Lopsided Scores
A one sided game is not good for either team. The overmatched team could feel humiliated and the victor is not challenged. To make the game more challegeing, the better team could ask themselves some questions like:
Did you play everybody?
Did you continue to take advantage of a player or team by applying extended defensive pressure?
Did you continue to run for layups off steals against a team that couldn?t run back to protect their hoop.
All of the above and more are coaches decisions.
I?ve seen teams use games like these to give boys/girls quality playing time (more minutes than they usually get).
I?ve seen teams use games like this to work on their perimeter shooting and refuse to shoot inside the lane.
I?ve seen teams use games like these to work on passing the ball by taking the air out of the ball and never dribble.
I?ve seen teams use games like these to work on their defensive sliding by staying between the ball and the basket WITH THEIR HANDS BEHIND THEIR BACKS allowing the opponent to pass and not trying to steal the ball.
I?ve seen teams NEVER press an overmatched opponent BECAUSE IT WASN?T IN THE BEST INTEREST OF ANYONE INVOLVED.
Oftentimes, there is a game within a game.
When it?s over was it about dignity and respect or was it about win at all costs?
Have Confidence
If you are going to coach, you must have confidence in your own ability. You are unique. It is all right to borrow ideas from other, more experienced coaches, but don?t just copy those ideas. Understand the philosophy behind them.
Time-Management
When starting out as a coach, one of the best areas that you can begin studying is time-management. There are only so many hours a day that you can put in, and coaching will demand a large number of them. Learn to budget your time and use it most efficiently.
Team Chemistry
When selecting your team, you obviously need to be concerned with talent, but also important is how those talented players are going to work together. You need to select players who will accept your philosophy and are willing to blend their talents with those of their teammates in order to win.
A headstrong player who is only interested in his or her statistics can destroy a good team.
Cutthroat
Play three-on-three four-on-four game called cutthroat which is hugely effective in teaching kids how to move.The rules are simple.
1) The game is best played with three or more teams of four (any leftover players can be rotated in at your discretion). To minimize confusion, each team should have its own practice jersey.
2) Every player on a team must touch the ball at least once before any shot can go up.
3) If a player catches the ball and fails to face the basket in triple threat position before dribbling or passing, it is a turnover.
4) If a player passes the ball, then fails to cut to the basket and fill to an open spot or go screen for a teammate, it?s also a turnover
5) A player can dribble no more than three times -- either to open up a passing lane or to attack the basket.
6) Only the guy with the whistle in his mouth (the coach!) is allowed to officiate. Points are automatically and instantly deducted any time a player protests a call.
7) One point is awarded for each basket made, one point for each offensive rebound, and one point for each steal (unforced turnovers don?t count!).
At every change of possession (turnover and defensive rebound) and at every made basket, the ball is passed back to the coach. If there?s been a change of possession, the offensive team *sprints* off the floor and the defensive
team goes to offense. The third team, waiting on the baseline, *sprints* onto the court and matches up on defense. The coach encourages this quick change over by passing the ball to the offensive team almost as soon as he receives it. After a made basket, however, it is the defensive team that vacates the floor. The offense stays on as long as they continue to score, which they can only do by passing and cutting and staying in motion.
Practice Plan
A good practice should be well organized and well run. One of the best ways to achieve this is throught the use of practice plans. Decide what you want to accomplish in your practice, how much time you will devote to each thing you want to do, then the drills you will use and how much time you will need to complete them.
Discipline the player, Praise the person
A VERY successful division one college coach uses a tactic that is very interesting. In practice, he does NOT call players by name when he is scolding/questioning them. Rather, he uses their jersey #. For example, "Come on 20, you need to set up that screen. Otherwise it?s just an exchange," Or "32, that was a bad decision. Couldn?t you see that she wasn?t open?"
The idea is that when he corrects them, he doesn?t use their name. Therefore, it is not directed toward the person, it is directed toward the player. Off the court, and in situations where he is praising something that is worthy, he uses their name. He wants them to associate themselves only with positive reinforcement. Thus, you discipline the playerm but praise the person.
Efficiency Ratings
A good way to show your team how effective they are being on offense and defense is with efficiency ratings. For your offensive efficiency, take the number of points you score and divide by the number of possessions you had. You can count your possessions by adding the number of shots you took with your turnovers and number of times you went to the free throw line. Anything over .85 is a good offensive rating. Likewise, take the same numbers for your opponent. This tells you your defensive efficiency. Anything under .75 is good.
Be demanding
Players will generally give you what you demand from them. Don?t be afraid to push them beyond what they think they can give you. You (and they) will be surprised when you see that the results far outweigh what your team initially thought you were capable of.
Drill Time
When running drills, break your team into groups and spend no more than five minutes on a drill. You want to keep practices fast-paced and this will help. By breaking down into smaller groups, you keep everyone active and give them several repetitions in the exercise. By keeping the drill time short, you keep their interest.
Coaching is teaching
Good coaches are good teachers, and good teachers follow certain patterns. For the most part, they are clear in what they teach, are adamant about what they want, and demand that they get it. Apply this to your coaching and you will be amazed at the results.
Simplify your scouting
One of the most important things to know about your opponent is the players individual habits. Try to find out if a player is a shooter, passer or a driver. If they are a shooter, do they like to shoot off the pass or the dribble? If they drive, do they go left or right? Do they drive to score or to draw the defense so they can pass to an open teammate. Know these individual tendencies and you will have a better chance to defend you opponent.
Aggressiveness
As far as teaching aggressiveness, simply make as many drills in practice as you can competitive, with a winner and a loser. Then have the losers do a task, like a sprint or two, five pushups, or reward the winners by letting them get a drink first. Eventually the will to win starts to spread, and aggressiveness becomes a necessity.
Pre-Practice Walk Thrus
You might want to try doing your teaching of new plays during a pre-practice walk thru before the team is stretched and loosened up. Their minds will be more focused on learning. If they stand and listen too long after warming up, they will get tight and it might be hard to get them going again.
Pick One!
Here?s an example of a great piece of advice from the NAIA: There are four roles for competition. You can play. You can coach. You can officiate. You can be a fan. Pick ONE. You can?t do two at once, much less four.