Behind the Back Dribble

It amazes me how much useful (and free) stuff there is online for basketball coaches and players.  The "Shot Science" (click here to access the Shot Science youtube.com channel, and click here to access the website) video above gives a detailed tutorial for the effective use of the behind the back dribble.

Through various full court "zig zag" drills and half court one on one "chair" drills, our players have practiced this move quite a bit.  I agree with Shot Science when they say that it is key to plant and explosively change directions when making the move.  Like Shot Science, I also talk to my players about "throwing the ball" out on the behind the back dribble and going to get it.  I called that "going somewhere."  I'm not so sure what they mean about the "wrap around" because the demonstration looks a lot like the "flat back" move being taught.  But that is a small point.

I also like to emphasize the importance of being able to attack with the dribble using both hands.  A good ball handler that can attack explosively with either hand can use this behind the back dribble, a cross over, or a spin move to create opportunities against almost any defender.  I tell my players that if they get low and attack with whichever hand they are already dribbling the ball with, the best the defender can do is stop the initial burst.  But most defenders will not be able to change directions and stop the drive again if the dribbler plants and explodes in the opposite direction with a solid behind the back, crossover, or spin dribble.

One of our players, Matt Miller, does a good job of using this "flat back" behind the back dribble, although we have never called the move by that name.  We have to give all of the credit to Shot Science for that creative name!

Watch these clips of Matt executing the move that the Shot Science team does such a good job of explaining:

Skill Development Session 8-12

Today's 7AM Skill Development Session was the last of this first week of the new school year.  Four boys and four girls participated during the Friday session.  During the other four sessions this week, there were always at least 14 players present.  I actually encouraged the players to take this morning off after working so hard during the week's first four days.

The players present today had productive workouts.  They worked on shooting, footwork, driving, ball handling, passing, and reading the defense.

Shooting
Repetitions - Players shot over 200 shots, including the following types:
     Catch and Shoot
     Mikan
     Reverse Mikan
     Jump Hooks (both hands)
     Running Hooks (both hands)
     Step Back Jump Shots
     Pull Ups off the Dribble (See Video Below)
     Pull Ups off the Ball Screen (See Video Below)

Footwork
     Drop Step and Drive to the basket (from low post, medium post, and high post)
     Rolling to the basket after screen; sealing and posting after the roll

Seeing
     Following up on ideas from yesterday's post, we worked on reading the defense and using our eyes to communicate and get teammates good shots.  We practiced getting good shots after a high ball screen.

Ball Handling - We talked about the importance of improving ball handling skills.  We can't "look up" to see teammates and read situations if we cannot reliably control and handle the basketball.
     2 Balls Stationary Dribbling
     2 Balls Zig Zag (See Video Below)

See video of players working on the "2 Ball Zig Zag" and practicing scoring off the high ball screen...

See this video for a demonstration of the Mikan drill..

   ...and see this one for a demonstration of the Reverse Mikan drill:

Sound Advice for Players

Mike Jones, the Coach of the famed DeMatha High School basketball team, posted this letter, which was written to him by his college basketball coach, on Twitter recently.  All good players who want to be better should consider this advice:

This is wonderfully written, genuinely helpful advice, especially for a player who has an advanced skill set.  I interpret the "SEEING" as meaning the reading of the defenders and the offensive teammates.  I would add the importance of the eyes and what I call "non verbal" communication.  Players who have learned to create scoring opportunities for themselves become much more dangerous when they learn to create scoring opportunities for others.  This coach mentions the importance of "looking up" while dribbling.  A player who is not looking up is not seeing or communicating with teammates, and he is certainly not creating scoring opportunities for them.

I also like the advice to work to create positive habits during pickup games.  I refer to "good" and "bad" pickup basketball.  The good kind is a very productive use of a player's time.  The bad kind is harmful because players are fooled into thinking they are working on their games and they are actually learning how to play poorly.  There are also good and bad AAU basketball situations.  Players should participate in good pickup, AAU, and school basketball situations or spend the time working alone or with like minded players who want to get better.

One "Big Thing" at a Time

In "Making Choices", I wrote that it is important for a basketball coach to decide what to emphasize with his limited time and resources.  In that post, I shared my current plans for devoting a significant portion of my players' practice and workout time to developing shooting, scoring, ball handling, passing, and defending skills, leaving little time to develop multiple defensive and offensive sets, plans for special situations, and other worthwhile areas.  Each coach has unique circumstances to consider in making these kinds of decisions, so my specific plans may not be of much value to someone looking for advice on what drills to run or how to organize practices.  But a description of my thought process and the history of my team's development may offer a coach some value if it causes him to think about his situation from a different perspective.

