Be willing to do things differently to get better results. If we do everything the same as everyone else, how do we get exceptional results? Decide for yourself.
1) In high school, we started practice with five minutes of jumping rope. That's a minimum standard of conditioning and coordination.
2) Keys for victory. Coach handed us a mimeographed game plan including a team and player scouting report and three 'keys for victory'. It might be keep #32 off the glass, stop transition, or attack the basket against foul-prone teams.
3) One-on-one. We regularly matched up with a teammate to play one-on-one to build or maintain skills.
4) 5 versus 7. We played full court advantage disadvantage against pressure defense with no dribbling allowed to force a pass and cut mentality.
5) Pressure free throws. Ten free throws with a partner who could say or do anything except physically interfere with your shot. Imagine what teenaged boys will say.
6) O-D-O. Finish practice with three possession "special situations scrimmage." Start with a BOB, SLOB, free throw or ATO. Develop distinct edges in various parts of the game - special situations, pressure defense, zone offense.
7) Rollouts. Rollouts. Offense. Closeouts. Team play. Simulates game play. I think I got this on vacation in Turks from an Indiana high school coaching couple.
9) Small-sided games. More touches, more opportunities to grow vision, decision, and execution. This includes a link to a great collection from Coach Fernandez.
10) Win the mental game. That's everything from showing video clips to demonstrate principles (e.g. how and how not to set screens), mindfulness training, and learning how to get more from a player. I keep notes from players. Here's an excerpt:
"I hope one day that I will be able to make a huge difference in someone's life and be a mentor to them as you have been to me."
Coaches help ordinary people do extraordinary things.
Lagniappe. Here's a note I sent to a middle schooler whose grandmother said he's willing to work hard to improve.