or front pivot.

L-Cut

When executing an "L-Cut" you start at the block on the edge of the free throw lane and walk your defender up the side of the lane. When your teammate is ready to deliver the pass you step into the defender, make contact, and change speeds quickly by pushing off of your inside foot to pop out to the wing.

Positive footwork

Once you have recieved a pass and faced the basket, you have probably established a pivot foot. That foot may no longer move until the ball leaves your hand when you dribble. POSITIVE FOOTWORK is a term that describes your "free" foot. Regardless of the manner in which you square up, your free foot should remain slightly in front of your pivot foot. This allows the offensive player to remain in charge and gives the ability to attack the defender. A player should not allow the free foot to end up in a position BEHIND the pivot foot, as this will give the defender an opportunity to apply pressure and "belly up" to the ballhandler, putting the ballhandler on his back foot and retreating from the basket. Once a foot is free, that is the only foot that the player can fake or step with. "The foot that moves is the foot that goes!"

Quick Pivots

When you are wanting to make quick pivots or fast cuts, and keep your balance at the same time, it is important to keep on the balls of your feet. Since you have to be on the balls of your feet to move anyway, by playing on them, you will make your move more quickly.

V-Cut

A "V-Cut" will help you get away from your defender to catch a pass. To make a V-Cut you should take a couple of steps in one direction, and while your feet are a little closer together,plant your foot, and QUICKLY push off in the other direction with a BIG step to get away from the defense.

BASKETBALL GUARD PLAY

Advance the ball

The great point guards can advance the ball up the court from the defensive three point line to the attacking three point line with 2-3 dribbles while under control, and they always pass ahead when a teammate is open down the court who either has an open shot, or can create a numbers advantage from which the retreating defense cannot recover

Assists

Great point guards seldom turn the ball over due to pressure, and when they deliver a pass to a teammate it is to a point closest to the best position from which their teammate can score. Not occasionally, but virtually every single time.

Communicate

Great point guards quickly and clearly communicate play calls or changes both in the open court and on dead ball situations. They also have the ability to quickly organize a team after an offensive pattern breakdown.

Court Vision

Every time players get the ball they should square up and look down the court before initiating transition. Poor court vision results in forced passes, offensive fouls against an unseen defender, and inability to see open teammates who might more easily advance the ball up the court with more effective results. Only after the player looks ahead should they put the ball on the floor - and then only to advance the ball up the floor, drive to the basket, or improve a passing angle. Then when advancing the ball with a dribble, you must be able to dribble without thinking about dribbling or about the opponent who is guarding you. This will free you to see the court, ready to pass to a teammate who is open.

Defensive Position

Great point guards rarely get caught out of position in defensive transition and the best have the ability to buy time, and space to force the defense into a low percentage shot in the open court even with a superior numbers advantage. They may not stop the break every time, but if they stuff it half the time, they will save you 8 or 10 free points a game.

Keep your teamates involved

Great point guards know how to get their best scorers the ball on a consistent basis, but are always on the lookout for how to create high percentage scoring opportunities for offensive teammates in a lesser role. They are able to keep all of their teammates involved offensively which makes the attacking team more difficult to guard.

Know your scorers

Great point guards know who can score on their team, how and where

Lead in practice

Great point guards get their teams prepared psychologically for practice and for games. They know which players need to be provoked to pick up intensity or concentration and which ones are excitable and need to be calmed.

Open Shot

Great point guards do not shoot every time they are open but can knock down the shot any time they are open.

Outlet pass

On the fast break they constantly find a way to get open on the outlet pass as far up the court as possible.

Pressure the ball

Great point guards keep constant pressure on a passer or dribbler forcing them off of their desired path of attack.

See the floor

Great point guards always have their head up and maintain full court vision at all times. They do not see one opponent or blocks of 2 or 3, they see all 10 players on the court, and understand the relationship of each by positioning.

Situations

Great point guards pay attention to situational advantages such as on the free throw line, during jump balls, or in the flow of the game. For example, when an attacking team has a penetrating guard with no one getting back for defensive balance, they know to attack hard and quick on the counter fast break.

Stop dribble penetration

Great point guards can stop dribble penetration on defense

Talk on defense

Great point guards talk constantly on defense helping their teammates to recognize potentially dangerous points of attack by their opponent. They keep their focus throughout the course of a game, and pay attention to details at nearly all times.

Team philosophy

Great point guards understand completely a coach's (and therefore the team's) playing philosophy from top to bottom and every ounce of energy and effort is put forth to execute that philosophy. I have seen good guards who are great physically who constantly break out of the team philosophy creating confusion over the team's offensive and defensive goals. Great guards understand you cannot win if all the oarsmen are not rowing in the same direction.

Tempo

Great point guards know their own team's optimal tempo for both offense, defense, and in transition. They know when to speed the tempo up or slow it down.

Why Dribble?

In the Open Floor

In the open floor, the two-guard must be able to run the lanes effectively, and be able to after receiving the ball in a fastbreak situation take the ball to the basket and score.

Make something from nothing

It is also imperative that the shooting guard be able to be a spot-up shooterto be able to catch and shootas well as be able to create his own shot off the dribble. The shooting guard is often called upon to get the team a quality shot when their offense has broken down. In other words, when a play has not worked, or the opposing team's defense has thrown a team out of sync, the shooting guard must step up and be able to create something out of nothing.

Many Tasks

Though they do not have the same responsibilities heaped upon them that point guards do, a talented two-guard is an integral part of a successful team, given that he is called upon to perform so many varying tasks on the floor.

Shoot the 3

The shooting guard has to be able to play excellent defense and create shots for himself in the halfcourt offense. He needs to be a weapon from long range as well. This is true because the better a shooting guard can shoot from behind the three point line, the more it forces defenses to step farther out on the court to guard him. This in turn allows the lane to be open to both penetration, and for the post players.

What is a Shooting Guard

A "shooting guard" is generally just what you think it means: Someone whose primary job is to shoot the ball, either as a spot up shooter, catching and releasing, or coming off screens; someone who can spot up from either in close or three-point range, and someone who defends the other team's off-guard.

BASKETBALL OFFENSE

Avoiding the blocked shot

Generally it is "help" defenders who block the shot rather than the player guarding the shooter, so be aware of them. Do what you can to throw off a shotblockers, such as releasing the ball a little sooner or waiting and making a shot fake first. On power layups, your shoulders should be parrallel to the backboard instead of facing the basket. This helps protect the ball a little better. A term to remember is BODY-BODY-BALL. You always want to have the defenders BODY, then your BODY, then the BALL. This way your body is protecting the shot. Of course another good idea is to work on your "mid-range" game by coming to a jump stop and shooting a little jump shot BEFORE you get to the shot blocker.

Jab Step and Drive

Take a step like you are going in one direction, and drive to the basket in the other direction. When you start your drive, have a quick first step and go shoulder to shoulder past your defender straight to the basket. If you take your first step to the side, your defender will catch up to you and play defense again.

Jab Step and Shot

Step with either foot like you are going to drive to the basket. You must sell it make the defender really believe that you are going to go to the basket. Then you balance back up and take the jumpshot.

L Cut

Layups

When you go for a layup, don't spin the ball off your fingers. This happens when you turn your wrist during the release of your shot.By spinning it, you have a better chance of the ball rimming-out! Keep your wrist stiff as you release the ball.

Learning Layups

When just learning to shoot layups, players should begin shooting layups from just one step away from the basket. If they are shooting from the right side of the basket, they should step with their right foot, left foot, look at the box, and shoot. Right-Left-Up! As they master this, they can begin stepping back and adding the dribble to their shot.

Shot Fakes

You can work on your fakes without any defense. The important thing is to make your shot fake look like a real shot. You must sell the fake. If it doesn't, the defender won't go for it, and will still defend you well. I tell my players "fake little, step big"(to beat your opponent, your first step should be quick and long)To fake a shot, you need to make everything look like a shot... show the ball... bring it up near your forehead... then watch the defender... if the defense goes for the fake, you will see them come towards you... then take the ball to the hoop! Practice your moves with your shot fakes everyday, until they are second nature to you.

Triple Threat Position

After receiving the ball on the perimeter, you should assume a triple-threat position. Pivot toward the basket and be in a position to pass, shoot, or drive. This makes you more difficult to defend as the defender does not know what you will do.

Use your eyes to catch

The eyes are just as important as the hands when it comes to catching the ball. When receiving a pass, it is important to watch the ball all the way into the hands. Many times a player with "bad hands" simply isn't watching the ball.

V-cut

Getting open is the first part of running any offensive play. A "V-Cut" will help you get away from your defender to catch a pass. To make a V-Cut you should take a couple of steps in one direction, and while your feet are a little closer together,plant your foot, and QUICKLY push off in the other direction with a BIG step to get away from the defense. This will free you to catch a pass.

Fake and Drive

Fake a shot, and then drive to the basket. The key to this move is to stay low when you use the shot fake, so that you take off fast on your drive to the basket(like a track sprinter). I tell my players to "fake little, move big".

Give & Go

The give and go is one of the most fundamental plays in basketball. What you do is pass to a teammate(this is the give part) and then cut to the basket(this is the go part). The player you passed to passes the ball back to you, and hopefully, you score. This is a great 2 man play.

Imagination

When practicing, it is very important that you use your imagination. You will find yourself in situations in games when you are faced with something that you have not prepared for. Do shooting drills in which you adjust your shot as if you have been met by a defender. In this way, when faced with a situation in a game, you will be able to make the adjustment comfortably.

Keep your dribble alive

The most common mistake of inexperienced basketball players is "giving up their dribble". The defense will collapse on you, trap you, and feed on this mistake. Coaches can't emphasize this enough. Emphasize catching the ball, holding the ball until you have a purpose prior to putting the ball to the floor.

Lay up

Footwork needs to be "automated" for high percentage success in lay-ups, which means many, many hours of practice. Jump off the left foot for a right - handed lay-up, and vice versa. Aim for the box and extend as far as possible to get a high percentage shot. This is the most made, most missed, and most important shot in basketball. This shot must be mastered to play any form of basketball from rec to pro.

Look Under the Basket

When you are handling the ball in your half court offense, it is a good rule of thumb to focus under the basket. With the development of your peripheral vision, this will allow you to see the entire floor and spot anyone on your team as they come open.

Offensive position with the ball.

When you first catch the ball, you should automatically be in what is called the triple threat. Stay low in a position to shoot, pass or dribble easily without a position change. This is one of the most important things a player can do to impress a coach. Knees should be bent, hands in the position to shoot easily, but make sure you have a tight handle on the ball so a defender doesn't knock it away. Feet should be squared to the basket, with the power foot a little bit in front of the other.(The power foot is the foot that is matched with the dominant hand, like right handed shooters=right foot, opposite for left)

Penetrate and dish

The secret to success in penetrate and dish is keep your head up when you dribble, beat your man, and as that other defender is coming toward you, pass off. You will create havoc in a team`s defensive scheme. Another tip is when you dish it off, pass while you are on the ground, not in the air. If you go airborne, it should be to score. If you go up in the air to pass, as you are in the air, a defensive player could jump into that passing lane... and then you are stuck. Many turnovers are made this way.

