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Saturday, January 12, 2019

Basketball: We Are Editors, Measure Practice


Filmmaker Werner Herzog, MasterClass, chapter on Editing

If you happened upon the players you coach, what would you do? Would you adapt them to your beliefs and system or would you adapt your approach to them? Do you "enforce your will" upon the footage? 
Games help teach us about our practice needs. How do we measure practice effectiveness? 


Anson Dorrance's Competitive Cauldron measures every player on each aspect of practice performance. This isn't realistic for youth practice as far as time, resources, and ego. We shouldn't impose our performance standards on preadolescents. 

Note intangibles like competitiveness, communication, energy, and focus. 

The blind visitor should hear the communication, squeaking sneakers, and teaching without lecturing. They hear sandwich technique of correction amidst praise. should Practice positivity has to dominate the audio.

The deaf visitor sees the efficiency, organization, sweat, and tempo. I like seeing players smile and laugh occasionally. Go play. Learn to love practice. 

In his MasterClass, filmmaker Werner Herzog shares the logbooks that he uses during the editing process. He records vital footage with one, two, or three exclamation points. "It is so intense...if I do not use this in the film I have lived in vain."  
  
Gestalt reflects on perception of the whole. We all want the whole to exceed the sum of the parts. 

What is the goal of practice and individual elements of practice? Did we achieve none, part, or most of what we set out to practice? 

We can measure drill outcomes. 



At a UCONN Women's practice, I saw them make 175 shots (tracked) in four minutes during this drill. We've never made over 50, but I'm waiting. During their free throw shooting segment, players made 92 percent of attempts. 

Everyone is different. A "press unit" doesn't fit everyone, although everyone deserves a chance to apply and withstand pressure. I structure practice so that the press team gets more defensive repetitions. Players struggling against pressure get more repetitions against the stronger pressing unit. 


Material doesn't always "work" right away. Don't force it. If the "pressing team" struggles to implement new concepts (e.g. run and jump switch) against players who are less skilled at handling pressure, I don't install those concepts prematurely. Do more of what's working and less of what isn't

"The final cut ultimately belongs to the audience." - Werner Herzog 

Lagniappe: via Chris Oliver (@bballimmersion)

 Lagniappe 2. Triple Option Variations from "America's Play" 



1. Cross-screen into perimeter shot. 
2. Option for lob.
3. Base play, "America's Play"