A great tip when preparing for opponents

I heard this from Nikki Caldwell (LSU):

During practice when you are running your opponent's offense and reviewing individual players' tendencies, keep it simple...

Green Jersey = shooter
Red Jersey = driver
White Jersey = all-around

This is a simple trick that can have a great effect. It can be a challenge to explain to your team that Susie is your opponent's #23 and she is a left handed kid who always takes the ball off the bounce (even though Susie is right handed and her strength is shooting from the outside). Then, during the defense of your opponen't offense, your players forget who Susie is supposed to be and therefore do not guard her properly.

This makes a great transition to the game- you can simply ask your kids: what color is #23? 

Vic Shaefer's talk at the Final Four

Below are some notes I took when Texas A&M Assistant Coach Vic Schaefer spoke at the WBCA Convention at the Final Four last year (the day his Aggies won the National Championship!).

-Assistants and Head Coaches can agree to disagree...but, when you disagree, it should be about what we think is best for the program or team.

-The Head Coach should talk to parents about intangibles, but let the Assistants handle the crises that arise.

-Knowledge of the game is so important!! WATCH THE GAME!! (See my post on "deliberate practice" here)

-Professionalism is so important...what you say, how you dress...

-Know you're stuff- we aren't paid to be wrong.

-Be a voice to your Head Coach. Sometimes, bosses need to think it's their idea about a game plan or something that will benefit the team/program.

-Go to work early and stay late.

-Emotionally invest in your team!

-Teach kids to be accountable and to hold each other accountable (it's not personal, only work!). For example, run on the 3rd missed block out.

-It's not WHAT we do...it's HOW we do it

-Trust is the foundation of A&M's defense....tight ball pressure = susceptible to penetration. Need to trust your teammates' rotations, etc.

-Post defense is played 35' from the basket (bump and get position early)

-Make your team uncomfortable in practice so they are better prepared to face adversity in games (and life!)

-Clear minds make plays. KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid)

-A&M has a foundation of the same 3-5 drills everyday

-BE WORTH POINTS EACH GAME (on defense!)

-Defense is a LEARNED response.

9 Important Teaching Points for Your Drills

The following are notes from Morgan Wootten's Basketball Camp around 2005...these were given to Joe Wootten from Kevin Eastman (Boston Celtics Assistant Coach) and passed on to the camp staff:

1) Basketball is a game of inches (John Stockton; slow, but sure)- Attack ankles/Attack hips, etc.

2) Pound dribble for better handle on the basketball

3) Play the game low to high (on screens: cutter's shoulders should be at screener's hips. Quite a bit happens away from the ball so shooters, be ready on the catch to go up into your shot without hesitation)

4) It's a shoulders game (Posting up and defense)

5) Shoulder- Hip through contact

6) Feet first, ball second (go by- not around)

7) Find your feet on shots (if you have to look down to find yourself on the floor, don't shoot it!)

8) Use your eyes more: when setting screens, see back of defense's head, "eye" the game in setting yourself up in a scoring position)

9) Be ready for the next play

Flip Saunder's Defensive Rules

Thanks to Forrest McKinnis for sending me these great points:

General rules followed by Coach Flip Saunders of the NBA's Washington Wizards, critical for building any defensive foundation.

We give the players these simple, general rules:

Never leave the dribbler alone.
Never let the offense penetrate the defense, either with a dribble or a pass.
Sag towards the ball, forming triangles on the help position.
Cover the low post player, fronting him or in a ¾ stance.
Drop as deep as the ball on the back defensive line.
Move the ball to the corners or away from the basket.
On the shallow cuts or cuts in front of you, switch.
Contest every shot.
Pressure the ball at the top of the lane, in a ball defensive stance.
The inside hand is up to deny any passing lane.
The guards pick up their assigned players five feet from the top of the key.
Move on every pass and dribble.
Sag as much as the defensive rules let you.
Try and make cuts to the ball go behind you to "kick him off." That’s our terminology for following a cutter and then giving him to another defender. 

If you're interested in more "40" Defense from Flip Saunders visit http://shop.coachmac-basketball.com/