BASKETBALL COACHW

EEKLY

BREAK THE DEFENSEwiTH THE 2-oN-1 EScApE DRill

NEED A SuccESSFul

SET? TRY THE 3 DOWN

3-pOiNTER

October 24, 2013Issue 5$4.99

Focus on 6 strategies FOr Better Free-thrOw ShOOtIng

MICHIGAN: SECURES BALL,

PLAYS FOR TITLE

use scrimmaging as a reward FOr FlawleSS Play

THE BEST coAcHiNG TipS

EvERY WEEk!

cuT TuRNoVERS

learn • train • Develop • enjoy

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2

there is a turnover, Eslinger removes a ball from the rack. Once the rack is empty, the scrimmage is over.

It’s working for Caltech as four years ago (prior to Eslinger’s arrival), the Beavers were turning over the ball 25 times per game. One year later, turnovers per game dropped to 14 (just 12 in conference play). And, while they aren’t cutting down nets quite yet in Pasadena, Caltech’s 10 victories between two seasons (2010-12) were more than the previous 11 seasons combined.

The need to limit turnovers is universal, which is why we are emphasizing it this week. Take the cover team, the University of Michigan, as the prime example.

Last season, the Wolverines led the nation in turning over the ball just 9.4 times per game en route to earning a spot in the national championship game. Prior to head coach John Beilein’s arrival, Michigan ranked 243rd in turnovers.

Since that time in the same category, the Wolverines have improved to 78th, 28th, 4th, 8th, 26th and No. 1 last year while winning 122 games in those six years and making four NCAA Tournament appearances. Limit turnovers – win more games,

it’s that simple.

You only have two hours a day with the undivided attention of your players – do you use that time to scrimmage?

I’ve spent more than a decade in basketball and I can tell you with certainty the debate about scrimmaging in practice is one of the most intense you’ll find in coaching circles.

Coaches who scrimmage a lot say players need to practice under game-like conditions to be ready for the bright gymnasium lights on game night. Coaches who don’t, think scrimmaging

eliminates the number of repetitions for players during that two-hour window you have them. As always, the truth resides somewhere in the middle.

Players love to scrimmage. They want to challenge their teammates in a full-court, game-like setting. So, why not use scrimmaging as a reward? Doc Eslinger, the head men’s coach at Caltech, and author of the “Limiting Turnovers” piece starting on page 3, says one method he uses to help combat turnovers is to incorporate scrimmaging into practice … but only for as long as players earn it.

Eslinger runs the A Dozen Times Drill, which essentially is a 5-on-5 scrimmage. He places 12 basketballs on a ball rack, divides his squad into two teams of five and starts the scrimmage. Every time

use scrimmaging as a reward

Basketball Coach Weekly Issue 5

Basketball Coach Weekly9325 SW Iowa DriveTualatin, OR 97062

Editor-in-chiefMichael Austinmichael.austin@basketballcoachweekly.com

ContributorsRick Torbett, Doc Eslinger, Kurt Guelsdorf

illustrationsMike Renwick

picturesAction Images

ProductionMatt Boulton, Julie Lifton

PublisherKevin Barrowkevin.barrow@greenstarmedia.net

Customer ServicesDuncan Heardduncanh@ basketballcoachweekly.com

Managing DirectorAndrew Griffiths

Contents

“Players love to scrimmage. they want to challenge their teammates in a game-like setting”

3 liMit turnovErS for SuCCESS

Learn how one program cut its per-game turnover rate in half

4 2-on-1 ESCaPE DriBBlE Drill

Limit space for ball handlers who have to contend with two defenders while attempting not to get trapped

5 7-on-5 PrESS DrillAdd two extra defenders in

this full-court drill designed to improve offensive decisions

6 3 DoWn for 3-PointErRun this perfect play when

your team requires an open look at a long-distance shot

in this issue...

6 Secrets to Free-Throw Shooting Success

By Rick Torbett, Founder of Better Basketball (betterbasketball.com), Woodstock, Ga.

1. Shooting Mechanics. Develop a one-piece motion. When pulling the trigger, everything goes up and out – no pauses and no negative motion.2. Alignment. Line up the “shot line”

To subscribe to Basketball Coach Weekly please contact Duncan Heard at Green Star Media Ltd, Meadow View, Tannery Lane, Bramley, Guildford GU5 0AB, UK.