Penetrate Middle

On the offensive side, point guards and others should penetrate middle. I want them to get to the lane. If you can get into the lane, especially with a jump stop and are strong and solid with the ball, you are pretty much unstoppable. You could shoot, use ball fakes and shoot or pass to the low post, or kick out for a '3'

Pick and Roll

The pick and roll play is one of the most fundamental play in basketball. First, you must know how to set a good screen(see setting a screen). What you do is go up to the person who is the defense guarding the player with the ball. With a wide stance, you go up to that defender and stand to the side of the defender(set a pick) in which direction your teammate wants to drive to go. Make sure you screen at a 45 degree angle so that the defender cannot just slide behind you(the screener) and catch up to continue playing defense again on your teammate. As your teammate dribbles by you and his defender has been blocked by you, you make a back or reverse pivot and cut to the basket.(This is called a roll) This is called the pick and roll.

Shot Fake

One of the most common moves is a shot fake. When another player on your team passes the ball to you and you are in triple threat and you can't move because you have defense guarding you, you can jab (which will back the player up) or shot fake (which will make them stand up and you can go right pass them).

Create Spacing

Move to create proper spacing , using the three point line and marks on the floor as a spacing guide. Try to maintain 12`-18` spacing and don`t get bunched up. The floor should be balanced (don`t have four guys on one side of the floor and only one on the other - unless it is an isolation play designed to take advantage of something in particular).

Cut backdoor

Get open when the man with the ball is in a position to pass the ball by faking one way and using a V-cut or an L-cut to elude the defense.If that player without the ball is being overplayed he should cut backdoor (behind the man and to the basket)

Getting open using V-cuts

The best way to get open to receive a pass is through the use of V-cuts. A v-cut is a cut by which you take your defender further in the direction in which he plays you, then plant and go the opposite way. If the defender is laying off, go toward him, then pop back. If the defender is overplaying you, take him higher, then cut toward the basket.

Going to set a downscreen

When setting a down screen for a player, the screener should "Head Hunt" and find the defender guarding the player that is being screened for. The screener should go directly to the defensive man to set the screen. The screener should then come to a stop with a wide base and knees flexed, immediately before contact with the defense, to avoid a moving screen.

Keep moving

We often say that the biggest mistake you can make, is to stand. Always move with a purpose. When the player does not have the ball he should move to the ball, fake, move away from the ball, set a screen, get rebounding position, or improve spacing, but never just stand. Think about the players that you don`t like to guard. They probably are the ones that are constantly moving, requiring you to stay alert or else he will sneak free for an easy shot. BE THAT PERSON, AND KEEP MOVING!

L-Cut

Meet the ball

When a teammate passes you the ball, come and meet it - don`t wait for it to get to you. Passes are usually stolen the last third of the pass--it is the receiver's responsibility to step to and meet the pass aggressively.

Move without the Ball

The most dangerous player on the court is that player without the ball who will move. Defenses have a tendency to focus on the ball, so if you will move without the ball when on offense, you will often find yourself getting open for easy shots.

Proper Screening Angles

When setting a screen, the screener should have their shoulder blades pointing to the "shot-spot" (destination of the users cut where they want to get the shot). The user of the screen is usually open wherever the screeners back is facing.

Screen to Get Open

A screen may be a method of helping a teammate get open, but a good screen forces the screener's defender to "help" and becomes one of the best ways to free yourself for a shot.

Setting a Pick and Roll

Setting a screen(called a pick) for a teammate with the ball is a play that Stockton and Malone of the Utah Jazz made a living in pro basketball(pick and roll) perfecting. When you set a pick or screen for someone who has the ball, run to the defender's side and stand at a 45 degree angle slightly behind him. Your stance must be wide, pull your arms into the chest and brace for contact, since the defender will most likely bump into you. When this happens, you have set a good screen. If the player with the ball must wait until you have set your screen before he drives in that direction. If he leaves before the screen is set(stopped), it will be a foul on the screener if there is contact.

After the shot

After a shot is taken, either move to the board and go after the ball OR get back on defense.

BEAT THE ZONE UP THE FLOOR

The best way to combat a zone defense may be to BEAT THE ZONE UP THE FLOOR. All five basketball players should defensive rebound & run your fast break BEFORE the zone can set up.

Entering Motion Offense

If ball is at the top of the key, screen down or back screen for a teammate on either side of the floor

FREEZE THE ZONE

FREEZE THE ZONE defense by taking 1 or 2 dribbles AT a defender then pass inside or kick it to the perimeter for a jump shot. After the zone has shifted, use pass fakes & shot fakes. Remember the 3 D's-Drive, Draw, Dish.

Learning a new offense

As you are going through any new offense or play, players should "ball fake" at each cutter so they are used to looking at all options in sequential order.

MAKE THE ZONE RUN

MAKE THE ZONE RUN via the PASS, move the basketball quickly, don't hold it any longer than a ball fake, seal, skip, and swing.

Motion Offense- cut backdoor

If you are overplayed and cannot catch the basketball, change directions and make a quick cut to the basket(called a backdoor cut) or go screen for someone and try to help them get open.

Motion Offense-don't stand still!

If you don't have the ball, a good rule to remember is, "don't stand". Cut to the basket or go screen for someone. If you are under the basket(in "the post") post up for a 2 count - then turn and go screen for someone else.

Motion Offense-dribbling

Motion offense is also called "passing game". Dribbling should be kept to a minimum. Use the dribble to only to improve the passing angle, drive to basket or to get out of trouble.

Motion offense-help you teammates get open

If a player has the basketball at the top of the key, the other players could set a down screen or back screen on each side of the floor. This could help get their teammates open for a pass.

Motion Offense-keep the ball moving

Every time you catch the basketball, if you don't have a shot or a drive, hold it for a 2 count and look to pass quickly to the other players who are cutting to the basket or using screens.

Motion Offense-screen away

If basketball is passed to the wing, screen away for a player who is closer to the baseline than you are. This will get him open on the perimeter and may leave you open inside.

Motion Offense-spacing

When running a motion offense, the players should make sure that they have proper spacing. Players should not be any closer to each other than 12 to 15 feet.This makes sure that one defender cannot guard two players. It also makes the defense move with every pass that you throw. You can use the three point arc(which is about 20 feet from the basket) to help you with proper spacing

Motion Offense-What if they "switch" screening

If the defense switches defenders during a screen, the screener could step back toward the ball to get open for a pass. If you know they are going to switch, you may try to "slip the screen" and at the last second cut to the basket instead

PATIENCE AGAINST THE ZONE

Show some PATIENCE against the zone defense. Move the basketball, move players, look for cutters, check all options-in order. Take the high percentage shots that you want to take WHEN you want to take them.

Penetrate the Zone

The purpose of many zone defenses(particularly a 2-3 or 3-2) is to PREVENT penetration, so it makes it difficult for anybody to drive(especially from the top). You can use your penetrating skills by driving into a GAP in the zone(between two defenders. Rather than forcing the drive all the way and into the teeth of the defense, look to draw TWO defenders to you and pass to a teammate. The player open usually will be where the defense came from. These penetration opportunities occur most often after quick ball movement.

Protect the screener

The screener should protect the lower body with flexed knees and waist and protect the upper body with slightly extended arms to absorb the shock . Be careful not to move or push off with your arms to avoid being called for a foul.

Relative Motion

Along with all of the individual fundamentals, players need to understand the concept of "relative motion". That can best be described as realizing how one player fits into the space on the floor, given the "relative" positioning of the other players, both offense and defense. A player with this understanding will know how to move to get open, create proper spacing, passing angles, play good on ball defense, and give good team defensive help.

SCREENTHE ZONE

Inside players should look to SCREEN THE ZONE. After the zone defense has shifted, the posts can screen IF the defense is between the offensive player and the basket. This will free the perimeter player on that side for a shot. If the defender BREAKS THROUGH the screen, the post player should rescreen the next man in the zone, and pivot while looking for the ball.

SEAL THE ZONE

Inside players should look to SEAL THE ZONE. After the zone defense has shifted the posts can seal or screen high or low IF the defense is INSIDE the offense. Reseal the next man in the zone after the defender BREAKS the seal.

Timing of the screen

To ensure proper timing, the user of the screen should plant a foot at the exact time that the screener hop stops to set the screen. The user should then come off the screen tight enough to touch the screener. Rub shoulders , "swim" off the screen, or "sandwich" the screener and the defender, and then sprint directly to the shot-spot.

Using Screens

When using a screen, first set your defender up by walking the defender away from the shot-spot. Then, you want to make the defense easy to screen by bringing the defense to a stop. Try to make them turn their head by faking a move in the opposite direction, just as your teammate is setting the screen.

Zone Offense-distort the zone

Move the basketball and move players to DISTORT THE ZONE defense. Dribble drag a defender, drive a gap, adjust spacing, improve passing angles, screen the defense, skip pass, swing the ball to the other side, cut to the basket, flash into the post, or overload to shift the zone.

Zone offense-Gap alignment

To start your zone offense it is a good idea to get in a "GAP ALIGNMENT".Against an even front zone(2-1-2, or 2-3)get in an odd front set(1-3-1,1-2-2 or 1-4). Against an odd front zone, get in an even front set. This is to make 2 defenders think about which one should guard you. If a defender is in a direct line between you and the basket-MOVE. Basically, put players where the defense isn't.

Zone Offense-gap penetration

Try to get some GAP PENETRATION. Dribble into a gap, dish to the basket or kick out to a shooter. Look to pass to where the defender comes from. Only dribble to improve a passing angle into the post. The second time a player touches the ball on a possession is a good time to look for this type of dribble penetration.

BASKETBALL REBOUNDING

Boxing Out & Rebound

If you are real close to the basket when the shot goes up, you must "box out" and create some space to rebound. To "box out" from your defensive position: go towards your man and make contact. Pivot so you "Put your butt to their gut" and just slide with them, keeping them away from the rebound. When boxing out, keep your man from pushing you in towards the basket, so you can maintain good rebounding position. (If you let them push you under the basket, the rebound will go over your head). Then go get the rebound!

The "Perfect Rebound"

Rebounding Most rebounds (90%) are caught below the rim. Try and think out what a perfect rebound is... The perfect rebound is the one where everyone of your teammates and yourself box out their man so well that the rebound can be easily caught AFTER it has hit the floor. When one thinks about this "perfect rebound" concept the team blockouts get better and better.

Attitude and Desire

Statistically, over ninety percent of all rebounds are taken below the rim. Therefore, rebounding is a product not of great athletic ability, but attitude and desire. Make up your mind that you want to rebound, go after each and every one, and master box out techniques, and you can provide your team with a valuable asset--a dependable rebounder.

Every missed shot is a pass to you!

Perhaps the most important key to being a good rebounder, offensive or defensive, is to assume that every shot will be missed. If you do this, you will always be willing to get in position, ready to be a rebounder.

Hands Up

Always keep your hands up at least shoulder high when getting ready to rebound. This will allow you to be ready for the rebound that comes off the rim quickly and low. Remember this: shot goes up-hands go up!

Want the Ball

Rebounding is a great skill to have as a basketball player. Those players that really WANT the ball and box out become the best rebounders. They take pride in rebounding. Lean back on your man and keep him out of rebounding position. A smaller player can be a good rebounder make yourself become good at boxing out.

