"Never confuse activity with achievement." - Coach John Wooden
Success requires more than unrequired work. Before preparation or study, ask what elements fit productive workouts.
1) Player factors
- Focus/engagement (attitude)
- Rest
- Health
There are times, "stale basketball," where less is more. If a player/team is overworked, overtired, or hurting, backing off is more useful than repetition. There is anecdotal use of "hand dynamometers" to measure grip strength that correlate with physical and mental fatigue.
As I write, normally I 'pull' about 85 pounds. I'm wrestling with back problems and only pulled 65-66 today.
2) Task details
- Clarity of task (understanding) ... see Lagniappe
- Appropriateness (e.g. shooting range appropriate to player)
- Competitive where possible (Measurement/trending)
3) Supervision (coaching, self-coaching, video?)
- Is supervision necessary? Everyone needs coaching. "Surgical mastery is about familiarity and judgment."
- Attention to detail (do it right and do it over)
- Feedback (on technique, alternatives, effort... "speaking greatness")
4) Learning strategies
- Pomodoro technique 25 minutes on, 5 minutes off
- Spaced repetition (break up a practice activity over multiple sessions)
- Self-testing - do I understand the material, internalized not memorized?
5) Intent* (What am I working to accomplish?)
- Specific skill building (e.g. perimeter shooting, one dribble moves)
- Athleticism (quickness, explosiveness, strength)
- Reading/reacting (e.g. pick-and-roll)
6) Leaving the Comfort Zone (5%)
- Emergency shots (fallaways, flyaways, late shot clock)
- Game winners (for cleaners)
Kevin Eastman discussed Ray Allen's approach to "fixing his shot." It wasn't all about getting in the gym and taking as many shots as possible.
- Evaluate shot selection.
- Correct his feet. Allen would work on getting into shooting position, without a ball
- Only the, add volume shooting
In the future, what changes are each of us considering to improve practice?
- More scrimmaging (including offense-defense-offense 3 possession games)
- More 2 v 2 and 3 v 3
- More individual (ball containment) and team defense
- The problem? Limited practice time means robbing Pietra to pay Paula.
- Can't make up the 1/3rd of practice devoted to shooting.
Lagniappe: Coach Mason Waters shares another great breakdown, showing how Damian Lillard keeps it simple to beat guys off the dribble.
Remember Kevin Eastman concepts, "it's a shoulders game" and "low man wins." Lillard blows by the big after changing speeds and attacking the hip.