Every coach knows 'bad wins' and 'good losses' although they seem paradoxical. Years ago, we lost a close (four points) game to a vastly superior team. Afterwards, several girls noted, "the (Andover) parents said we were the most competitive group they had played this year." They didn't say we were the best, but competed the hardest. That excited me.
Expecting consistency from 12-14 year-old girls is a fool's errand. If Kobe Bryant can shoot 5 for 25 in the NBA, do we think a preteen won't?
Teamwork
- Help teammates through communication (starts in practice)
- Cut urgently to get separation
- Hit the open player (assists are peak happiness)
- Teamwork includes coaching ("Are we building a statue or a program?")
Effort
- Effort is a skill
- Effort shows up in defensive and offensive transition
- "Play so hard your coach has to take you out" (Bilas)
Fundamentals
- Spacing starts with the three-point line (take screenshots)
- Urgent cutting is undervalued; nothing works if you don't.
- Wait for the screen.
- "Don't back down." Pressure the ball.
- Don't neglect basics of stance and positioning
- Improvement is measurable (field goal percentage, turnovers)
- Reduce points per possession allowed
- Reduce turnovers (through better decisions and execution)
Accountability
- Consistency of defensive rebounding (block outs, aim for 80%)
- Limit fouls - "show your hands", legal guarding position, verticality (don't block down, we need you on the floor)
- Contain the ball/stay in front of the ball. 'D' starts with containment
Decision-making
- "Fall in love with easy." The easy play is often the best one.
- Better shot selection is the quickest path to improvement.
- Make your decisions impact winning. "No hero ball."
Toughness and intangibles
- Toughness is a skill. #FirsttotheFloor
- Set clean and solid screens
- Take a charge
Be a Worthy opponent.
- Compete. "There is no 50-50 ball."
- Preparation leads to better decisions and execution. Know our intent and play that way.
- Don't give away points through turnovers, bad shots, and fouls.
- CARE (concentration -> anticipation -> reaction -> execution)
Happiness is good basketball.
Lagniappe (something extra). Coach Matt Rotonda practices a five minute overtime (with the clock) with four fouls assigned to everyone. If anyone fouls out, then the team has do decide who to bring on.
Lagniappe 2. Are we listening to our players?
Lagniappe 3. Watch more video. The Truth Machine (Video) exceptional video breakdown. Do players watch enough (any?) video? Invest your time or spend it?