Coaches "automate" actions. Don't automate too much though or some players get overwhelmed. Get feedback. "What do we do in this situation?"
Examples:
- Pressure defense after a made free throw, e.g. '14', full-court man.
- Different pressure defense after a made basket, e.g. '83' three-quarter court 2-2-1 trap.
- Clock-determined BOB (a specific play for even, odd, or zero). If the clock shows 2:21 left, run the "odd" BOB play, if 2:20, run the 'third' play for zero at the end.
- End-of-quarter
- ATO portfolio (have a small group of 3-4 actions, helpful to have something held back)
- "Base offense" e.g. spread, horns sets
Matt Hackenberg shares this tweet for an end-of-quarter action.
Point guard clear outs are a solid option for end of quarter situationshttps://t.co/ti0KAro0Cz pic.twitter.com/3tsNN7Fe9o
— Matt Hackenberg (@CoachHackGO) March 4, 2023
Prioritize clock management as we've seen games turn on poor clock management allowing an opponent an extra possession that changed momentum and foreshadowed defeat.
Of course, we "automate" many other types of coaching, too.
- Practice schedules
- Practice and pre-game warmups
- Timeout organization (including organized seating, positions 1 through 5 left to right)
- Game lineup and play sheets
Lagniappe. Billy Donovan calls it "The 95," the 95 percent of the game played without the ball in your hands. Becoming skilled without the ball, playing both ends, making teammates better is highly underrated.