JohnKimble

©2012CoachesChoice.Allrightsreserved.PrintedintheUnitedStates.

Nopartofthisbookmaybereproduced,storedinaretrievalsystem,ortransmitted,inanyformorbyanymeans,electronic,mechanical,photocopying,recording,orotherwise,withoutthepriorpermissionofCoachesChoice.Throughoutthisbook,themasculineshallbedeemedtoincludethefeminineandviceversa.

ISBN:978-1-60679-200-1LibraryofCongressControlNumber:2011945043Coverdesign:StudioJArt&DesignBooklayout:StudioJArt&DesignFrontcoverphoto:HowardSmith—USPresswireCoachesChoiceP.O.Box1828Monterey,CA93942www.coacheschoice.com

Dedication

Itisveryeasytobecomebusywithoureverydaylifeandnotappreciatethepeoplethatmatterthemosttoourpersonallives.Iwouldliketotakethisopportunitytodedicatethisparticularbooktomywife,Pat,forthecommitmentshehasmadeinraisingourchildren,aswellasbeingalovingandsupportivespouse.Beingawifeandaparentoftwochildrenistoughenoughintoday’stimes,butbeingateacheraswellasacoach’swifeandafantasticmotherismanytimesmoredifficult.TakingoversomeofmyparentalresponsibilitieswhileIwasabsentbecauseofcoachingdidnotgounnoticednorunappreciatedbymeorbyourchildren.Beingsuchagreatexampleandmakingallthesacrificesshemadetoprovidebothchildrenwithgreatchildhoodsandsuccessfuladultlivesisappreciatedbyallthreeofus.Withouthermanycommitmentsandsacrifices,theircorevaluesandcharactersandtheircareersmightnotexist.Mom,wife,andsupporter—thankyoufromourentirefamily.

AcknowledgmentsThisbookisdedicatedtoallofthosewhohaveinfluencedmybasketballcoachinglifeandtoallthecommittedbasketballcoacheswhohavespentcountlesshoursatcoachingclinics,readingbooks,and“X-ingandO-ing”itwiththeircolleagues.Ihavebeenaplayer,afan,ateacherofthegame,astudentofthegame,acoach,andaloverofthegame.Asastudentandacoachofthegame,severalinfluenceshaveimpactedmycoachingbeliefs.Theseinfluencesrangefromsummerbasketballcamps,coachingclinics,coachingtextbooksandwrittenpublications,videotapes,observingothercoaches’practices,andthecountlessinformalcoachingclinicswithmanyothercoachestryingtolearnjustonemoredrill,defense,orplay.

Personalinfluencesinmycoachinglifehavecomefrommanyofthemosttop-notchcoachesofthegame:TheIowaBasketballCamp(LuteOlsonandScottThompson),TheDougCollinsBasketballCamp(DougCollinsandBobSullivan),TheUniversityofIllinoisBasketballCamp(DickNagyandLouHenson),TheIndianaBasketballCamp(BobKnight),TheDickBaumgartnerShootingCamp(DickBaumgartner),TheWashingtonStateUniversityCougarCageCamp(GeorgeRaveling,TomPugliese,MarkEdwards,andJimLivengood),TheSnowValleyBasketballSchool(HerbLivesey),TheNotreDameUniversityBasketballCamp(DiggerPhelpsandDannyNee),TheIllinoisStateUniversityBasketballCamp(TomRichardson),TheMillikinUniversityBasketballCamp(JoeRamsey),EasternIllinoisUniversity(DonEddy),ThePurdueUniversityBasketballCamp(LeeRose),TheOregonStateUniversityBasketballCamp(RalphMillerandLannyVanEman),TheTroyStateUniversityBasketballCamp(DonMaestri),TheMaryville(TN)CollegeBasketballCamp(RandyLambert),andTheKansasStateUniversityBasketballCamp(JimWooldridge,MikeMiller,JimmyElgas,CharlesBaker,andChadAltadonna).JustafewofthemostmemorableandoutstandingspeakersIhaveheardatsomeofthemanycoachingclinicsIhaveattendedinclude:CoachLuteOlson,CoachDougCollins,CoachHubieBrown,CoachBobKnight,CoachDickNagy,CoachDonMeyers,andCoachRickMajerus.

Themostoutstandingauthorsofcoachingbooksinclude:CoachDelHarris,CoachDeanSmith,CoachBobKnight,andCoachFranWebster.CoachLuteOlson,CoachHubieBrown,CoachDonMeyerandCoachJerryKrause,CoachDelHarris,andCoachDickBaumgartnerhavebeenauthorsofsomeofthemostoutstandingvideotapesIhaveobservedandfromwhichIhavelearnedagreatdeal.CoachingcolleagueswithwhomIhaveworkedinclude:DougCollins,BrianJames,GerryThornton,BennyGabbard,SteveGould,BobSullivan,NormFrazier,TomWierzba,SteveLaur,RonRoher,WillRey,MikeDavis,DennisKagel,DonEiker,BobTrimble,DaveToler,andEdButkovich.Iwasfortunatetoalwaysbeinvolvedwithtremendouscoachingstaffswithoutstandingcoaches,whowereevenmoreoutstandingaspeopleandfriendstomethanascoaches.Thesegoodfriendsincludesuchoutstandingpeopleas:BennyGabbard,MitchBuckelew,ScottHuerkamp,PhilBarbara,ChrisMartello,DonTanney,LesWilson,AlCornish,RonLowery,JohnLenz,DougZehr,andKenMaye.Toallofthesepeople,Isay,“Thankyouforyourloyalty,commitment,hardwork,andeffort!”

IwouldliketosaythankstothemanyplayersIhavecoached,totheextraordinarynon-playerstudentswhowerebigpartsofthebasketballprograms—themanagers,thestudentstatisticians,thefilm-takers,thestudentathletictrainers,andstudenthelpers.IhopethatIconveyedtoeachandeveryoneofthemthefactthattheywereimportantpartsoftheprogramandthattheyalldeservedcreditforthesuccessesofthebasketballprogramsofwhichtheywereapart.

IwanttoalsosaythankyoutotheadultswhomIhavemetandbecomefriendswithinthedifferentcommunitieswhereIhavecoached.ThesearepeoplewhoparticipatedinthedevelopmentandthesuccessesofthebasketballprogramswhereIcoached.Thesepeoplewerecontributors,supportersoftheprogram,faithfulfans,andloyalfriends.Somewereparentsofplayers,whilesomewereparentsofstudents,andsomewerejustfansofthegame.Thesepeopleinclude:BobandRoFlannagan,EdandRoseanneMoore,RonandMaryRoher,DickandSharonPayne,DonandBevHiter,DaveGregory,NormFrazier,JohnandPamRussell,KenandJudySunderland,FredPrager,MarkHenry,CarlanandDeeDeeMartin,GeorgeStakely,CharlesOwens,DutchVanBuskirk,KellyStanford,JuniorRobertson,BobbyJohnson,JuneCarter,GregCadenhead,GregandDarlaSouthard,andsomanyothergoodpeople.

Thisbookisalsodedicatedtothosewhohaveinfluencedmypersonallife.Iwas

raisedbyinspirationalparentswhoalwaystaughtmetogotheextrastep,toneverbesatisfieduntilthejobwasdoneright.IhopeIhavesucceededinaccomplishingthatgoalwiththewritingofthisbook.Mywife,Pat,wasmybiggestsourceofencouragementtowritethisbook.Shewasmyconstantpositivereinforcementandsupport.MydaughterEmilyandsonAdamalso,whohelpedmecontinuethisendeavor,weresourcesofpersonalencouragement.Mytwobrothers,JoeandJim,alsoofferedsupportasIslowlyprogressedthroughtheordealoforganizingandwriting.Myparentswerealwayspositiverolemodelsandconstantsourcesofencouragementandsupport.GerryThornton,longtimefriendandfellowstudentofthegame,hasaffectedmycoachingcareerprobablymorethananyotherperson;whileBennyGabbardwastheonepersonwhogotmestartedinmyjuniorcollegecoachingcareerandshowedgreatfaithandconfidenceinmeinmyfirstyearsofcoachingjuniorcollegebasketball.Whilecoachingtogetheratthejuniorcollegelevel,CoachGabbardwastheonecoachwhoinfluencedmetoadoptthespeedgamestyleofplay.CoachDonMeyerhasbeenahelpful,encouraging,andsupportivefriendaswellasatremendousexampleinbeingagreatcoachandagreatperson.JerryKrause(friend,coachatGonzagaUniversity,author,andaninvaluablesourceofinformation)alsowasofgreathelpandencouragement,aswasKevinNewell(senioreditorofScholasticCoachandAthleticDirector,supporter,andfriend),MurrayPool(formerhighschoolcoachandcurrentpublisherofBasketballSense,friend,andsourceofinformation),andMikePodoll(editorofWinningHoopsbasketballmagazine).

ForewordItismypleasuretooffersomecommentsonJohnKimble’sbookonfootwork.Asalways,CoachKimble’slatestbookisagaindetailed,organized,andlaidoutsothatitcanbeeffectivelyusedbyeverycoachwhoreadshisbook.Everydetailofeveryphaseofthegameisthoroughlycoveredanddiscussed.

IalwayslistencarefullytoCoachKnightwhenheoffersadviceonteachingthegameofbasketball.CoachBobKnighthasoftensaidthatfootworkisthemostundertaughtphaseofthegameofbasketball.

ThisbookallowsyoutheopportunitytolearnaboutfootworkfromAtoZ.Youwillfindteachingpointsandcoachingphrasesthatwillfityourphilosophyofteachingandcoachingthegame.Onesizedoesnotfitall,andthisbookdoesnottrytoadamantlysellanyonesystemoffootwork.

AsMorganWoottenoftensays,“Wegetwhatweemphasizeandnotwhatweteach.”Thesenewinsightsandtechniquesintotheteachingoffootworkwillhelpyourteambemoreexplosive,cutdownonturnovers,andhaveconfidenceonbothendsofthefloor.

Goodluckwithyourteamandtheteachingoffootwork.

DonMeyerFormerHeadMen’sBasketballCoach

NorthernStateUniversity

IntroductionAsplayersbecomemoreandmoreproficientinstrength,quickness,speed,andoverallathleticability,itisthejobofcoachesateverylevelofplaytomakesurethattheirplayersdonotbecomedeficientintheoverallbasketballfundamentalsthatareaprerequisitefortheultimatesuccessoftheirteam.Asthegameseemstodesireflashyplayandexcitingplaystohighlightandaccentuatetheathletictalentsoftoday’splayers,itisstillthebasicfundamentalsofthegame(thatseemtobeunnecessaryandboringforsomeplayerstolearnandforsomecoachestoteachandemphasize)thataresometimesthemissingpiecesfortheultimateoverallsuccessoftheteam.

Theelementaryskillofpivotingisoneofthosefundamentalswhoseimportanceseemstobetakenmuchtoolightly.Pivotingisanimportantandnecessarycomponentofbasketballskillsthatcoachesandplayersalikeoftencalloneofthefundamentalsofthegame.Theartofpivotingisanintegralpartofmanyfacetsofoffensivebasketball.Theseincludepassingthebasketballandshootingthebasketballoffthedribbleaswellasoffthepass.Pivotingshouldbeanimportantpartofoffensivepostplay.Pivotingisavitalpartofthenumeroustypesofactionthattakeplaceafterthevarioustypesofscreensareset.Justoneofthemanywaysthatpivotingisalsoavaluablecomponentofdefensivebasketballisthatitisapartofdefensiveboxingoutaswellastheactualreboundingofthebasketball.

Theskillofpivotingistheinitialpartofaplayergettingintriple-threatpositionaftercatchingapass(tobecomeashooter,dribbler,orpasser).Pivotingisessentialinsuccessfullyexecutingaggressivemovesasanoffensivepostplayer.Pivotingisamajorcomponentofsettinganytypeofscreensforoffensiveteammates.Theskillofpivotingisarequirementtobeabletosuccessfullyreboundthebasketballbothoffensivelyaswellasdefensively.Tobecomeanon-the-ballaggressivedefensiveplayer,pivotingisessential.Tostopadribbler

fromattackingthefrontfoot,aplayermustbeabletoreversepivot.

Eachofthesixphasesofthegame—ballhandling,shooting,offensivepostplay,rebounding,screening,anddefending—haveafullchapterdevotedtothedetailsofpivotingthatmakethatparticularfundamentalbecomeasolidtechniqueinaplayer’soverallbasketballrepertoire(Chapters2through7).Thespecificpivotingdetailstolearn,practice,andimprovethosefundamentalsareaddressedinthosechapters,whichincludenearly200diagramsoftheaction,specificfootwork,andformatofmanydrillsthatcanbeusedtolearnandpracticethevarioustechniquesofthedifferentphasesofthegame.

Chapter1givesanoverallphilosophyonhowtoeffectivelyteachplayersoffensesanddefenses.Anin-depthphilosophyonhowtoincorporatedrillsintothepracticesettingthatwillbeproductiveaswellastime-efficientisstressed.Thischapteralsoorganizesaportionofthedailypracticesothatthefundamentalskillsdescribedinthisbook,aswellasotherskills,canbeincorporatedintotheformatofeachpractice,whilebeingastimeefficientasitcanpossiblybe.

Throughout,thebookreiterateswhytheartofpivotingissoimportanttothesuccessfulexecutionofanyindividualorteamfundamental.Reasonsaregivenwhypivotingissovitaltothewinsyouhopetoachieve.

AlsoincludedwiththisbookisacompanionDVDthatshouldservenotasasubstitutebutasasupplementtothebook.Together,itishopedthatbothofthesemediahelpillustratetheoverallimportanceoffootworkinthegameofbasketballandhelpcoachesteachtherelevantskillsandtechniquesbetter.

Haveagreatseason.

DiagramExamples

Thefollowingsamplediagramsillustrateelementsthatwillbeusedthroughoutthediagramsinthebook.

TeachingMethodsandPhilosophyonDrills

“Failingtoprepareispreparingtofail.”—CoachJohnWooden

TeachingFundamentals,Techniques,andOffensesbyUtilizingDrills

Countlessfundamentals,skills,techniques,andconceptsmustbetaughttoeachindividualbasketballplayeraswellastotheoverallteam.Manyfundamentalsandtechniquesstrictlyapplytotheoffensivephaseofthegame.Thedefensiveportionofthegameincludesnumerousindividualandteamconcepts,skillsandtechniques,andfundamentalfootworkthatmustbetaughttoeachplayerandthe

team.

Ateamisonlyasstrongasitsweakestlink.Anindividualplayerisonlyasstrongashismasteryofthebasicfundamentalsofthebasketballskillsnecessaryforsuccess.Therefore,countlesstechniquesmustbetaughttoeachplayerinordertomaximizeeachplayer’sskilllevel.Wheneachplayer’sskilllevelsaremaximized,itmakestheteamastrongerandmorecohesiveunit.Unfortunately,practicetimeisasignificantconstrainttotheamountofteachingbycoachingstaffsandtheamountoflearningbytheplayers.

Aseeminglyunlimitedamountofmaterialmustbetaughttoplayersinalimitedperiodoftime.Thistaskcanbedifficultforacoachingstafftoperform.

Foracoachtobesuccessful,hemustbeanexcellentteacher.Hemusthaveafundamentallysoundconceptofhowtoconveywhatneedstobetaughttohisplayersandtomotivatethoseplayerstolearnthefundamentals.

Thecoachmustteachthepropertechniquestotheplayers.Hemustshowtheplayershowthosetechniquesaretobeperformed.Playersalsoexpecttoknowwhytheyaretoperformtasks,notjustthattheyaretodothem.

Ifcoacheswanttheplayerstosuccessfullyexecutethoseskillsandtechniques,coachesmustconfirmtoplayerstheimportanceofpropertechniques,demonstratetoplayershowtoperformthoseskills,andprovidegame-realisticsettingsforplayerstopractice,improve,andperfectthoseskillsandtechniques.

Oneparticularcoachingphilosophyisabeliefthatinorderforabasketballprogramtobesuccessful,coachesmustdemandthateveryplayerbefundamentallysoundinhowtoperformalltechniquesofthegame.Thecoachingstaffmustbeabletomotivateeveryplayerinperformingthosefundamentalsattheirhighestlevelofintensity.

Attentiontodetailbythecoachingstaffiscrucial,aswellasthepositiveandconstructivecriticismthatmustcomewiththeteachingandthedrillwork.Game-realisticscenariosmustbeimplementedtosimulategame-likeconditions.Drillsmustbecreatedtopracticethevariousoffensiveanddefensiveskillsandtechniques.

Theoldcliché,“Practicemakesperfect,”shouldnotapplyinyourprogram.Thephilosophyshouldbe:“Perfectpracticemakesperfect!”

Successwillcomeinsmall,consistentincrementssothatplayers’confidenceinthemselves,intheirteammates,andinthesystemwillslowlygrowandincreaseastimegoesonThewhole-part-wholeteachingmethod(withagreatemphasisonthehowandthewhyoneverytechnique,everyskill,whetheritisoffense,defense,ortransition)givesthebestresults.Playersmusthaveconfidencethatthemethodsandtechniquestheyarebeingtaughtarethebestpossiblewaysforthemtobesuccessful.Themannerinwhichtheskillsarebeingtaughttotheplayersshouldgivetheplayersassurancetheywillbeabletosuccessfullyperformthoseskills.

