Creating More Opportunities

Hello BBall Enthusiast,

Following this basketball Speed blog I will be taking a break for a short while to venture into some new opportunities. I have truly enjoyed the interaction over the course of Basketball Speed Insiders. I can't wait to re-start it in the near future. So don't go too far and be ready in the near future.

In line with my opening paragraph I wish to share my thoughts on how we as basketball coaches have tremendous opportunities to open avenues for young players/people. We have the rare opportunity to mold and guide young athletes in a direction that is not only positive for them, but sets them up as leader of others in the future. This I take seriously and only hope you will as well.

In the course of a basketball practice you will create offensive and defensive plays, skills to improve their ball handling and shooting, but most importantly you will hold them accountable for making great choices to be successful in the game. You will ask them to react under pressure in the final moments of the game. You will even ask them to handle themselves with pride, respect, and dignity in the tough times. You will ask them to sacrifice to be better.

The mistake we as coaches would make is think we are only coaching basketball. We are molding the future. We are mentoring and leading.

Although this blog isn't helping you with a drill or a skill in basketball, and many coaches will completely dismiss this blog as a waste of time, but this blog post is what it is all about. This is why we should become coaches and teacher of young people. Don't miss the point of our true job.

I hope this sparks an interest in you to pursue your coaching with a true mission or it reminds you that you are changing lives everyday both on and off the court.

Can't wait to hook up soon!

Play Hard!

Lee

A Youth Basketball Program

If you are coach or a parent wanting to start up a youth basketball program in your community, first of all GOOD FOR YOU, secondly create a plan and be flexible.

Youth basketball is about 2 things:

1. Create a FUN atmosphere where kids want to be apart of. Don't scare off the kids.
2. Build a foundation of solid skill- teach them how the skills will make them a better player.

You should take the time to outline each practice (believe me, this only takes 5 minutes if you are organized). Take the time to create a template form. This way you simply can input your plan practice each day. Here is what one might look like:

1. Warm up
2. Ball handling skills
3. Passing skills
4. Shooting skills
5. Defensive skills
6. Full Court skills
7. Fun Games

Obviously each day will be slightly different but if you have basic headings you can put the drills you want to use "today". you will have to have rebounding and boxing out adding in as well- but not every day.

So, take a few minutes and create a simple template for yourself that you can use to keep your practices organized.

The next real important step is to create fun times. Take the time to plan some events that the kids can get involved in. Maybe a 3 on 3 tournament, maybe a different activity like dodgeball. We play a game called kickball basketball sometimes after practice- they love it. We are also planning a basketball lock in. This will be a night where hold a practice in the early evening then watch basketball movies (Hoosiers), spend the night at the gym, have breakfast and play some ball.

Starting any youth program is about creating excitement and belonging. Also, ask for help from parents if you need it.

Love to hear your thoughts!

Play Hard,

Lee

PS: If you are looking for skills and drills for basketball go to www.SportsSpeedEtc.com and check out Basketball Speed and Basketball Speed 2.

Resist For Speed

Hey Hoopsters!

Here is a tip that will progress you players on court lateral and liner speed quickly; Resist them for speed.

When I want to add more speed to any athlete I have to make them produce more force and more force quickly. So I use some resisted training methods on the floor.

If you take a fairly light band or tubing and put it around the players waist and ask them to perform short acceleration exercises in all directions (lateral shuffles/crossovers, forward accelerations, and angular accelerations) they will product more force. By doing this the athlete will get into a better stance due to the resistance. They will figure out they have to be lower to keep balance. Plus, they will be forced to lean properly and push harder into the ground. Make sure the resistance is not so heavy they have to completely change their movement pattern just to move.

Perform these exercises 1-2 times per week. Perform 2-3 sets of 3-6 repetitions on each side (for lateral and angular).

Precautions; you do not need to do this with heavy bands. It simply needs to make the basketball player move with more effort than they are normally use to- you can add a little resistance over time. If the athlete is not able to perform the drill well without resistance do not add resistance until they can. ALWAYS MAKE SURE THE TUBING OR BANDS ARE SAFE!

A great time to introduce and use the resisted drills would be after warm ups or just before a drink break during the first part of practice. The purpose of these drills are to improve speed and power- if you do them at the end of practice the players are too tires and won't be able to give full effort.

Let me know how this works out.

Play Hard,

Lee

PS: My new Basketball Speed 2 DVD has some great acceleration drills using tubing. Go to www.SportsSpeedEtc.com to learn more.

Use This For Greater Speed???

Many times we feel the only way to get good at something is to do that exact thing. If we want to get better at shooting we shoot more. if we want to get better at rebounding we rebound more. There is no doubt you can improve just doing these things mentioned. But what if the things mentioned above do not address the limitations in allowing you to reach your potential?? Let me share with you a great way you can get faster and quicker but not really move much...

Basketball players have to have great first step quickness and change of direction ability. Just like I eluded to above, I can practice first step drills or change of direction drills until I am blue in the face. But what if the reason I am not reaching my potential is because I lack strength and stability in my core (or any other area for that matter)? I have to eliminate the limitation so I can reach my true potential.

I have found over the years using a medicine ball is one of the finest ways to improving speed and quickness on a basketball court. Why? Because in order to throw the ball with power you have to be stable and well "rooted" into the ground.

Here are a few drills I like to use to make athletes more powerful and therefor faster on the court:

1. Staggered stance push pass- hold the ball on one side of the body with that same side foot back. Quickly push off the back foot, transferring the body forward, so the front foot can drive down and back hard and at the same time push the ball out aggressively with the arm. So if the ball is in the right had the left foot is in front. The left leg and right hand become the power sources. Once good at doing this way, switch legs but keep the same arm. This will create a different feeling but force the body to be strong and stable in a different stance. Perform 6-8 throws in each hand and with each leg forward.

2. Side Throw progression- this is my all time favorite medicine ball routine. Start in a good athletic stance with the ball at chest level and elbows out. The ball is going to be thrown sideways not straight in front of the body like a chest pass. From the athletic stance drive hard off the back foot pushing the body sideways and take a small short step with the front foot. Push the ball hard and explosively across the body as the hips open up (It looks something like a baseball batter taking a swing, except the body will move in the direction of the throw). The key is to stay low and drive off the back foot. This action teaches the athlete to push hard off the back foot just like if a shuffle or a turn and run move was going to be used.
-the second part to this exercise is to know have the player take 2 shuffles forward (toward the direction of the throw) and throw. This adds more power and quickness to the throw.
-the last part of the progression is to now take 2 shuffles back away from the direction of the throw and quickly stop and throw. This is the most important of the drills because it teaches the player to stay low, create a good stopping plant and be able to quickly throw off this leg and drive the hips through.

3. The last drill I will share is the push press- This drill is done by getting into a jump stance and holding the ball at the upper chest. Squat down to roughly a 1/4 squat depth or slightly below and explode up and push the ball up as high as possible. You should jump into the air and extend the arms and legs. From the moment you start the jump out of the squat you should strong throughout your posture. Do not bend forward at the upper or lower back. This exercises teaches how to explode vertically quickly with great posture.

Give these a try and let me know your thoughts.

Remember, if you want to be fast you have to do more than just running. And if you want to be quicker on the basketball court you have to train the body to be quick.

Play Hard,

Lee

PS: It might only be summer, but basketball never stops, Pick up your copy of Basketball Speed so you can take your game to the next level. Go http://www.mybasketballspeed.com/

Pass to the right spot

There is one thing that drives me nuts as a coach, it is when players don't lead their teammate when they are cutting to the basket or going on a fast break. The pass gets thrown behind them. It is a sure way to turn the ball over or at least miss an easy scoring opportunity. Here are a couple drills I like to use to get the players thinking about "Leading" the pass.

1. Bowling for basketballs- This drill might seem elementary but you will be amazed at how poorly players judge the speed at pass needs to be thrown at. The coach will be on the baseline and the team will be at 1/2 court. Each player has a ball and so does the coach. The coach will roll his or her ball along the baseline. The players must roll their ball and try to hit the coaches ball. The goal is to read the speed of the coaches ball and lead it with their ball. I constantly see players roll the ball way to late or way behind. They don't understand touch or assessing the speed. This is why when a teammate goes backdoor the pass ends up behind them.

