Since 1995


Organize every minute, every second of your practice.

Gym space is at a premium and many teams are limited to only one practice a week. This makes it crucial that each minute of practice is as productive as possible. Make a plan prior to each practice and plan for every minute. Don't expect to adhere to the schedule exactly as it was written. Basketball practices are fluid and take on a life of their own. It is important to be flexible enough to stray from the schedule when necessary; however, to practice without a schedule as a guideline is to invite chaos.
Passing Fundamentals and Drills

Passing is by far the fastest way to move the ball up, down, and around the floor.

Teach your players to recognize spaces on the court and move to them.  Explain that when a player moves into a free space, they create another space for another teammate to fill.
CHEST PASS

The chest pass is a quick pass and is effective around the outside of a half-court defense, for long passes in transition, and for inbound plays. It is not effective in the lane.
  • Use a good stance.
  • Hold ball in front of your chest.
  • Fingers forward and thumbs up.
  • Step into the throw.
  • Push hands forward rotating thumbs down as you release.
  • Aim for your teammate's chest.
 BOUNCE PASS

The bounce pass is a slower pass, but, by keeping the ball lower to the ground, is a more difficult pass to intercept. It is effective in the lane.
  • Use a good stance.
  • Hold ball in front of your chest.
  • Fingers forward and thumbs up.
  • Step into the throw.
  • Push hands forward rotating thumbs down as you release.
  • Aim for a spot 2/3 to 3/4 to your teammate.
OVERHEAD PASS

The overhead pass is effective for long passes, inbound passes, and outlet passes out of the lane after rebounding. It is not a pass that can be made on the run.
  • Use a good stance.
  • Hold ball above your head.
  • Fingers up and thumbs back - Like you moved the ball from in front to above your head.
  • Step into the throw.
  • Push hands forward rotating thumbs forward as you release.
  • Aim for your teammate's chest.
 
keykeyKey Points Passing keyKey Points Catching
  • Step into the throw.
  • Use both hands. Don't make a one-handed pass.
  • Extend your arms fully into the pass.
  • Twist your wrists so that your thumbs rotate down and in.
  • The target for chest and overhead passes is the chest of the receiver.
  • The target for the bounce pass is a spot on the floor about 3/4 of the way to the receiver. The ball should bounce up to the waist of the receiver
  • When catching, make a target by holding your hands palms out so that your thumbs and index fingers form a triangle.
  • When catching, come and meet the ball. Don't wait for it to get to you.

"4" PASSES TO SCORE

A good game to play is called "4 passes to score" - Basically you play in the half court or within the 3 point line depending upon ability. You have 2 teams, the objective is for each team to try to get 4 consecutive passes. Players may not dribble or run with the ball. The team without the ball must try to get the ball off the other team, however they can only do this by intercepting the pass, they may not take the ball out of their opponents. The team without the ball must stay 2 steps away from the person with the ball. Have your players man up. When a team gets 4 passes in a row they get 1 point. The first team to 7 points wins. To make it harder add the rule - "you can't pass to the person who just passed it to you" and/or increase the number of passes to get 1 point.

After scoring a point the team with the ball places it down on the spot and the other team picks it up.

Teach your players to recognize spaces on the court and move to them. Explain that when a player moves into a free space, they create another space for another teammate to fill.

PARTNER PASSING DRILL
PURPOSE: Chest pass, bounce pass, and overhead pass
Break the team into two equal lines and have them face each other about fifteen feet apart (just wider than the lane). Start with each player in one line having a ball. The coach calls out a type of pass to practice: bounce, chest, and overhead passes.

PASSING CIRCLE
PURPOSE: Chest pass, bounce pass and overhead pass
Make a circle about 20 feet across. Put one player in the middle with a ball. The middle player passes to everyone in turn around the circle.  After everyone has received a pass the next player enters the middle. Continue until everyone has been in the middle. After you improve at this, try starting the ball on the circle and passing it in. After each pass, the passer follows the pass and takes the place of the person that caught the pass.		 passcirc.gif (10561 bytes)
BULL IN THE RING
PURPOSE: Pass around a defender
Place two players about 12 feet apart and one player directly in between them. The outside players try to pass to one another without the middle player touching the pass. They do this by faking low to draw the defender's hand down and passing right at ear level or faking high to draw the defender's hand high and bounce passing. The middle player attacks the ball without moving forward or backward. If the pass is touched the passer goes to the middle.
 [Ring Diagram]
DOWN THE LINE
PURPOSE: Pass to and from a moving player
Line every player except one in a line side by side. The remaining player begins with the ball and passes to the player on the right end of the line. Then the passer shuffles left, receives the pass back, and passes to the next player in line. At the end of the line, the passer dribbles behind the line and passes to the player at the right end who becomes the new passer. The original passer takes the spot at the left end of the line.		 [Drill Diagram]

[Drill Diagram]

Basketball Tips
GAME KNOWLEDGE

· Know What's Going On
· The Score, fouls
· Study Your Opponent
· Right Handed or Left Handed
· Do they Like to Drive
· Type of Defense they are In
· Who is Hot
· Offensive Plays

PASSING

  • Eye Contact
  • Crisp Two Handed Pass
  • Pass to Target -  Outside Shoulder
  • Step to Receive the Ball

SHOOTING

  • Off The Back Board
  • Concentrate
  • Jump off the Left Foot for a Right Handed Lay-up Vice Versa

Lay - Ups ( They Are Not Easy)

JUMP SHOT, (One Handed)

  • Elbow In
  • Release Ball Up - Not OUT
  • Wrist - Fringer Flip with fore finger being last to touch the Ball
  • Eyes o n the Spot over the Front of the Rim

Be ready to rebound and Thank the passer when you score.

 REBOUNDING
  • Block-Out (Between Man & Basket)
  • Flex Knees
  • Eye On The Ball
  • Timing
  • Long Rebounds on 3 Point Attempts

Remember the ball will more likely bounce back toward the shooter.

DRIBBLING

  • Push Ball with Fingers
  • Head Up
  • Lower Dribble When Closely Guarded
  • Body Between Defender
  • Use Both Hands
  • Elbow Close To Body

OFFENSE

  • Eye On the Ball
  • Don't Force Shots or Passes
  • Shoot if Open
  • Put Offensive Rebound Back Up
  • Get Back Fast on Turnovers

DEFENSE

  • Eye on the Ball
  • Between Man and Basket
  • Never Rest on Defense
  • Hands Up
  • Watch the Hips
  • Slide, Don't Cross Legs
  • Be Aggressive, Go for Steals

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 ZONE DEFENSE

 

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Zone Defense Movement

· Move Toward the
Ball
· Stay In Your Zone (Circle)
· Hands Up

HALF COURT PRESS

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· Guards Double Team player with the Ball once he has crossed the half court line

· Center & Forwards Look to Intercept Passes
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