Inbasketball,gamescanbewoninmanyways.Coachescanutilizemanydifferentteachingmethodsandsupportnumerousstylesofplay.Fortheteamtohaveconfidenceandtrustinthecoachingstaff,thecoachingstaffmustbestudentsofthegame.Aftercarefullychoosingthespecifictechniques,methods,andstylesofhowtoplaythegame,thecoachingstaffmustconveythatstrongbeliefandconfidencetoeachandeveryteammember.Thenandonlythenwillplayersbesoldonthephilosophyofthestaff.Theplayerswillgivetheirheartandsoultotheprogramandplaywiththeneededintensityinordertobesuccessful.Playersmustbelieveinwhattheyaredoing(whetheritisatypeoftechnique,anoffense,adefense,aplay,orwhatevertheyareperforming),iftheyaretoperformatahighdegreeofintensity.Withthathighlevelofintensityoftencomesthesuccessoftheplayers.

Whensomethingnew,suchasanewoffense,isintroducedtotheteam,theoffenseshouldbeintroducedasawholeentity.Then,theoffensecanbebrokendowntothebasicsthatareneededfortheoffensetobesuccessful.Thespecifictechniquesrequiredfortheoffensetobeabletooperateefficientlyandsuccessfullyshouldthenbedemonstrated.Thoseparticularskillsingame-realisticdrillsareworkedononlyaftertheplayershavegraduatedtothatparticularlevelofperformance.

Thefirstdrillsthataretaughtandpracticedaremoreteachingdrillsthanintenseandcompetitivedrills.Thefirstdrillsareactuallybrokendownandhavelevelsofskillandlearningcompetenciesthatallplayersmustaccomplishbeforethey

gettothehigh-levelskillperformancedrills.

Whole-Part-WholeTeachingMethod

Inthephrasewhole-part-wholemethodofteaching,thewholeistheentireplay(orconcept)thatisbeingintroduced.Allfiveplayersparticipateinthisphase.Thepartsarethespecifictechniquesperformedbyeachofthefiveplayers.Eachplayerhasdifferentskillsandtechniquesthatmustbeperformedinorderfortheplaytobesuccessful.Apartcouldbejustoneplayerworkingonlearning,understanding,andexecutingonesimpletaskthattakesplaceinjustonespecificsituation.Thepartcouldbeoneplayerperformingseveraltasksinawiderrangescenario,orthepartcouldbefiveplayersdoingseveraltaskssimultaneously.

Forinstance,ifyouareintroducinganewcontinuityoffensetotheteam,thecoachingstaffshouldfirstshowtheteamtheentireoffensivecontinuity.Thestaffwouldhavefiveplayersdemonstratetheoffensebywalkingthemthroughtheoffense,whiletheremainingplayersobserve.Then,thestaffwouldrotateotherplayersintotheoffenseuntilallhavegonethroughtheoffense.Coacheswouldhavetwogroupsofplayersgothroughtheoffenseathigherdegreesofspeed,untilgamespeedisreached.Nodefenseisused,andnoshotswouldbetaken,sothatthecontinuityoffensecouldberunforlongerperiodsoftime,withoutanyinterruptions.

Coachesshouldnotallowanydistractionsduringthislearningphase.Oncethebasicmovementpatternsandrulesarelearnedbyallteammembers,coacheswouldworkonallplayerspracticingtheirshotsfromthespotstheywouldgettheirshotsduringthegame.

Coacheswoulddemonstratewhereandhowtheshooterswouldreceivepassestogettheirshots.Coacheswouldhavetheplayerspracticethoseshotsandhaveotherplayerspracticethepassestheywouldmaketothoseshooters(fromthesamelocationsonthecourtthattheywouldinagame).Coachesshouldrememberthateverydrillmustbeasgame-realisticaspossible.

Oncetheplayerslearntheirspecificpassingandshotlocationsandtheystartfeelingcomfortablewithunderstandingtheoffense,thelevelofintensityofthe

breakdowndrillsissteppedup.Goalsandperformancestandardsareestablished,withthesegoalsandstandardsincreasingindifficultyastheplayersprogressintheirskilldevelopmentandknowledgeoftheconceptbeingintroduced.

Asacoach,itisbestnottoassumeeveryplayerhasmasteredallofthefundamentalskillsofbasketball.Themoreelementarythecoachisintheinitialbreakdowndrillsbeforeadvancingtomoresophisticatedbreakdowndrills,themoresolidhisplayerswillbeintheiroverallunderstanding,performancelevel,andsuccessofwhateverskillisbeingtaughtandperformed.

Themoreexperiencetheplayersobtain,themoredemandingthecoachingstaffcanbewiththem.Nodrillshouldbetooeasyortoodifficult.Coachingstaffsshouldremembertostartattheverybasicfundamentalsandlayastrongfoundationbeforeampingupthedegreeofdifficulty(and,therefore,theamountofgamerealism).Thewholeshouldgraduallyandultimatelybetheperformanceofallfiveplayersinagame,butthatwilltaketime,planning,teaching,practicing,drilling,effort,andpatienceonthepartofboththecoachesandtheplayers.

Followingaresomepointsofemphasisacoachingstaffshouldkeepinmindwhileusingthewhole-part-wholeteachingmethodintheirbasketballpractices:

•Rememberthatthegymnasiumistheclassroom.Inorderforlearningtotakeplaceinanyclassroom,thestaffmustprovideorganizationandanatmosphereconduciveforlearning.Havedisciplineintheclassroom.Demandthatplayerspayattentionandconcentratewhenteachingisgoingon.Encouragequestionsfromplayersattheappropriatetimes.

•Don’tassumethatplayerspossessthefundamentalskillsthatarenecessaryforthemtobesuccessful.Itisbettertooverteachthefundamentalsthantomakeassumptionsandoverratetheplayers’talentandskilllevels.

•Don’tassumetheplayerspossessknowledgetheymaynothave.Makingassumptionsofplayers’abilitylevelandknowledgeofthegamecanbedisastrousforallpartiesinvolved.

•Haveanorganizedpracticeplan;itisacoach’slessonplan.Planyourwork,andworkyourplan.Don’tvarytoomuchfromyourplan,buthavesomeflexibilityinit,also.Don’tbeboundbytheplan.Learnwhatateachingmomentis,andtakeadvantageofthoseopportunities,evenifitmeansvaryingfromthe

practiceplan.

•Makesurethetimelimitsofalldrillsareshortenoughthatplayersdonotgetboredwiththesamedrill.Acoachshouldrunadrillforfourorfiveminutesthreedifferenttimesinapracticeversusa15-minutedrillatonesetting.

•Makesurethatplayersarenotstandingattheendoflinesduringdrills,wheretheattentionandintensitylevelscanwane.Createyourdrillswhereeveryoneisinvolved,notjustthreeorfourplayersatatime.

•Makesureallbreakdowndrillshavegraduallevelsofdifficulty.Asplayersimprove,bothphysicallyandmentally,theyneedtograduatetoamoredifficultlevel.Thisapproachallowsthepositivereinforcementplayersneedastheyinitiallylearnanddevelopskillsandtechniques.Italsokeepsthefocusofplayerslateronastheyimprovetheirskills.

•Setrealisticperformancegoalsforyourplayersinthevariouspracticedrills.Makethegoalsarealisticsimilaritytothetoughcompetitionofgames.

•Keepstatisticsontheperformancesofplayersinpractice.Rewardthewinnersinsmallways,andgivesmallpenaltiesforthelosingindividualsorgroups.

•Demandfromyourplayersandassistantcoachesaquicktransitionfromonedrilltothenext.Don’tletanyonewastetimeintherotationfromonedrilltoanother.Thisapproachcreatesamindsetformoreproductiveandtimeefficientpractices.

•Involveyourassistantcoachesinthepracticeplanningandtheactualteachingonthecourt.Gettheminvolvedinthepracticeplanningsessions,andlistentotheirideas.Letthemcoachwhentheyareprepared.

•Makesurethatthemoresophisticateddrillsthatareutilizedaregame-realistic.Thehigherleveldrillsalwaysmustbeperformedatgamespeedandhavesomeformsofpressureandcompetitionplacedontheplayers.Thesedrillswillresultinwinnersandloserswithawardsand(minimal)penalties.

•Ifacoachwantshisplayerstobeenthusiasticandenergetic,hemustnotonlybeenthusiasticandenergetic,butmustbethemostenthusiasticandenergetic

personinthegym.Theheadcoachmustbeanexampletothecoachingstaffandtoallplayers.Ifyouaretheheadcoach,youmustbetheleaderandsetanexampleforalltofollow.Lettheplayersandassistantcoachesfeedoffyourenergyandenthusiasm.

•Don’tacceptanythingbutexcellencefromyourself,yourstaff,oryourplayers.Playersandassistantcoacheswillimproveonlyiftheyareself-motivatedorarepushedbyothers.

•Haveakeeneyefordetail.Lookforthemostminutetechniquesandmethods,andexpectproperexecutionfromyourplayersoneverytechniquethatisbeingtaught.

Includepointsofemphasisandcoachingpointsinyourpracticeplan,withyourassistantcoachesandwithyourplayersinpractice.

•Bepositivewhencorrectingplayers.Becriticalinapositiveway.Bedemandingwhenitcomestoyourplayers’attentionandphysicaleffort.Don’tacceptanythingbelowthathighlevelofconcentrationandmentaleffort.Especiallypraisetheteamandthestrongeffortsofindividualplayerswhomakethosestrongandpositiveefforts.Lettheplayersknowthatyouarewellawareofthehustleandeffortofeveryplayeronthecourt.

•Teachtherulesofthegametoyourplayers.Teamscannotsucceedunlesstherulesofthegamearefollowed,andrulescannotbefollowedunlesstherulesaretaughtbycoachesandlearnedbyplayers.

Expectations

Ultimately,rememberthatagreatcoachmustbeagreatteacher.Agreatteachermustbeagreatstudent.Hemustknowthematerialheisteaching.Hemuststayupwiththegame.Coachesmuststayinformedofthechangesofstyles,techniques,andrulesofthegame.Basketballisnotastaticgame.Changesoccurconstantlyduringeverygame.Coachesmusthavehighlevelsofexpectationsfromtheassistantcoaches,theplayers,themanagers,andaboveall,fromhimself.Oftentimes,peopleonlyreachminimumlevelsthattheyexpectofthemselves.Coachesshouldhavehighexpectationsofeveryplayer,butcoaches

cannotexpectanyoneintheprogramtoperformatahigherlevelthanheperforms.Coachesaremodelstoeveryoneintheprogrameveryminuteofeveryday—beastrongexampleandmodel.

Everyathleticteamhaspracticetopreparefortheirgames.Whatoccursinpracticewillmakethedifferencewhethertheteamwillsucceedorfailinthegame.

Asignificantportionofeachofthedailypracticesshouldbethefundamentaldrillsthatwillbediscussed.Drillsandthemannerinwhichtheyaretaughtandhowtheyareincorporatedintothedailypracticeswilldeterminewhetheracoachissuccessfulandwhethertheteamhasanopportunitytosucceedinactualcompetition.Thetechniquesandmethodsthatacoachingstaffchoosestoteachareveryimportanttothesuccessofthatteam.Theefforttomakesurethatallfundamentalsaretaught,developed,andpracticedisoftremendousimportancetotheoverallsuccessofthatteam.

SpecificTechniquesoftheGame

Varioustypesofpassesarenecessaryforthemanydifferentmanandzoneoffensestobesuccessful.Passesaretaughtanddemonstratedandthenpracticedinrepetitiveformsundergame-likeconditions.Thedifferenttypesofdribblingareconstantlypracticedinvariousdrillsthatareconstructedwithasmuchgamerealismaspossible.Thedifferenttypesofmanandzoneoffensecutsarealsoexplained,demonstrated,andpracticedonwhenandhowthecutscanbemosteffectivewithintheoffense.

Drillsshouldbeutilizedtoworkontheproperscreeningtechniquesutilizedinbothmanandzoneoffenses.Post-upmovesshouldbepracticedindividually(forbothpostaswellasperimeterplayers)—withandwithoutdefensiveoppositiondaily.

Individualdrillsandteamdrillshelpplayersbecomemoreproficientintheoverallskillofoffensiverebounding.Techniquesofovercomingdefensivebox-outs,readingtheflightoftheballonmissedshots,andanticipatingwheretheoffensivereboundswillfallmustbepracticedforplayerstobecomeproficientin

theartofoffensiverebounding.

Countlesstypesofshootingdrillsshouldbeintroducedandusedseveraltimesineachdailypracticesothatshooterscanbecomemoreproficientshootersbothontheinteriorandontheperimeteroftheoffensesthateachteampossessesinitsoffensivearsenal.Techniquesofcatchingthebasketball(whileinshootingpositionsothatshooterscangettheirshotsoffmorequickly)arealsoadailypartoftheshootingpracticeroutines.

SixIndividualOffensiveSkills

Coachesshouldhavethefollowingsixmaincategoriesofindividualplayeroffensiveskillbreakdowndrillsintheiroffensivedrillpackage:

•Basicfundamentalsstationdrills

•Shootingdrills

•Dribblingdrills

•Pivoting,passing,andcatchingdrills

•Offensivereboundingdrills

•Transitiondrills

Thefollowingisaphilosophicalcompositeofallofthedrillsthathaveemergedfrommanyyearsofcoachingbasketball,baseball,andfootballatthehighschoollevel,andalsocoachingbasketballatthejuniorcollegelevel.Thephilosophyhasalsodevelopedfromobservingpracticesfromsomeofthetopcoachesatthehighschool,college,andNBAlevels.Ideasweretakenandsometimesmodified(fromthesecoachesattheirpractices,atsummercamps,coachingclinics,books,andvideotapes)tofitthatteam’slevelofplayandcompetition.

PhilosophyonDrills

Successfulbasketballcoachesmustnotonlybegreatteachersandmotivators,butalsomusthavetoolsandinstrumentsthatwillallowtheirplayerstolearntheskillsandtechniques,andalsoallowthemtoimproveontheactualskilllevels.Player’sskillscanbeimprovedbyawatchfulanddetail-minedcoachingstaff.Successfulbasketballcoachesmustalwaysrememberthefollowing:•Makepracticesasgame-realisticaspossible.Havefundamentaldrillsandbreakdowndrillsincorporatedinallphasesofthegame.Teachatyourpractices.

•Haveanenvironmentthatisconducivetolearning(fortheplayers)andteaching(forthecoachingstaff).Rememberthatthepracticefacilityisthebasketballcoach’sclassroom.

•Payattentiontoalldetailsineverydrillandwitheveryplayer.

•Getexcitedasacoach.Beenthusiastic.Youmustlovetocometopracticefortheplayerstolovetocome.Playersmustbeabletoseeyoulovetoteachthegame.Bethoroughinyourteaching.Assumethatyourplayersknownothing.Beasticklerforthesmallestofdetails(inapositivemanner).Donotaskfor,butdemandfulleffortsfromyourself,yourcoachingstaff,andyourplayers.

•Beagreatteacherandmotivator.

•Haveadetailedpracticeplanandfollowit.Planyourwork,andworkyourplan.Still,attimesyoumustbeflexiblewithyourpracticeplanwhenspecialoccurrencesdemandit.

•Incorporatethewhole-part-wholemethodinyourteachingofthegame.

•Donotaskfor,butdemandyourplayers’attention.Playersmustgivecoachestheireyesandearsatalltimes.

•Makepracticesmoredemandingandtougher(bothphysicallyandmentally)thanthegameswilldemand.

•Establishdrillssothattheplayersmustconcentrateastheyperformthem.This

approachwillpreparethemsothattheywillbeabletofocusmoreeffectivelyintheirgames.

•Donotallowanyplayerstostandaroundinpractice,doingnothing.Keepallplayersandcoachesinvolvedduringalldrills.

•Assumethatplayersknownothingandthattheyhavenofundamentalskills.Startwiththebasicsbothintellectuallyandskill-wise.Stressfundamentalsandpropertechnique.Stressmentalandphysicaleffortallofthetimebyeveryplayer.

•Emphasizeteamworkbothonoffenseanddefense.Stresscommunicationbetweenteammatesandcoachingstaffs.

•Givepositivecredittoplayerswithenthusiasm,especiallywhentheyhaveshownextraeffort,physicallyormentally.

•Sendaplayerforawaterbreakwhenhedoessomethingpositiveanumberoftimes.Havetheotherplayersshootone-and-onefreethrows.Ifaplayermissesthefrontendoftheone-and-one,havehimrunafull-courtsprint.Ifaplayermakesthefrontendoftheone-and-one,butmissesthesecondfreethrow,havethatplayerrunahalf-courtsprint.Ifaplayermakesbothendsofaone-and-one,sendhimforwater,also.Beconsistentwithrewardsandpunishments.

•Consistentlyrewardtheplayerorplayerswhoperformcorrectly,ratherthanalwayspunishingtheplayerorplayerswhodonotperformassuccessfully.

•Allowforamplerunningandmovementactivitiesimmediatelybeforeyousendyourplayerstoshootfreethrows.Makesureyouhaveyourplayersshoottwofreethrowsatatime,astheplayerswoulddoinagame.

•Makeeachdrillagreatdrill.Adrillisnotagooddrill,unlessthecoachteachesthedrillinagreatmanner.

•Constructivelycorrectaplayerwhenhecommitsanerror,andtrynottocriticizethatplayer.Besurethatallcriticismsareconstructiveandnotpersonal,andmakecertaintheplayerunderstandsthis.

