Hey, Huddle Up, Lots of Good Coaching To Do...
Here is your Weekly Tip By TJ:
Skill: shooting
Drill: shot fake
Action: -spin the ball to yourself, catch it
and square up to the basket
- look at the rim and begin into your
shooting motion
- fake taking a shot by showing the ball
as if you are going to shoot and use
your head and your eyes to sell the fake
(look up at the rim and nod your head up
in the air)
- following the fake, dribble the ball in
for a lay-up
Workout : 5 head fakes into a lay-up on the right side
then repeat the drill 5 times on the left side,
5 more times starting on the right or left and
and then finishing the lay-up down the
the middle of the lane
Basketball Seminar and Tele-Coaching Update:
I am preparing to have the first tele-coaching seminar in the near future. I am working hard to have a great guest on the call with me so you get outstanding information for each event.
Also, I am in the process of working toward securing a facility for the 2 day Basketball Speed Seminar. It is going to be awesome and I can't wait to bring it on.
So keep focused on any information you receive coming from Basketball Speed Insiders Membership Club- you don't want to miss a thing.
The Seasons are underway!
There might be a few high schools around the country still waiting for their initial tip off to the season but for the most part the leather is hitting the wood floor all around the country and world- YES!
I am anxious to keep my eye on many players this year. There is one in particular that I will be supporting more than the rest. My nephew Jimmer Fredette will be a big impact player as a sophomore for BYU this year. He saw quality minutes last season and played a big role in their first round game against Texas A&M in the NCAA tourney.
Jimmer is a powerful athlete and has a high basketball IQ. He is an example of an athlete that worked hard to achieve his goal of being a D-1 player. He started working with me when he was 6 years old and just learned how to move each year. When he was older, I started pushing him to a new level of training because he was physically and mentally ready. He not only scored over 2,400 points in high school, but he was also a first team All-State wide receiver in football. When he was younger, he was a powerful baseball player as well.
So if you happen to catch a BYU game this season, keep an eye out for Jimmer- I will be.
How Long Should A Drill Be?
One of the keys to being a good coach is knowing how to practice. It is about understanding what you need to accomplish and how to do it. But the most important aspect of this statement is knowing how to adjust according to the age and ability level you are presently coaching.
One of my pet peeves is when a coach runs a drill for too long. This seems to occur more at the younger level but is often seen at the high school level as well.
The reasons for drills run too long is poor preparation in planning and organizing the drill. In other words, the athletes are not properly organized so the drill can move smoothly. Also, when a coach constantly stops the drill to instruct when only a couple players are having difficulty. This shouldn't happen. The players having difficulty should be pulled aside and given attention, but if all the players are stopped each time, it slows down the learning and the momentum of the drill and practice can be lost. Finally, when the coach really doesn't know what they are attempting to accomplish with the drill, it can take on a life of its own and never do what it was meant to do. I mentioned this before where it is important to know what your team and individual players need. Don't go after the fancy looking drills that some college or pro teams run just because it looks cool. Be specific to your teams needs. This will help.
I personally feel each drill should have a time allotted to it. But don't start the time until you have clearly demonstrated and instructed the team on how the drill is going to work and the purpose of the drill One of the biggest mistakes is not letting the players know what the drill is meant to accomplish. Once the drill is underway you should be coaching them at crucial times; when you see effort is down, when players are out of position, if a player is making the same mistake over and over. But keep the verbal cueing specific and to the point. Don't just yell for the sake of yelling. Be positive and praise good effort and execution. This helps breed success.
The important factor to remember is you will not make a drill or the execution of a drill perfect the first time. You want to do it in stages. Knowing this, you can allot for shorter time frames at each drill but be really focused and concentrated during the allotted time. If you go too long, you risk the loss of concentration and sloppiness creeping in.
Be prepared to finish each drill with a short assessment of what was good and what needs improvemed.
