"We can't run what we can't run."
Daily we see youth coaches asking what offense to run. The game is about creating and exploiting edges. "Technique beats tactics."
The top priority in development is ... development. Invest the lion's share of practice time in skill development and game understanding. Concern over offense choice seems misguided amidst lesser skilled players.
Offensive skill development (Obsess specifics)
- Footwork/pivoting (create separation)
- Cutting (moving without the ball)
- Dribbling
- Passing
- Shooting/finishing (off the catch then off the dribble, the most important and least well-taught skill)
- Rebounding
- Ball containment
- Off ball individual defense
- Post defense
- Contesting shots and block out
- PnR defense
- Team defense
- Transition
- Symmetry of actions (creating and preventing advantage)
- Introduce basketball moves (one-on-one/post ups, attacking closeouts, jab, float, negative step, dribble attack, etc.) and emphasize those appropriate for level.
- Two-on-two (e.g. PnR and variations, pass and cut)
- Small-sided games
- Simple and complex off ball screening
What practical advice applies?
1. Invest at least half to two-thirds of practice on skill building. Emphasize possession ending - scoring, assists, rebounds, and stops
2. Regularly examine (freeze play) spacing and urgency of cutting.
3. Divide team offense attack among spacing, advantage creation, and 'advantage execution'. Pass. "The ball has energy."
4. Better shot selection is the fastest way to score more.
5. Incorporate defense early as basis in reality.
6. Small-sided games give players more touches and decision-making against defense.
6. Train situations (BOB, SLOB, ATO) as part of scrimmage
7. Encourage players to 'track progress'.
8. Skills create options and success. It's not spread versus triangle, Passing Game versus Princeton. Spacing, cutting, passing, and screening are the sine qua non for young players to bring to the next level.
And expect to see more zone defense than you anticipate as many coaches value winning over growth mindset.
Lagniappe. Present one-on-one attack off the dribble training.
1v1 Downhill
— Matt Hackenberg (@CoachHackGO) July 21, 2023
Open court attack moves and finishing pic.twitter.com/cDMZIFRo5M
Lagniappe 2. Skill and decision-making are kings.
Pass & Relocate Series
— Reid Ouse (@reidouse) July 21, 2023
1️⃣ Get players doing multiple things in 1 segment
2️⃣ Work on different types of passes
3️⃣ Focus on relocating quickly to make yourself a threat pic.twitter.com/blvS1aZsCP