•Setstandardsforyourplayersinyourshootingdrills.Settimelimitsforyourplayerstohurry(buttoalwaysbeundercontrol)andgetoffasmanyshotsas

possible.Setaccuracylimitsforyourplayersaswell.Aspecificnumberofshotsmustbetakenandaspecificnumberofshotsmustbemadeduringeachdifferentshootingdrill.

•Utilizemanyofyourshootingdrills(particularlyfreethrowshootingdrills)aftersometypeofstrenuousdrill.Yourplayerswillgetaccustomedtoshootingwhentheyarewindedandfatigued.

•Makesureyoucancombinedrillssothatfrequentopportunitiesareavailabletoworkonoffense-to-defensetransition,aswellasdefense-to-offensetransition.

•Havemanagersrecordplayers’statisticsfromyourpractice.Postthosestatistics,sothatplayerscanseetheirresultsareimportanttoyouandtheteam.Havestandardssetforindividualsaswellasfortheteam.Havewinnersandloserswiththerespectiveawardsandpenalties.

•Organizeyourdrillstoincludeavarietyofcompetition:individualcompetition,smallgroupcompetition,andteamcompetition.Haveawinnerandaloserinthemajorityofthecompetitivedrills,withthelosershavingsomeformoflightpenalty.Thelightpenaltycouldbeintheformofsmallsprints,push-ups,orsit-ups.

•Critiqueeachplayerinafairbutpositivemanner.Whenacoachisabouttocriticizeaplayer,firstaskhim,“Whatdidyoujustdocorrectly?”Thenaskhim,“Whatdidyoudoincorrectly?”

•Donotallowyourselftoomitthephysicalconditioningofyourplayers.Makesomeofyourdrillsalsoinvolveconditioning.

•Useapracticeplanasaguidelinetomanagethepracticetime,realizingon-the-courtadjustmentsandvariationsmayneedtobemadetothepracticeplan.“Practicedoesnotmakeperfect,”but“Perfectpracticedoesmakeperfect.”Perfectpracticecomesfromwell-plannedpracticeplansbythecoachingstaff.Thepracticeplanisthecoach’slessonplan.

•Implementagreatdealofstructureintoyourpracticeplansandpracticeroutinessoyourplayerscananticipatewhattoexpect.Keepthepracticelengths

consistent,withshorterpracticesandlighterphysicalactivitythenightbeforegamesandoftenthenightaftergames.

•Onarareoccasion,calloffascheduledpractice.Duringthelong,hard,gruelingpartoftheseasonabouthalfwayortwothirdsorsothroughtheschedule,thismentalandphysicalbreakcansometimesgetlifebackintotheplayers’legsandintensitylevel.Or,acoachingstaffcanstillhavepractice,buthavepracticeplannedinacompletelydifferentmanner.PlayvolleyballorWiffle®ballinthegymorwatchamovieorhavepizzafortheteamwiththecoachingstaff.Itcanbeapositivediversionandagoodmentalbreakfortheplayers,aswellasthecoaches.

•Teachthefollowingphrasebypreachingitaswellasbydemonstratingbyexample:“Failingtoprepareispreparingtofail.”

•Donotendanydrillonanegativenote.Donotconcludeascrimmageonamissedshotoraturnover.Neverfinishashootingdrillonamissedshot.

•Donotfinishyourpracticewithconditioningwork.Conditioningisextremelyimportant,butitneednotconcludeapractice.Thelastdrilloractivityshouldbeapositiveandrewardingtypeofactivityfortheplayerstogivethemthemotivationforthenextday’spractice.Makethemeagerfortomorrow’spractice.

Thesethoughtsandideashavebeentakenfromothercoachesorhavebeendiscoveredovertheyears.Coachescanintegratethemintotheirownphilosophyandpracticesessionswiththeexpectationofremarkableresults.

DRILLS

Offensivefundamentalssuchaspassing,catching,screening,cutting,dribbling,rebounding,andshootingmustbepracticedwithagreatdealofeffort,concentration,detail,intensity,andnumerousrepetitions.Thissectionincludesadailypre-practiceroutineforbasicfundamentalsandstretching,followedbyvarioustypesofshootingdrillsthatcanbeusedtonotonlyworkonshooting

fundamentals,butmaintainthehighlevelofintensityandfocusthatisarequirementofallplayers.

Alsodescribedareoffensivepivotingandpassingbreakdowndrillsandoffensivereboundingdrills,aswellastwotransitiondrillsthatareextremelyimportantforallhalf-courtoffensestobesuccessful.Eventhoughmanandzoneoffensesareprimarilythoughtofinahalf-courtoffensemindset,transitionfromdefensetoaspecificoffenseand,conversely,transitionfromoffensebacktodefenseshouldbegreatlyemphasized.Transitionshouldbeanintegralpartofthefoundationofanyoffenseanddefense.

DailyPre-PracticeRoutineforBasicFundamentalsandStretching

Thispre-practicefundamentalandstretchingroutine(Table1-1)isdesignedfortwo12-manteamstobeabletooperateatthesametimeonthesamecourt(thathastwomaingoalsandtwosidebasketsonoppositesidesofthemaincourt.Twenty-fourplayerscanbeinvolvedatthesametimeinthisroutineinagymnasiumthathastwomainbasketballgoalsandfoursupplementalsidecourtgoals.Eachplayerneedstohavehisownbasketball.Twoenergeticandmobilecoachesserveasobservers,correcting,motivating,encouraging,coaching,andaboveall,teachingofallplayersinvolved.

Eachplayerworksonstretchingsotheywillbepreparedforupcomingpracticesaswellasthemanydifferentfundamentalskillsthatarenecessaryforindividualplayersandteamstobesuccessful.Thisroutineallowsforshortbutconcentratedtimeperiodstoworkonawiderangeoffundamentals.Thetechniquesworkedonarearequirementifyouaretobuildfundamentallysoundbasketballplayers.

Thispre-practiceroutinealsosetsthetoneforanupbeatpractice,whilealsoforcingeveryplayertoconcentrateonhisindividualandgroupresponsibilities.Thisroutinehasnoroomforboredomandstandingaround,asmanyactivitieslastonly30secondsuptooneminute.Onlyacoupleofdrillslastmorethanthetypicaloneminute,andthose

Table1-1

Table1-1(cont.)

Table1-1(cont.)

Table1-1(cont.)

onlytaketwoorthreeminutestostartandcomplete.Theconstanttransitionfromoneactivitytoanotherallowsforagreatdealofattentivenessand

concentrationforeachandeveryplayer.

Duringthefirstweekofimplementationofthisroutine,theroutinecanappeartobeutterchaos.But,injustashortperiodofdays,theplayersshouldlearntheirroutineandthefundamentalandstretchingperiodthenbecomesorganizedchaos.

Eachplayerwillsometimesbeinatwo-mangroup,whileothertimesapartofathree-mangroup,andalsooccasionallyapartofasix-mangroup.Theplayersinthesegroupscanbesetandreseteachdayforvarietyandcompetition.InTable1-1,two-andthree-mangroupsaredenotedasfollows:The“A”representsthestartingposition,andthe“B”representsthesecond-stringplayeratthesameposition.Forexample,“1A”isthestartingpointguard(1),and“1B”representsthesecond-stringpointguard(1).The“11”andthe“12”aretheeleventhandtwelfthplayersofthesquad.

Thisroutinecouldalsobeimplementedinasummercampformat,inpre-seasonand/orpost-seasonworkouts,physicaleducationclasses,oratthebeginningofin-seasonpractices.Theroutinecouldbeutilizedbeforeeverypracticeduringtheseasonorjustspecificpractices.

Theentiregymnasiumisbrokendownintospecificareastobeutilizedforspecificdrills.Eachminuteisvaluable,andthetransitionbetweenactivitiesisveryimportanttoobtainmaximumutilizationoftime.Diagram1-1illustratestheareas/locationsforthedifferentdrills/activitiestobeutilized.

Thelengthofeachdrillistimedonthescoreboard.Awhistleorairhorncanbeusedtomarktheendofthetimeperiodofeachdrill.Oneeffectivewayistohavethescoreboardclocksetat42minutesandturnedonatthebeginningoftheentireroutine.Amanagercanthenbuzzthehornattheendofeachdrill/activitytosignalthetransitionfromonedrilltothenext.

Eachdrill/activityisgivenaspecificlocationinthegymwherethatdrillshouldtakeplace.Abriefdescriptionofeachdrill/activitywillbeexplained.

Theroutinestartswith42:00onthescoreclock.Whilethevarsitysquadisbasicallyspendingthefirstfiveminutesdoingpredominantlystretching

activitiesinAreas1,2,3,and4;thejuniorvarsitysquadwillbeusingthetwodribblinglines(8and9)andallsixbaskets.

Forthenextfourminutes(with38:00ontheclock),thevarsitywillusethesixbasketsandtheareasnearthosebasketsalongwithArea7.ThejuniorvarsitywilluseAreas3,4,5,and6.

With34:00ontheclock,foroneminute,thevarsitybreaksdownwiththefirstsix-mansquadinArea7andthesecondsix-mansquadgoingtoanassignedbasket.ThejuniorvarsitysquadusesAreas3and4forthisloneminute.

At33:00ontheclock,thevarsityusesthenextthreeminutesinAreas3,4,5,and6toworkonpivotingandpassingtechniques,whilethejuniorvarsitybreaksdownintopartnersandshareseachofthesixbasketstoworkonthevarioustypesofdotshots.

At30:00,thevarsitymovestothetwodribblinglinestoworkontwominuteseachofdribblingtechniques.Then,theymovetothesixbasketsinpairstoworkonthe

Diagram1-1

variouspowermovestothebaskettechniques.ThejuniorvarsitybeginstheirstretchingroutineforthenextfiveminutesinAreas1,2,3,and4.

At24:00ontheclock,thevarsitytakesAreas3,4,5,and6forfiveminutesofreboundinganddefensivedrills.ThejuniorvarsityutilizesArea7andallsixbasketsandthewallareasnearthosebasketsforthevariousshootingandreboundingtechniquework,inadditiontoadefensivedrill.

At19:00ontheclock,thevarsityusesallsixbasketsforthreeminutestoperformthedotshotsdrill,whilethejuniorvarsityusesAreas3,4,5,and6to

workonthepivot-and-passtechniques.

Whentheclockrunsdownto16:00,boththeentirevarsityandjuniorvarsityteamsgroupintheirrespectivehalfcourtsforthreeminutestoworkonadefensiveinterceptiondrill.Afterthat,thevarsityusesAreas3and4toworkonsomeoffensivescreeningtechniquesfortwominutes.ThejuniorvarsityusesAreas5and6todothesame.

At11:00,boththeentirevarsityandjuniorvarsityteamsagaingroupintheirrespectivehalf-courtlocationsforfourminutesondefensiveboxingoutandoffensivereboundingtechniques.

At07:00ontheclock,bothteamsstayintheirrespectivehalf-courtareasofthemaincourt,togocrosscourtintheso-calledfull-courtdrills.Whentheclockrunsdownto0:00,thosethreedrills(whichshouldtakesevenminutes)areconcluded.Theentire42-minuteroutineisconcludedandapositiveandenthusiastictoneandattitudehasbeenestablishedfortheregularpracticefortheday.

ShootingDrills

Everyshootingdrillhasspecificcharacteristicsthatmustbeemphasizedforallplayerstoreceivethefullbenefitfromthatdrill.Allshootingdrillsmustbeasgame-realisticaspossibleaswellasbeastime-efficientaspossible.Coachesshouldnotwanttowasteanytimeduringtheirpracticesessions.Tomakethoseshootingdrillsasgame-realisticaspossible,coachesmustincorporateasmanytypesofpressuresontheshooters(andtheshooters’teammatesthatarepassingtheballtotheminthedrills)aspossible.Coachingstaffsshouldtrytoincorporatesuccessandcompetitionpressures—tryingtobeatotherplayers,othersquads,otheropponents.

Theso-calledotheropponentscanbepre-setstandardsthatcanvaryfromplayertoplayer.Thesestandardscaneitherbeincreasedorlowered,dependingonthecircumstances.Oneopponentthatisuniversaltoallplayersistheclock,andthatopponentshouldbeamajorpartofeachshootingdrillused.

Coachesshouldstressaccuracyinalloftheshootingdrills,butshouldalsostressquantity.Stressingquantityofshotswillmakeallplayersinvolvedinthesedrillsspeedupandgoatgamespeed.Coachesshouldexpectallshooters,passers,andrebounderstoalwaysgoatgamespeed.Staffsshouldcontinuallybeacceleratingtheirrebounders,passers,andshootersineachandeveryoneoftheshootingdrillsutilized.

Apre-setquantityandqualitystandardssetforeachshootingdrillcanbeused.Doingsoincreasesthegamerealism,becauseeachindividualistryingtosucceednotonlyforhimself,butforhisteam(orgrouporsquad).

Everyshootingdrillhasapre-setstandardofaspecificnumberofattemptstheshootermusttakeaswellasastandardofhowmanyshotstheshootershouldmake.Again,thisrequirementforcesthetempoandintensitylevelupforeachshootingdrillthatisused.

Gamerealismalsomeansrewardsforthewinnersandpenaltiesfortheplayersthatdidnotwinthecompetitionwithinthedrill.Noneofthepenaltiesareharshorhard,buttheyareatruepenalty.Theycouldbesometypeofarunningpenalty,somepush-ups,orsit-upsthatmustquicklybedone.Thisformofmotivationisusedtomakeeachplayerwanttowinandneveracceptlosingasacceptable.

Competingagainsttheclockisalwaysbeneficial,becauseeveryonehasacommonopponent.Usingthescoreboardclocknotonlygiveseveryoneacommonopponent,butaclear,visible,andconstantadversary.Usingtimelimitsalwaysspeedsuptheshootinggroups;itdoesnotallowashootertotaketoomuchtimeinshooting.CoachescanuseCoachJohnWooden’sinvaluablephrase:“Bequick,butdon’tbeinahurry.”

Wheninagamedoesashooter,apasser,oranyplayerhavetheluxurytotakehistimeandtogoataslowerandmorecomfortablespeed?Bycontinuallyacceleratingplayersinalldrills(notjustshooting),allplayersgetaccustomedtohavingamuchquickercomfortablespeed.

Otheroffensivetechniquesandfundamentalscanbeincorporatedintoeachshootingdrill,suchaspassing,rebounding,cutting,comingoffscreensproperly,catching,pivoting,andobviouslytheshooting.Coachesshouldstudythe

offensesthatareusedingamestoseewheretheshotswillbemanufacturedandthenincorporatethoselocationswhereplayerswillmostlikelygetthoseshotsingames,aswellasthetypesofpassesthatplayerswillhavetouseingames.

Coachesshouldplacetheirpasserswheretheywillpasstheballingamesituations.Starttheshootersintheirinitiallocations,andrequiretheshooterstocutandbreaktothespotswheretheymostlikelywilltaketheshotsingames.Requirethepasserstousethesametypeofpassestheywilluseinagame,alwaysatgamespeed.Forcethepasserstoquicklyandaccuratelymaketheappropriatepassestheywillmakeinagame.Sometimes,coachescouldhavemanagershavetheirhandsupinfrontoftheshooterstoactasdummydefenders,thusmakingthedrillalittlemorerealistic.

Constantlymotivatealloffensiverebounderstoaggressivelyreboundthebasketballbeforemakingquickandaccurateoutletpassesastheywouldinarealgame.Ifthecoachconstantlyemphasizesthespeedandintensityneeded,otherdrillsthatfollowinthatday’spracticewillnaturallypickupthesamespeedandintensitylevelsthatarerequiredforthosedrillstobesuccessful.Anotherby-productfromtheseshootingdrillscanbetheconditioningaspect.Ifeveryoneworksatmeetingthequantityandqualitystandardsthathavebeenset,everyone’sconditioningwillalsoimproveduringthesedrills.

The55-SecondShootingDrillFormat

Manydifferentshootingdrillsincorporatethe55-secondshootingdrilltheme.Threeplayersareinvolvedinthisformat.Oneplayeristhedesignatedpasser,oneisthedesignatedshooter,andthelastplayeristherebounder.Thedesignatedshootermustfirstworkonhiscuttingandbreakingtotheballskillssothathemayfreehimselffromthehypotheticaldefender.Hethenmustworkonhispass-catchingskillsandtechniques.Theall-importantpivotingfootworkandhandworktechniquesthatwillallowhimtoshoottheballquickly(butaccurately)offthepassarealsopracticedandutilizedinthesetimedshootingdrills.Obviously,theactualshootingskillsandtechniquesarestronglyemphasizedfortheshooterinthisthree-mandrill,butthesecondplayerthatdeliverstheballtothedesignatedshooteralsomustconstantlybecuttingandmovingwithouttheballtoreceivetheballbeforeactuallyworkingonthevarioustypesofpassesheshouldincorporatetopasstheballtothatdesignatedshooter.Aftercatchingtheball,thisdesignatedpassermustapplytheproperfootworkskillsandtechniquestomaketheproperpivotbeforemakingthepass

tothedesignatedshooter.And,lastbutnotleast,thethirdintegralplayerinallofthese55-secondshootingdrillsistheplayerthatmustactuallyretrievethemadeormissedshot.Hethenmustworkonhisreboundingskills,includingthenecessaryfootworkofpivotingtomaketheoutletpasstothedesignatedpasserinthisdrill.Thisdesignatedreboundermustlearntoreadandreacttotheshooter’sshot,gainpossessionoftheoffensiverebound,maketheappropriatepivotawayfromhishypotheticaldefender,andmaketheproperoutletpasstohisteammate.Thespeedandhustleofthetransitionofthethreeplayersswitchingtheirthreeassignmentsinthisdrillisconstantlyemphasizedbythetotalnumberofattemptedshotsthatareexpectedbythethree-mangroupaswellastheaccuracyofallthreeplayers.