2. The second drill is one of my favorite passing drills. Have 2 lay up lines. The line on the left will have the basketballs. They start the drill by dribbling toward the top of the key. The opposite line will make a quick out fake and then immediately go backdoor. The passer must make a quick hard bounce pass so the cutter has to hustle to make the catch. I want the pass hard and out in front. This teaches the cutter to use great hands but also teaches the passer to get the ball out in front and make the cutter catch up to it. The first couple times doing this drill the ball will get thrown out too far but eventually both the passer and cutter will adjust.

Obviously there are many drills to work on passing to cutters and you should use the ones that make the most sense to your situation. The goal is to teach players to get the ball in front by judging the speed of the cutter or player in front so they can run to the ball. Never pass behind unless it is a tactic and expected.

Play Hard

Lee

Training The Best!

I had an unbelievable weekend. I spent the day in New Hampshire at the Reebok headquarters working with some of the top high school basketball players in the state. I can't tell you much about the big project but it was a blast.

Basically I was asked by my good friend and top level strength coach David Jack, who is spear heading the big program, to come in and teach these players on the court basketball speed techniques. They were great! they players really learned as they went through the process. When we first started out they were not getting into the key positions to elicit great speed and quickness, but with constant prodding and poking they finally got it and they just took off.

You see, if you want results you have to coach for results. I didn't just give them a drill and ask them to complete the drill. I gave them a SKILL and asked them to execute the skill with precision and effort. Many times the players might be slightly off on the execution of the skill but because they used great effort they pulled the skill off. Now I can clean up the technique, but if they don't give me effort I never get a true read as to how they skill should look for each individual.

To give you and example I taught them the lateral speed skills of the shuffle and crossover. I than tagged that together with the hip turn and shuffle or crossover. The final touch was to make live drills where they had to use the skills in conjunction. WHAT A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO TEACH AND ASSESS THE PLAYERS LIVE MOVEMENT.

By the end. They players moved real well, had a better understanding of how to make self-corrections, and they gained a ton of confidence in their ability. It was fantastic!

So, if you are serious about getting basketball results and on court speed results than simply know your stuff and coach the dickens out the players. You will love what you see.

Play Hard!

Lee

Move To Create Passing Lanes

Congratulations goes out to the Lakers. They were chosen by many at the beginning of the season and they were up to the task. Could they do it again???

Have you ever heard the saying "Don't get caught being a spectator". Well this basically means don't stand around and watch your teammates create while you do nothing.

Part of making penetration so dangerous is when the ball handler has options. Great defensive teams are able to control the ball handler and not allow easy passing off penetration. Great offensive teams force the defense to help on the ball handler and when they do- find the open man.

Let me share with you a great drill for your offense to practice.

Penetrate and Slide:

Have the guard start at the top middle of the court. He or she will penetrate down the right side of the lane roughly just inside the right elbow and perform a jump stop. The wing player must slide toward the corner with the feet squared up preparing to catch and shoot.

Perform this drill several times with no defenders. The goal is to get the wing player to move as the ball handler is driving into the lane. The wing players man will be the first line of help side defense- so when he or she helps the ball gets kicked out to the open wing (the problem with most players is the stand still and watch the ball handler and don't create a passing lane).

One you have practiced this several times with no defense start by adding a defender on the wing player. Then add a defender on the ball handler as well. Adding a defender will make the offense be more protective of the ball and learn how to find the open lanes- practicing the drill without the defense allows the offense to time up the movement.

Now I want you to take this same drill and move it all around the court. In other words, have the ball handler penetrate from the wing toward the middle (not baseline) and kick it to either a top of the key player or wing player. You want to teach the different options the off ball offensive players have to get open. Many times the player should slide to the open spot going in the same direction as the ball handler. But sometimes that is not where the passing lane will be open- so the off the ball player must slide back and not go with the offensive player. This makes a more difficult pass for the ball handler due to having to pass back against the grain- but you have to work on this option.

The goals of the drill are to teach your offensive players move to create passing lanes and to teach teammates to work together and create trust in each player that they will be where they should be.

Let me know how this works out and if you have any additional drills to help create passing lanes. I am sure the readers would love to learn more.

Play Hard,

Lee

PS: I know it is summer and your team may not be together at the time but why not hold open gym and work with any players that show up. Success is contagious and once you start getting a little success with some players the rest will want to join in

Defend For Offense

In the monthly CD I wanted to share some information I feel is important for coaches to understand. Many new coaches are growing up in a fast pace game with high pressure defense and denial. This is great for those teams that have the athletes to pull it off, but how about everyone else?

I feel too often we create bad situations for our team because we over pressure in the passing lanes. We ask our players to do too much; things they are not capable of doing. Let me share my thoughts on how I feel defense should be played for most teams.

1. Play hard on the ball if capable. If the ball handler is much quicker then back off and be active with hands to disrupt passing lanes.
2. All defenders off the ball (1, 2, and 3 passes away) should be totally committed to help the ball. When they play in the passing lane they are more subject to back door cuts, back picks, and unable to help on penetration.
3. Think "keep the ball in front, away from the lane". This approach allows you to get rebounds and get out and run- if you like to run.

One of the big problems I see with teams to over-pressure beyond their capability is they get their big men in foul trouble because they are always having to help out against explosive and quick guards and forwards.

Many coaches think it is lazy defense and easy to coach. It is just the opposite. To get players to be disciplined enough to always be aware of the ball, be in the appropriate spot to help defend, and to stay in great rebounding position isn't easy.

I would love to hear your thoughts on this post.

Play Hard,

Lee

PS: If you are a coach and are looking for away to have 24/7 access to important information on coaching athletes, speed skills, strength, nutrition and a lot more go to www.SpeedInsiders.com

Assess For Motivation And For Fun

Well, the NBA finals are set and it isn't who I thought. I really wanted to see Cleveland and Lakers face off but nonetheless it should be a great finals.

I am sure the Cavs will go back and assess their current situation and address their limitation this off season. Assessing situations is what allows us all to make decisions on the next step or action plan. Tonight is the first night of summer open gym for the girls basketball, and I am going to start off with fun assessments for 2 reasons:

1. I want the girls to see areas they can work on over the summer to improve their game.
2. The girls really like doing tests and seeing how well they can do.

The results of the tests don't really matter to me at the age I am working with, but it motivates them and makes for a fun session.

I could choose any number of exercises to test but I am basically going to use fun and simple tests the kids will enjoy. Here are some samples of what i will use. I will even use tests the girls want to try- remember, it is about them in the first place:

1. 555 shuffle- I will set up a 5 yard area and have the players shuffle this distance 3 times.
2. 20 yard sprint- simple and to the point.
3. M-ball through- the girls will sit and use the upper body chest pass for distance.
4. Full court slalom dribble and back- Each cone will be at roughly 45 degrees and 15 feet apart. The girls must dribble up and back through the slalom.
5. 5-10-5 test- great for change of direction and learning to use the hips.

Again, I am not after the numbers. I am trying to build excitement and a program. By having testing that is fun and the girls like to do, they will enjoy the day and learn what they can work on.

What ever you do don't make a big deal out of poor scores or great scores. Just let them make up and enjoy the process- they will figure it out on their own.

Love to hear your thoughts.

Play Hard,

Lee

PS: I know basketball season is still a long ways away but you have the perfect opportunity to build your game now. Check out www.BasketballSpeed.com and www.BasketballSpeed2.com so you can get a great head start.

Get Your Groove On!

Shooting a basketball, just like any other sport skill, requires that you develop a groove. A groove is another term for motor program. When you perform a skill over and over a certain way the brain develops a smooth pathway that becomes the default pattern. Great shooters in basketball know this and practice shooting the correct way all the time.

I feel on of the best ways to develop a groove for a young shooter is to start short and work your way out. This sounds like common sense but rarely do we see players do this. The might take a couple token close shots and immediately get out to the long range.

Here is a plan that works:

1. Pick out 7 short shots (5-10 feet) and shoot 5-10 shots from each of those spots. Shoot these shots from a stand still. Here are the 7 spots we use with our young girls program.
-right low block
-left low block
-middle of the lane in front of the hoop
-right short wing
-left short wing
-right short corner
-left short corner

2. Next, back up to a good mid range jumper, and work off either stepping into a catch and shoot or spinning the ball to yourself and shoot. In either case make sure you step in low and in rhythm. Shoot 5-10 shots from each spot.