Watch your position

The key to rebounding is positioning and concentration on the ball. Anticipate the flight of the ball. Remember that most shots rebound to the opposite side of the basket. Next, you need to concentrate on the ball, until it is safely in your hands or rebounded by someone else.

Offensive Rebounding

In order to get an offensive rebound, you must get the inside position on your defender, who is trying to box you out. You must outquick him, or make some kind of move to get that inside position. You can try a jab step and change directions or you can develop a spin move to get to that position.

The Outlet Pass

After you get the rebound, you need to make a good outlet pass. A good rebounder who can outlet the ball to the guard can start a fast break on the way to a score. This is a valuable asset to a team. Get the rebound, pivot away from the defense, and outlet to your guard for the fast break. It is a skill that is not much noticed by anyone but the coach knows how valuable you are.

BASKETBALL RULES

3 pont arc

The 3 point arc in the NBA is 22ft to the center of the rim on the sides ( the arc starts 5 ft 3 in from the baseline, being a straight line until that point) then the curved part of the arc is 23ft. 9 in. from the center of the rim. The 3 point arc in college and high school is 19 ft 9 in. (The straight part extends 63 in out from the baseline before the arc begins).

Backboard

The backboard is 72 inches wide by 42 inches high and has an 18 inch diameter rim. The inner square is marked above the rim in a rectangle of 24 inches wide and 18 inches high.

Free throw

The free throw line is always 15 ft from the line to the backboard

Height

The distance from the ground to the rim is 10 ft.

Key

The key is 12 feet wide (the width of the free throw line) the backboard should extend 4 feet out over the baseline. The 12 ft wide free throw line forms the center of a circle with a 6 ft radius.

Length and width

An NBA and official NCAA (college) court is 94 ft long and 50 ft wide. A High School court is 84 ft long and 50 ft wide. A Junior High court is 74 ft long and 42 ft wide. Half court is well.. half the distance of the full court.. (I know, I didn't need to add that)

Blocking/ Charging Foul

Blocking is personal contact which impedes the progress of an opponent. Charging is personal contact, with or without the ball, by pushing or moving into an opponent's torso. When judging a block/charge, the official shall use the following principles: 1)the defender must establish an initial legal guarding position, 2)the defender may remain stationary or move laterally or backwards in order to maintain the guarding position, 3)In moving to maintain the guarding position, one or both feet may be off the floor for an instant, as long as the lateral or backwards movement is considered normal defensive movement,4)the defensive player must be on the spot first, and contact must occur on the torso.

Don't Foul Out!

In the pros, you are disqualified from playing in the game on your 6th foul. But for everyone else, you will be disqualified on your 5th foul. Your goal on defense should be to make "stops", not fouls. Stop the other team from scoring without fouling.

Fouls & Free Throws

If you are fouled while you are shooting, you will be awarded 2 free throws if it was a 2 point attempt and 3 free throws if it was a 3 point attempt for a basket. Free throws are not awarded on a charging foul. For all other fouls, if it is the 7th-9th team foul in the half, you will shoot 1+1(if you make the first free throw, you get another shot; if you miss the first free throw, the ball is in play). On the 10th foul and thereafter for every foul, you will shoot 2 free throws.

Fouls/Player in the Air

A player who has jumped from a spot has a right to land in that same spot. If he does not jump straight up and makes contact with his opponent who has taken a legal guarding position, it is the jumper's foul. Moving under a player who is in the air and causing contact is usually an unsportsmanlike foul(dangerous play), and can be a disqualifying foul.

Handchecking

Handchecking is the action by a defensive player in a guarding situation where the hand or hands are used to contact an opponent to either impede his progress or to assist the defensive player in guarding his opponent. It is a foul!

Holding Foul-definition

Holding is personal contact foul with an opponent that interferes with his freedom of movement. This holding can occur with any part of the body.

Illegal Screening

A foul will be called for illegal screening when there is an attempt to illegally delay or prevent an opponent who does not control the ball from reaching a desired position on the playing court. Remember, the foul will be called on the player causing the contact.

Illegal Use of Hands

Illegal use of the hands occurs when a player contacts an opponent with his hand(s) in an attempt to play the ball. If the contact is with the opponent's hand while it is on the ball, it shall be considered incidental contact.

Legal Guarding Position

To be in a legal guarding position, the defender is facing his opponent, has both feet on the floor in a normal stance for his/her heighth.

Personal Fouls

A foul is an action that involves contact with an opposing player, whether the ball is alive, in play or dead. A player shall not block, hold, charge, trip, impede the progress of an opponent by extending his arm, shoulder, hip, knee, or foot.

Principle of Verticality

The principal of verticality means that a player is entitled to his/her space that is occupied, plus all vertical space above that player. Therefore if a defender has his/her arms in that vertical space above the offensive player, and the offensive player with the ball jumps up and there is contact with the defender's arms, it is a foul by the offensive player.

Pushing Foul

A pushing foul occurs when there is personal contact (with any part of the body) that takes place when a player forcibly moves or attempts to move an opponent who has or does not have control of the ball.

Basket at the Buzzer

At the end of any playing period or at the end of the game, if the shot was released before the time expired and the buzzer sounded, the basket will count(if made).

Dribbling Rule

A dribble starts when a player throws, taps, or rolls it on the floor and touches it again before it touches another player. The dribble is completed when the player touches the ball simultaneously with both hands or the ball comes to rest in one or both hands. Accidentally losing and then regaining control(fumble),tapping the ball in order to gain control,tapping the ball from the control of another player, blocking the pass and then recovering the ball are NOT considered to be dribbles.

Forfeit

A team loses a game by forfeit if 1) they refuse to play after being told to do so by the referee, 2) by its actions, it prevents the game from being played, or 3) the team is not able to field 5 players to start the game.

Injury Time-Out

In case of an injury to a player, the official may stop play. If the ball is in play when the injury occurs, the officials shall wait to stop the game until the team with the injury gets possession of the ball. Exception: when necessary to protect an injured player, the officials may stop play immediately.

Jump Ball

In high school and college basketball, there is a jump ball at the beginning of the game and at the beginning of each period of overtime played. After the jump ball, teams take turns getting possession of the ball(called alternate possession) when the ball is tied up.

Main purpose of the game

Basketball is played by two teams of five players on each team. The purpose of each team is to score into the opponents basket and to prevent the other team from scoring.

Out-of-Bounds

A player is out of bounds when any part of his body is in contact with the floor or any object on, above or outside of the boundary lines. The ball is out of bounds when it touches a player who is out of bounds, or the supports or the back of the backboards or it touches the floor or any object on, above or outside a boundary line.

Pivot Foot

You must establish a pivot foot if you have the basketball and are not dribbling. If you catch the ball with both feet on the ground, you may use either foot as the pivot foot(in which one foot remains in contact with the same point on the ground). If you catch the ball while moving or after dribbling,if you land on 2 feet simultaneously, either foot may be used as the pivot foot. If one foot is touching the floor, when the second foot touches the floor, the first foot becomes the pivot foot. A player may make one step and then jump simultaneously on two feet, in which case neither foot may act as a pivot foot.

Substitutions

When substituting, the substitute shall report into the official scorer at the scorer's table, and then wait until an official beckons you in during a dead ball. If you just run onto the court(illegal substitution), it is a technical foul on your team.

Time-Outs

Each team is awarded 2 thirty second timeouts and 3 full(1 minute) timeouts. Any player on the court or the coach may call a timeout.

Violations

A violation in an infraction of the rules. The penalty is loss of the ball by the team that committed the violation. The ball is awarded to the opponents for a throw-in from out-of-bounds at the closest point where the violation occurred.

What is a Foul?

Basketball, in theory, is a non-contact game. However, it is obvious that when you have 10 players moving with great speed inside a limited space, contact cannot be avoided. If contact occurs in a "bona fide" (normal basketball play)attempt to play the ball and does not place the opponent at a disadvantage, the contact may be considered incidental and no foul will be called. Contact from behind is not a normal basketball play, and the player who is behind is usually responsible for the contact because of his position in relation to his opponent and the ball. The player responsible for the contact receives the foul.

10 Second Rule

In boy's basketball, they have a rule called the 10 second rule, in which when a player gains control of a live ball, the offensive team has 10 seconds to cross over half court. If a team fails to do this, it is a violation and the ball is awarded to the opposing team.

3 Seconds in the Key

The rule states While his team is in control of the ball, a player shall NOT remain for more than three (3) consecutive seconds in the opponents' restricted area. The lines bounding the restricted area are part of the restricted area and a player touching one of these lines is in the area. The 3second restriction is in force in all outofbounds situations. The count shall start at the moment the player making the throwin is outofbounds and the ball is at his disposal (is in play). The 3second restriction does NOT apply: a. While the ball is in the air during a shot for goal. b. During a rebound. c. When the ball is dead. Allowance must be made for a player who, having been in the restricted area for less than 3 seconds, gets the ball inside the key. The player now has 3 more seconds to shoot or pass and get out of the key.

30 Second Rule

When a team gains possession of the ball, a shot must hit the rim within 30 seconds(girls and womens basketball). If a shot does not hit the rim within the allotted time, it is a violation, and the ball is awarded to the opposing team.

35 Second Rule

When a team gains possession of the ball, a shot must hit the rim within 35 seconds for boys and mens basketball. If a shot does not hit the rim within the allotted time, it is a violation, and the ball is awarded to the opposing team.

5 second violation

There are 2 differnt 5 second violation calls. One is when a team cannot pass the ball in bounds within 5 seconds. This results in a change of possesion. The other 5 second call is when a player is pressured by a defender and does not go anywhere. Example, if a player stops dribbling and looks to pass but can't because a defender is pressuring him/her, it is a 5 second violation also resulting in a turnover. Also if a player is dribbling in 1 spot and a defender is guarding him/her tight, it can be a 5 second violation.

Backcourt Rule

A player whose team is in control of the ball which is in the frontcourt(past halfcourt line) may not cause the ball to go in his backcourt. He or a member of his team must have touched it last before going in the backcourt. It is a violation and the ball is awarded to the opposing team. Important: a player is considered in the backcourt until he has both feet on the ground in the frontcourt. So, if a teammate is already in the frontcourt(both feet and the ball) and passes to a teammate who is not yet legally in the frontcourt, then that is a backcourt violation.

Double Dribble

After dribbling and after the dribble has ended, a player may not begin dribbling again or at any time dribble more than once with two hands. This is called a double dribble and is a violation, with the penalty being loss of the ball to the opposing team.

Travelling

Travelling is progressing with the ball while moving one or both feet in one direction while holding the ball.

BASKETBALL SHOOTING

7-Up

A great way to practice your shooting is to play a game against yourself called 7-Up. Start by taking a shot that you have to make seven consecutive times before moving on. For instance, when starting out, you might want to shoot layups. If at any time you miss, start over until you have hit seven consecutive. After hitting seven consecutive shots, move on to a slightly more difficult shot that you have to hit six consecutive times. Continue shooting until you are shooting a shot that you have to make just one time. Remember, each shot should be slightly more challenging than the last. You can get quite a good workout this way.

Shooting Pocket

To solve the problem of arm position on your shot, learn where your shooting pocket is. Let your shooting arm hang down at your side and swing it back and forth and several times. Swing it up toward your shoulder and hold it when it stops. This position is your shooting pocket and is the position that the ball should be in when you begin your jump shot.