After55seconds,allthreeplayersrotateoveronedesignation,andthedrillisrepeated.Thetransitionshouldtakenomorethanfiveseconds.Inthreeshortminutes,eachplayerreceivesalmostoneminute(actually55seconds)ofconcentratedworkonoffensiveskillsofpassing,catchingandshooting,reboundingandoutletpassing.Therotationisfrompassertoshootertorebounderandontoadifferentshootinglocation,wherethethree-manrotationstartsagain.

Diagram1-2displaysplayer1(P1)passingtoplayer2.Player2(S2)shoots.Player3(R3)rebounds.Diagram1-3showsthefirstrotation.Player1isnowtheshooter.Player2becomestherebounder,andPlayer3rotatestobecomethenextpasser.

Diagram1-2

Diagram1-3

Diagram1-4

Diagram1-4showsthelastrotation:Player1istherebounder,player2isthepasser,andplayer3istheshooter.

Withtherebounderstationhavingtoremainnearthebasket,thelocationsofthedesignatedshootersandtheplacementofthedesignatedpasserscanvarytofitthespecificoffense’sneeds.Diagrams1-5through1-9offerjustafewofthe

manypossiblecombinationsofpassingandshootinglocations.Diagram1-5isusedtoworkonthewingshot.Diagram1-6isusedtopracticetheskippassandtheshotoffoftheskippass.Diagram1-7showstheset-uptoworkontheshotthatfollowsthedownpass.Diagram1-8demonstratestheactionfortheuppass.Diagram1-9isanexampleforplayerstoworkontheinsideshot.

Youcouldrequiretheshootertomakeamovebeforeshooting,especiallywhendrillingontheinsideshootingtechniques.Differentmovescouldberequiredeachday.

Diagram1-5

Diagram1-6

Diagram1-7

Diagram1-8

Diagram1-9

TimedShootingDrills

Inthistwo-manshootingdrill,thepassermakespassesfrominsidethefreethrowlanetoashooterwhoisalsorestrictedtoaparticularareaofthecourt.Theareasfortheshotscouldbeshotsinsidethefreethrowlane(insideshots),outsidethefreethrowlane(outsideshots),orbehindthethree-pointline(three-pointshots).

Theshootercatchesthepassandtakesashotasquicklyaspossible.Thepasserreboundstheball,outletpassestheballbacktotheshooterforhimtocontinuethedrill.Afterthedesignatedtimelimit,bothplayersswitchrolesandassignments.Thenumberofshotattemptsandthenumberofmadebasketsarecountedandrecordedforeachshooterfromeachassignedarea.

InsideShots(Diagram1-10)

Atotalofthreeminutesshouldyield27to30shotspershooter.Arateof70percentaccuracywouldbeabout19to21shotsmade,60percentaccuracywouldbeabout16to18shotsmade,and50percentaccuracywouldbeabout14to15shotsmade.

Diagram1-10

OutsideShots(Diagram1-11)

Atotalofthreeminutesshouldyield24to27shotstakenpershooter.Arateof50percentaccuracywouldbeabout12to14shotsmade.

Diagram1-11

Three-PointShots(Diagram1-12)

Atotalofthreeminutesshouldyield21to24shotstakenpershooter.Arateof50percentaccuracywouldbeabout10to12shotsmade.

Diagram1-12

CloseoutShootingDrillsoffthePass

Thepasser(P)makespassesfromthefreethrowlanetoashooter(S)thatisalsorestrictedtooneofthesamethreedesignatedareas:inside,outside,orthree-pointshotsareas.Theinitialpasser(P)thenfollowshispassandclosesoutontheinitialshooter(S),puttingtokendefensivepressureontheshooter.Theinitialpasserremainsinthatareatobecomethenextshooter.Theinitialshootercatchesthepass(alreadyhavinghisfeetandhandsready),takesashotasquicklyaspossible,thenfollowshisshot,reboundstheball,outletpassestheballback(asthenewpasser)tothenewshooter,andappliestokenpressureonthenewshooter.Thetwoplayerscontinuethedrill,changingbackandforthfrombeingthepasseraswellastheshooter.Thenumberofattemptsandnumberofmadebasketsarecountedandrecordedforeachshooterfromeachassignedarea.

Themostuniqueshootingdrillinthisserieshasachangeintheformatofthedrill.Toincreasethequicknessandtheintensityintheshooting,therapidfiredrilladdsathirdplayerandasecondbasketball.Assoonasthefirstpassermakesapasstoafellowteammateandclosesoutonhim,heinstantlybecomesthenextshooter.Thethirdplayerinthedrillfollowsthesamepassing

proceduresandpassesthesecondbasketballtothesecondshooter.Inthemeantime,theoriginalshooterhastakenhisshot,followedtheshotforanoffensivereboundandthenmadetheoutletpasstothesecondpassertoshoot.Thedrillcanreallyspeedupboththerebounders/passersaswellastheshootersandthusincreasetheintensitylevelofthedrill.

InsideShots(Diagram1-13)

Atotalofthreeminutesshouldyield37to39shotstakenforbothshooters.Arateof70percentaccuracywouldbeabout26to27shotsmade,60percentaccuracywouldbeabout22to23shotsmade,and50percentaccuracywouldbeabout18to20shotsmadeforeachshooter.

Diagram1-13

OutsideShots(Diagram1-14)

Atotalofthreeminutesshouldyield35to37shotstakenforbothshooters.Arateof60percentaccuracywouldbeabout21to22shotsmade,50percentaccuracywouldbeabout18shotsmadeforbothshooters.

Diagram1-14

Three-PointShots(Diagram1-15)

Atotalofthreeminutesshouldyield28to32shotstakenbybothshooters.Arateof50percentwouldbeabout14to16madeshotsforeachofthetwoshooters.

Diagram1-15

RapidFire(Diagram1-16)

Atotalofthreeminutesshouldyield26to28shotsforeachofthethreeshooters.Arateof50percentaccuracywouldbeabout13to14madeshotsforeachshooter.Thefirstpasser(01)passesoneballtothefirstshooter(03)andclosesoutonthatshooter.Thatshooter(03)takesanoutsideshotorathree-pointshotandfollowstheshottobecomethethirdpasser.Asthistakesplace,thesecondpasser(02)passesasecondballtothefirstpasser(01),whonowisthesecondshooter.Thesecondshooter(01)catchesthepass,shoots,andfollowshisshottobecomethefourthpasser.Thedrillcontinuesforthesettimelimit,withallthreeplayersbeingpassersaswellasbecomingshooters/rebounders.

Diagram1-16

CloseoutShootingDrillsofftheDribble

Thisseriesofdrillsisagreatcomplementtotheshootingdrills.Thisseriesaddsshotfakesanddribblesforthepotentialshooter.Thepasseragainmakespassesfromaspecificareatoashooterthatisrestrictedtoaparticulararea.Thepasserthenfollowshispassandclosesoutmorequicklyontheshooter,puttingeven

moredefensivepressureontheshooter.Theshootermustthenmakearealisticshotfakeanddrivepastthedefender(scrapingoffthedefender).Thisdriveisdirectlytowardthebasketwithapredesignatednumberofdribbles,beforethenshootingtheball.Thedriver/shootershouldalternatethesideshedrivesbythetokendefender.Asecondshotfakeagainstasecondtokendefender(stationedclosertothebasket)mayberequiredbeforetheactualshotatthebasketistaken.

Theinitialpasser(P)remainsintheareatobecomethenextshooter.Theinitialshooter(S)catchesthepass,takesashotasquicklyaspossible,thenfollowshisshot,reboundstheball,outletpassestheballbacktothenewshooter,andappliestokenpressureonthatshooter.Thetwo(orpossiblyfour)playerscontinuethedrill,changingbackandforthfrombeingpassersanddefenderstobecomingshooters.Thenumberofattemptsandnumberofmadebasketsarecountedandrecordedforeachshooterfromeachassignedshootingarea.Thefirstsequenceinthisdrillcanhaveallshotstakenaftertheshotfakeoutsideofthefreethrowlane,whilethenextsequencecanhaveallshooterstakingtheirshotsinthepaint.Thisapproachvariestherangeofshotstakenbythesquadaswellastheamountofcloseoutdefensivepressureontheoffensivepassreceivers/shooters.

Thenextsequenceofdrillsinthisseriesaddsadditionalplayers:oneadditionalteammateandoneadditionaldefender.Thedefenderappliesvaryingdegreesofpressureonthedrivers/passersaswellastheshooters.Thefinalshotlocationscanbevariedfrominthelane,outsideofthelane,andbehindthethree-pointline.

ShotFake,Drive,andPull-UpJumpShot(Diagram1-17)

Shootersshouldchangethedirectionstheyuseinattackingthecloseoutdefenderandthenumberofdribblestheyusetodribbletowardthebasket.Atotalofthreeminutesshouldyield33to35shotsattemptedbybothshooters.Arateof60percentaccuracywouldbeabout20madeshots,while50percentaccuracywouldbeabout16to18madeshotsforeachshooter.

ShotFake,Drive,andPowerLay-UpShot(Diagram1-18)

Theshooter(S)alsoshouldfakeanoutsideshot,drivebythecloseoutdefender(D)andtakeapowershot.Heshouldchangethedirectionhetakesinattackingthecloseoutdefenderandthenumberofdribblesused.Atotalofthreeminutes

should

Diagram1-17

Diagram1-18

yield30to32shotstakenbybothshooters.Arateof70percentshootingaccuracywouldbeabout21to22madeshots,and60percentaccuracywouldbeabout18to19madeshotsforbothshooters.

ShotFake,Drive,andPowerLay-Up(Diagram1-19)Diagram1-19depictstheshooterfakingthendrivingonlytobepickedupbyaseconddefender.Thedriverthenpassesofftoateammateforashot.Theshooter(S)mustfirstalwaysmakeagoodshotfake,mustalwaysscrapeoffthecloseoutdefender(P),and

thenmakeapowermoveatthesecondtokendefender(D),usingbetweenoneandthreedribbles.TherotationofplayerscouldbePtoStoDtoP.Athree-minutetotalshouldbeabout20shotattemptsforeachofthethreeshootersinvolvedinthisdrill.Arateof60percentwouldbeabout12shotsmadebyeachshooter,and50percentaccuracywouldbeabout10shotsmadebyeachshooter.

Diagram1-19

ShotFake,DribbleDrive,andDish(Diagram1-20)

Diagram1-20showsthesamesequenceasDiagram1-19,exceptthistimethenewpassreceiverdrivestothebasketforaninsideshot.Theshooter(S)firstmustcatchthepass,makearealisticshotfake,andscrapeoffthecloseoutdefender(D)bytakingbetweenoneandthreedribblestowardthebasket.Onhissubsequentdrivetothebasket,heshoulddriveanddishtoasecondoffensiveplayer(O),whothentakesaninsideshotversustheseconddefender(D),waitinginthelane.Atotaloffourminutesshouldyieldapproximately14to16insideshotsforeachofthefourshooters.Arateof70percentaccuracywouldbeabout9to11madeshots,and60percentaccuracyshouldbeabout8to10madeshotsforeachofthefourshooters.TherotationofplayerscouldbePtoStoDtoOtoP.

Diagram1-20

ShotFake,Dribble,Penetrate,andPitch(Diagram1-21)

Diagram1-21showsthesamesequenceasDiagram1-20,withthenewpassreceivershootingaperimetershotfromthedeepcornerunderpressurefromthenewdefender.Theshooter(S)firstcatchesthepassfromthepasser/closeoutdefender(P)andmakesagoodshotfake.Hetakesonetothreedribblestowardthebasket,butshouldpenetrateandpitchtoasecondoffensiveplayer(O)outsidethethree-pointline,whothentakesathree-pointshotversustheseconddefender(D),closingoutonhimfromthelane.TherotationofplayerscouldalsobePtoStoDtoOtoP.Atotaloffourminutesshouldyield10to12shotsforeachthree-pointshooter.Arateof50percentaccuracywouldbeaboutfivemadeshots,and40percentaccuracywouldbeaboutfourmadethree-pointshots.

Diagram1-21

ShotFake,DribbleDrive,andPull-UpJumpShot(Diagram1-22)

Thefinaldrill,showninDiagram1-22,canaddasecondbasketballthatwillincreasethetempooftheshooterstomakeitmoregame-realisticandgetmoreshotstakeninthesametimeperiod.Thefirstpasser(P1)passestheballandclosesoutonthefirstshooter(S),whilethefirstshootershouldshotfake,dribblescrapeoffthecloseoutdefender,andthendrivetowardthebasketbeforetakinganoutsidejumpshot.Thefirstpasser(P1)thenbecomesthenextshooterforthenextpasser(P2).TherotationofplayerscouldbeP1toStoP2toP1.Atotalofthreeminutesshouldyieldabout24shotattemptsforeachshooter.Arateof60percentaccuracywouldbeabout14madeshots,and50percentaccuracywouldbeabout12madeshotsforeachofthethreeshootersinthisdrill.

Diagram1-22

Basic55-SecondShootingDrills

Thebasic55-secondshootingdrillsareshootingdrillsforgroupsofthreeplayerseach.Thepurposeofthesedrillsistoworkonvariousspecificoffensivefundamentalsatthesametimeinagame-realisticsetting.Offensiverebounding,outletpassing,cutting,catchingpasses,makingpasses,andshootingoff(receiving)thepassareheavilypracticedunderthewatchfuleyesofthecoachingstaff.Allofthesetechniquescanbemonitoredandobservedbythecoacheswhileplayerscanrefinethosefundamentalskillsandtechniques.Individualplayerscanandshouldhavespecificstandardstheyareexpectedtomeetorsurpass,aswellastheindividualthree-mangroupscanalsohaveteam/groupstandardsandgoalstheytrytomeetorimproveon.Agreatdealofcompetitionisfosteredbetweeneachindividualshooteraswellasbetweeneachthree-mangrouptohelpmakethesedrillsmoregame-realistic.

Thisseriesofdrillshaswinnersandlosers.Thelosingindividualsandthelosinggroupshavesomeformofpenaltyafterthecompetitionisover.

Oneplayerinthegroupstartsasthedesignatedrebounder(R),whilethenextplayerisassignedtheroleofthepasser,andthethirdplayerisassignedtheroleastheshooter(S).Thecoachingstaffcarefullyobserveseachofthethreeplayers.Playersworkonpropertechniquesofthefootworkintheirshot

preparation,thetechniquesofshotfakesanddrivestothebasket,inadditiontotheactualshootingtechniques.Theproperfundamentaltechniquesoftheactualoffensivereboundingandoutletpassing,andthepropertechniquesofpassingtheballtothepotentialshooteralsoareemphasizedandworkedoninthismultifaceteddrill.

Quicktransitionofeachplayertotheirnextassignmentinthedrillisparamountbecauseitsavespreciouspracticetime.Inaddition,thequicktransitiongivesthedrillmoregamerealismand,therefore,morevaluetoeveryplayerinvolved.Atimeclockisalwaysused,witheachofthethreetimeframesofthedrilllasting55secondsforeachplayertoworkonthetechniquesofhisspecificrole.Attheconclusionofthe55secondsisafive-secondtimeframe,whenallthreeplayersquicklyrotateandmovetothenextroletheyaretoworkon.Afterthreerotations,allthreeplayersinvolvedhaveworkedonthetechniquesof:catchingandshooting,offensivereboundingandoutletpassing,andcatchinganddeliveringtheballtotheshooter.

Eachoftheshooter’smadeshotsandattemptsarerecordedfromeachofthedesignatedareas.Passersworkonthevariouspassestheyshouldmakeinagameinthepositionsonthecourtfromwhichtheywillmakethosepasses.Shootersworkonthevarioustypesofshotstheywilltakeinagamefromthelocationsofwheretheywillmostlikelytakethoseshotsingamesituations.Thedrillisdesignedforallplayerstoworkinconditionsasgame-likeaspossible.

Thenextsequenceinvolvesabubbledefender.Thedefenderinthisseriesofdrillcanutilizevarioustypesoffootballbubblepadsthatallowthatdefendertobemorephysicalwiththeshooterwithoutcausinginjurytotheshooter.Thisincreaseofsafeandcontrolledbumpingexponentiallymakesthisseriesofshootingdrillsmuchmoregame-realisticandgivescountlessrepetitionsfortheshootertobecomemoreaccustomedtotheactualphysicalityoftheinsidegameandincreasestheshooter’sconcentrationandfocusontheactualmakingoftheinsideshot.Theshootingdrillswiththebubbledefensearedrillswhereallshotsaretakeninthepaint.Thesephysicaldrillsareshootingdrillswherecontact(withthebubbles)isnotonlyallowedbutencouraged(withinreason).Thedrillusesoneshooterandonerebounder/passer.

Intheotherdrillinvolvingthebubbledefense,thetwoplayerswhoarenotshootingbothhavepads,andtheybothcontinuallyharassandmakecontactwiththeshooter.Theshootermustgethisownoffensivereboundsandthenimmediatelyworkonhisstickbackshots,whilethetwodefendersconstantlygetinthewayofthenewoffensiverebounder/stickbackshooterandcontinuethecontrolledphysicalcontactwiththeoffensiveplayer.