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(the path the ball takes from beginning to release) rather than placing the strong foot in line with the center. The shot line usually is the width of the foot on the inside of the strong foot.3. After-the-Whistle Attitude. Practice mental exercises drawn upon past success at the free-throw line to utilize during the shot, culminating in the ball release. This helps with composure.4. Find the Groove. Get to the line before the ball and shoot imaginary

free throws. Envision the ball going through the hoop and feel the stroke.5. pre-Shot Ritual. Develop a rhythm of: sight the rim, bend the knees, bounce the ball twice, inhale/exhale, sight the rim again and pull the trigger. 6. Finish. Hold the follow-through until the ball goes through the rim. Hold both arms extended with the goal framed between the forearms/wrists. The shooting fingers are above the goal pointing down the center of the basket.

BASKETBALL COACH

WEEKLY

BREAK THEDEFENSEwiTH THE 2-oN-1EScApE DRill

NEED A SuccESSFul

SET? TRY THE 3 DOWN

3-pOiNTER

October 24, 2013Issue 5$4.99

Focus on 6 strategies FOr Better Free-thrOw ShOOtIng

MICHIGAN: SECURES BALL,

PLAYS FOR TITLE

use scrimmaging as a reward FOr FlawleSS Play

THE BEST coAcHiNG TipS

EvERY WEEk!

cuTTuRNoVERS

learn • train • Develop • enjoy

<

(c) Green Star Media Ltd. All rights reserved.

Click here to read the full disclaimer.

Michael Austin Editor-in-chief

www.basketballcoachweekly.com Issue 5 BASKETBALL COACH WEEKLY

Try a scrimmaging drill to limit turnovers in practice, just like

John Beilein’s Michigan squad

Four years ago we had the honor of being one of the top teams in the nation in turnovers. Yep, I said

it – the one category to which no coach wants to see his team linked. We were turning over the ball about 25 times per game. Essentially, close to one-third of our offensive possessions resulted in a turnover. Not fun.

Turnover is a bad word. I hate seeing it … hate thinking about it. But to improve, I had to think about it. Just one season after averaging about 25 turnovers per game, we cut our turnovers to just 14 per game, and only 12 in conference play. That mark is right around where the top college teams, meaning the great ones by win-loss record, hover. We were on to something.

If you’re looking to decrease turnovers, I suggest starting from a global perspective

and working your way down. • What’s your philosophy on turnovers?• How will you teach your players to

respond to turnovers?• What is your personnel capable of

doing?• What physical skill sets will you teach?

If you think like I do, then turnovers are bad for myriad reasons. When your team relinquishes the ball without getting a shot off, it’s both degrading logistically and mentally, especially if the opponent scores an easy two points (what we call “giveaway turnovers”).

Players know turnovers are bad. The big question is how do they react to them? It’s crucial not only to teach a young player how to respond to a bad decision or action, but also realize your own reaction to said scenario. A coach who

screams, “Come on! Take care of the ball!” immediately after a turnover most likely is allowing emotions to control him and this reaction, in turn, actually distracts the player physically and mentally.

Practice time is crucial but also limited by nature. Prioritize what you want to enhance based on your philosophy and goals, your offense, and your players’ capacity to process and integrate. Just because one player may get it quickly doesn’t mean learning will come so easily for the others. The ability to build an effective series of drills is a coaching skill in itself, something referred to as “scaffolding.” Practice planning and drill creation are individualistic, both from a team and player perspective. Don’t get caught thinking there is only one way to be efficient.

Words and activities by: Doc Eslinger, head men’s coach, Caltech, Pasadena, Calif.

the best way to improve from last year to this is by limiting turnovers – find out how one coach has flipped the fortunes of his program

Limit turnovers for success

The University of Michigan averaged fewer turnovers than any other team in the country last season … and played in the national title game

www.basketballcoachweekly.com Issue 5 BASKETBALL COACH WEEKLY 3

Ball Control

when players can’t handle traps, turnovers quickly follow – use this drill to create small spaces for ball handlers to break the defense

2-on-1 escape dribble drill

WHY uSE itThis drill provides constant repetition in trying to find the best way to maneuver out of traps, which allows ball handlers opportunities to find the best method for controlling the ball.

SEt uPDivide the half-court area into four quadrants. Place one ball handler and two defenders in each quadrant [1].

HoW to PlaYIt’s an easy drill to run but a difficult one for the ball handler to master. Have the two defenders constantly trapping and attempting to steal the ball from the offensive player [2]. The ball handler cannot leave the quadrant and must retain possession [3]. Use the clock to time each segment of the drill so the ball handler knows just how long he or she has to ward off the defenders – much like in a game situation – it is not required of an offensive player to beat a trap for long periods of time.

tECHniQuEThe quadrants act as another defender and force the ball handler to attempt to split the defense to find some space or a gap. Just like in a game, the ball handler wants to stay away from the out-of-bounds lines as often as possible to avoid running out of room to operate.