Shooting Progression

Because form is so important in shooting, work on making that form a habit is very important. An easy way to do this is to lay on your back and shoot the ball straight up into the air. It is very easy to check on the position of the ball, follow through, and rotation. The ball should go straight up and come straight down with proper back spin. This can be done before going to sleep at night or while watching TV during commercials.

Develop a Routine

One of the most important aspects of becoming a good free throw shooter is to develop a routine. Your routine should be something that you are comfortable with and that you can do every time you go to the free throw line. Your routine can consist of bouncing the ball the same number of times, wiping your hands, taking a breath, etc. The idea behind this comes from the fact that free throw shooting is "muscle memory." You are teaching your muscles to react the same way every time. Your routine helps this "memory."

Free Throw Shooting

Follow these tips to learn the freethrow: 1. If you are right-handed, line up your right foot (left foot if you are left handed) so it's lined up with the front center of the rim 2. Set up your opposite foot, comfortably at about a 45 degree angle for balance. 3. Get a good feel for the ball by bouncing it a couple of times or spinning it in your hands. This will become your routine. 4. Grip the ball so it is comfortable in your shooting hand. 5. Bend your knees, focus on the rim and exhale. Make sure to take a deep breath to relax. 6. In a fluid motion, shoot from wherever you feel comfortable shooting from with your shooting hand only. 7. Grip the ball with just your fingertips. Your palms should not touch the ball. 8. Make sure you have a constant relaxed follow thru so you get proper rotation. Once you have established a routine, use it every time.

Line Up for Your Free Throw

When you have mastered the proper technique for free throw shooting, you simply need to make sure that your body is lined up properly in order to ensure accuracy on your shot. The big toe on your strong foot (the foot on the same side of your body as your shooting hand), your shooting elbow, and your shooting forefinger should all align with the center of the rim when you are shooting properly.

Position at the Foul Line

The best way to line yourself up for a free throw is to find the nail hole that is on most free throw lines. This is a hole that the painters left by pounding a hole in the center of the free throw line in order to line everything else up. When positioned properly for a free throw, the big toe of your strong foot (the foot on the side of the arm you shoot with) should be lined up with the nail hole.

Shoot When Tired

When you get tired while doing drills, stop and shoot some free throws. In addition to getting practice shooting free throws, you will be simulating game-like conditions in that you will have to shoot free throws when tired.

B.E.E.F.

Remembering the BEEF is good way to learn to become a better foul shooter.BEEF stands for... B-balance-get on the foul line and get your balance. E-eyes-see the rim. E-elbow-try to get your elbow under the basketball F-follow thru-an essential part of all shooting. Make sure you follow thru with a constant, relaxed release.

Balance in Shooting

Your body must be balanced and relaxed when shooting the basketball. Here are some guidelines to good balance. First, your feet should be about shoulder width apart in order to give you a strong base. Secondly, your strong foot (the foot on the same side of your body as your shooting hand) should be about a half step ahead of the other. Finally, your head should be centered. This will keep you balanced throughout the shot and allow you to shoot without having to make adjustments. All people are built differently, so if any of these are a little off, yet you are still comfortable - that is what is important.

Form Shooting

A great way for young players to work on their form is to shoot the ball back and forth to each other. Each youngster should try to shoot to their partner's head. They can then "shoot" the ball back and forth, trying to hit the target. They can check each other for proper shooting techniques, but there isn't the pressure of having to put the ball in the basket.

Give your shot some arc

Get the ball up in he air with a nice high arc. The arc will give you a bigger margin of error and a softer shot. A soft shot will sometimes get a good bounce a roll in because of your "shooter's touch"

Good Shooters

A shooter is as good as the shots he takes. Take shots that you practice and you make alot of. If you take those shots, chances are you will be a good shooter. If you take bad shots, you are probably not going to make many in a game.

Groove Your Shot

When you begin shooting at the start of any session, you should begin close to the basket, and work your way out. Start one step from the basket and shoot with one hand. You can check the position of the ball in your hands, the position of your elbow under the ball, whether you are keeping your eyes on your target, and your follow-through. We have our players shoot from this spot until they hit five consecutive shots hitting nothing but net. Then they take one big step backward and repeat, now using their guide hand and legs. They continue to do this all the way back to the free throw line, hitting five straight "nothing but net" shots each time. After they hit five free throws this way, they are free to begin free shooting. The advantage to this technique is that players get a chance to hit quite a few shots, building confidence, but also developing proper shooting technique.

Hand Position on the Ball

One of the problems with young players being told to shoot with their fingertips is that they hold the ball on their fingertips. In order to control the ball, it has to rest on all of the pads on the shooting hand except the large pad under the little finger. Then, when shooting, the ball should come off the fingertips as it leaves the shooter's hand.

Hold your follow through

In order to get proper rotation on a shot, the shooter's follow-through must be correct. The best way to do this is to make sure that after the ball is released, the shooter's arm is fully extended at an approximately 45 degree angle(so the elbow is above the eye)and the hand flops over at the wrist like you are "waving goodbye" to the ball

See the Rim

When shooting any shot, your eyes must be on your target through the entire shooting process. For a jump shot, you want to focus on an exact spot on the rim. Some players see the front of the rim, some look at the back. Find what is good for you and look at that spot every time that you shoot.

Shot awareness

Exercises in shot awareness will lead to great learning! Spend a certain amount of time on a court consistently doing exercises in shot awareness. Try to be aware of what you are doing that makes your shot miss. The body learns through choices between subtle alternatives. But it has to know exactly what happened and what created the results, in order to create a different end result and learn. If you shoot short one time and then long the next and have no idea how you did either, there will be no real learning.

Shot Fakes

Before shooting while being guarded by a person that is taller than you, pump faking is a very good thing to do. A pump fake is also called a shot fake. Your opponent may jump up which leaves you free for a open shot or lay-up.

Learn the jumpshot

Make sure you have the proper, comfortable stance and balance. See the rim. Extend your wrist backwards. The basketball should rest on your fingerpads. Try to keep your elbow in and under the ball Use your legs... the longer the shot, the more you use your legs. Raise the ball smoothly and in one, fluid motion. Finish high with your arm to get good "arc" on the shot. Flop your wrist with a constant, relaxed follow through to get that backspin for a "shooter's touch".

Leg Lift

One of the keys to being a good jump shooter is leg lift. Once you have mastered technique, leg lift can often be the key to your shot. Try an experiment. Shoot a normal jump shot from a distance you are comfortable. Pay attention to how much you use your arms. Now shoot the same shot with the same amount of effort from your arms, but keep your legs locked. Chances are, you won't get the ball to the rim. Leg lift gives you the strength to shoot well. Catch the UpForce!

Shooting Range

One of the determining factors in whether a shot is a good one or not is if it is taken within your shooting range. A good way to determine your shooting range is to take ten jump shots from the foul line. After completing this, run two or three hard wind sprints. Then move your jump shooting back a foot or two. If you are still comfortable shooting, repeat the procedure. Continue shooting and running until you feel yourself struggling to shoot the ball. At this point, you are outside your range. This is a good way to determine your range because during a game, you have to shoot while tired. This drill allows you to shoot under game conditions and gives you a better idea of your true range.

Smooth shot

Your legs are as important as your arms in shooting a jump shot because they generate the strength you need to shoot the ball. The shot starts all the way in your toes and you must "uncoil" with a nice smooth rhythm from your toes, ankles, knees, waist, shoulder, elbow, wrist and fingers. Whether you are a good jumper or not, you must get your legs into your shot in order to shoot a consistent jump shot.

The release

When using a jump shot, make sure that when you go up to release the ball, you release as you reach the top of your jump. This allows you to use all of your leg lift in your shot. To accomplish this, begin your shooting motion on your way up. A common mistake is to release to late and, ultimately, shoot on the way down. This causes the shooter to lose a tremendous amount of force. With practice, you will get your timing down.

Layup follow thru

When first learning to shoot, the FOLLOW THRU should be the same as a regular shot. Your palm is facing the basket, with the ball coming off of the 1st two fingers. Flop over the wrist to get backspin on the ball for a nice soft shot. Later, when a player can jump higher, the palm can face skyward and lay the ball up softly off of the backboard with very little spin. Try not to spin the ball and be too "fancy". This should be a sure TWO POINTS-make sure that you make it.

Preparation

In PREPARATION for a right handed layup get a good angle to the backboard. You can do this by making sure that you pass between the "block" and the first free throw lane hash mark. I call this the "driveway". Your steps should be: right foot - left foot & up. For a left handed layup your steps are: left foot right foot & up. You can practice these while simply walking without a ball. Then try with a ball and no dribble. Work up to shooting them off of one dribble then finally, a full dribble from 1/2 court.

Shooting a Layup

During the ACTION phase for a right handed layup you want your right knee up, and for a left handed layup you want your left knee up. You should explode upward trying to put your knee through the bottom of the basket. It is important to protect the ball with 2 hands on the same side as your shooting hand. Your elbow should be under the ball with wrist cocked and your eyes focused on a spot in the square on the backboard.

BASKETBALL TERMS

"The Smile"

A 10'-14' imaginary crescent on the floor, outside the red zone. You can play behind a post player in the Smile.

Baseline

The baseline is the out of bounds line under the basket.

Block

The block is the painted box at the bottom of the free throw lane.

Elbow:

The "elbow" is the corner of the key at the free throw line(also " pinch", "short 17").

Point

The "point" is at the top of the key in a 1 guard front.

Split Line

The "split line" is an imaginary lane running from basket to basket, splitting the court in half.

Strongside:

The strong side of the court is the one on the side of the ball.

Weakside:

The weakside is the side of the floor away from the ball.(also called helpside)

Wing

The wing is located at the intersection of the three point line and where the free throw line extended would meet it.

Corner:

The corner is where the baseline and sideline meet.

High post

The free throw area at "elbow" is called the high post.

Low post:

The low post is on the block at the edge of the key, even with the front of the rim.

Mid-post:

The area between the low and high post is the mid-post.

Outlet:

The outlet is at the free throw line extended on the defensive end of the floor. After the defensive rebound players should prepare to recieve a pass at the outlet to start a fast break.

Red zone

The red zone is an 8'-10' imaginary semi circle on the floor around the basket. On defense, do not let a player catch and shoot in the Red Zone

Safety:

The area above the point guard, preparing to get back on defense when a shot goes up would be the safety.

Short corner

About halfway between the block and the corner is the short corner.

BASKETBALL POST PLAYERS

Be a Good Passer

Great post players can pass off the dribble. By this I mean once they have put the ball on the floor during a post move, they have the skills to immediately pick up the ball, center it and pass it back out to an open perimeter player, teammate cutting freely toward the basket, or with ease back to the person who entered the post pass. I have coached against some excellent post players who could score, but once the ball was on the floor, it was Johnny in a barrel over Niagara Falls with no chance of a return pass. These skilled post players are relatively easy to defend. Just force the dribble, trap the dribble and look for the loose ball.

Be Active

Great post player stay active to force their defender to respect and defend each position on the court as a possible scoring threat position following each pass whether they are at the strong side low post, weak side, or high post.

Be Durable

Great post players can convert from the low-wide power position explosively to the quick vertical jump through-out the course of a game, and especially late when the legs are heavy and fatigue has set in.