PerimeterShotsoffthePass(Diagram1-23)

Allshotsaretakenoffofthepassfromthepasser,whohasreceivedtheoutletpassfromtherebounder.Atotalofthreeminutesshouldyieldabout13shotattemptsforeachshooter.Arateof60percentaccuracywouldbeaboutseventoeightmadeshots,and50percentaccuracywouldbeaboutsixtosevenmadeshots.

Diagram1-23

PerimeterShotsoffDribbleAfterOneShotFake(Diagram1-24)Theshootershouldcatchthepass,makearealisticshotfake,andtakeonedribbletowardthebasket,beforepullingupforajumpshotoffthedribble.Atotalofthreeminutesshouldyieldabout9to10shotattemptsforeachshooter.Arateof50percentaccuracywouldbeaboutfourtofivemadeshots.

Diagram1-24

InsideShotsvs.BubbleDefense(Diagram1-25)Therebounder/passer/defender(R)shouldreboundtheballandpasstheballtotheshooter(S)andthenapproachtheshooterwithhishandsup,whilethedefender(X)hasbubblepadsandcontinuouslybumpsandfouls(again,withinreason)theshooter.TherotationofplayerscouldbeRtoStoXtoR,afterevery55-secondtimelimit.Atotalofthreeminutesshouldyieldabout20insideshotattemptsforeachshooteragainstthetwodefendersinthelane.Arateof50percentaccuracywouldbeabout10madeshotspershooter.

Diagram1-25

SecondShotsvs.BubbleDefense(Diagram1-26)Thestickbackshootermustfollowhisshot,gethisownrebound,andquicklytakethesecondshotforthestickback(againsttwodefenders,bothwiththefootballbubblepads).Apumpfakebeforethestickbackisencouraged.(Atotalofthreeminutesshouldprovidetimeforeachshootertoattempt22to24insideshots.Arateof50percentaccuracywouldbeabout11to12madestickbacksforeachshooter.

Diagram1-26

RapidFire55-SecondShootingDrill(Diagram1-27)

Therapidfire55-secondshootingdrillsareshootingdrillsinvolvingthreeplayers,withbothnon-shooterseachhavingabasketballandactingascombinationpassers/rebounders.Bothretrievetheirbasketballthattheshooterhasshotandquicklypasstheballbacktotheshooter(S).Withtwobasketballs,theshootermustquicklytakeoneshot,theninstantlygethisfeetandhandsreadytocatchthenextpasstoquicklyshootagain.

Diagram1-27

Thisdrillcontinuesfor55secondsbeforeanewshooterisdesignatedwiththeremainingtwoplayersbecomingtherebounders/passers(P1andP2).Thisdrillisanintensedrillthatprovidesaconcentratedamountofshootingbyeachshootingparticipantofthedrill.Thisdrillforcestheshootertogetpreparedtocatchandshoot,quicklyrecover,andgetreadytoshootagain.Withtwobasketballs,theshootershouldbeabletotakeamuchhighernumberofshotsinthe55secondsofallottedtime.After55seconds,anewshooterrotatesinthishighintensitydrill.Coachesmustcloselymonitorthatthespeedofthisdrillisnotcounterproductiveandstartdevelopingbadhabitsoftheshooter.

Thethreeoffensiveplayersaredescribedandnamedastheshooter(S),passer/rebounder(P1),andrebounder/passer(P2).Allshotsarequicklytakenoffofthepass,withtwoplayersactingascombinationofbothreboundersandalsoaspassers.Again,thisdrillmustbecloselymonitoredsoasnottodevelopbadhabitsintherushofshootingtheball.Atotalofthreeminutesshouldyield22to24shotattemptsforeachshooter.Arateof60percentaccuracywouldbeabout13to14madeshotspershooter,and50percentaccuracywouldbe11to12madeshotsforeachshooter.

PowerShots(LeftandRightSides)

Thesepowershotshootingdrillsaredesignedforallplayerstoworkoncatching

theballinthepaintandthenapplyingthepostplayer’spowermovesagainstatokenpostdefense.Thedefendershouldagainutilizethefootballbubblepadstoprovidephysicalplayandbumptheoffensiveplayerasthedrillisbeingrun.

Thisdrillcanuseadesignatedpostplayer(S),apasser(P),andadefender(X).Aftertwominutes,allthreeplayersrotatewiththefirstpasser(P)becomingthenextpostplayer,theinitialpostplayer(S)becomingthenewdefender(X),andtheoriginaldefenderbecomingthenextpasser.TherotationoftheplayersinthisshootingdrillisStoXtoP.Bothsidesofthelaneshouldbeworkedforoneminuteintheirtwo-minuteshootingsegment.

Anotherwayofapplyingtheseshootingdrillsforpostplayersistomakeitaone-mandrill.Thatoneplayertossestheballoutinfrontofhimself(asifitwereabouncepass).He(underhand)tossestheball(tohimself),catchesandchinstheball,imagineswheretheimaginarydefenderis,andmakestheappropriatemove,dependentuponwherethehypotheticalpostdefenderis.

Ashecatchestheball,heshouldtakeasmallhopandlandonbothfeetatthesametime.Thismoveallowshimtobeabletouseeitherfootasthefinalpivotfoot.Twopostplayers(oneoneachsideofthelane)canoperateatthesametimefromeachbasketthatisavailable.Theircatches,moves,andfinalshotsarestaggeredsothateachplayerhasanunobstructedpathtothebasket.Again,theshootergoesforatwo-minutetimeperiodbeforethedrillconcludes.

Show-and-Go-OppositeDrop-StepPowerMoves(Diagram1-28)

Thesemovesshouldbemadebothtowardthemiddleaswellastowardthebaseline.Coachesshouldstronglyemphasizethatsuccessfuloffensivepostplayersareplayersthatareunpredictableandcangoineitherdirectionandfrombothblocks.Thesemovesshouldalwaysstartonthefirstnotchabovetheblockonbothsidesofthelane.

Diagram1-28

Thepostplayer’sfakesshouldberealistic,beforethepostplayeractuallymakeshisdrop-stepmovetothebasket(intheoppositedirectionofthefake).Atotaloftwominutesshouldyield20shotattemptsforeachshooter.Arateof80percentaccuracywouldbe16madeshots,60percentaccuracywouldbe12madeshots,and50percentaccuracywouldbe10madeshots.

Square-Up,Up-and-UnderCrossoverPowerMoves(Diagram1-29)

Theseeffectivepostmovesshouldalsobemadebothtowardthemiddleaswellastowardthebaseline,inordertopreventpredictabilitybythedefensiveopposition.

Diagram1-29

Thesemovesshouldstartonthefirstnotchabovetheblockonbothsidesofthelane.Allpostplayer’sshotfakesshouldberealistic,beforetheplayeractuallysquaresuptothebasketandthenmakeshisup-and-undermovetothebasket.Thesemovesshouldbemadebothtowardthebaselineandalsotowardthemiddleofthelane(startingfrombothsidesofthelane).Atotaloftwominutesofthisdrillshouldyield18shotattemptsforonepostplayerinhistimesegment.Arateof70percentaccuracywouldbe12to13madeshotsforeachshooter,while60percentaccuracywouldbe10to11madeshots,and50percentaccuracywouldbeninemadeshots.

WhirlMoves(sometimescalled“OlajuwonMoves”)(Diagram1-30)Thesespinorwhirlmovesshouldbemadebothtowardthebaselineaswellastowardthemiddle.Theseeffectivescoringpostmovesshouldalsobeinitiatedfrombothsidesofthelane,sothatthepostplayerisnotone-dimensional.Atotaloftwominutesshouldyield20shotattemptsfortheshooterinhisshootingtimesegment.Arateof80percentaccuracywouldbe16madeshots,60percentaccuracywouldbe12madeshots,and50percentaccuracywouldbe10madeshots)

Diagram1-30

One-ManDotShots—WithaShooter,NoDefense,NoPasser

Thethreedrillseriesofone-mandotshotscanbeaninvaluableteachingtoolfornotonlypostplayers,butforalloffensiveplayers.Becauseonlyoneplayerandoneballisinvolvedandbecauseaminimumoftwoplayerscanutilizeeachbasketatatime,thisseriesisbothtime-andspace-efficient.

Eachdrillbeginswiththeoffensiveplayertossingtheballouttohimselftowardthe(nowimaginary)dottedlineinthemiddleofthefreethrowlane.Fromthere,theoffensiveplayercatchestheballandsquaresuptothebasketwithaninsideheelpivot.Fromthere,theoffensiveplayerisinthemiddleofthelaneandfacingthebasketwithhisdribblestillintact.Hecanshootimmediatelyoffthepass,offashotfake,offtheshotfakeanddribble,andmanyothercombinations.Thisdrillisanexcellentwaytodevelopthefootworkofalloffensiveplayersbothinsideaswellasontheperimeter.Shotfakesandexplosivedribbleattackscanalsobeimproveduponbybothpostplayersandperimeterplayers.

Thethreeone-mandotshotdrillsare:

•Nofakes,nodribble(Diagram1-31):Atotaloftwominutesshouldyield20shotattempts.Arateof70percentaccuracyshouldbeabout14madeshots,and50percentaccuracyshouldbeabout10madeshots.

•Onefake,onedribble(Diagram1-32):Atotaloftwominutesshouldyield14shotattempts.Arateof70percentaccuracyshouldbeabout9to10madeshots,and50percentaccuracyshouldbeaboutsevenmadeshots.

•Twofakes,oneortwodribbles(Diagram1-33):Atotalofoneminuteshouldyield12shotattempts.Arateof70percentaccuracyshouldbeaboutseventoeightmadeshots,and50percentaccuracyshouldbeaboutsixmadeshots.

Diagram1-31

Diagram1-32

Diagram1-33

One-ManCloseShots—WithaShooter,NoDefense,NoPasser

•MikanDrill—One-ManDrill(LeftandRightSides)(Diagram1-34)

TheMikandrillisacontinuouslay-updrill,withnodribblesinvolved,usingtheleftandtherighthandontherespectivesidesofthebasket.Thisdrillcanhelpallplayersworkonfootwork,dexterity,shootingthebasketballwithbothhands,developingasofttouch,andimprovingonaplayer’sbasketeducation.Withoutanydefenseandthecloseproximitytothebasket,ahighdegreeofshootingaccuracyshouldtakeplace,whichshouldimprovetheshooter’sconfidence.Oneminuteshouldyieldabout15shotattempts.Arateof80percentaccuracywouldbeabout12madelay-ups.

•BabyHookShots—One-ManDrill(LeftandRightSides)(Diagram1-35)

ThebabyhooksdrillissimplyaprogressionoftheMikandrill—justtwotothreefeetfartherfromthebasket.Itisacontinuous,veryshorthookshotshootingdrill,witheitheroneornodribblesinvolved,usingtheleftandtherighthandontherespectivesidesofthebasket.Oneminuteshouldyieldabout10to12shotattempts.Arateof80percentaccuracywouldbeabout8to10madeclose-to-the-baskethookshots.

Diagram1-34

Diagram1-35

Duck-InShotsWithVariousPowerMoves(Diagram1-36)

Eachoffensiveshootershouldrip-stepthroughthe(imaginary)defenseandduckintodottedcircle,andthenmakethevariousdrop-steppowermovestothebasket.Itisaone-mandrillwithonlyimaginarydefense.Twoseparateoffensiveplayerscanworkatthesamebasket—onecomingfromeachoftheleftandrightblocks.

Thisdrillisacontinuouspowermovedrill,withonedribbleinvolved,usingtheappropriatedrop-stepstowardthebaseline,comingfromtherespectivesidesofthebasket.Dexterity,footworktechniques,andshootingtoucharejustthreeofthemanytechniquesandskillsthatcanshowimmediateimprovementinthistime-efficientshootingdrill.Oneminuteshouldyieldabout12shotattempts.Arateof80percentaccuracywouldbeabout10madepowermoveshots.

SpinScreenShotsFromtheSecondaryBreak—One-ManDrill(ComingFromBothSidesoftheLane)(Diagram1-37)

Thisdrillcanalloweachoffensivepostplayertheopportunitiestoworkonthepreliminaryfootworkthateventuallyleadstoreceivingthe(imaginary,inthecaseofthisdrill)spinscreenbeforereceivingthepass(fromtheshooterhimself,

inthisdrill),andconcludingwithadrop-steptowardthebaselineandapowermoveshot.Oneminuteshouldyieldabout8to10shotattempts.Arateof80percentaccuracywouldbeaboutsixtoeightmadepowermoveshots.

Diagram1-36

Diagram1-37

FlexBreakdownShootingDrill(Diagram1-38)

Thisoffensivebreakdowndrillcoversanoffensiveteam’spassing,cutting,andscreeningskills,aswellasshootingfromspecificareasonthecourt.Ifyourteamisgoingtoutilizetheflexman-to-manoffenseoranyversionoftheflex,

thisteamshootingdrillnotonlyprovidestheteamwithcountlessrepetitionsofshootingfromthelocationswheretheplayerswilltakeshotsingamesoutoftheflexoffense,butalsoitwillgiveeachplayernumerousopportunitiestoworkontheseveraltechniques(otherthanshooting)thattheoffensewillrequireinorderforittobesuccessful—suchaspassing,cutting,catching,andscreening.Thisdrillisreallyabreakdownoftheflexoffense.Iftheflexoffenseisnotutilized,whatevermanorzoneoffensethatateamisusingthatseasoncanbedissectedandbrokendownsothattheintegralpartsthatincludethecutting,screening,dribbling,andpivotingofvariousoffensiveplayerscanbe“repped”constantlyduringthisdrill(oramodificationofthisdrill).

Diagram1-38

Eachpossessionofthisdrillrequiressixplayersandthreebasketballs.Thefirstballsidecorner(03)uppassestotheballsidewing(05),whoreversepassestheballtotheweaksidewing(01).Thismovetriggerstheflexaction.Thefirstweaksidewing(01)inlinereceivesthereversalpassandthenhitsthebackscreencutter(03),whotakesapowershotinthelane.Thesecond(inline)weaksidewing(02)passestheballhealreadyhasinhispossessiontotheoriginalbackscreener(04)whohasjustreceivedadownscreen.04takesajumpshotoffthepassattheelbowarea.Thethird(inline)weaksidewing(06)passestheballthathestartedthedrillwithandhitstheoriginaldownscreener(05)for

apowermoveshotafterhehasslippedthedownscreenhehasjustsetfor04.

Afterthethreeshotshavebeentaken,theplayersrotatetodifferentlinesatthecoachingstaff’sdetermination.Thisdrillshouldberunforthreetofourminutesandthensetupontheoppositesideofthecourt,forthesametypesofcuts,passes,andshotstobetakenontheoppositesideofthecourt.

Theflexspot-upsarewherethelinesareinitiallysetup,excepttheweaksidecornerspot-upposition.Threepassinglines(allfromtheweaksidewinglocationoftheflexoffense)havethreeactualshooters.Threeminutesshouldyieldabout21to24differentpossessions,withthreedifferentshotsfromthreedifferentplayersineachofthepossessions.

40ShootingContest(Diagram1-39)

Thisshootingdrillisa1-on-1competitiondrill,basedonshootingquicknessandshootingaccuracyfromfourdifferentranges:lay-uprange,outsideshotrange,three-pointshootingrange,andfreethrowshootingrange.Oneshooterstartswiththejumpshotsandfinisheswiththefivefreethrows,whiletheoppositeshooterstartswiththefreethrowsandfinisheswiththejumpshots.Pointsareawardedonlyforshotsmadebythatshooter.Aftereachshot,theshootermustfollowhisshot,retrievetheball,then

Diagram1-39

dribbletheballbacktothenextspotheistoshootfrom,andthentakethejumpshot(orpowershotinthelane).Thefirstshootertofinishthedrillgetsfivepoints,madethree-pointshotsareworththreepointseach,madetwo-pointjumpshotsareworthtwopointsapiece,madepowershotsareworthonepointeach,andmadefreethrowsareworthonepointapiece.

Thecoachingstaffshouldselectanyfivedifferentspotsonthecourt(outsidethethree-pointline).Theselocationsshouldvaryfromtimetotime.Theshooterballfakesanddrivesforadrivingpowerinsideshot(worthonepoint),thenhetakesoneshotfrombehindtheline(forthreepoints),andheballfakesandtakesanoutsideshot(fortwopoints).Themaximumforeachshootingspotonthecourtissixpointsifallthreejumpshotsaremade(1+3+2=6).Atonepointintime,eachshootertakesfiveconsecutivefreethrows(eachmadefreethrowisworthonepoint).Aperfectscorewouldbe35points,withanadditionalfivepointsawardedtotheshooterwhofinishesfirst.Thedirectionofthefakesandthenumberofdribblestakenshouldbedesignatedbythecoachingstaffandtheyshouldchangeoften.Thisdrillshouldtakeonlythreeminutesforbothshooterstocomplete.

