1. Coaches tend to fall into two categories, "task-oriented" (hard guy) and "relationship-oriented" (player's coach). The best coaches combine both. "You get what you accept. If you stand for anything, you stand for nothing."
2. Coach Bob Knight doesn't believe in 'free shooting'. Skill follows "deliberate practice", meaning that excellence demands discomfort. "Game shots, game spots, at game speed" has meaning.
This is my 'favorite' shooting drill. There are three balls at each end and the drill starts with players sprinting toward one end to receive a pass, catch and shoot. Ideally, the player with the ball calls out the shooter's name. The passer then sprints to the other end to catch and shoot. I track team results at one end (I don't always have an assistant). Ideally, every player tracks her results.
3. Practice usually ends with players on the baseline and I call out a player to shoot a free throw. If she makes it, another player is called. If she misses, the team runs a "suicide". But I've modified the rules; if you win the suicide, then you are exempt from the next one. Why? "It pays to be a winner."
4. Shooting competitions such as "Spurs 5" should encourage teamwork and individual shooting excellence.
Four groups to 'head-to-head'. Winners watch while others do ten pushups.
5. Coaches find other ways to 'validate' winning. During scrimmages, some require a made free throw (or two) to confirm winning. One coach fills the ball rack and empties it one a a time for each turnover. When the ball rack is empty, running ensues. I've heard that Coach Huggins removes a player with poor defensive position and assigns sideline treadmill running. Yesterday, I subbed out players for turnovers during practice. "It pays to be a winner."