3. Finally, all shots are taken from a dribble move. The move can be a penetration and pull up, a jump back shot, or a one hard dribble separation dribble and shot. 5-10 from each spot.

If you develop a routine like this it will groove your shot. BUT, you must shot properly. However that is for you- you must be consistent each and every time. On another post I will talk about what I think is the proper shot- you might be surprised!

Play Hard,

Lee

PS: If you are looking to invest in your game with a resource on offensive moves check out www.BasketballSpeed2.com. This is not a fancy dribbling trick type of video. It is a nuts and bolts skill product that will make you a better player at any level.

POSTING UP EVERYWHERE!

I don't care if you are a point guard, 2 guard, or center, everyone needs to be able to post up. Don't think I am just talking about posting up in the low post.

One of the things we work on constantly with our players is to be patient when trying to receive a pass and you are being pressured. We teach our girls how to seal off the defender by basically posting up anywhere on the floor. Here are the things we look for:

1. Using the close arm to hold off and create space for your outside arm.
2. Spread out with the lower body to make it difficult for the defender to step around
3. Bend the knees and lean on the defender but keep balance.

If we can get young players to do this we feel confident they can receive a pass anywhere on the floor.

A big problem with young players is they panic if they can't get open and run all over the place like a chicken with the head cut off. We want out kids to do a couple things. If they are being played tight to go backdoor to keep the defender honest. The second thing is to use a strong V-cut to get open. These moves are simple but must be done at a fast pace to create separation from the defender. We figure if we can teach our girls while they are young to do this then we can add many variation when they get older.

Now, if we want our girls to get the ball in a certain spot, but the defender is making it difficult and the backdoor or V-cut isn't an option, then we post up. We want the girls to get in front of the defender, seal off with the close arm, show the other hand out away from the defender and then break contact and go get the pass with both hands once the pass is thrown. Now we get in triple threat and attack!

So spend some time with your players teaching them to post up everywhere on the floor.

Let me know how you make out with this skill.

Play Hard,

Lee

PS: If you are looking for skills and drills to improve your court speed and offensive explosion go check out the original BASKETBALL SPEED and the New Basketball Speed 2. You can go to www.SportsSpeedEtc.com to get a first hand look.

Full Court Drills For Kids??

Recently I taught my 3rd-5th grade girls how to practice full court drills like 3 man weave, 3 on 3 minus one, and 3 on 2, 2 on 1. After just two practices they can all pretty much do these drills. Why would I teach these drills to young players? Let me explain.

When a young player is in the learning stage of skill development the more you throw at them the more they will adapt (as long as the skill is not to advanced). The reason I like the 3 drills above is because they involve important foundational skills the younger players should be learning.

The 3 man weave- this drill requires players to pass accurately, catch the ball softly, and to run while changing directions. Plus the player have to learn to lead a pass, catch an errant pass, and hustle up the floor to stay with teammates. Great drill for young kids to get excited about.

The 3 on 3 minus one- In the drill players must learn to communicate and help out on defense. It looks like this; 3 players spread out on the baseline and 3 facing them on the foul line extended. If the ball is passed to one of the players on the baseline the person across from them must run and touch the baseline and then hustle back and get in the play. The offensive team takes off 3 on 2. The 2 defenders remaining must talk and stop the ball until the 3rd defender gets back, or at least try to slow it down. This drill teaches the player to stop the ball, communicate, and from an offensive standpoint, push the ball up the floor and make good passes to the open player.

The 3 on 2, 2 on 1- Much like the 3 on 3 minus 1 drill the 3 offensive players on the break must make the correct pass, catch, and decide what to do next. It is a great drill for coaches to stop action and help players see their options.

Because we have spent so much time on dribbling and passing we feel the introduction of the full court drills is appropriate. But if the girls were unable to do the basic skills then full court drills would only lead to frustration.

Give it try and let me know what you found.

Play Hard

Lee

PS: If you know of youth coaches that would benefit from this blog please pass it along. Also, send the to www.BasketballSpeedInsiders.com so they can enjoy the benefits of membership

The Band Man

Hey Basketball fans,

I just did a great interview with David Schmitz. He is known as the the Band Man. The reason being is he works with elastic bands during his training sessions. Obviously it is more than just working with bands- David designs programs and training protocol off band training.

The reason I am talking about this today is because I am a big fan of using band and other forms of resistance training to increase horizontal, rotational, and gravitational forces. But of course it has to be done correctly.

After a basketball player has learned how to move correctly in all directions under his or her own body wt and mechanics. I will introduce resistance training in order to increase the neurological response and adaptation. I want the athlete to be able to apply more force more quickly. This is where we want all athletes at some point- FASTER! Let me share with you a few great resisted drills for bball players:

1. Resisted lateral shuffle- when I want to increase the ability to absorb forces and decelerate better I will have the athlete start away from the attachment point and shuffle a couple steps and decelerate moving toward the attachment. The athletes must stay "In the Tunnel" and create a good angle to decelerate. This should be done under control and gradually increase speed. If I want to increase speed and power I have the player shuffle away from the attachment. This increase force production.

2. Forward Acceleration- I will have the athlete accelerate powerfully for 3-4 steps away from the attachment point. Use proper arm and leg action an stay low and forward.

3. Crossover Acceleration- The player will now accelerate using a crossover step/directional step for 2 steps. This move is KEY for a basketball player.

4. Reverse jump stop- I think it is important for players to be able to jump stop or split step moving backwards. I want the player to be balanced and forward oriented with their body position. This exercises is a great exercise to teach them to load correctly.

Try these drill/skills out with light bands and see what happens. I think you will be pleasantly surprised with the results.

Play Hard,

Lee

PS: Don't forget to share this information with a buddy. Send them to www.BasketballSpeedInsiders.com so they can get quality information each month as well.

Let The Games Begin!

I don't care if you are an NBA fan or not- these games are exciting!

I couldn't believe the finish to the Celtic and Bulls game. It was a double overtime thriller. I thought each team had the game in the bag several times and the other team would hit a remarkable shot. Which leads me to my post...

How many times have you been apart of a high school game where the final shot was going to determine the outcome of the game? I have been in many of them as a player, coach, and spectator. More than not- the final shot is a "brick." But yet at the NBA level these players make or come close nearly every time. Automatic! Automatic! Automatic!

When pressure is on and the shot to be taken is a long range jumper the players that have shot thousands of shots and have grooved the pattern are the ones hitting or nearly hitting the game winning shot.

In the final moments of an exciting barn burner the players get overtaken many times by emotions and don't think as clearly as they do in practice when there is little pressure to make the shot. But in games that are close and the crowd is going wild the only thing you have to rely on is the fact that your body has rehearsed the shot so many times it is basically on auto-pilot. These are why game winning shots occur at the highest level. The NBA guys shoot for a living. But can you imagine if you could get high school kids to practice each and every day for at least 100 shots. What a difference in their confidence level. One of my nephews hit over 250 3 pointers in high school. He practiced his shot all the time. It was common for him to hit 7 3 pointers in a game. As where many players hardly can hit one.

Now, lets take this same philosophy of grooving the shooting pattern with other areas such as footwork, dribbling, passing, and defense. If you practiced these skills over and over eventually they would become automatic patterns, or default patterns. Great low post players have rehearsed the footwork patterns so much they can take a low post defender to school almost at will. Great ball handlers can dribble through pressure in the final seconds just as easy as they can in practice or at the park. It is because they are automatic play. They don't think about it- they just do it. It is so natural and common.

The difficult part is finding that player that is willing to work at any skill long enough to become great at it. Putting the work in when they are not feeling up to it is a difficult task- but those who succeed know this and are willing to pay the price.

Our task as coaches is to create situations where players can get tons of repetitions and concentration during the session. The thing you don't want is sloppy reps where they don't practice the skill correctly. If you are creative you can use many different drills to accomplish virtually the same skill- but it looks and feels different to the player so they work hard at it.

I would love to hear some ideas you have on this subject.

Play Hard,

Lee

PS: We know that great players have to work hard at their skills but we also know that great coaches must do the same thing. Coaches that are willing to take the time to research, attend clinics, and invest in resources to help their skills are going to be successful. Basketball Speed is a resource dedicated to improving how coaches can teach on the court speed. If you want to become a top notch basketball speed coach you need to check out www.MyBasketballSpeed.com

Getting On The Boards!

