I'm very sure that players weary of hearing our voices telling them to stop doing this or that. Remind them that the best answer is to stop making the same mistake...over and over. Off we go.
"Our opponent should never score off the opening tap." I don't care if we have to put four girls in the paint at our end. It can't happen. The center will predictably tip with her strong hand.
"Wait, wait, wait." Our players are in a big rush. It's better to be late than early coming off screens. Tell yourself to wait and tell yourself again and again.
"B to B". Come off screens hip to hip or butt to butt (B to B). You all remember the scene with Press Maravich in "The Pistol." Stop leaving enough room for a truck to go through, never mind defenders.
"Don't run at the player." We need a video of 'bad basketball' (not just selected). I remember watching film as a player (42 years ago), the grainy 8 mm, back-and-forth of somebody getting lit up defensively, usually a bad closeout. Coach had a rather memorable expression "Sh7tbird defense." It's impossible to forget seeing yourself humiliated for a purpose!
"Ball pressure." Irony. Good defense demands that you get beat. Dead man's defense (six feet under the ballhandler) achieves nothing. Leave your comfort zone. That's why we all teach rotation, help, and recover. "Don't back up."
This is just a taste to whet your appetite. Share your pet peeves.
