Communication is a basketball skill just like any other, which coaches can develop by emphasizing in practice. *This is Part 1 of a 3-part series. Read Part 2 on Defensive Communication. If you’ve coached long enough, you’ve probably run into multiple situations where one of your players failed to communicate. This might have led to…
Coach’s Role in Building Confidence: Part 3 – Words of Teammates
Developing confidence in athletes is a key part of coaching, as is the way teammates communicate with each other. *Final post in this series. Check out Part 1 – Preparation and Success; and Part 2 – Coach’s Words and Actions. This is the final post in a short mini-series on confidence and our role as coaches in…
Action Bias Pitfalls
A tendency toward action bias can at times lead coaches and players astray and undermine short and long term progress. Read more on Cognitive Biases and how they relate to coaching: The Impact of Optimism Bias Avoiding Outcome Bias The Perils of Confirmation Bias Survivorship Bias in Coaching Coaches are hard workers. One does not ascend…
Keys to Designing a Dribble Drive Motion Practice Plan
A comprehensive approach to creating a practice plan that simultaneously focuses on skill development and game-like situations. The Craft of Practice Planning Practice planning is one of the great obsessions of basketball coaches at all levels. There is probably no aspect of their job that coaches spend more time on then designing the perfect practice plan. As a…
Spacing vs. Positioning
Spacing and Positioning both play a role in effective offense, so what’s the difference between these two concepts? (Note: This blog originally appeared in our September 15, 2018 newsletter. Subscribe here.) Often I receive an email that goes something like this… “Coach, I love the info you share and I really love the four-out and…
Head Coach Roundtable: Advice for Your First 100 Days
With so much work to do when starting a new job as head coach, having a plan for the first 100 days is extremely important. *This article was originally posted by our partners at AthleticDirectorU on its website here. What does it take to have a successful start to a head coaching tenure? AthleticDirectorU sat…
Developing Your Game Model
Develop a Game Model to help improve and clarify performance standards, strategy and tactics for your program. Understanding the game is fundamental for successful teams and coaches. It is assumed coaches understand the game, but can they articulate a model that players can comprehend? In better organizations, the players see the game the way the…
Coach’s Role in Building Confidence: Part 2 – Words and Actions
Developing confidence in athletes is a key part of coaching, and the words and actions from coaches make a difference. *This is Part 2 of 3. Check out Part 1 – Preparation and Success. Last week I started this blog series on confidence and our role as coaches in instilling and developing it in our athletes.…
Coach’s Role in Building Confidence: Part 1 – Preparation and Success
Developing confidence in athletes is a key part of coaching, and preparing them properly sets them up for success. *Part 1 of a 3-part series In the last few posts I wrote for Fast Model Sports I talked about some important elements of team sport success being things that we might not always think of as…
Transition into Training: Tips to Engage Youth Basketball Players
Helping players make a smooth transition from their day into practice is extremely important, especially in youth basketball. Coaches – can you spare five minutes prior to practice to engage the brain, and thus the athlete? Through no fault of our own, coaches have been conditioned to want to immediately “get after it” as quickly as possible in order to…