Be Durable

Great post players "take a licking and keep on ticking" (to borrow the age old commercial phrase from Timex watches). They have great upper and lower body strength and can take hits and punishment without losing the ball. Able to maintain possession in traffic, take a foul, and complete the play.

Chairmen of the Boards

Great post players are extremely active on the offensive backboards. They are relentless, with the scent of a bloodhound for the loose offensive rebound, and an insatiable desire to get points from loose ball situations at the offensive end of the court.

Communicate

Great post players keep their hands up when they are moving to a position and "moment of opportunity". The greatest problem for the average post player is their hands are down as they are moving to receive a ball. This occurs in transition, off the secondary break, and in set offense. Hands up as you move is a signal to any teammate "I am ready, willing and able to score." Hands down, says look some other time. What signal do you give?

Conditioner and Stamina Builder

The purpose of this drill is to build the stamina and improve the coordination of the big men. The player stands on the free throw line facing away from the basket with the ball on the floor in front of him. The player should pick up the ball, pivot, and lay the ball in the basket. Retrieve the ball, dribble back to the free throw line, then return the ball to its original position. The player then pivots toward the basket again, without the ball, jumps and touches the rim, then returns to the free throw line. He repeats this sequence until he has made five consecutive baskets.

Develop an outside shot

Great post players can step outside and knock down the 15-18 foot jumper with ease. The best can even step behind the 3 point line and make defenses pay that try to double team a low post teammate with a second post defender.

Everyone is a guard

Young players should always practice "guard skills", even if they are tall for their age. Some people grow early and may be big compared to their peers, but in a few years those peers may pass you up. A 12 year old "big man" may need to be someone's point guard 4 or 5 years later.

Finish Strong

Great post players can finish in traffic with at least two different go-to moves against virtually any type of defender. Tall or small, big or quick, this player simply has automated their scoring skills to the point they "know" they can score when given the ball at a "moment of opportunity".

Free Throws

Great post players can make their free throws because they know they will be fouled and most likely to go to the foul line over the course of a season more than any other player or position. Post players who can make 80% of their foul shots are less likely to be strategically fouled in the post, and more likely to be more honestly defended to keep them off the foul line. This makes them more difficult to defend in the normal 1 on 1 low post confrontation.

Heads Up

Great post players keep their heads up and have great court vision even as they begin to initiate a post move. Many teams will send a second defender to double team late (such as when the post player puts the ball on the floor with the dribble). A head up will produce an alert pass and score by an open teammate instead of a forced shot against a collapsing or double teaming defense.

Mikan Drill

This drill was named after the first great big man in the game--George Mikan and may be the most basic of all big men drills. Start under the basket with the ball. Shoot a short hook shot off the glass going to the right. Turn, retrieve the ball from the net, and shoot a short hook going to the left. This will improve your agility and coordination, and help you use either hand when around the basket.

Patience

Both for the player and the coach, a big key with big men is patience. Because of their size and the skills required, it will often take a taller youngster more time to develop then a shorter player. Those working with these taller players have to be patient and encouraging. If allowed to develop at his own pace, he may blossom into a truly outstanding player.

Position in the Low Post

When you are on offense in the low post you need to make the defense play you on just one side. The offense wants to keep contact with the defense and once he has established his defensive position, pin him there and make him stay where he is. Be big and wide and always give a "target hand" so your teammate knows where to pass the ball.

PowerUp

This is a drill for your post players to practice exploding up to the basket, and using the backboard to score. With 3 players and one ball per basket, the 2 balls are placed on the blocks. It is a timed 1 minute drill. Player 1 picks up the ball on the right side, makes a drop step, gathers his feet and goes up strong off 2 feet, using the backboard and scores a layup. Then he does the same on the left side. Players 2 & 3 rebound and replace the ball to the blocks. Player 1 tries to make as many baskets as he can in 1 minute.

Read the Defense

Great post players catch and wait "1-second" to see how the individual and team defense will react to the low post pass before attacking the basket. While there are exceptions, such as when a player has an undeniable direct path to the basket with the defender behind them or on their hip, in general the best players look first, then make their move. This 1-second let's them read if a double team is coming, who is collapsing, and who might be left open should the double occur. It also helps them to keep good court vision to spot an open teammate cause by rotating defensive players.

Recognize Scoring Opportunities

Great post player neither a "black hole" nor a "automatic toss-back machine" when the entry pass is made. They recognize scoring opportunity but equally see when a pass out and return back later in the offensive sequence is a much higher percentage scoring play than forcing a shot just because they are positioned inside and receive the ball.

Tipping

Stand to one side of the basket, facing the basket, and toss the ball up on the board. Go up and tip the ball straight back ten times, the last one into the basket. The keys to this drill are developing your timing and using your finger tips in order to control the ball.

Use the Glass

Great post player can use the backboard when scoring to reduce the effectiveness of a great shot blocker, and in creating higher percentage shots by increasing the scoring opportunities by using the glass.

"Hide" behind defenders

Great post players know how to hide behind defenders eyes, make them turn their heads, and get the defender goofy footed to create quick flash post chances in very high percentage scoring areas. Their activity is purposeful and not wasted. Staying active does not mean just constantly moving with high energy for no purpose. It means playing an active chess game with their individual, and against an inspired team defense to find those "moments of opportunity".

"Wide" target

Keep the knees bent - make yourself a "wide" target - DO NOT stand up straight. We want the lower body low - the feet wider than the shoulders - and the upper body up - the post should show his numbers to the passer and give an aggressive target, he should present the picture of a post that wants the ball.

Be a Leader

Great post players are leaders by example in practice, in conditioning, and all aspects of training. They do not walk through the motions some days, and attempt to bring their "A" game to the top level with inconsistent practice methods and intensity. The greatest post players are nasty to play against every single day. No one wants to get in the trenches with this player. It's almost futile to stop the power, intensity, and determination of a great post player.

BUST IN

"BUST IN" when you are side-fronted by a defender's arm. KNOCK the defender's arm away by raising BOTH arms (hands) toward the ball and stepping over the defender's top foot. Knock the defender's arm away from below.

Chin the ball

Great post players chin and keep the ball up in a position of strength. The only time the ball comes down is a low-explosive-power dribble into an open space behind a defender, or down between the post players own legs where it is the most difficult to have a ball wood-pecked out by a pesky defender. The time the ball is low and exposed is very limited in great post players, less so in the average post player who often holds the ball like they are carrying a water balloon.

Create space

Create as much space for the pass as possible: A) If the defense is on the baseline side, set up lower to create more space for the pass on the high side - KEEP CONTACT WITH THE DEFENSE! B) If the defense is on the (top) high side, set up higher to create more space for the pass on the baseline side - KEEP CONTACT WITH THE DEFENSE! C) If the defense is behind, set up at the edge of the lane above the block to set up a situation where you can go either way. ATTEMPT TO MAINTAIN CONTACT WITH THE DEFENSE! D) If the defense fronts with the ball at the wing, set up as far from the lane as possible within four feet of the lane to create more space for the lob pass. If the defense fronts with the ball at the guard spot, set up as high as possible up to the fourth free throw lane space, to create more space for the lob pass. KEEP CONTACT WITH THE DEFENSE!

Defend

Great post players can defend on the ball, keeping themselves between the basket and ball. Rarely do they leave their feet to give up a foul, or position. Great defensive positioning also contributes to better rebound position and keeping them in the game by avoiding foul attrition, a common problem amongst average low post players.

Fight for position

Fight for position but do not waste movement. Do not give up position unless to take advantage of the defense. We want our low post to line up above the block - splitting the second and third free throw lane spaces.

Hustle

Great post players hustle back on defense in transition and never let either the post player they are defending nor their other low post teammate's beat them up the court. Getting back every single time enables early transition defenders to keep pressure on the ball reducing rapid ball movement which might isolate an open offensive player in transition.

Maintain contact

Prevent or inhibit movement by the defense by keeping contact with the defender. This is called 'pinning" the defense. The post must get at the defender's legs; he cannot allow the defender to get at the pass.

Keep Working

Great post players do not belly-ache about not getting the ball down low. They work so hard and efficiently that it is totally obvious to their teammates they are open and can score. If one "moment of opportunity" is missed they don't sulk and quit playing, they hunger and continue to work for the "next moment of opportunity" and are ready when it comes.

Knees bent

Keep the knees bent and make yourself a "wide" target. DO NOT stand up straight. We want the lower body low , the feet wider than the shoulders and the upper body up. The post should show his numbers to the passer and give an aggressive target. He should always present the picture of a post player that wants the ball.

Leverage

Leverage Is Vital! Leverage is gained by foot and body movement and contact. Footwork is one of the hardest things to teach because it is not natural. Toes and shoulders should be pointed at the ball. Sit on the defender's thigh - the post's center of gravity is thereby lower than the defender's and this makes the post stronger. If the defender steps around in front of the post's foot, the post should step over the top of the defender's foot. If the defender attempts to go behind the post, the post keeps the defender behind by using short choppy steps with his arms in an "L", keeping his toes pointed toward the ball and maintaining contact with the defender. It is important for the post to get at the defender's feet, have firm arm bars in the shape of an "L" thereby creating space for the pass.

Seal Defenders

Great post players know how to use their back side to position and seal off defenders from getting good defensive position. Not only that but they are intelligent enough and skilled at baiting even the best defenders into fighting for a seemingly desired position, only to gain a better offensive position and chance of scoring from a more effective angle or position near the basket.

Talk on Defense

Great post players talk on defense and move their feet to support the defensive perimeter. They call out screens well before they are set and adjustments when the angle or location of a screen changes. They also keep light on their feet and active to show and release, or trap on tough perimeter pick and roll screens. They rarely come late to support the pick and roll screen hanging their perimeter defenders out to dry.

Catching the ball in the low post

When catching the ball in the low post, always come toward the ball, catching it with a little hop so that you can jump stop upon receiving the pass. This will allow you to be able to move in either direction after receiving the ball.

HIP-AND-ROLL

"HIP-AND-ROLL" when fronted. On the lob pass maintain contact with the fronting defender with your hip. See the ball. Put BOTH hands in the air as a target. Let the pass be thrown. As the passed ball is DIRECTLY above the fronting defender's head give the fronting defender a slight nudge with your hip "as you start your jump to catch the ball with two hands."

Pin the defense

Don't release the defender from your rear too soon when the defender is playing behind. Release after the ball has been passed and is nearly to you depending on the speed of the pass and the position of the defender. Nothing frustrates a coach or a passer more than for the post to be posted up strong and then on the pass have the defender step around the post and get a hand on the ball. If the post has position he should not let the defender around him. He must fight with his feet to win the 'foot-war", using short choppy steps to maintain his "pin" until releasing to catch the ball at the proper time. The post uses the same techniques as if blocking out for a defensive rebound.

Strong and Soft

Great post players has soft hands and strong arms. The ball lands on their finger tips like a butterfly on a flower but sticks like velcro. This comes from well developed finger strength, good hand-eye coordination, and excellent technique in keeping the elbows pointed out to press the ball inward. To test this yourself, hold the ball on your finger tips between the palms of your hands. Then extend both arms out forward as if you were handing the ball to someone underhanded. Have anyone try to slap the ball out of your hands in this position. It's relatively easy. But put your elbows

Two-Hand Target

Give a "Two-Hand Target" and protect the target area by effective use of the body.