As a rule of thumb, I personally feel half court drills should be shorter than full court drills only because they take longer to develop. But this might not be the case all the time. If you are working half court on a drill that involves many aspects of the game like; defensive rebounding, out letting the ball, as well as a defensive focus on pressuring the ball or trapping... then it might take longer. But if your half court drill is skeleton defense on how to play the passing lane and shift with the ball- this should not be a long drill.
Ok, Hoopsters. I hope this helps you and I can't wait for you to get the upcoming interviews and information. Remember, play hard but have fun- It's a great game.
Play Hard,
Lee
PS: If you have not taken advantage of the FREE month of Basketball Speed Insiders yet- get up off the bench and join the club. Go to http://www.basketballspeedinsiders.com/ and try it out.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Monday, October 20, 2008
Motion Offense Can Be Great If...
Basketball is underway!
NBA and college has begun and high school is almost ready to start. What a great time of the year. I am honored to bring you this basketball blog. Each week you will be receiving my basketball blog (often times more than once). In the blog will be tips on basketball skills, practice strategies, and other useful information that can be implemented immediately. So here we go...
Weekly Skill Tip: From TJ. Fredette
Skill: Jump Shot
Drill: Alternating Elbow Jumpers
Action: - stand on one elbow on the court and spin the
ball to the opposite elbow
- run to the ball and catch it on the first bounce
- Use inside foot to pivot and face the basket
(square your shoulders and feet)
- bend knees, elevate, and take jump shot
- follow your shot, if you miss, lay the ball in the basket
- after putting the ball in, go to the opposite elbow and
repeat the drill
Practice Strategy
Each practice should have a theme. This theme should be dedicated to what you want to accomplish and what you want the team to focus on. For example; you might want to put a big emphasis on defensive help. When you address the team at the beginning of practice you should write this theme on the board "help defense." Then you want to go over what you want your team to focus on with regards to help defense. During practice when you demonstrate and walk your team through situations of help defense, the players will have a mental focus dedicate to the theme of the day.
The important thing to note is the theme of the day can't be a one time thing. In other words, you don't want a focus of help defense today and then tomorrow when you have a new theme the help defense is forgotten. It should all be a progression of building better team play.
The great thing about having a theme is you can really tap into the mental focus of your players simply by putting it down on the board and talking about it with importance. I have found this to be a helpful practice strategy over the years.
Motion Offense Issues???
One of the most popular offenses today is the motion offense. There are so many variation of this offensive system. The motion offense allows for great variety and flexibility. You can run motion to set up your key scorers, you can run motion to run down the clock, you can run motion to create mismatches, you can run motion to create backdoor plays or three-point shots. It is all in how you emphasize the offense.
There are some teams that use one or two low post players at screeners in the motion offense. While other teams allow all five players handle the ball anywhere on the court. The key to the motion offense is the coach must dictate what a good shot and a bad shot is for each player.
The motion offense, if left untamed, can have issues. You don't want your worst three-point shooter or your worst passer trying to perform those skills in the motion offense. The coach must set rules for each player. When a low post player catches the ball outside the three-point line and he or she is unable to make a three-point shot, it needs to be a rule that this player does not take that shot. Now, you can't just leave it at that rule. You have to give this person the options he or she has. They might be capable of making a good low post pass, or doing a hand-off screen. The point is each player has to know his or her limitations. This way the motion offense can run smoothly.
So the motion offense, as great as it can be, has to be evaluated from the players standpoint and abilities. This makes the offense better because everyone understands their role and can execute their roles well.
If you coach college or youth basketball, the motion offense has a place. You, as the coach, must make the offense fit the players you have. If you run the motion offense as your primary offense or if you run it occasionally, don't let your players define their roles because everyone thinks their a point guard and everyone thinks they can shot the 3s. Have fun!
Play Hard,
Lee
PS: I would love to hear your input- especially about things you want to read about or see in the monthly videos. Send your requests to members@basketballspeedinsiders.com. Also if you have not taken advantage of this great resource you need to go to http://www.basketballspeedinsiders.com/ to sign up now.
