Basketball Coaching

If you are a new or relatively new coach then you will need to think through how practice sessions will be run. You need to work out methods to train your players that are effective. Coaching sessions do not just fill in time that you have for your team. Coaching and training sessions should concentrate on making your team better.

The minutes spent on a drill, is not a mere time filler, but to improve your players and the team. Training sessions should be fun. All players want to enjoy their basketball, but your coaching should also lead to team improvement.

Here are two effective drills. Practice drills with a high intensity. Fast pace and seriousness are vital to gain any permanent improvement in your squad.

Running with the ball

All players like to dribble so produce a ball for everyone and have them bounce in a marked area, say a half court or whatever suits the numbers. The idea is to get team competent at bouncing in confined areas. When all players are dribbling then blow the whistle and give the signal to tag the other players. If someone gets tagged then they are out. Alternatively you can let them knock the ball of others away.

This drill puts the players under pressure when they are running with the ball. They need eyes that see 360 degrees, to the sides as well as behind and they need speed and agility to get themselves out of the way. You can reward a knocker by giving them 5 or 10 seconds immunity from being eliminated. Develop the game how you feel according to your players. Brilliant way to see your players dribbling the ball whilst busy with pressure.

There and back drill

Great for youth teams and those fairly new to the game. Have them race from one basket to the other and back again. Either singles in pairs or teams. They go down court bouncing with their right hand, and they return with their left hand. Time them, or organise races.

If they lose control of the ball they have to go all the way back to the start again. Change things around as the players become more skilled. Build obstacles, have them go in and out of chairs. Keep them in a very tight lane. This can be a popular drill and it helps a lot with the basics. The fundamentals are crucial in developing their game.

Reward with prizes as motivation. The occasional candy bar for winners or ten press ups for losers can help to motivate and encourage. Some players need to be coaxed along gently, others need handling with a little more aggression. Get to know your squad and you will know how to treat them all as individuals.

Shooting Drill

Shooting drills are always fun and helps improve your players skills. Three misses and off helps to focus attenton and puts the players under pressure. Each player shoots at the basket and if they miss they lose a life. Lose three and you are out. A fun variant is to have all the players shooting at the same time. Blow your whistle and the players have a set time to take their shot. This puts the shooters busy with pressure as they not only have to score, but also time their shot so they do not collide with the balls of others.