What's Hard to Teach in Basketball?

Excellent players have a multitude of skills and the know how to apply them. 

Let's choose a few areas that are intrinsically challenging to teach and learn. 

1. Pick-and-roll defense. When run well, PnR challenges many defenses. It can create:

• Numerical separation (handler defender trapped)
• Individual separation (screen rejected, handler free to the basket)
• Open perimeter shooter (pick-and-pop)
• Open roller (with roll or slip) 

2. Ball containment. Contemporary offensive players have multiple actions to create separation with the ball, both with physical superiority and a variety of moves and combinations. Speed, crossover, hesitation, rip and go, show-and-go, negative step, stampede and more. Developing athleticism (footwork, balance, maneuvering speed) means as much for defenders as offensive players. 

3. Handling defensive pressure. From a young age, players face extended defenses (most commonly zone traps, e.g. 1-3-1, 1-2-1-1) because it's the quickest way to fluster young players. Consider starting with these:

Kirby Schepp keep away. 

Play 'keep away' inside the volleyball lines without and later with screening.

Advance to 4 versus 6 or 5 versus 7 full court defense with constraints (e.g. no dribbling). Make practice hard so games are easier. 

4. Shooting against defense. It's one thing to make open shots in drills and it's another to score with a hand (or defender in your face). Bob Knight condemned "free shooting" and that makes sense. Here's the analogy, “Anyone can shoot at a target. How well do you shoot when the muzzle points at your heart?”

5. Taking a charge. It's easy to explain "how" to take a charge, legal guarding position, and holding your position. Yet, watch most youth and high school games and charges taken are rare. 

The commentary is telling, "sacrificing your body"...and being "willing to take the hit." 

Lagniappe. Competing doesn't stop at the edge of the court. 

Danny Hurley said, "If you can't sit through an hour and 15 minute video session...get out of this industry because this is only for the most competitive people."

Greatness isn't for the interested.
• It's for the committed.
• It's for the prepared.

(🎥@CollegeGameDay) pic.twitter.com/nuuSI4QlF1

— Coach AJ 🎯 Mental Fitness (@coachajkings) April 24, 2025

Lagniappe 2. The list of what is expected goes on and on. 

Coaches can emphasize, demand and hold accountable for;
-Accuracy of passing
- Aggressiveness of catching passes
-Using the Backboard
- Throw aheads in Transition
-Talking and getting matched up in transition
- Talking on Screens
-Being in position on weak side
-Shot choices

— Tom Crean (@TomCrean) October 14, 2025