Our varsity boys basketball team is entering its third season.  Two years ago, we had few, if any, players who had spent the necessary time practicing and playing to be accomplished players.  Also, we were, and still are, very small.  We have only had one player during the past two seasons who was taller than six feet, and he has graduated.  I have stressed two "big" things during our team's time together.  The first was essentially our only focus from the time we formed our team until the midway through our second season:  a tough man to man defense.  After establishing a defensive minded "culture," I moved on to the next "big thing:"  becoming better individual basketball players.  In the post that I link to above, I describe my current plans.  Here I will outline the team's history and the thought process behind the decisions I have made.

Pick and Roll Series: Part 4

Part 4 of the Pick and Roll Series observes two possessions during the first half of the Southern Select 16 and Under AAU team's Super Showcase game versus the Garner Road Bulldogs in the 2011 AAU Super Showcase in Orlando, Florida.

The video focuses on defending the pick and roll and shows a poor defensive possession followed by a much better one.  As you will see, it is important for teammates to work together to keep the ball from penetrating into the paint.

Note:  I hope this video is an improvement over previous "Pick and Roll Series" videos.  In an attempt to spare readers and viewers the hassle of reading slides attempting to explain what to look for in the video clips, I have recorded my voice over the clips.  I suppose that readers and viewers now have to endure my voice.  I hope this is a "net positive."

Making Choices

I am preparing to help teach a high school government and economics course.  Introducing the subject of economics causes me to think about the conflict between unlimited desires and the limited resources available to meet those wishes.  The most popular example of this conflict in the news today seems to be the debate in Washington, DC, over the "debt limit."  Voters have expressed dissatisfaction with our tendency to legislate more benefits and government spending than our tax dollars can cover, causing enough politicians to "take a stand," however symbolic, by refusing to increase, without getting something equally symbolic in return, the amount of borrowing the Federal Government can undertake in the near future.

Just as we citizens will eventually be forced, by economic realities, to reconcile our government's spending with our willingness and ability to fund such spending through tax revenues, we coaches constantly make decisions about which aspects of the game to emphasize during our time with our players.  In yesterday's post, I expressed my belief that making the skill development process fun for players is the best way to ensure that they will spend the time needed to make the improvements they will want and need to make to reach their team, and individual, goals.  In addition to making this process enjoyable, a coach who is using player development as a key component of his strategy to build a competitive program needs to devote enough time and energy to skill work.

Learning from Coach John Calipari

University of Kentucky coach John Calipari is undoubtedly one of the most accomplished college basketball coaches, owning the NCAA record of winning 30 or more games in four consecutive seasons.  The offense his teams employ, the "dribble drive motion" offense, one that didn't exist 15 years ago and was almost unheard of before his Memphis team adopted it during the 2005-2006 season, has become popular with coaches at all levels.  A search of "dribble drive motion" on the basketball section of the popular coaching video website Championship Productions yields 17 different video products teaching the offense.  The Wikipedia.org entry for "Dribble drive motion" states that by the 2007-2008 basketball season, two seasons after Calipari first adopted the offense originally developed by Vance Walberg, no fewer than "224 junior high, high school, college, and professional teams were using some form of the Dribble drive motion."  Of the nearly 1,000 posts on the popular basketball coaching blog coachingbetterbball.blogspot.com, one of the six most popular is titled "Memphis Dribble Drive Motion Offense."


Coaches emulate other successful coaches.  And we certainly should learn from the best.  But are the details of Coach Calipari's offensive action what can benefit us most in our effort to build a more successful basketball program?  I think not.  I believe Calipari uses this particular system for the same reason coaches have traditionally employed the motion, Princeton, four out one in, and various other systems:  to "teach players how to play basketball."  No matter what offensive system a coach chooses to teach, he will always be improving his ability to teach his players how to play, and no single system provides a shortcut through that never ending journey.

Pick and Roll Series: Part 3

During Part 2 of the Pick and Roll series, we observed the CHVAA Patriots and their success against the Augusta Eagles in creating open shooting opportunities using the "pick and pop."