This offensive player stayed too close to the sideline. The sideline now acts as a third defender, which makes the defensive trap more effective and eventually leads to a turnover

Ball handlers only have a limited space in which to avoid the defenders. Be sure the four quadrants are clearly marked

www.basketballcoachweekly.com Issue 5 BASKETBALL COACH WEEKLY 4

limit turnovers

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Both defenders converge on the ball handler and trap. Defenders are encouraged to use

their hands to create disruption for the offensive player, but not to reach in, which

could be called a foul in a game situation

The best bet for the offensive player is to find a gap or space to split defenders

Player movement Ball movement Dribble Shot

BASKETBALL GAME

Full-court pressure destroys teams not ready for it – create more intensity by adding extra defenders in practice so offensive players get used to scrambling

7-on-5 Press drill

The front court is one area where the offense wants to look as the pressure resides in the backcourt. Teach your deep offensive player to move to open areas instead of standing and watching the action

This second pass isn’t where the offense wants to go. The sideline acts as another defender

and a turnover is inevitable at this point

This initial pass is good in that it’s not directly against the sideline. The catcher

must look to pass toward the middle of the court or face a certain trap

The defenders want to push the action toward

the sideline, whichmakes it more

difficult for the offense

to break the pressure

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2

www.basketballcoachweekly.com Issue 5 BASKETBALL COACH WEEKLY 5

WHY uSE itIf a team consistently can move the ball up the floor against seven defenders in practice, then facing “just” five in a game should lessen the impact of the defensive pressure.

SEt uPThere are five offensive players and seven defenders on the floor. Move most of the defenders into the backcourt [1] to create more pressure on the offense.

HoW to PlaYLet the overmatched offense attempt to beat the defense a couple of times. Most likely, they are going to turn over the ball, especially if they simply try to inbound by a sideline [2]. After a couple of turnovers, step in and show players how to use quick cuts, well-timed screens and the middle of the floor to break the pressure.

tECHniQuEEven if the offense completes a couple of passes immediately, they are going to have difficulty if the ball consistently is against the sideline [3] as it provides the defense another advantage. The key is to have offensive players constantly in motion. No one has time to stand still. Once the offense consistently beats the seven defenders, then facing a full-court press in a game becomes easier.

The center of the court is where offensive players need to explore. it’s not easy to get the ball to the middle against seven defenders

but once it happens, facing pressure in games becomes easier

limit turnovers

Player movement Ball movement Dribble Shot

BASKETBALL GAME

leave the baseline clear to start and utilize a perfectly timed high off-the-ball screen to create a 3-point opportunity … or a dive to the hoop

3 down for 3-Pointer

The posts must wait for the right wing to clear to the top before elevating to the elbows

if the defender overplays the possible pass to the left wing, the screener dives

to the hoop and is open for a layup

The right wing is the best shooter and that player curls

around the post as soon as the point guard initiates action by dribbling right

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1

2

www.basketballcoachweekly.com Issue 5 BASKETBALL COACH WEEKLY 6

WHY uSE itThe best plays to add to a playbook include multiple options, especially those with a long-range and in-close scoring opportunity.

SEt uPLeave the baseline clear by positioning the two posts midway between the block and the elbow. The wings are located outside the 3-point line with the point guard dribbling at the top of the set.

HoW to PlaYThe point guard dribbles right, which indicates to the right wing to curl around the right post. The left wing clears to the backside. The right wing curls to the top and receives a pass while the posts elevate to the elbows [1]. The next pass goes from the top back to the right side. The weak-side post moves higher and sets a backscreen for the passer. The passer flares to the left wing [2]. One option is to pass to the player now open on the left wing for a 3-pointer or fire a pass to the screener who is diving toward the hoop [3].

tECHniQuEMake sure the posts wait to elevate to the elbows after the right wing clears to the top in diagram 1. The screener dives to the basket if his or her defender overplays the pass from the right to left wing.

3 Down play

This screen is the key to the play as it frees the shooter for an open 3-point attempt. The screen must be solid and create separation between the shooter and defender

Activities by: Kurt Guelsdorf, head girls coach, Oregon City High School, Ore.

The typical option off this play is for an open 3-point attempt from your best shooter, who has flared to the left wing

successFuL set