BASKETBALL TEAMS AND PLAYERS TO WATCH

Original Teams

Boston Celtics - Represented by Brown. The name Celtics was chosen b'cos of its association to the most famous professional basketball team of the past and Boston's Irish population. Chicago Stags - Represented by Arthur Morse , a lawyer who had connections with the Norris family which ran the Chicago stadium and Chicago Black Hawks Hockey team. Cleveland Rebels - Represented by Sutphin of the Cleveland arena. Detroit Falcons - Owned by the Olympia New York Knickerbockers - Represented by Irish Philadelphia Warriors - Represented by Pete Tyrell Pittsburgh Ironmen - Represented by John Harris Providence Streamrollers - Represented by Lou Pieri who ran the Providence Reds of the AHL and the arena there , a close friend of Watter Brown. St'Louis Bombers - Represented by Emory.D.Jones of St Louis Arena and the AHL team based there. Toronto Huskies - Maple leaf gardens Washington Gardens - Represented by Mike Uline.

BASKETBALL RECRUITING AND CHOOSING THE RIGHT COLLEGE

Be honest

Try to base the recruiting process on honesty--both yours and the recruiters'. Always be up front with recruiters. Let them know where they stand with you and what concerns you have regarding their schools. Likewise, you should expect honesty on the part of the recruiter, and, if you suspect something is not quite right, you should seriously reconsider your interest in that school.

Choosing the right program

When choosing your college, understand that very few college players end up playing professionally. Choose the school as much for the education that you will receive as for the basketball.

Get Your Name Known

If you've got game... help yourself out. Get yourself known to college coaches through leagues and videotape. You might be just the type of player that a coach needs.

Introduce yourself

Take the initiative and introduce yourself to the coaches at the schools on your list. If you are interested in a school, don't wait for them to "discover" you. Contact them!

PLAY AND EXCEL AT HIGH SCHOOL AND CLUB BASKETBALL.

The college coaches will do a majority of their scouting at summer camps, and high school and club tournaments (especially in July) where they can see numerous players play in one location, at one time. They usually use the Camp and Club season to do initial evaluations, and then use the high school season to do some final evaluation and tracking.

Questionnaires

Most colleges will begin the recruiting process by sending you a questionnaire. Don't throw it away. You never know how the recruiting process is going to end and that school that you have never heard of may end up being the best situation for you.

SCOUTING SERVICES

SCOUTING SERVICES are an option to help you get some attention. Some college coaches use them, others throw the hundreds they receive into the circular file. They usually cost around $500 and can be useful. You can choose to use a scouting service, or bypass the service and contact colleges on your own with the help of your parents, coaches, and counselors.

SEND AN INFO PACKET

Have several information packets on hand and send each school one. You can contact the coach, or they may request them. The packet should include a cover letter, unofficial transcript, letters of recommendation, video, high school and club schedule, and roster.

Asking questions

Don't be afraid to ask a lot of questions during the recruiting process. You may also want to ask questions that you already know the answers to. You can gage the integrity and trustworthiness of those recruiting you by the answers they give.

BE COACHABLE

The second question recruiters usually ask is, "Is he/she coachable? "The first place recruiters will go for more information on you is to your high school and club coaches. Recruiters are looking for leaders/impact players. Be a leader and positive influence on your team!

Be prepared to be recruited

Many families become overwhelmed by the recruiting process. A good way to avoid this is to make sure that you are organized before the process begins. Know what you are looking for in a school and a basketball program, what questions you want answered, and what your priorities are.

BRAINSTORM

Develop a list of colleges you are interested in. Meet with your counselor and your basketball coach to discuss you academic and athletic potential. Try to trim your list to 4-6 colleges by the start of your senior year. Make a list of schools that fit into three categories: 1) Ideal colleges 2)Realistic colleges 3) Back-up colleges

Different levels of play

Here's a brief, generalized description of the various levels: NCAA Division 1: Offer the most scholarships, all full. NCAA Division II: Offer 50-67% of the scholarships Dl offers per sport. NCAA Division III: No scholarships. Will help with grants and financial aid. NAIA: Offer full and partial scholarships, and will help with grants and financial aid. Level of competition ranges between NCAA D II and D III.

Different levels of play

DISPLAY A GOOD ATTITUDE

When coaches go to game, they don't only watch you to see if you make any great plays. They also watch to see how you interact with your coach, teammates, opponents, and the officials. Always hustle on and off the court, and NEVER display any negative emotion. Even when you are on the bench, a coach may be watching. Sit by the coach and pay attention, cheer for your teammates , and hustle to the table to check back in, and then communicate with the player coming off the floor.

EARN GOOD GRADES AND TEST SCORES

It's not a myth. The first questions recruiters ask are "What is his GPA, and what is his test score (SAT or ACT, possibly SAT II)." Check web-sites and College Directories for requirements per school. Some leniency is occasionally allowed for athletes. For NCAA DI and DII the NCAA Clearinghouse determines your college athletic academic eligibility. It is best to register with the Clearinghouse by the end of your Junior year. Get a form from your Counselor. NAIA schools individually determine your athletic academic eligibility using their national guidelines.

Enjoy High School Basketball

But be sure to enjoy your high school experience, and sell-out for the team! Some student/athletes over-emphasize the recruiting process and end up under-achieving because of the excessive pressure they put on themselves to impress recruiters, an over-emphasis upon statistics, or saving themselves for college. Work hard, hustle, and play your game to help your team!

Financial Aid

APPLY FOR THE FAFSA. Applications will be available in your school counseling office in December. This single application determines your eligibility for government grants (In California they are the CAL GRANT & PELL GRANT) and loans. The CAL GRANT A award provides $3,429 to UC's, $1,428 to CSU's, and up to $9,708 at independent colleges. The Pell ranges from $400 to $3,125. You may also qualify for FSEOG grants, Work-Study, subsidized and non-subsidized student loans. The first day you can submit the FAFSA is January 2. Deadline is March 1.

Get educated

Get educated on the variety of levels of college athletics. Colleges determine which level they are going to compete It is determined not by attendance, but by how much they are going to financially invest into athletics. Be careful to choose the best level for your needs and desires.

Get involved in school

Colleges always want well rounded student/athletes. KEEP AN UPDATED LIST OF HONORS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS and let the colleges know when something happens. This includes academic, athletic, civic, team, extracurricular honors, awards, and activities.

GO TO COLLEGE GAMES AND PRACTICES

Go and learn from the best. Become a student of the game. Don't compare yourself to high school players. A large percentage of them won't play college ball. See what level you have to take your game to. Watch the best players' work ethic and technique. Most college teams will allow you to attend their practices by appointment (ask your coach to call). Colleges will allow you to attend games for free, usually with two guests. Askyour coach to call to get you on the guest list. Check out all levels described above.

Know Your Level

It is important that you are realistic during the recruiting process. Know the level that you can play at in college. Coaches and scouting services can be of great value.

Official Visits

An NCAA Division I and II Official Visit includes paid for transportation and expenses while visiting. NAIA and NCAA Division III schools usually do not pay for transportation, but pay for expenses during the visit. The NCAA only allows recruits to take a maximum of five Division I and II "Official Visits." NAIA and Division III don't limit the number of official visits. A recruit can make an unlimited number of "Unofficial Visits." This is defined as the recruit paying for all of his own expenses. Make an appointment with the coach before you visit

RED SHIRTS

Most programs will have a Red-Shirt program. This means the athlete practices with the team, but doesn't participate in any games. After the year is over the athlete will still have four years of Athletic Eligibility remaining. You may want to red-shirt your freshman year to increase your chances of playing the next season, without losing any eligibility.

Videotapes

When sending a videotape to colleges you want to highlight your positive attributes. Coaches do not want to see just highlights, but rather continuous action of you playing. Believe it or not , some coaches also view parts of a tape when you are not in the game to evaluate your "body language" on the bench in hopes that it can help them assess your attitude. A good format might be: 1)Thirty seconds to a minute of highlights with either a voice over or graphics introducing yourself, some pertinent academic and athletic statistics, what number you are and what the following games might be. 2)At least three(3)or four(4) continuous halves. Pick your best halves that display a variety of things that you do (shooting, passing, defense, rebounding, etc) 3) Optional: Maybe finish with another thirty seconds containing another voice over regarding you collegiate goals.

WALK ONS

All levels have walk-ons on their roster or non-scholarship players who earn a spot on the team (either pre-arranged or earned at try-outs), pay their own expenses, but are treated as regular players in every other way. This may give you an opportunity to be on a team, even if you are not recruited.

YOU KNOW YOU ARE A SERIOUS RECRUIT WHEN ...

YOU KNOW YOU ARE A SERIOUS RECRUIT WHEN the college coach offers you a visit. Coaches begin the recruiting process by sending out tons of letters. Each coach on the staff then may make phone calls to dozens of players Until then, the coach is constantly checking what recruits are interested. When they narrow their list down to their top prospects they start offering "Official Recruiting Visits."In NCAA Divisions I and II these are limited, so the coaches only use them on their top recruits.

INDIVIDUAL WORKOUTS AND PERSONAL TRAINERS

Shooting Progression

Because form is so important in shooting, work on making that form a habit is very important. An easy way to do this is to lie on your back and shoot the ball straight up into the air. It is very easy to check on the position of the ball, follow through, and rotation. The ball should go straight up and come straight down with proper back spin. This will build "muscle memory" in the drills to follow.

Add to your game

Find a basketball skill, physical trait, or even a psychological tendency to improve on prior to next season. After thoroughly assessing your skills, using a form such as the one found at http://basketball4all.homestead.com/files/Skills_Assessment.xls Take a good hard look at the things that you scored low on. Evaluate your game and come up with a new wrinkle that will compliment it. A good shooter may need to work on penetration skills, or vice-versa. Someone that finishes strong can add to their mid-range game with a pull up jumper. Maybe ballhandling needs to be an area of improvement. Certain players simply need to develop a mind set of concentration when it comes to defensive positioning, or rebounding responsibilities, or make a concious effort to improve on some cognitive skill such as understanding the offense, passing angles, shot selection, and proper timing. A player may also need to really hit the weight room or work on a particular area of physical conditioning. Whatever area is focused on should be trained diligently and next season you`ll be a much improved player.

Personal Trainers

Players need to put in extra time if they want to become a better basketball player. Many players have begun to hire personal coaches to help them practice their skills, outside of their normal basketball practice. These coaches will put players through additional workouts with individual attention that can advance players to the next level of skill development. Players should make sure that the coaches are qualified before they invest money in lessons.

Mikan Drill

Named after the first real big man in the NBA, George Mikan. From beneath the basket, make a layup with the right hand, grab the ball out of the net and make a layup with the left hand. Continue to repeat this for a specified time(usually 30 seconds or a minute), alternating hands. Eventually the player will develop a rhythm, and grab the ball as they are taking their two steps to shoot the next shot.

BASKETBALL INJURIES

Dealing with Injuries

There are a number of things to consider when attempting to come back from injury. First, what part of the season is it? Better to sit out a few days in the preseason than risk further injury. Secondly, the severity of the injury needs to be considered. You may not be able to play at 100%, but you should only come back if you are not risking more serious injury. Finally, you should consult with a trainer or physician when deciding when to come back,

Ankle Strength

A problem common in the game of basketball is sprained ankles. A good way to strengthen your ankles is to walk on all sides of your feet. Roll your ankles to the outside and walk on the outside of your foot; reverse this and walk on the inside of your foot; then walk on yor toes; finally, walk on your heels. While this won't completely eliminate ankle sprains, it will help prevent some.