BeatMichaelJordanShotDrill(Diagram1-40)

Thisshootingdrillisfortwoplayers,eachcompetingagainstanimaginaryplayer:MichaelJordan.Oneshooterstartsfromtheleftside,whiletheothershooterstartsfromtherightside.Eachshootershouldtake18variousshotsapiece—sixshotsfromeachofthethreerangesofshots.Thecoachingstaffshouldvarythedifferentspotsonthefloor.Everyshotistakenoffapasstotheshooter(bytheshooterhimselfwithashortballtossout)ordesignatedbythecoachingstafftobeashotoffadesignatedtypeandnumberofdribbles.Everyspothasathree-pointshot,anoutsideshot,andaninsideshot.Thescoringisonepointforeverymadeshot,andonepointforJordanforeveryshottheshootermisses.Theshooter’sscoremustbeatMichaelJordan’sscore.ApenaltycouldbeassessedforeverypointbelowJordan’sscoreattheendofthe

Diagram1-40

drill.AwardsandpenaltiesareassessedtothosethatbeatJordanandthosethatlosttoJordan.Thisdrillshouldtakeabouttwotothreeminutesforeachshootertofinish,dependentuponwhetherdribblesarecalledforinthedrill.

FollowYourShotShootingDrill(Diagram1-41)

Thisshootingdrillissimilartothecloseoutshootingdrills.Thethree-minuteshootingdrillstartswithtwopassersunderneaththebasket.Thefirstpasser(01)passesitouttothefirstshooter(03)andclosesoutwithhandsup.Thefirstshooter(03)catchesthepass,shoots,andfollowshisownshotwithastickback(usingnodribble,regardlessofwhethertheinitialshotwasmadeormissed).

Diagram1-41

Whilethefirststickbacktakesplace,thefirstpasser(01)squaresupandreceivesapassfromthesecondpasser(02).Thesecondpasser(02)repeatsthetechniquesthefirstpasserused,whilethefirstpasser(01)repeatswhattheshooterdid.Theoriginalshooter(03)thenrepeatswhatthesecondpasser(02)did.

Theshootingspotscanremainthesame,ortheycanbeconstantlychanging.Thejumpshootermustnotonlyfollowhisshot,butalsotakeastickbackshotafterhehasgrabbedtheoffensiverebound.Hethenmakesanoutletpasstohispartnerinthedrill,whohasnowsetuptobecomethenextjumpshooter.Hemakestheoutletpassandclosesoutonthenewjumpshooter,whothenrepeatstheroutinetheoriginaljumpshooterhasperformed.

Theaccuracylevelgoalsvaryforeachindividualshooter.Theoutletpassshouldnotbemadeuntilthestickbackisbeingshot.Eachshootershouldcomplete15repetitionsofbothshots(jumpshotandstickback)duringthethreeminutesofthedrill.

FreeThrowSwishShootingDrill(Diagram1-42)

Thisshootingdrillissimplyafreethrowshootingcontestbetweengroupsoffourplayersateachbasket.Thescoringsystemrequiresthatplayersnotonly

makethefreethrows,butmakethefreethrowinamuchtougherway.Freethrowshootersonlycountthefreethrowsshotwhentheyactuallyswishtheshot,whichforceseachshootertoconcentrateevenmore.Eachshootermustshootfivepairsoffreethrowsandmustalsokeepscoreofhisshootingaccuracy.Withfourplayersateachbasket,onlythreebasketsareneededforanentireteamof12players.Thescoringjustforthisshootingdrilliskeptinthefollowingmanner:•Aswishedfreethrowisafreethrowthatismadeandtouchesnothingbutnet.Thatswishedfreethrowisworthtwopoints.

•Amadefreethrow(thatisnotswished)isworthonepoint,whileamissedfreethrowisworthzeropoints.

•Thisdrillshouldtakefiveminutesforallfourshooters(ineachofthethreegroups)toeachshootfivepairs(10actualfreethrows)ofshots.Smallpenaltiescouldbegiventothefourth-,third-,andsecond-placefinishers.Ahigh-energydrillthatrequiresrunningshouldbeusedimmediatelybeforeutilizingthisdrilltomakesurethefreethrowshootersarefatiguedandwindedpriortoshootingthefreethrows(tomakethefreethrowshootingmoregame-realistic).

Diagram1-42

SoloShootingDrill(Diagram1-43)

Thissoloshootingdrillisacompetitionbetweeneachindividualplayeronthesquadrelyingsolelyonhimself.Aftereachshot,theshootermusthustletoretrievetheball.Hedoesnottakeastickbackshotinthisshootingdrill,butinsteadquicklydribblesbacktotheperimetertotakehisnextperimetershot.Hethenrepeatstheshot,thefollowingoftheshot,andthedribblingouttothesamelocation.Hemustdribblequicklywithhisheadupsothathedoesnotinterferewithoneoftheotherplayersshootingatthesamebasket.Thecoachingstaffshoulddesignatethelocationsfromwhichtheshootersaretoshoot.Thecoachingstaffshouldalsodeterminewhethertheshooterspasstheballtothemselves(sothattheshootermustshootthejumpshotdirectlyandimmediatelyoffthepass)orallowtheshootertotakeonedribbleandshootoffthedribble.Thesquadcanbebrokenupintoequallydividedgroupsforeachbasketavailable,withamaximumoffiveshootersateachbasketandoneballperman.

Diagram1-43

Thecoachingstaffdesignatespenaltiesforthelosingindividuals.Eachshootermustkeeptrackofhismadejumpshotsandcallouthisnewscoreaftereverymadejumper.Aftereach25seconds,theshootersmustrotatetothenextlocationtohisright.01movesto02’sspot,while02movesto03’sspot,03movesto04’sspot,04movesto05’sspot,and05movesto01’soriginalspot.Thistransitionshouldtakenomorethanfiveseconds,andthedrillrestartsforanother25seconds.The25-secondshootingperiodisforeachoftheshootingspots.Asubtleby-productofthisdrilliseachplayerimprovesonthehabitof

followinghisshot,hisdribblingskills,andevenadegreeofphysicalconditioningwithamaximumofthreeminutespereachtimethedrillisexecuted.

Eachplayershootsajumpshotandfollowshisshottoretrievetheball.Hethendribblesouttothatsamespotonthesamesideofthefloortotakethenextjumpshotoffofthedribbleorafterapasstohimself.Thegoalistotakesixtoeightshotsperminute.Everyshooterthenrotatestothenextspottorepeatthedrillatadifferentspot.Thedrillshouldtakefiveminutesforeachshootertoshootatallfivedesignatedspots,witheachshootertakingabout30to40shots.

TeamBonusFreeThrowShotDrill

Thisfreethrowshootingdrillisashootingdrillthatputspressureoneachfreethrowshootertonotmakeonefreethrow,buttomaketwofreethrowsinarow.Thefirstfreethrowisofthemostimportance:onlyamadefreethrowallowstheshootertohavetheopportunitytotakethesecondfreethrowshot.Thisdrillisgame-realistic,becauseitisidenticaltoanactualgame’sbonusfreethrowsituation.

Iftheshootermisseseitherofthefreethrows,thewholeteamfacessometypeofrunningpenalty.Immediatelyaftertherunning,thenextplayerthenstepstothelinetoattempttomaketheone-and-onefreethrowsimulation.

FreeThrowShootingDrill(12Balls,12Men)(Diagram1-44)

Eachplayershootsaone-and-onebonusfreethrow.Iftheshotismade,thatshootergetsanotherfreethrowattempt.Iftheshootermissesthefrontendoftheone-and-one,theentireteamhasafullsprinttorun.Iftheshootermakesthefrontendandthenmissesthesecondfreethrow,theteamhastorunhalfofafullsprint.Iftheshootermakesbothendsoftheone-and-one,theteamhasnorunningtodo.Afterallteammembershavecompletedthefirstphase,asecondandpossiblethirdphasecouldbeperformed(withtherunningpenaltiessteppedupinlengthforeachadditionalshootingphase).Eachphaseshouldtakeapproximately2.5to3.5minutesapiece.

TeamPressureFreeThrowShootingDrill(Diagram1-45)

Aspecifiednumberoffreethrowsmustbemade(determinedbythecoachingstaff).Anexamplewouldbefora12-manteamtomake20freethrowsinthe

onecircuit.Thisdrillshouldtakeabout2.5to3.5minutesforall12playerstoshoottheone-and-one.

Diagram1-44

Diagram1-45

TennesseeFreeThrowShootingDrill(Diagrams1-46through1-49)

Thisoutstandingdrillincorporatesmanydifferentoffensiveanddefensiveskills

andtechniquesinasmallperiodoftime.Itisverygame-realisticandhascompetition,gamespeed,andpressures.Thedrillisverytime-andspace-efficient.Thedrillincorporatesshooting,passing,cutting,offensiverebounding,defensiveboxingout,anddefensivereboundingskills.Thedrillcanbeutilizedseveraltimesinapracticeasawaytohaveabreakintheaction.

Thisdrillisruningroupsofthree.Player01takesfivepairsoffreethrows,twoatatime.Ateammate(02)worksonoffensivereboundingtechniques.Theotherteammate(03)worksonhisdefensivereboundingtechniques.

Theoffensiverebounder(02)linesupnexttothedefensiverebounder(03)andworksonhistechniquesofbeatingthedefensivebox-outfortheoffensiverebound.Ifhedoesgettherebound,hemustquicklypowerupthestickback.Thedefensiverebounder(03)linesupintheappropriatepositioninthefreethrowlaneandworksonboxingouttheoffensiverebounder(02).

Diagram1-46

Diagram1-47

Diagram1-48

Diagram1-49

If(03)getsthedefensivereboundoffthemissedfreethrow,hequicklymakestheoutletpasstothefreethrowshooter(01).01hasrotatedtotheelbowpositionforaquickjumpshot.Afterthesecondfreethrowisshot,therebounder(madefreethrowormissed)quicklymakesanoutletpasstothatfreethrowshooter.01takesajumpshotfromtheelbowarea.

Afterthejumpshot,allthreeplayersrotatetoadifferentpositionforthenextpairoffreethrows.Thefreethrowshooterrotatestobecomethenewdefensiverebounder,thedefensivereboundermovestobecomethenewoffensivereboundingstation,andtheoffensivereboundermovestobecomethenextfreethrowshooter.

Diagram1-46displaystheoriginalgroup.Diagram1-47showsthefirstrotation.Diagram1-48depictsthesecondrotation.Diagram1-49showstheoriginalshotsfromtheoppositesideofthecourt.

Afterallplayershavetakentheirfivepairoffreethrows,theyreporttheirscorestoamanagerwhokeepsstatistics.Eachplayershouldhaveadesignatednumberoffreethrowsheissupposedtomake.Awardsandpenaltiesareassignedtoeachindividualfreethrowshooter.

Atotalnumberoffreethrowsmustbemadeforeachsession.Thatnumberispredetermined.Teamawardsand/orpenaltiesaregiventotheteamfortotalfreethrowsmade.Theteamknowsthenumberbeforetheshootingbegins.

Awardscanbegivenforapredeterminednumberofoffensiverebounds.Theteamknowsthisnumber.Penaltiesareassetsforeachdefensiverebounderwhoallowedanoffensiverebound.

Fourgoalsandbasketballsareneededforthisdrilltohavefourgroupsofthreeplayers.Thisdrillismoregame-realisticwhenthecoachingstaffhassometypeofstrenuousactivityfromeitherfull-courtorhalf-courtimmediatelyprecedingtheTennesseefreethrowdrill.

Thenexttimethisdrillisrun,thetworeboundersshouldstackupontheoppositesideofthefreethrowlane,sothatbothsidesareequallyutilized.Thedrillprovidesopportunitiesforallthreeplayerstoshoottheirfivepairsoffreethrows,totakebetweenfiveand10jumpshots,todefensivelyboxout10times,tomakebetweenfiveand10defensivereboundsfollowedbyoutletpasses,andtomakebetweenfiveand10offensiverebounds.

OffensivePivotingandPassingBreakdownDrills

Thisimportantdrillisincludedinthepre-practicefundamentalandstretchingroutine.Becauseitissuchatime-efficientdrillandbecauseitencompassessomanydifferentfundamentals,thisdrillshouldbeutilizedinpracticesessionsmorethanonceeachpractice.

Thepassreceivers(03,06,09,and012inDiagram1-50)workfirstonthepre-catchandpre-shootingstance.Thecoachingstaffconstantlyisemphasizingforthe(potential)Shootertogethisfeetandhandsready,togetbehindtheball,andtogivethepasseratarget.Evenbeforethecatchofthebasketball,thepassreceiveralreadyhashisinsideshoulder(shoulderclosesttothebasket)facingthebasket,andhashisguidehandupasifheisalreadyshootingtheball.Theshootinghandisalsointhepositionasiftheshooterhasalreadycaughttheballandisabouttoshoot.Withtheshootinghandinthatposition,thepassreceivercaneasilygiveatargettothepasser.Youcantellyourplayersthatissimilartoacatcherinbaseballgivingthepitcheratargettopitchto,makingthatpitcher(passerinthiscase)abetterpitcher(passer.)Abetterpassmakesiteasierfortheshootertogetagoodshot.Inaddition,thepassreceivershouldalwayspivotofftheheelofhisinsidefoot(thefootclosesttothebasket).

Diagram1-50

Ifthepassreceiverisinastationaryposition,hecanstartwiththeinsideheelalreadytouchingthefloorandtheremainingportionofthatfootnotyettouchingthefloor.Ifthepassreceiverisonthemove,hemighthavetochopuphisstepsinordertotimetheinsideheelhittingthefloor(topivot)justastheballhitsthepalmoftheshootinghand.Fromthere,theheelbeingplantedfirstwillstopthepassreceiver’sforwardmomentumoffhiscuttowardthepasser.

Theshootershouldbeabletorisestraightupandcomebackstraightdown.Shootersshouldnottobefloatingineitherdirection.Stoppingallofthemomentumfromtheshooter’scutbeforeheshootstheballwillmaketheshooteramuchmoreaccurateshooter.

Oncethemomentumisstopped,theheelactuallywillallowforasmooth,easyand,completepivottowardthebasket.Theshooterswingshisfree(outside)footandlegaroundsothatheiscompletelysquareduptothebasket.

Inthisparticulardrill,thepassreceiver/shootershootstheballbacktotheoriginalpasser.Thepasserisquicklyreadytoresumeworkingonhistechniqueofpassingtotheshooter.Theshooterquicklyworksonthefootandhandworkpartofhisshootingtechnique.

Themeninthemiddleofthedrill(X2,X5,X8,andX11inDiagram1-50)aredefenders.Theyinitiallyguardthedribbler/passer.Thesedefendersworkonproperstancesandotherdefensivefundamentals.Thedefensiveplayerworksondefensivetechniquesonlyontheoriginaldribbler/passer,notontheshooter.

Thedribbler/passers(01,04,07,and010inDiagram1-50)workonthedribbling,pivoting,andpassingtechniquesandskills.Thefirsttechniquetobeworkedonisthedribbleasthedribblerapproachesthedefender.Dribblingquickly(butinaverycontrolledmanner)withtheheadupinasemi-crouchstanceisthefirstpointofemphasisfortheoffensiveplayer.Practicingusingbothhandstodribbleandtheuseoftheprimarypassinghandisthesecondmajorpointofemphasis.

Thenexttechniquetomasteristhepivot-and-passtechnique:

•Step1:TheTwo-FootJumpStop(Diagram1-51).Asthedribblerapproachesthedefenderandkillshisdribble,havethedribblertakeasmallbunnyhopandlandsimultaneouslyonbothfeet.Thismoveallowsthekilleddribblertouseeitherfootasthepivotfoot.

•Step2:TheStep-Out(Diagram1-52).Ifthepasserwantstoattackthedefenderbypassinglaterallyaroundthedefender’sleftside,thedribblershouldlandandmakehisleftfoothispivotfoot.Thismovemakesthepasser’srightfoothisfreefoot,thefootthatcanlaterallysteptowardtheoutsideofthedefender’sleftfoot.Asthisistakingplace,thepassershouldprotecttheballbyfirmlyholdingtheballwithbothhands.Theballisheldbesidethekneeofthefreefoot(therightknee,inthisexample).Ifthepasser’sfreefootislaterallyoutsidethedefender’sfoot,thepasserthencouldfakelowandgohigh,orfakehighandgolow(passingoverorunderthedefender’slefthand).Constantlytellthedribbler-turned-passertoprotecttheballbesidethekneeandtostepdueeastorduewest.

•Step3:TheRip-Through(Diagram1-53).Ifthedefendercountersthedribbler’sfirstlateralattack,thedribblerripstheballlowandhardacrosstheshoetopsashestepswithafrontpivotacrossthefaceofthedefender.Thismoveallowsthedribbler/passertolaterallyattackthedefenderontheoppositeside(inthisscenario,itisthedefender’srightside).Theballendsupontheinsideofthekneeofthepasser’sfreeleg(therightknee,inthediagram).Ifthepasser’sfreefoot(right)getsoutsidedefender’srightfoot,thepasserlookstopasstheballaroundthedefender(fakehighandgolow,orfakelowandgohigh)ontheoppositesidefromtheinitialsideofattack.Again,stronglyemphasizetothepivotingpassertoprotecttheballbesidethefreeknee(right)andtostepdueeastand/orduewestinthelateralattacksontheballdefender.