Part 3 of the Pick and Roll Series observes some of the ways teams use the screen and roll to force the defense to make mistakes in helping and rotating to cover for teammates, allowing the offense easy opportunities.  Video footage of two young, but fundamentally sound, AAU teams, the 14 and Under Kentucky Elite and the 15 and Under Georgia Defenders Elite, is used to show how good spacing, patience, and solid dribbling and passing skills, will enable a team to use the screen and roll to free players up for high percentage shots.  Enjoy.

Pick and Roll Series: Part 2 (CVHAA Patriots)

Part 2 of the Pick and Roll series features the Central Virginia Patriots, one of the best home schooled high school basketball teams in the country.  During the semifinal game of the East Coast Home School Championships at the Vines Center, home of the Liberty University Flames in Lynchburg, Virginia, the Patriots used the pick and roll effectively in various ways against the Augusta Eagles.  The ball handler and the screener are both good shooters, scorers, and passers, making it difficult for the defense.  As you will see, the Patriots read the defense and get great shots, depending on the situation.  Enjoy.

Pick and Roll Series: Part 1 (Phoenix Suns)

This video, taken from the "basketball breakdowns" channel on youtube.com, does a fine job of illustrating and explaining how the best players in the world use the pick and roll to find great scoring opportunities.

It would certainly be difficult for high school or college basketball players to emulate Steve Nash (watch his ball handling, passing, and scoring skills with the weak hand) and the Suns.  But it is beneficial to see the execution of the best players in the world.  In the next few days, I plan to post footage of high school teams using the pick and roll to look at the different ways teams can benefit by using this offensive action:  I will call this series of posts the "Pick and Roll Series."

Enjoy the impressive and informative video:

Get Low on the Drive

Click here to see warm up dribbling drills used by Team Ontario.

The drills help to get the dribbler used to being very low while dribbling.  Just as a tackler wants to be lower than the ball carrier in football, a basketball player needs to be low to blow by a defender.  In addition to the form dribbling drills shown in the linked video, touching the ground while practicing driving to the basket off the dribble and out of the triple threat position is a great way to make sure the dribbler's first step is as quick and explosive as possible.

I often tell my players to "try to slip" when practicing making moves to the basket.  If they push themselves to be lower and more explosive than their comfort zone may suggest, they will get better with each repetition.  After enough repetitions, they will be different, and better, players.

Eagles "Keep Moving Forward" in the Big Moments of a Big Game

In an earlier post, The Bright Side of "Knowing Nothing," I wrote about the importance of players and coaches controlling their emotions when games take a turn for the worse.  I have started telling my players regularly before games and during breaks to "keep moving forward" when the the inevitable times come that their shots do not fall or the other team makes a scoring run.  It was very pleasing to see our team handle such a situation so well during the fourth quarter of the semifinal game against the Central Virginia Patriots in the 2011 East Coast Homeschool Championships at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia.  View the video below to see a resilient group of players handle setbacks and perform at a high level when it is tempting to become discouraged and "take possessions off."

Learning from Dwayne Wade's Individual Workout

I discovered stack.com's approximately three minute long clip about Dwayne Wade's training routine through a Facebook post by Sanders Jackson, an old friend, former professional basketball player, and current coach.  Some of the major points expressed by Wade's trainer and illustrated by the video footage of Wade's workout validate methods used by the Augusta Eagles and cause me to reflect on possible adjustments and additions to our individual and team workouts.  This is the video.  After viewing, read further to read my thoughts:

The Bright Side of "Knowing Nothing"

Coach John Carrier, the author of the "Coaching Basketball - My Dream!" blog, writes in the "About Me" section of his site:  "...I know enough to know that I don't know anything."  I know what he means and recent experiences have strengthened my conviction that a key to being a better coach is understanding how little I know, or expressed more optimistically, how much knowledge I have the opportunity to gain, about building a strong basketball program and helping players become better.

Off the Dribble

During our Skill Development sessions the past two days, we have devoted time to improving our ability to beat defenders with the dribble.  Yesterday, I posted a video supplement to the drills the players have been using to help them understand and develop the footwork and other important aspects of beating the defenders from the "triple threat" position.

Today, the video clips show live examples of players executing sound techniques driving to the basket from the "live dribble" when approaching a defender and when being pressured in the back court.  A good offensive players needs to be able to accelerate past the defender with either hand, while staying in a low and explosive stance, and he needs to be able to aggressively change directions when the defender stops them on the first or second move.