One of the most difficult skills to coach in basketball is rebounding. It is one of those skills taken over by attitude. Players with a "nose" for the ball and a willingness to battle are better rebounders than those who are less aggressive- even if they both have great box out technique.

Here is my thought on coaching rebounding.

You want to break down the fundamentals of boxing out. How to locate your man, how to make contact (go out and get your man), how to create a wide low body to have leverage, how to release and get the ball, then what to do with the ball once you've got it.

Every player can learn these skills and do them well during practice, but why don't they do it during games? I think it is because we don't have patients.

Boxing out takes discipline. Players have to be willing to take their eye off the shot when it is released, find the man, make contact and stay in contact until the ball is coming off the rim. All the while their natural instinct tells then to go get the ball- follow the ball. This is the way the rest of the game is played. Players move immediately on a pass, they move when their opponent dribbles, they cut to the hoop, the drive past defenders, and they dive for loose balls. But in boxing out you have to be patient and not move toward the play immediately. You actually move slightly away from the ball. This is takes training to be good at.

Here are some of my favorite drills I use to work on boxing out:

1. Shadow "Boxing"- Basically the rebounder slowly works on the techniques of boxing out with out a partner. The coach will point in the direction he or she wants the player to turn/step through and box out. This is how the player can get comfortable with the footwork.

2. Partner box out. Now add a partner and the rebounder must react to the direction the offensive player moves. Take it slow at first.

3. Live shot box out. Now the defender must rebound the ball off a live shot. The coach must stop the play every time the defender fails to do it correctly- even if they get the rebound. The reason for this is to get the players thinking about always doing it right to it becomes a habit.

4. 3 on 3 game- same as the live shot but now the they play a game. The offensive team gets 2 points for a rebound and the defense gets 1 point. The game goes to 5. This makes the defenders really focus and work.

5. Criss cross box out- Here you will teach your players to not chase but to protect their area. So the offensive players (start 3 on 3) will be bunched up and when the shot is taken they will attach the basket from different angles. The defenders must find the offensive player in their region and seal them off. This drill takes discipline. When I coaches high school boys basketball I use to have my players on foul shot call a play that meant the our closest rebounders to the board (this is when we were shooting) would cross hard. We were always good for a few cheap rebounds using this play. The reason is the inside rebounder always chases and doesn't defender their side.

So try these 5 drills out. Really the drill doesn't matter as much a the focus on discipline and technique. The one thing you don't want to discourage though is a players will and aggressiveness to go get the ball. So you as the coach have to balance the two.

Let me know what you think.

Play Hard,

Lee

PS: A great set of drills to improve athletic footwork to help boxing out are in my newest DVD set called Ground Breaking 2. Check it out at www.GroundBreaking2.com

Improve Your Shooting With....

I hope you are off to a good week. Here in Indiana the weather is ever changing. It is 38 and rainy one morning and 65 and sunny the next. I guess that is spring weather.

One thing that never changes is you have to put the ball in the hoop to get points. How you go about putting it in the hoop is another story.

There are many different shooting programs and coaches out there. All of them have the goal of improving the consistent nature of the shot. The funny thing is if you look at some of the best shooters we have in the game they all have a little different technique- but they all are consistent with their own technique.

Steve Nash shoots from off his shoulder- so did Larry Bird. Reggie Miller released in line with his head plus had a crossing follow through. You can list all the great shooters, and they all had different set-ups and follow-throughs, but they all grooved a pattern that worked for them.

Personally, I shoot and teach shooting more like the way Steve Nash shoots. I want the ball to be over my shooting elbow. I don't want the ball passing my eyes- I keep the window open by having the ball travel up the side of my face and in front of my shoulder. My release is at the hoop every time. When I position the ball in front of my face or in front of my shooting eye my wrist is not comfortable, and I normally shoot off target to the left. BUT THIS IS ME! I am comfortable in the pattern of shooting, because I grooved the pattern for many years.

When I am teaching young kids to shoot, I want them to balance the ball in their shooting hand as if they are going to shoot one handed. I then have them put the guide hand on the ball. Normally, this positions them so the ball is in-line with the shooting shoulder. Now as they grow and if I see them drift the ball inward toward the shooting eye but they keep shooting well, I know this is more comfortable for them. The key is I want the ball being shot straight at the hoop. When the shooter missed to the right or left consistently then I need to get them back into grooving a straight pattern.

Here are some shooting drill I like to use with young players:

1. Line shooting- The player sets up on a gym floor line and shoots the ball up and out like a real shot and tries to hit the line on the landing. This is a great visual drill to test how accurate they are and how straight the release is.

2. Wall shooting- Now the player gets more legs involved and tries to get the ball up on the wall with some arc. The ball should hit a target that is in-line with the correct shooting motion. Normally gym walls have bricks- I want the player to aim for the center of the brick.

3. Touch shooting- The player is now going to shoot at the hoop, but they have to be within 5-8 feet. I want soft shots and with the same action on every shot. I normally use the low blocks, short corner, short wing, center of lane. This allows the player to not have to push too hard to make the distance and allows for a consistent action.

4. Touch shooting off the catch- This drill forces the player to be aligned to the basket and bring the ball to the shot pocket quickly. I want legs knees and hips bent, feet squared to the hoop, and hands ready.

5. Touch shooting off the dribble- The player in this drill must be able to take the ball off the last dribble (which should be a hard dribble) and go up through the shot pocket and into the release in a smooth motion.

All of these drills should emphasize a great follow through and soft touch.

Give them a shot and let me know what you think.

Play Hard

Lee

Don't Put Winning Over Learning at This....

Recently the travel team that my daughters are on (4th grade and 5th grade team) played in a tournament. It was their first one. They did an outstanding job for the first go around. Previous to this, we played in a scrimmage against one other team. It was great for my kids to get more exposure to the game and against other teams. But there is something bothering me...

Last night I did an interview for the Basketball Speed Insiders ( http://www.basketballspeedinsiders.com/) with my brother Jim Taft. He was the first interview I did for the Basketball Speed Insiders and members loved it so I did another one with him. While we were talking about youth basketball programs, I brought up my displeasure with youth coaches (basically 13 and under teams) using a zone defense at this level. I believe the only reason you would do this is to win, but I think you can still encourage winning and not jeopardize the integrity of the game. I believe zones hurt the game at this age level. I don't know too many kids that can shoot a quality jumper from the range you need to be effective versus a zone. Plus I feel zones teach players the wrong concept of defense. They need to learn to cover their man and how to help and recover and switch if needed. But not get lazy by playing in a zone. I asked my brother Jim about his feelings and he totally agreed. He actually felt the commissioners of the youth leagues need to make it a rule that zones are not allowed. I totally agree.

Here's the thing; I am not opposed to zones at the upper levels- I think they are useful and a great strategy at times. But at the youth level you are basically saying "I don't care about the development of the player I just don't want to lose this game." In my opinion that is a poor decision.

The goal of the youth game is to teach the kids to develop their most fundamental skills and then gradually expose them to more strategies and tactics. Playing a zone is saying the heck with fundamentals I am going to use this strategy. Come on! Let the kids learn how to dribble versus man-to-man. Let them learn how to make a back door cut and a pick and roll. Teach them to set up a defender and penetrate. These are the parts of the game the kids need to learn.

In this tournament my 4th grade team which is mainly comprised of 3rd graders with a few 4th graders, had to play against a zone. I had to call a time out and walk out on the floor and place the kids in the correct spots- even then they were trying to dribble into the zone. I talked to them about passing the ball and reversing, but they are 3rd graders who have never played the game before. When the team played us man-to-man we could make some things happen. The game should be man-to-man. Coaches should teach their players how to play help defense, denial defense and anything in between but keep it man-to-man.

Well, I have had some people say, "Well they have to learn it sometime" or "Why don't you teach them how to play versus a zone?" I don't have one 3rd or 4th grader that has the strength to shoot the ball from outside 10-11 feet with correct form. I don't want them to have to chuck the ball up just because the other coach doesn't see the importance of proper coaching and plays us in a zone. The bottom line is I could waste a lot of practice time teaching the kids how to beat a zone and all that it would do is take away from coaching time on important fundamentals.