•Step4:TheSwing-Around(Diagram1-54).Iftheballdefenderreactsquickly

andtakesthissecondmethodofpassingaway,coachesshouldemphasizetotheoffensiveplayertoremaininthesemi-crouchstance,thenquicklyreversepivotoff

Diagram1-51

Diagram1-52

Diagram1-53

Diagram1-54

thesame(left)pivotfootandattacktheballdefender’soriginal(left)lateralside.Theballshouldnowbebackbesidethekneeofthefree(right)foot.Again,themainthreepointsofemphasistothepasserare:✓Protectthebasketballbyplacingtheballbesidethefreeknee,✓Stepoutsidethedefender’sfoot(outflankthedefensebygoingeastorwest),✓Fakeapasstomakeapass,orfakehighandgo(pass)loworfakelowandgo(pass)high.Ifthedefensecountersthisthirdstep,thedribblershouldreversepivot(awayfromthedefender)andlooktomakeanuncontestedpasstoanotherteammateorattempttousethesamepreviousthreestepsagain.

After55seconds,thedribbling/pivoting/passingplayer(01)switchestothedefensivestation,thefirstdefender(X2)switchestoworkatthepassreceiving/shootingstation,andthefirstpassreceiver/shooter(03)rotatestothedribbling/pivoting/passingstation.Thisrotationshouldtakelessthanfiveseconds,andthedrillstartsagain.

Afterthethird55-secondtimeframehasconcluded,startthesecondroundwithalloffensivedribblersusingtherightfootasthepivotfoot.Injustsixminutes,threeplayershaveeachhadalmosttwominutesofconcentratedworkonallthreestations:thedribbling,pivoting,andpassingphase,thedefensivephase,andthepasscatchingandshootingphase.

OffensiveReboundingDrills

CircleBox-OutDrill(Diagram1-55)

Thecirclebox-outdrillisanoffensiveanddefensivereboundingdrillusingacircletoaidincorrectingfootworkrequiredforeithermakingsuccessfuldefensivebox-outsorindefeatingtheopposition’sdefensivebox-outsandgettingtotheballtooffensiverebound.Byusingacircle,thecoachcaneasilyseewhenfootworkisnotproperlyexecutedandtochecktoseeifthedefensehaspreventedtheoffensiverebounderfromadvancingtowardtheball.

Startthisimportantdrillbyplacingabasketballinthecenterofthejumpcircleatmid-courtwithadefenderfacingoutoppositetheballandwithhisheelsontheouteredgeofthecircle.Aligntheoffensiverebounderafullstepfrom(andtotheoutsideof)thedefender.Whenthecoachyells“Shot,”thedefenderworksonthevariousmethodsofboxingouttheoffensiverebounder.Theoffensiverebounderworksonhistechniquesofdefeatingthedefensivebox-out.

Thedrillisa1-on-1competitivedrillwithawinnerandaloser.Iftheoffensivereboundercangraboratleasttouchthebasketballwithinathree-secondcountaftertheimaginaryshotistaken,heisthewinner.Ifthedefenderpreventstheoffensiverebounderfrommakingcontactwiththebasketballwithinthethree-secondtimelimit,thedefensewins.

Diagram1-55

Thethreevaryingscenarioswhereboththeoffensiveplayersandthedefensiveplayersdeveloptheirappropriatetechniquesareasfollows:

•Theoffensiveplayeractslikeheistheactualshooter(04and01inDiagram1-55).

•Theoffensiveplayerisjustonepassaway(05and08inDiagram1-55)fromtheimaginarypasser/shooter.

•Theoffensiveplayerismorethanonepassaway(09and12inDiagram1-55)froman(imaginary)offensiveplayerwhoisontheeithersideofthecircleandtakesthe(imaginary)shotwhenthecoachyells“Shot!”

Theoffensivereboundercanusethreetechniques.Allthreeoftheseimportant

offensivetechniquescanbeusedinanyofthethreeshootingscenarios:

•Asthedefensemakescontactwiththeoffensiverebounder,theoffensivereboundercangobutt-to-buttandspinoff(thedefender)andcontinueafterthebasketball.

•Theoffensivereboundercanuseaswimtechniquetoescapethecontactofthedefensiveboxoutbeforehustlingtotheball.

•Theoffensivereboundercanstepbackwardawayfromthedefensivecontactandthenslashtotheball,afterscrapingoffthedefender.Thatoffensivereboundershouldattackthesideofthedefenderwhoisoppositethesidethatthedefenderturnshisheadtolookfortheoffensiverebounder,whenthecontactisbroken.Forexample,iftheoffensiverebounderbreakscontactwiththedefenderandthedefenderturnstolookoverhisrightshouldertovisiblyfindtheoffensiverebounder,theoffensivereboundershouldthenattacktheleftsideofthedefenderandslashtotheball.

Injustafewminutes,boththeoffensiveanddefensiveplayerscanhaveseveralrepetitions.Inadditiontothecenterjumpcircle,eachbasketthathasafreethrowlineandatopofthekeycanbeastationforthecirclebox-outdrill.Withamaximumoftwopairsofplayersateachstationandwithsevenpotentialstations,28differentplayerscanbeinvolved.

DefensiveShellDrill(Diagrams1-56and1-57)

Thedefensiveshelldrillcanbeusedasanoffensiveanddefensivereboundingdrill.Thedefenseallowsperimeterplayerstopasstheballaroundtoeachother.Afteraspecificnumberofpasses,thedefenseshouldthenallowaplayertoshootthebasketball.Withthedrillhavingdifferentshootersfromdifferentlocations,thedefensivescenarioswouldobviouslyvary.Thisvariationcausesboththedefensiveplayersaswellastheoffensiveplayerstoworkonreboundingthebasketballfirstusingthedefensiveboxingouttechniquesonnotonlytheshooter,buttheoffensiveopponentthatisonepassawayfromtheshooter,andtheopponentsthataremorethanonepassawayfromtheshooter.

Diagram1-56

Diagram1-57

Defensively,havethedefenderspracticethespecifictechniquesthattheyshoulduseduringthedefensivebox-outsinagame.Offensively,thecoachingstaffshouldhavethoseplayersworkonlocatingthebasketballasitisshot,thentotrytodeterminewheretheballwouldlandaftertheballhashittherimorbackboard,andthentrytogettothatlocationafterbeatingthedefensivebox-out.Playerscanrotatefromthevariouslocationsonthecourt,bothsidesoftheflooraswellasaboveandbelowthefreethrowlineextended.Afterseveralshots,theplayerschangefromoffensetodefense.Inthatway,allplayersbecomewell-roundedbothasoffensivereboundersaswellasdefensiveplayers.

Diagram1-56displaysapassfromacornerplayertoawingwheretheshotistaken.Notethedefenderswhoareonepassfromtheball,twopassesfromtheball,andthedefenderontheball.Eachdefenderusesadifferentdefensivetechnique.Butoffensivereboundersuseoneofthethreetechniquespreviouslydescribed.Diagram1-57showsapassfromthepointtoawing.Thepassescouldbearoundthehorninsteadofjustonepass.Thedefensivereboundersandtheoffensivereboundersmustconstantlyreevaluatetheirpositioning.

TransitionDrills

SuperTransitionDrill

Theprimarypurposeofthisdrillistoworkonyourteam’stransitiongame,whetheritisfromoffensetodefenseorfromdefensetooffense.Inessence,SquadAmustcompeteagainsttwodifferentsquads,witheachofthosesquadshavingdistinctpositionadvantagesoverthem.Byusingtheoverloadtheory,SquadAgoingagainsttwosquads,thedrillmakesitextremelydifficultforSquadAtoexecute.Havingthedrilltougherthanactualgamesituationsshouldimprovetheirperformancesduringgames.

Thedrillisinitiatedwitha5-on-5controlledscrimmage.SquadAwillberunningthroughtheiroffensiveentriesoroffensivecontinuitiesagainstadefensivegroupthatcanbecalledSquadB.SquadAcoulddevotetimeandeffortonimprovingtheirtransitionfromoffensetodefenseafterlosingpossessionofthebasketball,via(purposely)committingturnovers,missingshots,oractuallymakingshots.

SquadChasabsolutelynodefensiveresponsibilitiesandisstationedinarandommanneroutnearthe10-secondlineandclosetothefrontcourthashmarks.Theirprimaryresponsibilityistobeabletogenerateafastbreakinamuchquickermannerthaninanordinarysetting,sincetheyhaveapositionadvantagetobeabletohaveaheadstart.Thisset-upputsextrapressureonSquadAbyoverloadingtheirdegreeofdifficultyingettingbackondefense(withtheirnewoffensiveopponenthavingaheadstartintheiroffensivefastbreak).

DefensiveTransitionAfteraTurnover(Diagram1-58)

Thefirstscenariodiscussesthedefensivetransitionafteraturnover.Theoffensiveteam(SquadA)runsanentryoracontinuitypattern.Onthecoachingstaff’swhistle,theoffensecoulddroptheball(asinaturnover).Thedefensiveteam(SquadB)thenrecoversthelooseballandimmediatelyoutletstheballtoanassistantcoach,whoislocatednearoneofthetwofrontcourthashmarks.ThecoachhandstheballtoC1,whoinitiateshisteam’s(TeamC)fastbreakattheotherendofthecourt.C1mustcomebackandreceivethehandoffandmustthendribbletheballallthewaytotheoppositeendofthecourt,wherehisteammateshavesprintedaheadtoruntheirprimaryandsecondaryfastbreak.TeamChasaheadstartadvantageoverallthemembersofTeamA.TeamAmustsprintbackandpreventuncontestedshotsgeneratedfromTeamC’sfastbreaks.

Diagram1-58

DefensiveTransitionAfteraMissed(orMade)Shot(Diagrams1-59and1-60)

Thesecondscenariocomesafteramadeormissedshot.WhenSquadAtakesashot,theythenlooktolegitimatelyoffensivereboundthemissedshot.Tomaximizethechancefordefensiverebounds,youmightdictatetoSquadA’soffensiverebounderstomaketheefforttorebound,butnotallowthemtoactuallygrabtheoffensiverebound.Therefore,allmissedshotswouldresultindefensivereboundsbySquadB’sdefensiverebounders.Aftersecuringthedefensiverebound,SquadB’srebounderscouldpitchtheoutletpassagainouttoC1sothatSquadCcouldruntheiroffensivefastbreak(withanotherheadstartoverSquadA).IfSquadAactuallymakestheshot,theassistantcoachonthesideofthecourtcoulduseanewbasketballandquicklyoutlettheballtoC1againtostartanimmediatefastbreakforSquadC,goingdowncourtintheoppositedirection.

Diagram1-59

Diagram1-60

TomakeitmuchmoredifficultforSquadAtogetbackondefense,SquadCcouldpositionthemselvesandbespreadoutinamannerthattheywouldhaveasignificantpositionadvantageonSquadA(Diagram1-59).Obviously,SquadCwouldhaveaheadstartastheysprintoutandlookfortheoutletpassfromtheassistantcoach.TheassistantcoachpitchestheballouttooneofthefastbreakersonSquadC,andthatgrouplookstoruntheirprimaryfastbreak(andonintotheirsecondaryfastbreak).SquadAmustquicklysprintbackfromoffensetodefense(aftertheirmissedshot)toonceagaindefendtheirbasketagainsttheoffensivefastbreakingSquadC.

ThemembersofSquadAmustsprintbackintheirdefensivefastbreaklanesasfastastheycantofirststoptheprimaryfastbreak(andultimatelytheopponent’ssecondaryfastbreak)ofSquadC.

ThisnewoffensivefastbreakgroupofSquadCcouldbeinstructedtodoanyoneofthefollowing:

•Forceashotoutoftheprimarybreakorthesecondaryfastbreak.

•Forceapassthatcouldmostlikelybecomeaturnover.

•Remainpatientandundercontrolintheoffenseandlooktocarefullyscoreinalegitimatemanner.

SquadAwouldinitiallybeworkingonattemptingtopreventeasyshotsoutoftheopponents’primaryorsecondaryfastbreak.Ultimately,whenSquadAisondefenseandfinallyregainspossessionoftheball,theyquicklyreversetheirdirectionandsprintback(fromdefense)tooffensetowardtheiroriginalbasket(Diagram1-60).SquadAwillnothaveanysupplementalgrouptoaidthemintransition,sotheywillagainruntheentirelengthofthefloorbacktotheiroffensiveend.SquadAshouldthenexecuteboththeirownprimaryandsecondaryfastbreaksagainstSquadB.SquadB(theoriginaldefensivegroup)hasgainedtheiradvantagebymovingtowardthe10-secondtimeline,whileSquadChasattackedSquadA.

SquadB(convertingbackondefense)willeasilyandalwaysgetbackaheadofSquadA(whoistransitioningfromdefensetooffense).SquadAnowisforcedtoexecuteboththeirprimaryandsecondarybreak,aswellaspossiblyintotheircontinuityoffense.

AsSquadAoffensivelyattacksSquadB,thesupplementalgroup,SquadCpositionsitselfreadytorunanotheroffensivefastbreak.Thecycleisreadytoberepeated.

BoththeBandtheCsquadsstartwithpositionadvantagesandalsoenjoyabreather,whiletheothersquadiscompetingagainstSquadA,butSquadAneverhasapositionadvantageonanyoneandalsoneverhasabreather.SquadAcompetesagainstbothsquads.ThisoverloadmethodplacesSquadAintomoredifficultsituationsthantheywillencounterinagame.PlayersshouldbesubstitutedontoSquadAasthedrillcontinues.

Manybenefitsaretobefoundinthisdrillforeachofthethreegroups.SquadA

willreceiveworkandpracticeinthefollowing:

•Runningahalf-courtoffense

•Reactingandgettingbackondefenseafterturnoversormade/missedshotstopreventeasylay-upsbytheirdefensiveopponents

•Reactingquicklytoruntheirownprimaryandsecondaryfastbreaksonoffense(fromahalf-courtdefensivesetting)

•Agreatdealoffull-courtconditioningastheyworkonthedifferentaspectsoftheirtransitiongame

SquadBwillbeabletoworkontheirhalf-courtdefenseaswellasthebackpartoftheirdefenseversusanopponent’sfastbreaks(inacontrolledsetting).SquadCcouldbealesstalentedteam(juniorvarsityorafreshmenteam)thatcouldworkonalittleoftheirprimarybreakaswellastheirsecondarybreak.

SquadAandSquadBcouldeasilyexchangetheiroriginalpositionssothatSquadBcouldthenreceivethemostattentionandworkontheirowntransitiongame—bothoffensivelyaswellasdefensively.

Thisdrillrequiresthefullcourtandaminimumofatleast15participantswitheachsquadhavingtheabilitytoeasilyandquicklysubstituteothersintothedrill.Threedifferentcoachescouldactuallybecoachingeachofthethreesquadswithallthreecoacheshavingdifferentpointsofemphasis.

TheprimaryfocusofthedrillwillbedevotedtoSquadA;therefore,thatgroupwouldhavethelargestnumberofcoachingpointsofemphasis.Ofthemanyfocalpoints,someofthemostimportantare:•Makingsurethetailback(TB),thehalfback(HB),andthethreefullbacks(FBs)getintheproperpositionsaftertheoffensehasshottheball.Thetailbackisdescriptivelycalledthesafety.Heistheassignedoffensiveplayerwhohasfulldefensivetransitionresponsibilitieswithnooffensivereboundingresponsibilities.Hisjobsimplyistogethistailbackondefense.Theoffensiveplayercalledthehalfbackistheplayerdesignatedtobeboththehalf-rebounderandhalf-safety;halfofhisjobistogetbackondefense,andhalfofhisjobistohelpoutsomewhatontheoffensiveboards.Hisjobistheonejoboutofthefiveplayers’jobsthatcanhave

adjustments.Thethreeremainingoffensiveplayersaretheplayerswhohaveoneresponsibilityandthatistooffensivereboundthebasketball.Thesethreeplayersarecalledthefullbacks;theirfullresponsibilityistoreboundtheirteam’smissedshots.

•Makingsurethatallfiveplayerssprintbackintheirdefensivefastbreaklaneswhilelookingovertheirinsideshoulder.Runningthelanescanclogupandcongesttheopposition’soffensivefastbreaklanes.Lookingovertheirinsideshouldermightallowthemtorunintoaninterceptedfastbreakpass.Oncethetailbackandthehalfbackgetbacktotheirdefensivetopofthekey,theyshouldthensetupdefensivelyinthelane,beforebuildingthedefensefromtheinside-out.

•Makingsurethateitherthetailbackorthehalfbackbecomestheballman(B2inDiagram1-60),whiletheotherbecomesthebasketman(B1inDiagram1-60).

•Makingsurethattheballmanandthebasketmanusetheproperproceduresandtechniquestodefendthebasketandbuytheirthreedefensiveteammatessometimeingettingback.

•Makingsurethatallfiveplayersthengetoutquicklyandruntheproperlaneswhileoffensivelyexecutingtheirownprimaryandsecondaryfastbreaksandonintotheirhalf-courtoffenses.

Amongthemanyadvantagestousingthisdrillinpractice,themajoradvantagesareaselectgroupofplayers(SquadA)canbecloselyscrutinizedandtaughtefficientlyinarelativesmallamountoftime.Thisgroupcanprepareinveryreal,game-likesituations.Theonlypartofthedrillthatdoesnotresemblegame-likesituationsisthepartofthedrillthatprovidesanoverloadtheory,makingitmoredifficultthanitcouldpossiblybeinanactualgame.

Aconcentratedeffortcanbemadebycoachestoworkwithindividualsinthatselectedgroup.Transitionfromoffensetodefenseaswellasfromdefensetooffensecanbeworkedonagreatdeal.Half-courtoffenseanddefenseofanyofthethreegroupsparticipatingcanbeevaluatedaswell.Thephysicalconditioningoftheplayersofthatselectedgroupwillbeimproved.Playerscaneasilybeinsertedintotheparticulargrouptobeputunderthemicroscopeofthe

coachingstaff.