NBA and college has begun and high school is almost ready to start. What a great time of the year. I am honored to bring you this basketball blog. Each week you will be receiving my basketball blog (often times more than once). In the blog will be tips on basketball skills, practice strategies, and other useful information that can be implemented immediately. So here we go...
Weekly Skill Tip: From TJ. Fredette
Skill: Jump Shot
Drill: Alternating Elbow Jumpers
Action: - stand on one elbow on the court and spin the
ball to the opposite elbow
- run to the ball and catch it on the first bounce
- Use inside foot to pivot and face the basket
(square your shoulders and feet)
- bend knees, elevate, and take jump shot
- follow your shot, if you miss, lay the ball in the basket
- after putting the ball in, go to the opposite elbow and
repeat the drill
Practice Strategy
Each practice should have a theme. This theme should be dedicated to what you want to accomplish and what you want the team to focus on. For example; you might want to put a big emphasis on defensive help. When you address the team at the beginning of practice you should write this theme on the board "help defense." Then you want to go over what you want your team to focus on with regards to help defense. During practice when you demonstrate and walk your team through situations of help defense, the players will have a mental focus dedicate to the theme of the day.
The important thing to note is the theme of the day can't be a one time thing. In other words, you don't want a focus of help defense today and then tomorrow when you have a new theme the help defense is forgotten. It should all be a progression of building better team play.
The great thing about having a theme is you can really tap into the mental focus of your players simply by putting it down on the board and talking about it with importance. I have found this to be a helpful practice strategy over the years.
Motion Offense Issues???
One of the most popular offenses today is the motion offense. There are so many variation of this offensive system. The motion offense allows for great variety and flexibility. You can run motion to set up your key scorers, you can run motion to run down the clock, you can run motion to create mismatches, you can run motion to create backdoor plays or three-point shots. It is all in how you emphasize the offense.
There are some teams that use one or two low post players at screeners in the motion offense. While other teams allow all five players handle the ball anywhere on the court. The key to the motion offense is the coach must dictate what a good shot and a bad shot is for each player.
The motion offense, if left untamed, can have issues. You don't want your worst three-point shooter or your worst passer trying to perform those skills in the motion offense. The coach must set rules for each player. When a low post player catches the ball outside the three-point line and he or she is unable to make a three-point shot, it needs to be a rule that this player does not take that shot. Now, you can't just leave it at that rule. You have to give this person the options he or she has. They might be capable of making a good low post pass, or doing a hand-off screen. The point is each player has to know his or her limitations. This way the motion offense can run smoothly.
So the motion offense, as great as it can be, has to be evaluated from the players standpoint and abilities. This makes the offense better because everyone understands their role and can execute their roles well.
If you coach college or youth basketball, the motion offense has a place. You, as the coach, must make the offense fit the players you have. If you run the motion offense as your primary offense or if you run it occasionally, don't let your players define their roles because everyone thinks their a point guard and everyone thinks they can shot the 3s. Have fun!
Play Hard,
Lee
PS: I would love to hear your input- especially about things you want to read about or see in the monthly videos. Send your requests to members@basketballspeedinsiders.com. Also if you have not taken advantage of this great resource you need to go to http://www.basketballspeedinsiders.com/ to sign up now.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Finally! More Basketball...
Yes! This is my first post on my new basketball blog. I have been waiting to do this for a long time. Basketball has always been an important part of my life. Let me give you just a little history on my Hoops past.
I grew up in a family where my father was a great player in college and in the service. He had played on several semi-pro teams back in the 40's. He coached it for many years at the high school level and gave me my first introduction to the sport when I was real young. My 2 brothers were also great players. They both played college ball and have coached it. When I got into high school I pretty much played it year round- even though I played 4 sports. Me and my friends would shovel the courts off in the winter at the playground and play for hours.
I ended up playing 4 years of college ball and started all 4 years as a point guard. It was a great learning experience for me and carried me right into being a young 23 year old head coach. I spent many years tritaining and coaching athletes in the sport of basketball from every level. Over the years I was able to develop programs and systems to help improve teams and individual players. I quickly realized if I wanted to make a big impact on the sport I needed to have programs that would help coaches- this in turn would help tons of players.