I would love to hear your thoughts.

Play Hard,

Lee

PS: Hey, Now is the time you should be focusing on developing your players. The season are pretty much over. Basketball Speed Insiders is a great resource for you to do just that. Go To http://www.basketballspeedinsiders.com/

How To Improve In Short Time

Hey BBaller!

I often get asked how much time should athletes spend practicing their skills. The answers is as always "It Depends!" How old, how experienced, how committed, how much time available, what else is going on in their life, on and on and on...

But, what I have to talk about today is something everyone can do regardless of their situation.

One of the most important skills for all players to be good at is handling the basketball. If you can't dribble or handle the ball well you can't make plays easily. So I believe every player needs to put time into dribbling the ball. here is a short routine that everyone can do.

Basically you can fill in the template how you want.

1. warm up with hand to hand stationary ball handling drills- 2-3minutes- you only need to do 3-5 exercises. listed are 5
-ball slaps
-figure 8
-spider
-circles
-between leg flip and catch

2. Stationary dribbling- Always pound the ball on these drills. Choose 6 drills and work at each one for 15 seconds and do 1-2 sets of each on both hands.
-right and left hand pound
-crossover pound
-right and left windshield wiper pound
-front to back push pull pound
-1,2 and 1,2,3 combinations pounds
-Two ball alternate pound

3. Moving dribbling- keep pounding the ball and move up and down the court. 2 sets up and back
-Crossovers
-3 point line dribble- shuffle sideways while dribbling the ball hard around the 3 point line
-Spin dribble
-1,2 combinations- this can be crossovers, around the back, through the legs...
-Pull back and change direction
-2 ball dribbling

4. Position specific- Choose 2-3 drills that you would use in your position and dribble hard to the rim: do each one 5 times.
-Square up and come out of triple threat and attack defender. can use a chair or cone
-Get to the rim with only a couple dribbles.

Ok. This routine can be modified to fit your needs. But you should include all 4 areas.
1. hand to hand
2. stationary dribble
3. moving dribble
4. position specific

Do this each day and you will be a great ball handler. Try to get in done in 20 minutes. By taking little rest you will build endurance and be able to play all day without needing a SUB!

Play hard,

Lee

PS: If you like the information you have been receiving please pass this on to a friend that also would like it. Send them to www.BasketballSpeedInsiders.com so they can get all the benefits as well.

Ready To Shoot?

Wow! Is March Madness awesome or what!

There have been so many fantastic games already. I love it. What about Siena and Cleveland State. How about the Lady Vols going down early. Does the Uconn basketball factory look unbeatable? These games are great to watch.

You know what I like to do? This is the coach in me. I like to watch what goes on away from the ball. It is fun to watch how defenders are playing off the ball and how offensive players move without the ball. My tip this week is about just that- moving without the ball and being ready to pull the trigger and shoot when receiving the ball.

If you watch good players at any level, they are always prepared to catch and shoot. That is what makes them a threat. But what you have to take note of is how a good off the ball offensive player moves and gets set to receive a pass- especially off penetration.

A great drill to work on it to have a ball handler penetrate to the hoop and kick out to open wing, key, and corner players. The purpose of the off the ball player is to make an open lane for the ball handler to kick to. So as the penetration occurs the off player need to slide to an open lane so his or her help defender can't recover as easy. Once the ball is in the air on the pass the player needs to have the feet set and hands ready to catch and shoot. Obviously it needs to be a good shot but that is why they are sliding to open space....to get a good shot.

Here is the set up of a drill: Have a 3 on 3 situation. A point guard and right and left wing. The point guard trys to beat the defender to the hoop. the wing defenders must help and recover. The offensive wings must slide to the open spot to receive a kick out pass. The wing players can start in the deep corner and slide up or start higher on the wing and slide down as penetration occurs. The goal is to get open by creating an open passing lane.

To advance the drill have the first wing to catch a pass shot fake and penetrate drawing the defense from the weak side wing. The offensive second offensive wing now must slide to the open spot and catch and shoot. The coach must really push the defenders to hustle otherwise the offensive player will get lazy and not be prepared to shoot early on. The defenders must always close out and challenge.

This drill is great for the off players to learn how to find open space but still make great passing angles, it is a good drill for you players penetrating to learn to pass accurately on a kick out, and it makes your defenders learn to help and recover and use proper close-out technique.

Give this drill a try and see how well your players spot up and fire.

Play Hard,

Lee

PS: To learn more about some great drills and skills to improve your basketball players check out www.BasketballSpeedInsiders.com

Mr. Basketball Not Too Fundamental

I recently went to watch a regional game between 2 teams that met last year in the regional. The same team won as last year, but this years game was a barn burner overtime win.

The best player on the winning team is being considered for Mr. Basketball here in Indiana. Don't know if he will win it, but he is talented. Personally, I feel he needs to improve his lateral quickness and change of direction ability (of course this is coming from the Speed Guy:) He has good strength and shoots the ball fairly well- very streaky though. Aside from this, he is a super high school player.

The one thing that bothered me with him is his lack of true fundamental play. I preach all the time about getting into a good athletic triple threat position when guarded closely. I watched him time after time stand too tall and not have the ball in an aggressive position to blow past, pull up, or make a quick pass.

He went to his right 90 percent of the time when making an offensive move out his poor triple threat position. If he would have been more patient, used the jab series, and read the defense, he could have left the defender in the dust time after time. I also think he lacked confidence in his left-hand dribble and that contributed to his decision to go right (need to fix this problem asap!)

Weekly Tip Is My Solution For This Talented Player:

Tons of offensive move work!!!

I would have him going skeleton, versus one-on-one, two-on-two, offensive moves all day long. I would have him catching the ball off screens, cuts, and skip passes I would have him learning to be aggressive with the ball and his moves all the time. I would teach him to read the defense and use the jab series. He would also learn to pause and explode as he lulls the defense to sleep. He is long and strong, and I would use this ability.

I would like to see him learn to put the defense on its heels rather than just settling for one option.

He needs to learn to beat his defender and immediately read the next level defenders and make quick decisions. He is a good passer, but could do a better job reading.

Finally, I would make him learn to shoot the pull-up jumper from 10-15 feet. If he can beat his man, pull up and not force the drive when it is not there, he will be tough to stop.

I happen to be using this talented high school player as an example, but this is the case for most players these days. Teach them to be fundamental with the ball in their hand and so many more options will open up.

Play Hard,

Lee

PS: Hurry, before the day is over go to www.SportsSpeedEtc.com and buy Basketball Speed 2. It will show you how to be super quick with the ball in your hands. You are going to love the drills to improve speed and quickness!

Make em Guard You!

Regardless of if you are playing against man to man or any type of zone the goal of the offensive player is to get at least one more defender to guard you.

When I coached a varsity team in NY they were a group of tough-minded players that would do anything I asked. I gave them freedom to play the game using their talents but it had to be within the concepts I wanted. One of the things I preached every day in practice was to attack the defense. This opened up shooters and penetration lanes for other players. I one player who hit 71 3 pointers because of this attacking approach.

What we tried to do is beat the man on the ball and cause the help defender to commit. We then can kick out to the open man. In a zone this is a great approach because there is always a seam.

Here is the weekly basketball tip: two-on-two decision making

Purpose: To get the offensive player to force the defense to commit defensively. This drill also works on the off the ball defenders ability to recover and close out.

Drill: Have the offensive team start in different spots on the floor (point, wing, corner...) the teammate of the offensive player is always one pass away but with good separation to bring his or her defender away from the ball. The goal is to drive toward the teammates side but to keep the defense honest the ball handler can beat the defender away from help every now and again.

The ball handler is trying to penetrate hard on his or her defender get to the hoop. The help side defender needs to decide to help all the way, hedge and get back, or stay with the his or her offensive player. The ball handler needs to be able to control the dribble when help comes and make a quick accurate pass to the teammate when defensive helps stops penetration.

This drill should be done penetrating to the right and left so the ball handlers feel comfortable making plays to both sides.

Against a zone.

Same basic rules apply. The defense will jump to the ball on the pass in a zone so the offensive player penetrating a seam wants to make the defender have to travel further and much quicker than normal. This opens up shots and penetration lanes for teammates.

