Sunday, December 12, 2021

Young Coaches Ask, "How Do I Get Started?" Here Are Suggestions and a Couple of Drills

Young coaches ask on many sites, "how do I get started" or "what kind of offense should I put in for young players?"

Redirect to core concepts. The great Don Meyer preached an evolution from:

  • Blind enthusiasm
  • Sophisticated complexity
  • Mature simplicity
Basketball coaching starts with forming your philosophy, teaching it, communicating clearly, and giving and getting feedback. Be specific. 

Philosophy 1. 
  • "Basketball is sharing." - Phil Jackson
  • "Get more and better shots than our opponents." - Pete Newell
  • "The ball is gold." - Ellis "Sonny" Lane
Sharing, like leadership, means making those around us better. Share your vision. Share sacrifice. Share the ball. Share leadership. Leadership begins with modeling excellence, starting  with relationships. It won't be perfect but craft communication and leadership skills. Our philosophy has always been "TIA" - teamwork, improvement, and accountability (holding ourselves to a high standard).

Video of a high school scrimmage recently showed clear intent:
- Defensively, extended defense including trapping
- Multiple defenses in the half court
- Offensively, spacing, player, and ball movement 
- Pick and roll offense and leveraging the skills of a duo of an all-scholastic guard and forward



Good coaching shows clear intent and consistent execution. Bad basketball lacks organization and clear intent. 

Philosophy 2. 
  • "Mentoring is the only shortcut to excellence." Look around, be open, and talk with other coaches. Coaches share the game. The most successful winning coaches in America are the best first because they have great players. The best teachers are less well-known. Surround ourselves with the best people we can find.
Philosophy 3. 
  • "Read, read, read, read, read." - Werner Herzog, Director
To absorb knowledge and perspective, immerse ourselves in it. "The magic is in the work." Read and study. Invest time and some resources in fundamentals. Don't buy the hype of the latest offense or defense. Be grounded in player development. "Every day is player development day." 

The Internet shares amazing resources from around the globe on YouTube and FIBA videos. Get to know names like Dave Smart, Drew Hanlen, Mike MacKay, Arik Shivek, Željko Obradović, Etorre Messina, Kirby Schepp, Chris Oliver.

Philosophy 4.
  • Keep a journal. 
Write down what we understand, questions, and possible solutions. 
Remember the Feynman Technique - name, explain, research, and simplify. In 
addition to our journal, consider keeping a drill book and catalog helpful video.
When Steve Kerr transitioned from the broadcast booth to the sideline, he
collected thoughts from others, developing a playbook, and observing what worked
and what didn't. 

Philosophy 5. 
  • Track your progress. "Winners are trackers." - Darren Hardy
Einstein is credited with saying, "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.” Do more of what works and less of what doesn't. Michael Useem's excellent book, The Leadership Moment shares key questions:
  • What went well?
  • What went poorly?
  • What can we do better next time?
  • What is the enduring lesson? 
Life is a game of relationships. So is basketball. When asked what was necessary to be successful, Helen Mirren said, "Be on time. Don't be an a*hole." Good advice. 

Summary: 
  • Develop a clear philosophy.
  • Find a mentor. 
  • Read, read, read, read, read.
  • Keep a journal (among other tools).
  • Track progress. 
Lagniappe. Think across disciplines. Former Orioles pitching coach Ray Miller preached "work fast, throw strikes, and change speeds."



Luka Doncic masters change of speeds and "throwing strikes" with a variety of finishes. 

Lagniappe 2. What drills belong every day? Here are two I favor...
"Speed layups" as a warmup drill helps players get loose and see the ball go through the hoop.


Run variations of shell drill including 3 v 3. At the youth level, teaching players skills and how to play is critical. With "small-sided activities" players get more touches and decision-making opportunity. 



















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