Stretching

Basketball is a game that requires flexibility. The only way to gain and maintain flexibility is through proper stretching. Stretch all of your muscles before a workout (and after if you are weight training). Stretch to the point of resistance, hold for at least three seconds, then repeat. Do not rock back and forth or bob during stretching.

Warm Up

Be sure to always get in a proper warm up before playing. You should be perspiring after your warm up. Failure to warm up properly will cause you to get winded at the beginning of the game. This can put you at a serious disadvantage.

THE MENTAL GAME OF BASKETBALL

Relative Motion

Believe

Always believe in yourself. If you think you can`t do it, you aren`t going to . When shooting, believe its going in and it will have a better a chance.

Confidence in Shooting

A shooter needs to have confidence. One good way to give yourself confidence is to remember that two balls will fit through the hoop at a time. This gives you a large margin of error to work with.

Desire - The Need to Succeed

Where do you fit into this spectrum of desire? Well, to find out, consider the following self-assessment scale. Level of Desire Scale 0 percent: I won`t. 10 percent: I can`t. 20 percent: I don`t know how. 30 percent: I wish I could. 40 percent: What is it? 50 percent: I think I might. 60 percent: I might. 70 percent: I think I can. 80 percent: I can. 90 percent: I will. 95 percent: I did it. 100 percent:I did it and I know I can do it again, only this time, even better!

Improve everyday!

Strive to improve everyday... both physically and mentally. Play against players that are better than you... that's how you get better. Learn from TV and watch instructional videos to learn even more. Never stop learning!

Inferior opponents

When playing against teams or players who are not quite as talented, it is important to play at YOUR best. Do not drop your level of play simply to defeat the opponent. Compete against your own personal best every time out, and try to achieve that.

Mental Imagery

Mental Rehearsal: This is almost as important as practicing the action itself. The brain patterns during mental rehearsal of an action are the same as those when preparing for the action before the motor skill is selected, so the more you mentally rehearse a shot, the quicker and easier it will be to prepare to carry out the shot.

Nervousness

The main reason that players don't perform well in games is nervousness, and the main cause of nervousness is lack of self confidence. You have to believe that you can play with the people on the court and not get intimidated. You must believe that no one on the court is better than you. Have a good attitude. Believe in yourself.

Proper Preparation

Pay attention to how you prepare for each game, especially when you play well. Competing in athletic contests can often be a matter of routine, and anything you can do to keep that routine similar from game to game, especially when you have played well, can help. Follow the same pre-game routines, think about the same type of things, relax but focus on the game at hand. Most importantly, learn to visualize what you are going to be doing in the game, always seeing yourself being successful.

Run On and Off

Always run on and off the court--for a time out, when you are taken out of a game, or at half time. Psychologically, you are showing your opponent that you won't wear down. The Boston Celtics under Red Auerbach would not even sit down during a time out in order to appear fresh to their opponents.

Advice

Please don't shout advice to your player during the game. Shout encouragement? You bet. A steady stream of technique suggestions might have no value. Your insightful tips may conflict with the coach's instruction.

Harrassing the Referees

Please don't harass the refs. Parents that loudly harass the referee are embarrassing to the player and the team. When a parent makes a spectacle of himself at a game, the player is embarrassed. If the ref is being reamed by a parent for a bad call (by definition, a bad call is any decision made against the parent's child), what does the player learn? He learns that the mistake wasn't his fault. It was the result of poor officiating. This is a bad habit to get into. Don't encourage your child to place the blame for their failures upon others. One of the benefits of playing sports is learning to accept responsibility instead of making excuses. Sometimes a call is hard to take for whatever reason. Such times are tests of emotional control. If a player can learn to bite his lip and move on, a parent can learn to sit quietly for a moment and let the emotion pass. Learning to cope with disappointment is a valuable life skill.

PLaying Time

Don't blame the coach for your child's problems or lack of playing time. Your child's struggles to succeed are your child's problems. Let him work them out without your interference. A player has every right to ask a coach what needs to be done to earn more playing time, for example. But a parent stepping in to demand playing time is another thing altogether.

Positive Involvement

As a parent, be involved in a positive way. Attend your child's games as often as you can. Cheer for all the kids on the team. Help with fund raising. Assist with logistics. If you're not sure how to help, ask the coach. There is probably a hundred ways to be a good team member and a good parent at the same time. When the larger definition of team is working well, the experience can be wonderful for everyone involved. People who see your program in action will want to be a part of it. Parents looking ahead to when their child will be old enough to participate will want to fit in and help. This kind of teamwork perpetuates itself. Once it gets momentum, it can be quite a force. It just takes parents who care.

Support the Coach

Please don't talk bad about the coach in front of your child. The worst thing a parent can do is take pot shots at the coach, criticizing decisions, and complaining about his leadership. Support the coach and stand behind his decisions.

The Other Team

Please don't razz the other team's players. The other team's players should be considered off limits. Yelling at or deriding someone else's child is a shameful practice for an adult at a sporting event. Parents who intend to disrupt, distract or upset players exhibit the worst of poor sportsmanship

Three Rules for Your Children

Here are some guidelines for parents to give their children who participate in sports. Three simple rules: First, once you start, you finish. Do not allow your children to quit a team for any reason. Second, the coach's decision is final. Do not intercede or interfere whether you like a decision or not. Third, you do whatever it takes to make the team successful. Personal glory pales in relationship to team success.

Be a TEAM

Forget about the scouts and the newspapers...they come to see players..make them see A TEAM!! It doesn't matter what they write in their columns...Just Win!!

Don't change

Don't change what got you this far...don't try to be a leading scorer if you've never done it before...you owe it to your team-mates to play within yourself.

Enjoy the moment

enjoy the moment...when you get my age, you won't remember the game...you will remember the Battle...and the brothers or sisters who stood there with you.

follow your coaches lead

Moms and Dads are great...but this is not their time...follow your coaches lead...one voice..one purpose...one team!

little things

The little things you do to help your team...make all the difference in the world...every successful inbound pass, every rebound, every "dive" for a loose ball...will determine the outcome!

Newspaper clippings

Have your mom or dad save newspaper clippings about your team..BUT DON'T YOU READ THEM UNTIL THE SEASONS OVER...you have to play...not the news people..don't get poisoned by what you read.

Rankings

Reputations and rankings don't mean JACK...on any given night you can beat anyone!

Referees

Referees make mistakes. It's part of the game. Captains should learn the ref's last name, put Mr. or Ms. before it when you speak to them, and watch things turn your way.

BASKETBALL PASSING

Bad Passes

One bad pass can beget another. Whenever a player receives a bad pass, he or she should make sure that they regain their balance before throwing another pass.

Baseball Pass

The baseball pass is most often used to advance the ball up the floor. The ball is held with both hands on the ball, one on either side with the throwing hand usually a little higher on the ball. The ball is cocked up near the ear to aid in a quick release. The passers hand must be BEHIND the ball so the pass doesn't have too much side spin, making it hard to catch. The pass is made over the defense, leading the receiver.

behind the back pass

One of the most deceptive passes is the behind the back pass. This should become a fundamental pass in every good basketball players game. Although the pass looks hard it is quite simple. First place the ball in your dominant hand and hold it there. Then put the ball behind your back. Then you flick your wrist in the direction the ball should travel. This pass is deceptive and is a great way to build up finger pad control and to build up wrist flexibility and strength.This should really become a fundamental pass and not a pass used for "showboating".

Bounce Pass

The bounce pass should travel from your waist to receiver's waist. The ball should bounce about 2/3 of the way to the receiver. You should follow through as in chest pass with your thumbs down. The backspin that this creates slows the ball down when it hits the ground and makes it easier to catch.

Chest Pass

The chest pass should go from your chest to receiver's chest You should step into the pass with your knees bent and follow through, with the ball coming off of your fingertips and your thumbs down. This creates good backspin and makes the pass easier to catch.

Different Types of Passes

There are several different types of passes, to be used in different situations: the chest pass is used primarily in the open court and on the perimeter; the overhead pass is used on the perimeter and on the outlet pass; the bounce pass is a pass that is used anytime under defensive pressure; and the baseball pass is used when you need a long pass.

Entry Passes

To enter the ball to the wing, the passer and reciever should ensure a proper passing angle. The passer from the guard spot should attempt to get to, what we call, the "Entry Line". The Entry Line is a line drawn from the basket THROUGH the corner of the key and the free throw line, on out to half court. The passer should attempt to get as close to that line with the dribble prior to passing to the wing. This ensures a good angle to the wing and cuts down on the defense's chance of denying or intercepting the pass.

Fake a pass - throw a pass

When you are prepared to pass the ball while being pressured by a defender, pass fake (which is a fake throwing the ball in one direction) then pass the ball other way. Fake a bounce pass and throw overhead. Fake overhead and throw around.This will usually make the defender go for the first pass and clear some lane for a pass in the opposite direction.

Feeding the Post

One of the biggest problems with passing the ball into the post is passing from bad angles. The passer, the post player and the basket should all be in a direct line. This forces the defender to pick a side to guard, and you can get a good angle from which to feed the ball into the low post.

Focus Under the Basket

In order to be a better passer who gets the ball to the right player at the right time, learn to focus under the basket. As you develop your peripheral vision, you will learn to see all the players on your team and be able to pick out who is open without telegraphing your passes.

Good Passing

Keys to passing -Eye contact. -Crisp two handed pass motion. -Pass to the target, if the player is in motion, throw a lead pass. -Thumbs should be pointing in the direction of the ball after the ball is thrown.

Hand Position for the Chest Pass

When throwing a chest pass, position your hands on the sides of the ball, both thumbs pointing up. When the pass is thrown correctly, the hands should rotate so that the backs of the hands face each other and the thumbs point down.

Know the Defender

A good rule of thumb when passing is to pass around or under a taller opponent, over a shorter one. These passes will be more difficult for that particular defender to stop.

L-Cut

Outside Hand Passing

Outside hand passes: Many turnovers can be avoided if players develop the ability to pass with either hand, thus enabling them to use the outside hand to pass the ball and avoid the defense. Players need to possess the ability to turn the dribble directly into a pass. If a player must bring the ball through the middle of his body to make a two-handed pass or worse a pass with the inside hand, the defense has a chance to defend the pass and the pass becomes slower, thus getting to a shooter a second late, rather than perfectly in stride. The outside hand push pass is preferable and is an important pass to teach.

Overhead Pass

The ball is held straight up in the air avoiding any bend in the elbows. The ball should not be put behind the head. The passer extends a leg toward the receiver and delivers the pass with a snap of the wrists. The ball should be thrown on a straight line with very little spin.

Pass up the court

Put a player at each end line, one at each free throw line and another at mid court. Have those players relay the ball from one end line to the other and back again. To do so take EIGHT passes. Then take the FASTEST dribbler and have him try to dribble to the opposite end and back before the group of FIVE players throw EIGHT passes. The passing team ALWAYS wins(unless, of couse, they drop the ball or really miss a pass). This demonstration usually enlightens young players as to the importance of passing.