This drill can be done 2-on-2, 3-on-3 or 5-on-5. The key is to perform a lot of reps so players understand timing of the play. The player penetrating can't pick his or her dribble up too soon. They must make the defense commit, or if they don't, beat em to the hoop.

So there you go. Practice this often and you will have a great strategy to get you player be more aggressive offensively.

Play Hard,

Lee

P.S. If you are a defensive player you don't want to get beat! So you need to learn the techniques that will make you a defensive stopper. Go to www.MyBasketballSpeed.com and discover strategies to make you a great defender.

P.P.S. When I was growing up playing the game the "Jab Series" was drilled into my head. I learned to beat defenders by taking advantage of what they gave me. I especially loved using the pause step. It got me a ton of shots. To learn more about the pause step go to www.SportsSpeedEtc.com and check out Basketball Speed 2

How To Know What To Do???

One of the most important things for a coach and player to know is what to work on in the game of basketball. If you are a coach, you have many areas to workout including team play, individual play, conditioning, skill development and the list goes on. If you are a player, you need to become a better player. Obviously you need to learn offenses and defenses and tactics and all the rest, but if you are not a good player regarding your individual skills- forget about!

Here are some things you need to do to evaluate yourself:

1. Create a shot chart. This chart should involve shots from all areas on the court (point, wings, corners, short wing, short corner, inside the lane, and various layup shots). Now you want to give yourself roughly 3-5 days of shooting a minimum of 10-15 shots per day from all these spots. Chart how many you make. At the end of the 3-5 days look at your performance in all these areas. If you are weak in certain areas then you need to spend more time on these spots so it is no longer a weakness.

2. Dribbling chart. Create 8-10 different dribble moves that you would have to use on the court and 8-10 ball handling drills to improve your ball handling skills. Perform these drills each day for 3-5 days spending at least 1 minute on each drill. The drills that you consistently struggle with should be the ones you focus on more so they are no longer weaknesses.

3. Passing Chart. Use a partner and a wall to design passing situations from different spots on the floor (feeding the low post, wrap around passes...). Also perform passing drills where you are dribbling up court on a fast break situation. Make the passes with both the right and left hand. Also, create 8-10 passing drills where you must hit a target on the wall using both hands, right and left hands... Once again chart how you did and bring the weakness up.

4. Offensive moves. Here you will chart how well you can perform offensive moves from a triple threat position, low post area, and coming off a cut. You will want to use moves such as the jab series to the right and left, reverse pivot and face up, catching the ball off a cut using a hard swing move and driving to the hoop. Chart 8-10 different moves and once again focus on bringing up the weakness.

The reason I want you to do this over 3-5 days is because you want to see consistent results. You could have a good or bad shooting day but over 3-5 days the truth will shine through.

Once you have charted all these skills get to work on creating a workout plan where you can increase these skills.

Love to hear your feedback!

Play Hard,

Lee

PS: If you are having difficulty with offensive or defensive techniques go to http://www.sportsspeedetc.com/ and check out the Basketball Speed Series. These videos will help raise your game to new levels.

Backwards First Step.

Hey Hoop Fan,

You know how we always talk about first step quickness in basketball? Well it is not only important in a forward direction but also in a backwards or retreating direction. I am going to share with you the weekly basketball tip and brief article in one...

When a defender locks in to an offensive ball handler they are trying to dictate what the offensive player can do. The problem is offensive players will always have the advantage because they know where they want to go. Because of this, I teach my defensive players to match speed with speed and a little more. What that means is I want my defenders to make just as an aggressive move as the offensive players but try to give just a little more. This way the defender can cut off the offensive players move.

It is easy for me to say this but it is a different story trying to pull it off. Unless you understand the retreating skill of the hip turn and shuffle or the hip turn and crossover. Granted, these moves are natural and most players will perform them. The problem is they are not aggressive enough and don't extend each footwork step. They take too short of steps which leaves them trailing the offensive player. Let me share with you how to perform these skills.

Hip Turn and Shuffle

The hip turn is a simple quick movement to open the hips by repositioning the feet and pushing off the ground quickly. This move should be used in place of the pivot for a defender. So if the offensive player makes a hard first step drive to the defenders left the defender must quickly flip open the hips and immediately push off into an aggressive long shuffle. If the steps are too short the power output will be less- therefore leaving the defender behind. The steps must be hard and long BUT WITHOUT OVER-STRIDING. You don't want the defender to over stride and slow down. The key is to be aggressive with each push off. The reason the shuffle can be used is because the offensive player has not past by the lead shoulder of the defender. If the offensive player does get past the lead shoulder the defender must perform the next skill- Hip Turn and Crossover...

Hip Turn and Crossover

I have called the crossover the King of athletic movements. The crossover is used on the defensive end when the offensive player passes the defenders lead shoulder. the other factor which requires the defender to use the crossover is if the offensive player is going full speed. The defender will need to use the crossover to regain defensive orientation. Obviously if the crossover doesn't work then the defender must turn and run to cut off the path.

The crossover is basically a running action with the lower body while the upper body stays fairly squared up with the offensive player. The hips must open up and to allow the backside leg to crossover and get into a stride pattern.

If used with intense effort the crossover is a great way to shut down an offensive players move. The other positive with the crossover is a defender can easily stop and change directions if the offensive player does the same.

Practice

Just as you would have basketball players practice shooting, dribbling, passing, and rebounding I would have them practice these skills every day. If they get good at them you will have great defenders who can shut down most offensive players.

Play Hard,

Lee

PS: Check this link out and let me know what you think. http://www.mybasketballspeed.com/

A Bad Shot or Smart Play?

Hey Basketball Fans,

It is getting crunch time in the college and high school basketball leagues. I look forward to how things take shape in the college game as we head down the stretch and how high schools do in the sectional, regional, and state tourneys. It may not mean much to you, but even my daughter's 5th grade season is winding down- it has been a fun year. My youngest daughter has her first game this coming weekend and hopefully we can get a few more games for the girls. I'll keep you posted because I know you are dying to know :-)

Weekly Basketball Tip: The Fade Away Jump Shot

OK, all you purist coaches! Before you go off the handle, let me explain. I am not advocating a bad shot. I am advocating using what you have to get a quality shot off. A fade away shot in the paint or just off the low block is a great shot to get when a larger defender is on you. If done properly, the fade away is executed with the body squared up to the hoop, a great follow through is used, and the ball has a nice soft arch on it. At 5'10 I used this shot my entire career with great success. The problems comes when players try this shot too far out and without squaring up and using proper shooting mechanics.

Drill: Start at the right low block with your back to the basket. If you are a right-hander spin to your left so the ball gets in front of you quicker (when going to the right your left shoulder is in front and it makes you shoot the ball across your body- tough shot), jump up and back to clear space or separate from a defender. Make sure you follow through and put enough arch on the ball so it comes down softly. Perform this shot on each low block, in the middle of the paint, and in the short corners. Do 2 sets of 5 shots from each spot so you can groove your shooting touch.

First Step Lateral Speed

We often talk about first step speed in sports, especially basketball. But I like to talk about first step lateral speed. I think if you can improve your players ability to explode and cover more distance with a great first step laterally they can be a more effective defender.

Here is a great way to improve lateral first step speed:

1. 1/2 lane shuffles- The players will stand in the middle of the lane in a defensive stance. When the coach points to the right or left the players must shuffle as quickly as possible and get one foot outside the lane. The goal is for the players to be aggressive on each push off. If you have the players in a competitive situation they will perform at more intense level.

2. 1/2 lane crossover- the set up is the same as the 1/2 lane shuffles. The players will not use one hard crossover to get outside the lane with one foot. The goals once again is to drive hard and gain distance without over-reaching.

3. Hip Turn and shuffle- The player will be facing the coach in a defensive stance, when the coach points to the right or left the players must perform a hip turn and explode for two hard shuffles. Gain as much distance as possible from the starting position. This drill is a great way to help defenders stay with a penetration move by an offensive player.

4. Hip Turn and Crossover- Same drill as above except the crossover is used to gain distance. If done properly players should be able to cover nearly twice as much distance as two shuffles.

These 4 drills will help improve your players first step lateral speed. Give them a try and let me know what you think.

Play Hard,

Lee

PS: To discover more great skills and drills go to http://www.basketballspeedinsiders.com/. You can try it out for one month FREE!

