Wednesday, September 30, 2015

2-on-2 Dribble At

Our job is teaching players to "see the game." After playing 1-on-1, players learn 'small group play', which can emphasize wing to low post, top and high post, and top to wing for example.

It's obvious that if the guard passes to the wing, she can basket cut (give and go), cut through (same side = bury, opposite side = through) or screen the ball. But she has other options young players need to learn, such as "dribble at".


Left:  1 dribbles 'at' 3. 3 can basket cut, fake screen and 'slip', cut away, or get dribble handoff (1 is 'inside' 3 to dribble handoff "platter."

Right: 1 goes outside with screen and roll.

You cannot have a pre-arranged "signal" or call for everything. The more that players learn to play, the more the communication becomes instinctive.

In some sense, we do our players a disservice by overcoaching and underteaching. Give the players a chance to learn, leave their comfort zone, and make mistakes. In the long pull, that's better coaching in my opinion.