So here I am today, still helping trainbasketball players (among other sport athletes), and even coaching elementary basketball because that is where my daughters are- and I love every second of it. But what really has gotten me excited is the new program I just launched to help coaches, players, parents, schools, and youth organizations. The program is called Basketball Speed Insiders. Go to http://www.basketballspeedinsiders.com/ and you can check find out more how you can get involved.
Basketball Speed Insiders is an opportunity for me to work with serious coaches and athletes wanting to have continuous resources each and every month to help them in the game of basketball.
This program will interviews from some of the top basketball coaches and strength coaches in the game. There will be on-line videos footage of skills and strategies to improve basketball skills and strength and conditioning. You will receive weekly basketball tips to keep you sharp all week long. There are going to be articles with great information, tele-seminars, and even an live in person seminar. This is definitely the place to be if you want help and support all the time. You can even send in your questions each month and get them answered.
I am excited about this because it keeps me in the game and staying sharp. I work real hard to give you the best information I can.
This first blog was kind of an introduction to me and to my new program, but this blog will have lots of useful information and stories as we go along each week.
I would love to hear your comments about the things you really want to learn.
Thanks so much for being a part of the Basketball Speed Insiders Club. Don't forget to go to http://www.basketballspeedinsiders.com/ if you haven't yet.
Play Hard,
Lee
PS: Being apart of the Basketball Speed Insiders membership club will be the best moves you make all year. go to http://www.basketballspeedinsiders.com/ now to join the club.
PSS: If you have someone you think would benefit from all this basketball information please feel free to pass it along.
I grew up in a family where my father was a great player in college and in the service. He had played on several semi-pro teams back in the 40's. He coached it for many years at the high school level and gave me my first introduction to the sport when I was real young. My 2 brothers were also great players. They both played college ball and have coached it. When I got into high school I pretty much played it year round- even though I played 4 sports. Me and my friends would shovel the courts off in the winter at the playground and play for hours.
I ended up playing 4 years of college ball and started all 4 years as a point guard. It was a great learning experience for me and carried me right into being a young 23 year old head coach. I spent many years tritaining and coaching athletes in the sport of basketball from every level. Over the years I was able to develop programs and systems to help improve teams and individual players. I quickly realized if I wanted to make a big impact on the sport I needed to have programs that would help coaches- this in turn would help tons of players.
So here I am today, still helping trainbasketball players (among other sport athletes), and even coaching elementary basketball because that is where my daughters are- and I love every second of it. But what really has gotten me excited is the new program I just launched to help coaches, players, parents, schools, and youth organizations. The program is called Basketball Speed Insiders. Go to http://www.basketballspeedinsiders.com/ and you can check find out more how you can get involved.
Basketball Speed Insiders is an opportunity for me to work with serious coaches and athletes wanting to have continuous resources each and every month to help them in the game of basketball.
This program will interviews from some of the top basketball coaches and strength coaches in the game. There will be on-line videos footage of skills and strategies to improve basketball skills and strength and conditioning. You will receive weekly basketball tips to keep you sharp all week long. There are going to be articles with great information, tele-seminars, and even an live in person seminar. This is definitely the place to be if you want help and support all the time. You can even send in your questions each month and get them answered.
I am excited about this because it keeps me in the game and staying sharp. I work real hard to give you the best information I can.
This first blog was kind of an introduction to me and to my new program, but this blog will have lots of useful information and stories as we go along each week.
I would love to hear your comments about the things you really want to learn.
Thanks so much for being a part of the Basketball Speed Insiders Club. Don't forget to go to http://www.basketballspeedinsiders.com/ if you haven't yet.
Play Hard,
Lee
PS: Being apart of the Basketball Speed Insiders membership club will be the best moves you make all year. go to http://www.basketballspeedinsiders.com/ now to join the club.
PSS: If you have someone you think would benefit from all this basketball information please feel free to pass it along.
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