Pass Fake To Score More

I recently did a short video clip for the Basketball Speed Insiders http://www.basketballspeedinsiders.com/ on the pass fake. Basketball is a game of fakes and it certainly applies to passing.

If you become known as a good passer you become even more of a threat to defenders because they never know when you are going to pass. But even if you are not a great passer you can still fake the pants off defenders with proper faking. Let me share with you two areas that a great pass fake will allow you to off more shots.

The first fake is off a penetration move down the lane. When a defender steps up you want to jump stop and immediately fake like you are bounce passing to a teammate. This will usually drop the hands of the help defender and allow you to rise up for a short jumper. In order for you to rise up you must be on balance. If the defender doesn't drop his or her hands you can then make the pass or kick the ball out. But I promise- if the fake is done well 9 out of 10 times you will have a great shot opportunity.

The second fake is done off penetration to the baseline. When a help defender or your own defender cuts the baseline off and you pick up your dribble you know want to make a quick wrap around fake pass. The objective is to sell the fake by actually wrapping it around the defender so it appears you did pass- sell it like you mean it. When the defender turns his or her head and shoulders you can now rise up for a short shot off the glass or over the rim.

As I mentioned earlier if you are a good passer and have made many passes during the game this will help you sell your fake.

Even though this is an instinctive skill that many players naturally posses, it can still be taught by a coach and practice by players. The key is to know when to do it and to be under control when making the fake. And just like any other aspect of sports you have to be confident and forceful.

Play Hard,

Lee

PS: If you want to check out the video on pass faking plus all the other videos go to http://www.basketballspeedinsiders.com/ for a FREE 30 day trial.

There Is Always A Higher Level.

Good Monday!

We finally had a little break from the frigid weather the last couple days- it climbed way up into the 30's- wha hoo!

I know this is a basketball blog but what a great Superbowl. Both teams made some big plays and the athletes came out to shine. Even though Arizona lost I am so impressed with the athleticism of Fitzgerald. He is a stud athlete. The one thing I like about him is he takes his training and practicing serious. This is kind of a personal statement but I loved hearing his interview a while back and he talked about how as a high school kid he stayed away from the drinking and drugs. He focused on playing sports and staying out of the bad stuff. It hit home with me because that was how I was. I never even tasted alcohol until I was 22 years old- it is all about choices and Larry Fitzgerald made some great ones. I wish more emphasis would be put on that aspect of his life so young people would listen and follow in his footsteps.

Weekly Basketball Tip: Attacking the defenders shoulder

Purpose: To get young players to be physical and strong when making an offensive move past a defender.

Action: A drill can be set up many different ways. It can be one on one. It can be one on one plus a passer with the offensive player having to use cuts to get open, or any other combination of drills. The focus is on the offensive player catching the ball in triple threat and attacking the defenders lead shoulder (if the defender is square then pick a side). But have a strong long first step to create a seal, drive the shoulders forward, and rub off the defenders shoulder with the guard arm leading the way to seal off the defender. LEARN TO INITIAL CONTACT SO YOU ARE READY FOR IT. When you go weak past a defender and there is contact usually the you get knocked off line. So make contact by driving the shoulder and guard arm past the defender.

Drilling it: Perform 4 dribble drive moves past the defender in 5 different spots on the floor (corner, wing, key, opposite wing, and opposite corner). Make sure you can attack either side equally as well. GOOD LUCK AND WORK HARD!

Higher Level

Yesterday a friend of mine and I took our daughters to an open scrimmage at a basketball academy in Indianapolis. It was for 3rd-8th graders and it was mixed boys and girls and ages. It was outstanding. It was the first time my daughter and my friends daughter played against really good ball players. That was my motive from the beginning. I want my daughter to see what real basketball is. I want her to know what it is like to compete against aggressive players who know how to play the game. She go all of that and more.

Many of you might be thinking how tough could the scrimmage have been if there were 3rd graders mixed in. Let me tell you. These 3rd graders GOT GAME! They were crossing over, going through the legs and ATTACKING the hoop- something our girls are not use to seeing in our little school.

The point of the post is that if you want to get to the next level you have to visit the next level. You have to get involved with the players at the next level. Learn the speed of the game. I wanted our 2 girls to get pushed around and see how they responded. They both were shocked at first- but then they started to realize; either compete or get eaten alive. They did.

What was nice is that they both realized their skills have to improve and their confidence to use those skills has to be stronger. You can't be afraid to compete.

My encouragement to you is to find better competition all the time. If you players are playing at the same talent level or lesser talent they will never reach the high level. Sometimes it is difficult to find better players depending on where you live but you can always have slightly older players come down and play with your kids every now and again. Ask the older kids to work on their weaknesses so they get a good workout as well.

The most important question I asked my daughter and was anxious to hear her response was; would you want to go back and do it again? She said with no hesitation- YES! If she had said no I would not have pushed her. I would have let her come to me and when and if she was ready.

Good luck getting your team and players to the next level.

Play Hard,

Lee

PS: Go to http://www.basketballspeedinsiders.com/ so you can start receiving "The Game Plan" Newsletter. It is full of great information and easy to take with you on trips or to practice.

Basketball Speed- How to get it?

Hello,

It has been an awesome hoop season. But I do want to take a moment and mention the loss the entire basketball community had this past week. Kay Yow, coach of North Carolina State Women's Program, died at the age of 66 after a long battle with cancer. The reason she will be missed, aside from her incredible coaching ability, is her true unmatched integrity as a person and coach. She did it the right way. Gracious and caring. When I heard of her story and how others loved her because of the type of person she was it made me wish more coaches could represent themselves, their players, and their schools with such character. Players tend to take on the personality of their coaches (good or bad) and I am sure Coach Yow raised some great players over the years. She will be missed.

Weekly Basketball Tip... The Ickey Shuffle Ladder Drill

Purpose: To improve foot quickness, coordination, and cutting ability

How to execute: Start on the right side corner of the first box. Step in with the left foot then the right foot and finally the left foot step out (this foot pattern is done on a forward diagonal pattern). With the weight on the left foot step into the next box with the right foot followed by the left foot and then out with the right foot. So basically you are back on the right side of the ladder with only the right foot outside the box. Continue this pattern the length of the ladder.

Key coaching points: Keep the shoulders in the center of the ladder at all times and let the feet move outside the ladder (one foot at a time, never both feet outside the ladder). This creates a cutting angle with the plant foot outside the body. The great thing about this drill is that in basketball often players make short little stutter step and cuts. The players should keep the knees bent, back flat, shoulders slightly forward, and the head up (use the eyes to look down at the ladder but don't drop the head).

Perform 5-8 reps. Eventually the player will get better and you can add "Skip a box" Ickey.

How to get faster on the basketball court

The foundation of speed in any sport is strength and power. As the player gets stronger and produce more force quickly they have greater potential for speed. So get em in the Wt Room!

Aside from strength and power the key to speed on the court is body control and quickness. The player that can change direction the quickest usually is the fastest on the court. He or she may not be really fast in a foot race, but they can sure move on a court.

One of the first skills I want a basketball player to learn is how to change direction from a shuffle. I am looking to see they are able to control the hips from moving up and down too much and the shoulders from swaying right and left. If they do this well I will move on. But if they do not I start looking at foot and leg position while they plant. If the plant foot is facing out I know they are not going to be as quick due to the fact the ankle isn't set up for a great stretch reflex- it is in a weaker position to push off (not to mention if the foot is turned out there is a greater chance for an ankle sprain). How to fix it; if there isn't a mobility issue in the ankle joint I tend to correct the defensive stance. I will make sure the knees are pushed forward while the hips are pushed back. By pushing the knees forward it creates a greater dorsi-flexed position of the ankle which in tern allows for greater push off speed. The reason I push the hips back (and shoulders forward) is to stabilize the joints. When the hips are back, shoulders forward, and the knees forward (heels are down but weight is on the ball of the foot) the muscles are on stretch and ready to fire in an instance.

Once I have an athlete in the correct positions I can now start to work on them being quicker on the court.

So I start with the lateral shuffle. Once the player moves well with this skill I move on to the crossover and then add in shuttle runs and cutting drills. The entire time I am still looking at if they control the hips, shoulders, and if the feet are in the correct position. Without fail, if the players get out of position with either of the things I mentioned they end up moving slowly.

