Coaching Questions

Coaching Question and Answer Session

Question
I coach 11 & 12 year olds (boys). The recreation league rules guarantee that each boy pretty much plays equal time. So, I cannot use "playing time" as a leverage point in handling the following: When we scrimmage as a team, each child has a tendency to drive or shoot, not pass. We do plenty of passing drills, but they view the scrimmage time as "fool around and be a star" time. Do you have any suggestions about how to motivate them to be more team oriented in these scrimmages?
Answer
Remain firm with this age group. They will walk all over you, if you let them. This age group is just beginning to feel their independence and will try many different ways to gain control over the practice. Make the scrimmage more controlled. Have them execute plays, defense, presses, etc. as they scrimmage. Don't let them get out of hand; rather teach them the proper way to play. Also, the good ole "suicide" (ladder, etc. whatever you want top call it) helps slow down their zest to not follow directions. A little running never hurt a basketball player during practice.

Question
I am a basketball fan, who has gotten involved in coaching a competitive 7th grade team. I feel comfortable teaching the individual and team skills associated with the game, but know I need to learn more about how to be a game coach. How to know what play to draw up based on what the defense is giving us. How to defense an offense that is giving us problems. When to do "this" and when to do "that". Is there a book, video or other resource that teaches strategy, and game coaching skills?
Answer
When I was in your situation, I had the same questions. There are not "cookbooks" to solving every problem. Try to keep a journal of each game as you go through your season. Note the defense the other team used, the plays that worked or didn't. Did your opponent use a zone press to break your team down? Etc. Another way, watch every game you can find. NBA, NCAA, JUCO, high school, etc. Watch what those guys do to correct their problems. Be analytical; guess what they will do next or what you would do differently. Coaching competitively is tough. Lastly, consider getting a monthly newsletter such as Timeout or Winning Hoops. These newsletters have helped me immensely. They are excellent.

Question
I coach boy’s 12/U basketball. I could run 60 minutes of drills that teach them to move and pick and rotate, 5 minutes later I run a scrimmage and they don't use anything they just learned. Any suggestions? Help!
Answer
The age group you are working with is a trying age. The 12's think they know it all. I like spreading the floor and splitting the team into half. Put one half on each end of a full court situation. As one team brings the ball down the floor and crosses half court, have the others step up and get into their defensive positions. This forces the offense to have to move as the defense is really set and the offense must work hard to score. Teach them about spacing, staying 10-15 feet from the ball. The drill reverts to the defensive team if they steal or rebound twice in a row. Keep the scrimmaging to a minimum, this age loves to show each other up. It is as much a mental edge as physical when scrimmaging anyway. Find another team to scrimmage against. Your team will move then.

Question
We have a sixth grade basketball team that just finished up a fairly successful season. Most of our kids are playing baseball or soccer now, so we have started an off-season program that includes lifting weights. Do you do any weight training? If so, at what age do you start? We have been working out for two or three weeks now and the kids really seem to enjoy it. I just want to make sure we don't hurt anybody.
Answer
Hold off the weight training until the kids are a little older. An off-season program should include lots of aerobic activity; running (like soccer) for conditioning, jumping rope for legs, pull-ups for upper body strength, and don't forget box-jumps for increasing leaping ability.

Question
I am head coach of a 12-13 age AAU type league. Instead of the boring - yet stable 2-1-2 zone we are going to try a 1-3-1-trap zone. I only remember parts of it from my days in high school. Any info on this or other aggressive defenses for this age group.
Answer
If you want to become aggressive apply full court pressure using a 1-2-1-1 combined with man-to-man defense instead of your idea of a 1-3-1. Be careful using a 1-3-1, the role of the man up top requires foot speed and the heart of a lion. The same can be said for the guard on the bottom that is responsible for denying baseline and helping the double up to the baseline. Place your best rebounder in the middle, your better defenders on the wing spots. As far as the trap goes, you actually want to double team at the wings using the man on the top and the man on the bottom as described before, keep the rest moving facing the ball and denying entry pass to the post. If you play the 1-3-1 zone the way it was designed to be played it is efficient and frustrating for the other team.

Question
I coach varsity girl’s basketball for a private high school. This past season, the majority of the opposing teams played man to man defense. Our offense struggled a little to say the least. We do not play man-to-man defense. I am thinking if we could teach the man-to-man defense and play it; the girls may get a better understanding of how to execute the offense. Can you give me some advice on how to approach teaching a good man-to-man defense? \
Answer
It does not matter either girls or boys. Defense is the most important lesson to be learned. If you want to improve defensive skills your players must be able to react to the ball and move their feet. Man-to-man defense is not taught overnight, you as a coach must have patience and a willingness to challenge your players to work past their weaknesses. Practice footwork, court vision, and, the hardest part, increase your teams overall foot speed. Sprints, passing drills, basic defensive philosophy. If you are use to playing zone, get out of the habit. The best way to "surprise" your opponent is to apply pressure to the ball. Most zone defenses are designed for double teams, man-to-man is not. Zone defenses were developed due to a team’s inability to handle every player of another team. You have not indicated if your team is small, slow, or in-between. I assume that you can match-up against your opponents. Did the teams you played against have great foot speed? Ask yourself this question first. If they did and you did not, a zone may be necessary. Maybe consider a match-up zone instead.