But we learned how to play basketball in the driveway or the school yard playing 1-on-1, 2-on-2, or 3-on-3 and then we got some real coaching in junior high school.
Drawing the line between coaching (too much) and teaching (too little) is where the rubber meets the road in developing habits, skills, decision-making, and execution. How many MENSA guys are playing NBA basketball? Bill Bradley, Danny Granger, Emeka Okafor, Adonal Foyle? Okay, that's an understatement.
With limited success, we try to teach youngsters to play. Here are a couple of examples that I've probably shared (when absolutely nobody read this blog).
Left, "Indiana" a Bob Knight drill. 1 dribbles left or right and the low post screens across and the ball is entered. 1 then immediately down screens across. You can either run this continuously forcing cross and down screens or play it live with defense (getting switches, et cetera) or go live after a specific number of passes.
Right, "Stanford". Some programs run a tape down the middle of the court. That's not in my budget. Again, you can run this 'skeleton' (no D) or with defenders. I prefer the latter. The usual options (ball screen-roll/pop/slip, post entry, wing entry) are noted, but you can run "dribble at" actions to the wing (with screen or back cut actions), back screen the 5 with the 3, and so forth. It's tough to scout 'freelance'.
I know that motion offenses and 'dribble drive kick' actions are the rage, but there's something to be said for getting the ball to the hoop the "old-fashioned" way, and not everybody can go recruit great penetrators or knockdown shooters. Just saying, there's still a place for "old school."