OK. We covered how the technique should look. Real important to be sound in how we move. But next I am going to tell you the secret to getting the players to be quicker...

INTENSITY OF SPEED!
I once wrote an article on this and it had a big impact on many coaches. The intensity of speed means how the athlete attacks his or her movements on the court.

Let's take the lateral shuffle for example. I can have a player shuffle to the other side of the foul lane and back quickly. But if I emphasize to the player to not think about the the change of direction at all; ONLY THINK ABOUT GETTING BACK TO THE STARTING POSITION AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE! What I have done is created a mindset of speed. I am not telling them to change directions and worry about how to plant their feet, those details are for me to worry about initially, I am telling them to get back as quick as possible. NOW THE INTENSITY RAISES! The athlete gets super aggressive in his or her push off and plant. They instinctively become more powerful because I set a benchmark for them; GET BACK FAST!!

When you give a player too many details they slow down due to over thinking. But if you give them a directive like; Do it fast, or get back now. They immediately go into a higher gear.

I have corrective many poor movement patterns regarding change of direction speed simply by making the athlete go faster into and out of their change of direction.

To really tell if your players are moving well have them perform some chaotic agility. You know, the drill where you point in several different directions and they must react to you. You can have them shuffle to the right, then to the left, then backwards and forwards, add is some angled crossovers retreating. The entire time the players are performing this drill they should be real calm with the shoulders and the hips should remain fairly level. The feet should continue to re-position outside the body on a good push off and stopping angle. It really looks good when players get this down.

I would like to hear from you on this topic. I love talking about on-court basketball speed!

Play Hard

Coach Taft

PS: This is a great blog post to pass along to other coaches. This information can make a big difference in their players speed. Tell them to go to www.BasketballSpeedInsiders.com so they can get their hands on the NEW 2009 Basketball Speed Insiders "The Game Plan" Newsletter. It is full of information.

Glass Cleaning

Every sport has its staple fundamentals that must be performed well to be a successful team. In the sport of football they are blocking and tackling. In softball and baseball they are fielding and throwing, and in basketball you could argue that rebounding is the most important skill a team must do well. In this week's post I want to share a tip and my thoughts on rebounding.

Weekly Basketball Tip: Superman Rebounding

Purpose: To learn to grab the ball at the highest point possible and to go get the ball aggressively.

Drill: Form a single line on the right side of the basket starting at the foul line (Can form 2 lines, one on each side if want). The lead person has the ball. He or she uses an underhand toss off the backboard and follows it in with a strong gather step preparing to jump. As the ball comes off the board jump off 2 feet and reach with extended arms and rebound the ball at the highest point. Upon landing in a great position pivot to the outside and either dribble out of the lane as the first progression or secondly have an outlet waiting to receive your pass. Teach the players to rebound and outlet the ball both from an overhead position and from a "chin the ball" position. Obviously you don't want shorter players to keep the ball overhead as it will get knocked out of the hands. The next person in line follows as soon as the first person clears.

Preform: 6-8 on each side. Mix in various outlet passes with and without defense so decision making improves.

To Rebound Or Not Rebound, That Is The Question

There is no doubt that coaches turn grey much earlier than they should when their team gets out rebounded, especially when the opponent gets offensive rebounds. I see it as several things; 1. Just like there are born tacklers in football there are born rebounders in basketball (Charles Barkley, Moses Malone, Dennis Rodman). These guys had an attitude about them that made them own the paint- they were angry when someone else tried to take what they felt they owned. 2. It is a skill and must be practiced routinely. Players must practice being in the correct position to box out and then go get the ball. This may seem simple but it isn't, especially when the offensive player being boxed out really fights hard for the ball. 3. The defensive system can set a team up for poor or good rebounding. If you play an in your face denial defense there is a good chance the opposing team will penetrate to the hoop, draw help defensive, and create a weak side rebounding opportunity. Teams that play softer off the ball tend to get into better rebounding positions. 4. You would think that teams that play packed zones would rebound better and they should but it still comes down to finding a man and getting a body on them. Most cases the zone does allow that. 5. The obvious, teams that have bigger, stronger, more aggressive players tend to be better rebounding teams.

I truly believe that rebounding has as much to do with the coaches ability to recognize his or her players natural tendencies. If the team is not big, strong, and aggressive then chances are they will not be good rebounders, unless a few players have a nose for the ball. This is when a coach needs to set the team up for rebounding success by playing a type of defense that suits them well.

When you look at all the best teams at any level they all rebound the ball well on both ends of the floor. Look at the Cleveland Cavaliers. Their team is built around great defense and rebounding. The women's team at Uconn. They use their athletes to pressure the ball but always defend the paint well with their bigs. In both of these cases, the coaches have set up the environment to be a good rebounding team.

Each day at practice, time needs to be devoted to the skill of rebounding as well as live drills with an offensive team trying to rebound versus defense and vice versa. During these drills the coaches should stop and teach when a player makes a mistake of not getting into good rebounding position. This is how players learn to consistently be in the correct position to rebound.

Hopefully your team is great at rebounding, but if they need work, keep teaching it everyday and build on the positives.

Play Hard,

Coach Taft

PS: If you know a coach or player that would benefit from this blog please email it to them. Also, if you know someone who would benefit from great monthly basketball information send them to http://www.basketballspeedinsiders.com/. Coming this month the brand new "GAME PLAN" Newsletter. This basketball newsletter is full of information that you can use everyday. You don't want to miss the "GAME PLAN" Newsletter!

Are You Willing To Change?

Hey! I just got back from an incredible 4 days of working with the National Guard in Des Moines, Iowa. It was fantastic. I will share more on this later but one thing this weekend did for me, was make some changes in how I coach... read on below to find out what I mean.

Basketball Weekly Tip: Seal And Pass Through The Double Team

Purpose: There will be many times in a game when you will have 2 players in your face trapping you. The goal of this drill is to help you not panic and make a great pass out of the double team.

Drill: Set up a situation where there are 2 defenders and 2 offensive players. One of the offensive players will have the ball and the 2 defenders must double team. Have one defender on the ball and the second defender come from 8-10 feet away and make up the double team. The offensive player must see the second defender and recognize where he or she is coming from (OH! by the way you have no dribble). There are certainly several ways to pass out of the double team like; passing over the top or passing before the double team gets tight, but I want you to let the double team form. First thing you want to do is pick what defender gives you the best option to pivot past (step past with the free foot). In other words, you step past their closest foot and seal the defender off with your leg and arm- hold them on your hip. Once you recognize which defender you need to set them up by faking away from the direction you want to step through on. Now you step through and seal the defender off and make the pass. Some times you will be able to split the middle- but the pass needs to occur quickly when you go split the middle because you can only seal one defender.

Practice: Have each of the 4 players be the player getting trapped and make them have to make 5 good passes out of the double team before you rotate.

Willing To Change?

Sometimes in life there are events that make you realize you can do things better. This past 4 days made me realize I can do things better in my training and coaching. The thing that I can do better is when I am working with large teams or groups is draw their attention and focus into the moment better.

So really what today's blog is about is: are you willing to change if you see something that can work better or isn't working well? Or, are you to stuck in your own way to get better?

I often have to ask myself this question; "Am I doing what is right or only what I want to do?" Sometimes I catch myself doing what is something I like to see done but really isn't the best thing for my players- do you do that?

I can remember my first year as a head coach in high school. My brother Jim, who was already an established coach and had won a state championship as a coach, came to watch my first scrimmage. When we got back to the house I asked him to sit with me and assess my team and what I was doing. He told me what he thought and to be honest with you, much of it was different then what I was doing. I really had to check my ego and listen because I wanted to have success for my players and program. Even though I thought I had a good plan, he saw things, due to his experience, I never saw. That season we ended up 18 wins and 5 losses and went semi-finals of the sectionals. As hard as it might have been for me to have to change ultimately the program was about the players and not just me. I listened, learned, and went on to have a great season.

I am sure that most of you, regardless of if you are a player or coach, are willing to make the needed changes to be successful, but it can be difficult. Always try to keep your main goal in mind. If it is the correct goal good things will happen.

Play Hard,

Lee

PS: Basketball Speed Insiders is a great resource to help you change if you are willing. Go to http://www.basketballspeedinsiders.com/ and take a FREE trial for 30 days!