Category: For Coaches

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Basketball tryout advice from the experts

This post from Basketball for Coaches is FULL of great advice from great coaches and experts. It is a must read going in to a new season.

Read more at: basketballforcoaches.com/tryouts-advice Continue reading “Basketball tryout advice from the experts”

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Become a better shooter

Swish22.com has an innovative training system to help you become a better shooter. Check it out. … they have lots of training resources to explore.

From their website: “Surprise that player or coach in your family with the Swish videos!  As you come to know the Swish Method, you’ll see it’s exactly what Curry is doing that sets him apart from others.  As you learn and perfect the Swish shot, you will not only shine as a “shooter” – you will also become aware of what the great shooters are doing that helps them excel.“

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Taking the Joy out of Youth Sports

Thanks to over competitive and anxious parents, youth basketball often isn’t full of joy. Why not? So what are a few things we (as parents and coaches) do to suck the joy out of it:

  1. We try to coach from the sideline. (Kids have enough to concentrate on during the game, listening to your “excellent input” isn’t going to help them with their experience.)
  2. We yell at the refs. (The refs work hard – usually – to make the game even possible. Don’t waste your energy on trying to help them. 🙂 And we should require our kids to ‘ignore’ them.)
  3. As parents we question the coach. Our kids are trying to show respect to the coach. If we complain about them the entire drive home, the kids will learn to complain about the coach also.)
  4. Commenting and complaining about your child’s teammates. (See #3 … respecting teammates is essential also.)
  5. Making the ride-home miserable. (Enjoy the moment with your kids. Don’t try to make it a teachable moment.)

Most parents are guilty of one or more of these from time to time. As parents we can set the tone. Let’s do it.

Read a more detailed article here: http://changingthegameproject.com/how-adults-take-the-joy-out-of-sports

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5 Ways To Make The Best Version Of Yourself

Check out the summary of posts from Success.com. 5 Ways to be the best version of yourself.

  1. Rise Up: Don’t let self-doubt stop you from getting out of your comfort zone. And ignore the negative voices in your head.
    Read: Instead of Wallowing in Self-Doubt, Do These 3 Things
  2. Get Going: Start by volunteering. And get your friends and family involved.
    Read: 4 Inspirational Stories of People Who Used Their Personal Struggles to Help Others
  3. Baby Steps: Take your big goals and break them down to little increments.
    Read: John C. Maxwell: 4 Ways to Reach Your Personal Best
  4. Into the Wild: Being in the outdoors will be a welcome change.
    Read: ‘Maybe the Only Way to Have an Answer to the Unknown Is to Face It Every So Often’
  5. Moderation: Browsing social media is a highlight reel of other’s lives. Don’t live in the comparison trap.
    Read:  Why Social Media Is Ruining Your Self-Esteem—and How to Stop It
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Setup YOUR Team Roster on TourneyBuddy

We have launched our Team Tools and added 100s of teams to our database. See if you are listed at: http://blog.tourney.life/teams … there is a simple process to claim your team.

Once you have your Team, you can add Players, Text directly to your Players, setup Schedules, record Game Scores, and more.

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How to get players talking on the court

This article taken from Coach Mac. Check out more of what he offers at: https://www.basketballforcoaches.com

We’ve all heard it before, “talk on defense” or “let’s hear you talking”. Coach Mac says “The smartest basketball coaches on the planet understand the importance of communication.” But we often don’t train players on the precise words to use.

“Effective teamwork begins and ends with communication” – Mike Krzyzewski

“If you’re not talking, you’re not playing defense” – Doc Rivers

“Not talking on the floor is the least recognized form of selfishness but maybe the most dangerous to your team having success” – Tom Crean

Coach Mac says:

Here’s a list of some of the terms I encourage players to use when communicating with their teammates on defense:

“BALL” – To let teammates know you’re going to guard the player with the basketball.

“DEAD” – Used when the player you’re guarding picks up the basketball and can’t dribble again. This is often to let teammates know to hard deny the player they’re guarding to prevent the offense getting out of a difficult position.

“SCREEN LEFT or SCREEN RIGHT” – To let an on-ball defender know there’s a screen coming. Communicating whether the pick is left or right is important.

“HELP LEFT or HELP RIGHT” – Mostly used by players one-pass away to let the on-ball defender know they’re in position to help if the player with the basketball attempts to penetrate into the lane.

“MIDDLE” – To let teammates know you’re in the middle of the key in help position.

“SWITCH or OVER or UNDER” – Key words used when there’s a screen to communicate how it will be defended. What words players use will depend on the team’s philosophy on defending screens.

“CUTTER” – To let teammates know there’s an off-ball player cutting through the key to catch the basketball in a dangerous position.

To me, those are the main key terms coaches should be encouraging their players to use on the defensive end of the floor.

Check out Coach Mac’s guide the Championship Coaching Course. It includes both Man-to-Man Defensive Guide (includes drills + practice plans + 136-pages) and 30 Team Defense Drills (69-pages).