Triple Threat Drive - Supplement to Monday's Skill Development Session

During this morning's Skill Development sessions, the players devoted a significant portion of the workout to becoming more skilled at attacking the basket, with either hand, from the triple threat position.  I compiled these video clips from the Augusta Eagles' 2011 Summer League games to illustrate and reinforce some of the proper techniques in beating the defender from the triple threat position.

Lessons Learned

Time flies and it seems there is little time for reflection.  I happen to be in the same location, on vacation with my family, this Fourth of July holiday weekend as last year at this time.  With a moment to reflect, I recall from last year's trip the image of an internet site visited while killing time during a brief interruption in family activities.  Hslive365.com, a new (to me) site covering high school home school basketball, was a reminder that great home school basketball teams existed and that ours, the Augusta Eagles, was not thought to be one of them.

Eagles versus 2-3 Zone

The Augusta Eagles boys varsity team finished its 2011 Summer League schedule today with 2 wins (versus the Easley Guardians and Harlem High School).  The Eagles won the last 6 games of the summer season and finished with a 13-8 record.

We will post highlights from many of the games over the next several days.

In the past we populated this blog with instruction as well as highlights and news.  With the summer season ending, we will have time to pick specific sequences and situations out of games from the 2010-2011 regular season and the 2011 Summer League and use them as a learning tool for players and coaches.

Today, we identify offensive possessions against a 2-3 zone from the Eagles' 44-43 loss to Evans High School on June 9th.  The first set of possessions are examples of good spacing, ball handling, movement, passing and shooting.  The second set of possession lack most of these positive characteristics.

Setting up properly against a zone defense is important.  But more important is the players' ability to handle and pass the basketball, use pass fakes effectively, penetrate the gaps, and rebound missed shots.  These skills are best learned through consistent practice.

Good possessions..

...and not so good possessions:

Improvement: An Example

Our goal is to improve as a team and as individual players and coaches as much as possible, as quickly as possible, and as consistently over long periods of time as possible.  Our players cannot control their height, their genes, or their current level of basketball playing ability.  But they can control the effort and commitment they bring to the gym, and they can pursue the goal of improving their skills through hard work and diligence.  The beauty of focusing on improvement through earnest effort and a significant time commitment is that the vast majority of the competitors don't usually have a similar focus.  So those who seriously seek to improve will not only become better players, but these players will become better relative to the competition.  So hard work becomes rewarding in so many ways.  The satisfaction that accompanies mastery of a skill and achieving the goal of being better and being successful teaches players lessons that can be taken into all of the important areas of life.

The Augusta Eagles were able to experience firsthand the benefits of hard work and diligent effort Wednesday after playing the Aiken High School "Green" summer league team.  Augusta faced the same team, one of two teams composed of Aiken High School players, last June and was destroyed 64-25.  One regular season, countless hours of team practice, and thousands of shots later, the Eagles were able to defeat Aiken 56-51 in the first of three Summer League sessions played at Aiken High School.  In a later game, the Eagles fell 57-54 to Fox Creek High School.

Game 1
Augusta Eagles 57, Aiken High School (Green) 54

In an impressive scoring display, Matt Miller tallied 23 points in the first half, leading to a halftime tie at 28.  Jacob Greenway added 5 first half points.  Although only two Eagles scored in the opening half, the team defense closed off the paint and Paul Jones, Jordan Pye, and Jonathan Pye did particularly good jobs of defending, blocking out, and securing defensive rebounds.

During the second half, Aiken's full court pressure wore on Miller and presented a great opportunity for other Eagles to take more responsibility to handle the basketball and score.  The Eagles got scoring contributions from Jacob Greenway, Dominic Brown, Jonathan Pye, and Paul Jones.  In addition to these players, Zach Miller and Jordan Pye contributed reliable ball handling and passing.  Greenway made consecutive jumpers late in the second half to establish a lead.  After Aiken tied the score, Brown made a 15 foot jumper to give the Eagles a 55-54 lead that was enough to secure the win.

Matt Miller led all scorers with 34 points.  Jacob Greenway added 12 points, and Dominic Brown scored all 6 of his points in the critical closing minutes of the second half.  The win improved the Eagles Summer League record to 4 wins and 1 loss.

