Checklists align thoughts with plans. Dr. Atul Gawande wrote The Checklist Manifesto where he discussed use of checklists in construction, aviation, restaurants, investing, and medicine. "Lists help us achieve a balance...to ensure that essential and critical things are not ignored while also ensuring that people work to achieve shared goals."
Checklists have practical applications:
- Game planning charts (sets, defenses, ATOs, BOBs, SLOBs, etc.)
- Practice plans
- Pregame keys
- Tryout score sheets
- Player development
Overview offensive skill.
That's still enormous territory. Apply drills and add defense to work on shooting/finishing. Forget about "free shooting" with no defense and no pressure of tracking and timing.
Our last two teams produced top six girls in New England (#2 Class of 2022, #6 Class of 2024). Talent and commitment play.
1. Box drills with defense
- Reverse pivot from the elbow into drive/rip through/one dribble shot. Protect the ball and finish with one dribble.
2. Wing series
- Middle or baseline attack (1 v 1)
- One dribble jumper +/- stepback (advanced players)
- 2 v 2 wing ball screen
3. Perimeter shooting (Track everything!)
- Volume shooting - catch-and-shoot (C/S) with rebounder
- Side step 3
- Combinations - C/S, one dribble shooting (R/L) from multiple spots
4. Dribble attacks
- Negative step attack
- Float dribble attack
- Combinations (e.g. hesi/cross, double cross, hesi-hesi, etc.)
"Star Drill." Vary the distance and add constraints like timing, requiring shot made to advance, or set time (e.g. 90 seconds) to complete the drill.
Thoughts:
- Defense adds competition and simulates game play.
- Track everything. Shoot for your personal best (PB).
- Fewer moves, more quality are higher priorities.
- Attend to detail (e.g. ball protection, balance, and quickness).
Lagniappe (something extra). Detail makes a difference. Steph Curry perfects "pickups" to get the ball into his shot pocket off a variety of dribbles. That allows him separation to get shots off.