PASSING

When passing the ball, step toward your receiver to put more power behind your pass.

See the Defense

As important as seeing your teammates is, seeing the DEFENSE may be more important. You are going to KNOW where your players should be through practice and naturally react to their same color uniforms. It is better if you have a "soft focus" on the floor and see your teammates through your peripheral vision. However, you should concentrate on where the defense is, attack their weak areas and pass AWAY from the defensive player.

Two Hand Bounce Pass Technique

The pass is made with the ball held close to the chest and the elbows in to the side of the body. Push forward with a thrust of both arms and a snap of the wrists. In releasing the ball, the player steps or puts weight on the front foot. The passer assumes a slightly lower position and aims his pass for the receiver's thighs. The ball should be bounced about three quarters of the way between the players.

PRESSBREAK PRINCIPLES

V-Cut

Advance the basketball up the floor

Too many teams spend time passing the ball back and forth horizontally, instead of vertically. You should advance the ball up the floor UNTIL you feel pressured(this may be different for every player!), then REVERSE the ball to a teammate, and CUT according to your teams designed pressbreak. Repeat until the press is broken.

Be calm

The coach, can do a lot to help the team break a difficult press. If the coach panics, the team panics. In the first half, the team will be breaking the press right in front of their bench. Call out instructions to them. Remind them to go to the ball, cut, to post up, to spread the floor, etc.

Clear out!

When facing a man-to-man press, you should clear the backcourt and let your point guard bring the ball up one on one. That's obviously sound advice. But we sometimes like to invite the trap by having our 2 or 3 man linger in the backcourt with the point, staying 10 or 15 feet ahead of him. As soon as the forward defender jumps to trap, the point kicks the ball to his teammate, who pushes it up the floor 4 on 3 against the remaining defenders.

Come to the ball

Make sure your receivers come to the ball! They should attack each reception with the same intensity that the defense does. This cannot be overemphasized. Have them come and meet the ball before they stop. Then catch with two hands, hop stop, and establish a pivot foot. This gives them much more latitude to attack the defense.

Discourage the dribble

Discourage the dribble -- particularly the speed dribble -- against a zone press. Do as much as you can off the pass. Any dribbling should be controlled dribbling, head up, reading the floor.

Fake a pass to make a pass

Use V-cuts to get open and ball fakes to avoid telegraphing the pass. Have your cutters move in straight lines, either toward the ball or toward your basket. Wide arcs and side-to-side cuts favor the defense.

Inbound the basketball in quickly

Get the basketball in quickly! Drill your kids to pull the ball out of the net and fire it inbounds before the defense can set up. Don't run any other drills that result in scores where they are not required to inbound the ball. On your 3on2/2on1 drills have them inbound the ball after made baskets. On every shell drill, have the defense inbound the ball after every score. The dividends are huge.

Keep your dribble alive!

If you use your dribble, don't lose your dribble! Once your players start to dribble, make sure they keep it alive if at all possible. Do not stop the dribble until you are ready to pass or shoot.

Make the defense pay

Once you cross half-court, don't make careless mistakes. The press is broken. If you've got an advantage, make the defense pay by scoring a lay-up. If not, slow things down.

Middle of the floor

Keep the ball in the middle of the floor as much as possible -- and away from the trapping zones.

Post up in the open floor

Players should "post up" in the open floor, then cut to the ball to get open. Most kids have a tendency to avoid the defenders, thinking that this is the solution to getting open. However, bodying up to the defender and then cutting toward the ball, will obviously preclude the defender from beating the receiver to the pass.

Stretch the defense

Stretch the defense. It doesn't matter whether you start out of a stack, run four across, send guys to the midcourt corners -- just get that floor spread.

Ten seconds

Don't panic. 10 seconds is a long time to get the ball across half court.

COACH WOODEN'S PYRAMID OF SUCCESS

Success

Legendary coach John Wooden says, "Success is peace of mind that is the direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming."

Enthusiasm

You must truly enjoy what you are doing. Your heart must be in it. Without enthusiasm you can't work up to your fullest ability. Enthusiasm brushes off upon those with whom you come in contact. And you must have enthusiasm to prepare and perform with industriousness. Enthusiasm ignites plain old work and transforms it into industriousness.

Industriousness

Industriousness? Very simply, you have to work and work hard. There is no substitute for work. Worthwhile things come only from hard work and careful planning. Hard work is essential, and only you really know if you're giving it everything you've got. People who always try to cut corners will never come close to realizing their full potential.

Cooperation

In order to reach the full potential of the group, there must be cooperation on all levels. This means working together in all ways to accomplish the common goal. And to get cooperation, you must give cooperation with all levels of your teammates. Listen if you want to be heard. Be interested in finding the best way, not in having your own way. All of this requires cooperation. It allows individuals to move forward together, to move in the same direction instead of going off in different directions.

Friendship

For success, either individually or for your team, there must be a level of friendship. Friendship comes from mutual esteem, respect and devotion. Like marriage it must not be taken for granted but requires a joint effort.Friendship takes time and understanding. Rarely will you find in working toward a common goal that others will be able to resist friendship if you offer it sincerely and openly. Be brave enough to offer friendship.

Loyalty

Loyalty to and from those with whom you work is absolutely necessary for success. It means keeping your self-respect, knowing whom and what you have allegiance to. It means giving respect to those you work with. Respect helps produce loyalty. Great loyalty was stressed on all successful teams. Loyalty is a cohesive force that forges individuals into a team. Loyalty is very important when things get a little tough, as they often do when the challenge is great. Loyalty is a powerful force in producing one's individual best and even more so in producing a team's best.

Self Control

Practice self-discipline and keep emotions under control. Good judgement and common sense are essential to success. Self-control is essential for discipline and mastery of emotions, for discipline of self and discipline of those under your supervision. You cannot function physically or mentally unless your emotions are under control . When you lose control of your emotions, when your self-discipline breaks down, your judgement and common sense suffer. To do better in the future you have to work on the "right now." That's where self-control comes in. Self-control keeps you in the present. Strive to maintain self-control.

Condition

You must be conditioned for whatever you're doing if you're going to do it to the best of your ability. There are different types of conditioning for different professions. A deep-sea diver has different conditioning requirements from a sales person. A surgeon has different physical conditioning requirements from a food server. You must add to physical conditioning mental and moral conditioning. You must identify your conditioning requirements and then attain them. Without proper conditioning in all areas, you will fall short of your potential. Rest, exercise and diet must be considered.Moderation must be practiced. It is impossible to attain and maintain desirable physical condition without first achieving mental and moral condition.

Skill

At the very center of the Pyramid is skill. You have to know what you're doing and be able to do it quickly and properly. You need both; the ability to do it quickly and properly. Skill means being able to execute all of your job, not just part of it. It's true whether you're an athlete or an attorney, a surgeon or a sales rep, or anything else. You'd better be able to execute properly and quickly. That's skill.

Team Spirit

The last block in the heart of the Pyramid of Success is team spirit. This means thinking of others. It means losing oneself in the group for the good of the group. It means being not just willing but eager to sacrifice personal interest or glory for the welfare of all. Of course, we all want to do well and receive individual praise. Yes, that's fine, if you put it to use for the good of the team, whatever your team is: sports, business, family, or community.Team spirit means you are willing to sacrifice personal considerations for the welfare of all. That defines a team player.

Competitive Greatness

What is competitive greatness? It's being at your best when your best is needed. It's enjoying the challenge when things become difficult, even very difficult. True competitors know it's exhilarating to be involved in something that's very challenging. They don't fear it. They seek it. Is it fun to do that which is ordinary, easy, simple, something anyone can do? Not at all. Yet most of the tasks we do in our everyday lives are very simple. Anybody could do them. They will not produce the joy that comes from being involved with something that challenges your body, mind, and spirit.

Confidence

You must have confidence. You must believe in yourself if you expect others to believe in you. However, you can't have poise and confidence unless you've prepared correctly. (Remember that failing to prepare is preparing to fail.) Every block in the Pyramid of Success is built on the others. When all are in place, poise and confidence result. You don't force them to happen. They happen naturally from proper preparation.

Poise

Poise is very simple: being yourself. You're not acting. You're not pretending or trying to be something you're not. You are being who you are and are totally comfortable with that. Therefore, you'll function near your own level of competence.You understand that the goal is to satisfy not everyone else's expectations but your own. You give your total effort to becoming the best you are capable of being. It takes poise to accomplish this.

Fill Players' Emotional Tanks

The Positive Coaching Alliance says that a Positive Coach is a positive motivator who refuses to motivate through fear, intimidation, or shame. He recognizes that every player has an "Emotional Tank" like the gas tank of a car. Just as a car with an empty gas tank can't go very far, a player with an empty emotional tank doesn't have the energy to do his best. A Positive Coach understands that compliments, praise, and positive recognition fill Emotional Tanks. He understands the importance of giving truthful and specific feedback and resists the temptation to give praise that is not warranted. When correction is necessary, a Positive Coach communicates criticism to players in ways that don't undermine their sense of self-worth. A Positive Coach strives to achieve a 5:1 "Plus/Minus Ratio" of praise to correction. A Positive Coach establishes order and maintains discipline in a positive manner. He listens to players and involves them in decisions that affect the team. He works to remain positive even when things aren't going well. He recognizes that it is often when things go wrong that a coach can have the most lasting impact and can teach the most important lessons. Even when facing adversity, he refuses to demean himself, his players, or the environment. He always treats athletes with respect, regardless of how well they perform.

Honor the Game

The Positive Coaching Alliance says that a Positive Coach feels an obligation to his sport. He understands that Honoring the Game means getting to the ROOTS of the matter, where ROOTS stands for respect for: Rules Opponents Officials Teammates Self. A Positive Coach teaches his players to Honor the Game. He loves his sport and upholds the spirit, as well as the letter, of its rules. He respects opponents, recognizing that a worthy opponent will push his athletes to do their best. He understands the important role that officials play and shows them respect, even when he disagrees with their calls. He encourages players to make a commitment to each other and to encourage one another on and off the field. He values the rich tradition of his sport and feels privileged to participate. A Positive Coach realizes that one of the most difficult times to Honor the Game is when the opponent is not, and he reminds his players to live up to their own highest standard (respect for self). Ultimately, a Positive Coach demonstrates integrity and would rather lose than win by dishonoring the game.

Redefine Winniing

The Positive Coaching Alliance says, that a Positive Coach helps players redefine what it means to be a winner through a mastery, rather than a scoreboard, orientation. He sees victory as a by-product of the pursuit of excellence. He focuses on effort rather than outcome and on learning rather than comparison to others. He recognizes that mistakes are an important and inevitable part of learning and fosters an environment in which players don't fear making mistakes. While not ignoring the teaching opportunities that mistakes present, he teaches players that a key to success is how one responds to mistakes. He sets standards of continuous improvement for himself and his players. He encourages his players, whatever their level of ability, to strive to become the best players, and people, they can be. He teaches players that a winner is someone who makes maximum effort, continues to learn and improve, and doesn't let mistakes (or fear of mistakes) stop them."

Pick One!

Here's an example of a great piece of advice from the NAIA: There are four roles for competition. You can play. You can coach. You can officiate. You can be a fan. Pick ONE. You can't do two at once, much less four.

Harrassing the Referees