Game 2
Augusta Eagles 54, Fox Creek 57

After sinking 3 free throw with less than one second remaining in the game, Fox Creek completed a 7 point second half comeback to defeat the Eagles 57-54.  After playing games earlier in the night, both teams battled fatigue but succeeded in playing an impressive basketball game.

Facing a zone defense in the game's opening minutes, the Eagles' Matt Miller, Jacob Greenway, and Dominic Brown combined to convert 4 three pointers and establish an early lead.  However, Fox Creek made 3 three pointers in the first half and eventually tallied a 17-14 before the Eagles responded with a 14-6 run to close the half leading 28-23.

The Eagles controlled much of the second half before suffering a dry spell late.  Fox Creek capitalized with good shooting and effective offensive rebounding.  Matt Miller led the Eagles in scoring with 33 points.  Dominic added 14 points.  The loss drops the Eagles Summer League record to 4 wins and 2 losses.

The Eagles varsity and junior varsity teams face Evans High School and Harlem High School Thursday night beginning at 6 PM at Evans Middle School.

2011 Summer League

The Augusta Eagles boys varsity team plays the first games of the 2011 Summer League tonight at Grovetown High School.  The Eagles will face Grovetown High School at 5 PM and Evans High School at 7 PM.

The Summer League begins tonight and ends June 25th.  During the next twenty-three days, the Eagles boys teams are scheduled to play 27 varsity games and 7 junior varsity games.  Opponents mostly include public schools of various sizes from Georgia and South Carolina.  Games will be played on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.

Wednesday Nights
Games on June 8th, June 15th, and June 22nd will be played at Aiken High School.  Opponents include Fox Creek, Hunter Kinard Tyler, Strom Thurmond, and Aiken High School's A and B teams.

Thursday Nights
Games on June 2nd, June 9th, June 16th, and June 23rd will be played at various Columbia County schools including Grovetown High School, Evans High School, and possibly Greenbrier High School and Harlem High School.  This forum will provide the opportunity for the Eagles to test themselves against the best teams in Columbia County, teams that the Eagles are not able to play during the regular season.

Eagles Day Team Camps (Specific Saturdays)
On June 4th, June 18th, and June 25th, the Eagles will host "Day Team Camps."  Various teams, including public school teams, private school teams, and homeschool teams, will attend and play 2-3 games.  Participating teams will vary each Saturday.  These days will give not only varsity teams, but junior varsity teams and possibly girls teams, the opportunity to play games and improve.  The first of these "Day Team Camps" will be hosted at Episcopal Day School this Saturday, June 4th.  The Eagles will play 2 varstiy and 3 junior varsity games against Cross Creek High School, Grovetown High School, and Glenn Hills High School.

Other Team Camps
The Eagles will also participate in the Lander University Team Camp (June 17) and the Riverview Park Team Camp (June 10-11).  Opponents are not yet determined but it is likely that in the eight games played during these three days, the Eagles will play teams that aren't otherwise scheduled.

Benefits of Summer League
The summer is the first time for the next season's team to come together as a unit.  For decades, high school teams have been using the summer league as a way for players to get familiar playing together, for players to get familiar with the coaches, and for everyone to have fun and improve.

This summer will mark the third summer season for the Augusta Eagles.  Our summer schedule has evolved as our team has improved, and our team has improved as we have challenged ourselves against better competition and with more games during the summer season.

2009 Summer League Results and Benefits
During the 2009 summer season, the Eagles won two games and lost five competing in the Richmond County High School Junior Varsity League.  The tough competition we faced that June prepared the Eagles, at that time a new team with few players with basketball experience, to eventually win the South Carolina State Homeschool Championships in the 2009-2010 regular season.

2010 Summer League Results and Benefits
During the 2010 summer season, versus various public school and private schools from Georgia and South Carolina, the Eagles varsity team won seven games and lost twelve and the junior varsity team won two games and lost three.  That summer, the Eagles learned a lot about playing against bigger and more athletic teams, playing as a team, and not giving up, and they used that experience and knowledge to eventually have a great 2010-2011 regular season, including a championship in the East Coast Homeschool Basketball Championships.

The 2011 Summer League schedule is the most ambitious schedule the Eagles have confronted.  The plan is to have fun, learn a lot about ourselves and each other, and use the experience to eventually have a successful and enjoyable 2011-2012 regular season.  I hope to update the blog with the results of the games in June.