Six gap creating cuts to create and exploit enlarged gap space for dribble penetration. If there is one offensive concept worth the risk of “taking too far” it would be the creation of space. With the proliferation of pack line style defenses at the lower levels, maintaining and creating space is vital in allowing for penetration.…
More Than Just Talk: Building Communication With Your Team
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 and Part 3 on Offensive Communication. If you’ve coached long enough, you’ve probably run into multiple situations where one of your players failed to…
Pressure Man Tips – Selective Trapping
Utilizing selective traps provides one of the major weapons of disruption in pressure man-to-man defense. Here are four scenarios for selective trapping. One of the major weapons of pressure man-to-man defense is the double team or trap. Trapping the ball can disrupt offensive flow by creating a disadvantage situation for the ball handler. An effective…
Join the MaxOne “Journey to Tip-off” CHALLENGE
Join the MaxOne “Journey to Tip-off” Challenge and get access to 5+ FREE resources to make it your best season yet. Grab my FREE resources… Preparing for a basketball season can be a chaotic time for a coach. The best coaches know that good preparation saves a lot of headaches when you are in the…
2-3 Zone: Forward Play
There are 2-3 zones and then there is the Syracuse 2-3 Zone. Coach Jim Boeheim and his Syracuse Orange have been befuddling opponents for decades with their brand of zone defense. Syracuse recruits great players blessed with the length and athleticism to be effective in the zone, but aside from that, the forward play is what…
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…
FastTrade: The New Way to Network for Basketball Coaches
Build relationships and expand your coaching circle with FastDraw’s FastTrade feature as a networking tool. No matter what industry you work in, networking is crucial to success. The coaching business is no different. Relationships matter and those who have have a solid network are in better shape to succeed than those who don’t. But we’ve…
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…