Thissupertransitiondrillcanbeanextraordinarydrillinthatitcanbeextremelytime-efficient,thusallowingmoretimeinyourpracticesforworkingonotherfacetsofthegame.Theoverloadmethodofworkingoneparticularteamagainsttougherthangameconditionsmakesthedrillaninvaluableteachingandlearningdrill,apracticedrillaswellasaconditioningdrill.

Besidesoffensesanddefensesbeingworkedon,theall-importantpartofthegame—calledtransition—becomesthefocalpointofthedrill.Duringthisdrill,manyoffensiveconceptsandphilosophiescanbetaught,reviewed,drilled,observed,evaluated,critiqued,andcorrectedwiththeplayers.Likewise,manydefensivefacetsofthegamecanbepracticedwithadifferentgroupofplayersatthesametime.Duringtheutilizationofthisdrill,agreatnumberofplayerswillbeabletowatch,listen,learn,participate,andpracticeintheperformanceofthedrill.Thedrillwillnotbeboring.Noplayershouldhavetoorbeallowedtostandaroundwhilethedrillisbeingrun.Itisalsoanexcellentmethodofunobtrusivelyconditioningyourplayersastheyarelearningandimprovingmanydifferentaspectsoftheirgame.Itallowsalargenumberofcoachestocoachandanevengreaternumberofplayerstolearn,allthewhilebeinginthesamesetting.

3-on-2to2-on-1TransitionDrill(OffenseandDefense)

Thisbreakdowntransitiondrillisprimarilyforthetwomostimportantplayersinateam’sdefensivetransition.Allplayersshouldworkonthesetwodefensivepositionsbecauseany(offensivetodefensive)playercanendupinoneofthesetwospecificpositions.Whilenotdisregardingtheotherplayers,thetwoplayersthatshouldbethemainfocalpointsofthecoachingstaff’sattentionarethetwooffensiveplayerswhowillquicklybecomethefirsttwodefendersgettingbackfromoffensivetodefensivetransition.Theyarecalledthebasketmanandtheballman.

Ifanoffensiveteammissestheirshotandsurrendersthedefensiverebound,twoassignmentsaremadeforthefirsttwodefenderswhogetbackondefense.Iftheoffensiveteamlosespossessionoftheballviaaturnover,nodefinitedefensivetransitionassignmentsaregiven.Itisimperativethatthe(original)offensiveteam’sbasketisimmediatelyprotected,regardlessofwhatplayersgetbackfirst.Inthiscase,anyofthefiveplayerscouldbecomethebasketmanandtheball

man.

Asinthemajorityofthedrills,coachesshouldtrytomakethedrillsasgame-realistic,ascompetitive,andastime-efficientaspossible.So,itisagoodideatoincorporatesomeoffensiveconceptsandphilosophiesforonegroupofplayerstoworkonasanothergroupworksondevelopingspecificdefensiveskills,allwithintheframeworkofthesamedrill.

3-on-2PortionoftheDrill(Diagrams1-61through1-65)

Twodefensiveplayers(X1andX2)startthedrillbyliterallybeingseatedneartheoffense’ssidelinehashmark,andthreeoffensiveplayers(01,02,and03)startontheoffense’sbaseline(Diagram1-61).Theballisadvancedviadribblingand/orpassingwiththethreeoffensiveplayersstayingintheirthreewidelanes.Thetwodefendersmustquicklyscrambletotheirfeetandthensprintbacktodefendtheirbasket.Thefirstdefendertogetbackshouldruntothemiddleofthefreethrowlaneandcallout“Basket,”whiletheseconddefendertogetbackshouldcallout,“Ball.”

Diagram1-61

Diagram1-62

Anothermethodofstartingthedrillistohavethethreeoffensiveplayers(01,02,and03)startina3-on-3defensivealignmentagainstthreeotherplayers(X3,X4,andX5),withtheoriginaltwo(potential)defenders(X1andX2)makingoneortwopassesbeforetheyshootandmisstocauseadefensiverebound(Diagram1-62).Theoriginalthreedefenders(soontobecomeoffensiveplayers01,02,and03)workonboxingout,securingtherebound,andrunningathree-manfastbreakinthethreelanes.Thetwooriginaloffensiveplayers(X1andX2)sprintbackasquicklyaspossible,communicatingloudlyonwhoistobecomeballmanandwhoisgoingtobecomebasketman.Thedummyoffensiveplayers(X3,X4,andX5)stepoffthecourtandgetreadytostepintotherolesthat01,02,and03arecurrentlyplaying.

Thefirstdefender(X2inDiagram1-62)settlesinnearthedottedcircleinthemiddleofthelaneandyells,“Basket!”Theseconddefendersettlesinthelane(X1inDiagram1-62)andapproachesthedribblerasfaroutasthetopofthekey.Heyells,“Ball!”

Theballman(X1)stopsthedribblepenetrationofthedribbler,whilethebasketman(X2)protectstheblocksandtakesboththefirstandsecondperimeterpasses.Whentheoffensiveteampassestheballtoeitherwing,thebasketman(X2)rotatesouttodefendtheball(Diagram1-63).Asthisistakingplace,theoriginalballman(X1)dropsquicklydownthelanetoprotectthebasket.

Diagram1-63

Diagram1-64

Diagram1-65

Iftheballispassedfromthewingbacktothepoint,theoriginalbasketman(X2),whohasdefendedthefirstwingpass,wouldthendefendthereversalpassalso.Thistechniqueallowstheoriginalballman(X1),whohasdroppeddowntoprotectthebasket,toremainlowtocontinueprotectingthebasketandtheoriginalbasketman(X2)totakethefirstwingpassaswellasthenextreversalpass(Diagram1-64).Toexplaintherotationandthecoverageinasimplemanner,coachingstaffscouldusethestatement,“Theballmanmuststoptheballanddroptothebasket,whilethebasketmanhasthefirsttwoperimeterpasses.”

Iftheballwasthenswungfromthetopofthekeytothewingoneitherside,thecurrentbasketman(X1)wouldagaincomeouttotakethenexttwoperimeterpasses,withthecurrentballman(X2)againdroppingquicklytoprotectthebasket(Diagram1-65).

Diagram1-65displaystheballatthepoint.Shouldtheballbereversedtotheoppositewing,X1comesouttocoverthereceiver.X2dropstoprotectthebasket.X1nowhasthenextperimeterpassaswellastheonehejustcovered.

Themajorpointsofemphasisforthethreeoffensiveplayers(01,02,and03)are:

•Thetwowingplayers(02and03)shouldsprintoutandgetaheadoftheball,

whileconstantlylookingforthepass.

•Whenthewingshitthefreethrowlineextended,theyshouldplantofftheiroutsidefeet,andslashcutdirectlytothebasket(whilelookingtoreceiveapass).

•03shouldkeeptheballinthemiddleandgetdownthefloorasquicklyaspossible,butundercontrol.

•01shouldnotanticipatethatthedefensewillstopthedribblepenetration,andifthedefensedoesn’tstophim,heshouldthenattackthebasketuntilsomeonedoesstophim.

•Ifandwhenthedefensedoesstop01,heshouldmakeasolidjumpstopandlooktomakeabouncepass(belowtheoutstretchedarmsofthedefenders)tooneofthetwocuttingteammates.

•Offensiveplayersshouldavoidoffensivefoulsasaresultofout-of-controldribblingorrunning.

•Iftheballispassedintoawingareatoaplayerwhoisnotdriving,01shouldfollowthepassafewstepstoshortenthelengthofthepotentialreturnpass.

•Allfastbreakingoffensiveplayersshouldremembertotakewhatthedefensewillgivethem.Theoffensiveplayersshouldnotforceshotsorpasses.

Themajorpointsofemphasisforthetwodefensiveplayers(X1andX2)are:

•Eachplayershouldmakesurethatnoquestionremainsastowhohastakentheballmanresponsibilitiesandthattheotherdefenderhastakenthebasketmanassignment.

•Bothplayersshouldpreventdribblepenetrationsanddrivestothebasketandencouragetheoffensetopasstheballasoftenaspossible;themorepassestheopponentsmake,themorechanceofaturnoverandthemoretimethedefensehasboughttoallowtheotherdefensiveteammatestogetbacktohelpdefend.

•Aftertheballmanhasstoppedthedribblepenetrationoftheoffensivedribbler

inthemiddleandinfluencedthefirstpasstothewing,theballmanmustimmediatelydroptotheweaksideblockarea,asifheweredefendingabackdoorcut.Thatis,he(X1inDiagram1-63)wouldturnhisbackontheballandfacetheweaksideblockareawhere03willmostlikelygo,lookingdownhisextendedrightarmfortheball.

•Theoriginalbasketman(X2inDiagram1-63)shouldtakethefirstandthesecondperimeterpassbyclosingoutontheballatacontrolledspeed.

•Bothdefendersshouldrememberthatoncetheballiscenteredbackup(asinDiagram1-64),thenewbasketman(X1inDiagram1-64)againhasthenexttwopasses.

2-on-1PortionoftheDrill(Diagrams1-66and1-67)

Whenthethreeoffensiveplayers(01,02,and03)losepossessionoftheballviaamadeormissedshot,oraturnover,eithertheshooterortheplayerwhocommitted

Diagram1-66

Diagram1-67

theturnovermustturnandsprintbacktoprotectthefarbasketbyhimself.Theoriginaltwodefenders(X1andX2)wouldthenrunatwo-manoffensivefastbreakagainstthenewlonedefender(01inDiagram1-66).

Thenewdefender(01)worksonhisdefensivetechniquesasasolodefenderagainsttwooffensiveopponents(X1andX2)tryingtoscoreaneasybasketagainsthistransitiondefense(Diagram1-67).

Afteroneshotorturnover,the2-on-1actionisover.Theremainingplayersthenquicklybegintosetupthenext3-on-2scenario,andthedrillcontinueswithoutanyinterruptions.

Themajorpointsofemphasisforthetwotransitioningoffensiveplayers(X1andX2)are:

•Bothplayersshouldsprintquicklydownthefloorundercontrolandlookingfordefendersaswellasthebasketball.

•Bothshouldstaywidelyaparttopreventtheonedefenderfrombeingabletoguardbothofthem.

•Dribblersshouldnotmakeuptheirmindswhattheyaregoingtodoaheadoftime.

Dribblersshouldhaveanideabuttakewhatthedefensewillgivetothem.

•Offensiveplayersshouldalwaysrememberthephrase“Reboundersjump,whilepassersstayontheground.”Offensiveplayersshouldnotleavethegroundtopassandgetluredintoanoffensivefoul,especiallywhenhavinganoffensivenumericaladvantage.

•Offensiveplayersshouldlooktomakebouncepassestoteammateswhoareclosetothebasketbecausethosetypesofpassesaremoredifficultforthedefendertodeflectorintercept.

Themajorpointsofemphasisforthelonedefensiveplayer(01)are:

•Heshouldgetbacktoprotectthebasketasquicklyaspossible.

•Heshouldnotworryorsulkaboutthepreviouslymissedshotortheturnover.

•Ifpossible,heshouldsprintintothelane,andthenturnaroundinthedirectpathofthedribblerwithawideandsidewaysstance,somewhatfacingthereceiverthatiswithouttheball.Thisstancemayseemtobeincorrectandastrangestancetobein,butinthismanner,thedefenderhasdiscouragedthedribblerfromdrivingallthewaytothebasketandisinthebestpositiontobeabletodefendthecutterwhomayreceivethepassfromthedribbler.Beinginthisspecificposition/location,thedefenderhasencouragedthedribblertotakeajumpshotortopasstheballtotheseeminglyopenteammate.Beinginthesidewaysstanceallowsthedefendertoquicklyrotatetotheopenman,whenandifthepassismade.Coachesshouldusethephrase,“Physicallyyouarehere,butmentallyyouarethere”todescribethecat-and-mousegamethatthelonedefendermustplaywiththetwooffensiveopponents.

•Ifthepassisthenmadetotheopenplayer(X1),thelonedefender(01)shouldslashatthenewoffensivedriveratananglesothathewouldgobehindthedriverandgofortheblock.If01rushesattheballhandlerwithhisbellyfacingtowardthebackofthedriverandhisrighthandgoingfortheball,itwillallowthedefendertoavoidthelightcontactandfoul.Coachesshouldnotencouragecheapshotsordirtyplay,buttheyshouldtellalldefendersthatiftheyaregoingtofoul,tofoulinacleanmannersothattheoffensiveopponentcannotgettheshotoff.Thephrase,“Nocheapshots,butnokissfouls!”canbeamethodofinstructingplayers.

•Thelonedefendershouldlooktodrawanoffensivefoulbeforeashotistaken.Iftheoffensivechargingfoulisnotcalled,aturnovermightbecaused.Ablockingfoulcouldbecalled,butthatisn’tasbadasatwo-shotshootingfoulfortheopponents.

•Coachesshouldconstantlyremindthelonedefenderthatheisatanumericaldisadvantage,andthatheistryingtojustbuyhisteammatessometimeforthemtogetbacktohelphim.Themorepassesanddribblinghecaninfluence,themoretimeitwouldgivehisteammatestoarrivebacktohelphimdefendthebasket.Coachesshouldencouragethedefendertobeaggressive,butnottogooutandattackthedribbler.Usethissayingfrequently,“Rememberthatyouhavesomethingthatthebadguyswant:thebasket.Youhavesomethingtoprotect,sostayathomeandprotectit.”

Thisdrillworksonspecifictechniquesforthedefensivetransitionaswellastheoffensivetransition.Offensivefundamentalssuchaspassing,catching,dribbling,running,shooting,andquicklygettingbackondefenseareincorporatedinthisdrillonafast-pacedfull-courtscale.Defensivefundamentalssuchasstoppingdribblepenetration,guardingtheball,reactingtopasses,defensivebox-outs,defensiverebounding,andquickandimmediatefull-courtoffensivetransitionarepracticedbytheplayers,andobservedbythecoaches.Forboththeoffensiveandthedefensivegroupsinvolvedinthedrill,acertainlevelofphysicalconditioningisinvolvedinrunningfull-courtsprints.

Summary

Drillsareaninnovativewaytobreakdownoffensiveanddefensivetechniquesandmakesurethosetechniquesaretaughtbycoaches,learnedbytheplayers,andpracticedsothatplayerscanimproveonthosetechniques.Defensively,acoachmustbeabletoteachandcoachhisplayerstopreventtheopposingteamsfromgettinganyeasypoints.Theymustinstillthephilosophythatifanopposingteamisgoingtoscore,theopponentsmusthavetoworkandworktoearnthosepoints.

Conversely,successfuloffensiveteamsknowhowandareabletoscoreafeweasypointsineachandeverygametocounterthetoughdefensestheywilleventuallyfacesomewhereintheirseason.

Drillsallowplayerstobeabletorunandjumpandcutloosewithalotofenergy.Drillscanbeaconditioningdrill.Drillsareamotivationalandinspirationalwaytostartoffapracticewithallofthemovementandstructuredfreedomthatcanbeincorporatedintothedrill.Alldrillsshouldcombinebothoffensiveanddefensivefundamentalsandbasicsintothesamefluidandtime-efficientdrill.

ImportantPivotsoftheBallHandler

“Unlessyouplantooutreboundandoutshooteveryoneyouplay,thenyoubetterlearntohandletheball.”

—CoachHenryIba

Anoffensiveplayermustfirstgetpossessionofthebasketballbeforehecanbecomeaballhandler.Obtainingpossessionoftheballmaytakeplaceinonlyafewways.Onthedefensiveendofthefloor,theballhandlercouldgetpossessionoftheballaftertheoppositionhasscoredbyreceivinganinboundspassfromateammate,oraftertheoppositionhasmissedashotbygettingthedefensivereboundorreceivinganoutletpassoffadefensiverebound.Offensively,theballcouldbetakenfromasidelineout-of-boundsorabaselineout-of-boundssituation,inthefrontcourtfromanentryorplay,orfromanactual

offensiverebound.

TheInboundsandOutletPassReceiver

Iftheopponentmakeshisshot,theballmustbetakenout-of-boundsandpassedinboundstoanoffensiveplayer.Theoffensivepassreceivermustfirstfacetheout-of-boundspassertocatchtheinboundspass.Thepassreceivermostoftencatchestheballwhilenotdirectlyfacinghisbasket.Thepassreceivermustthencatchtheballbeforeturningtofaceboththebasketandthedefensethatawaitshim.Fortheoffensiveplayerwhonowhasthebasketball,apivotmustbeusedtosquareupandimmediatelygetintotriplethreatposition.Whatmustnoteverbeforgottenishowimportanttheartofpivotingistotheoffensivemovesofaballhandler.

Inthebackcourt,whilereceivingeitherinboundspassesor(defensiverebound)outletpasses,thefirstfundamentalistocomebacktotheballandmeetthepass.Whilefacingtheinboundspasserandtheball,thepassreceiver(01)losessightofthreevitalthings.Thereceivercannotseeanyopposingdefenders,anyoffensiveteammatesthataredowncourt,orhisactualoffensivebasket.Itisimperativethattheballhandlerreceivestheinboundspass,turnsaroundasquicklyandassafelyaspossibletobeabletoseethesethreeimportantthings.Thesafetyfactoroutweighsthequicknessfactorwhenreceivinganinboundspass.

Thefirstpointthatmustbemadeistheestablishmentofacommonlanguageintheactualdefinitionsofthetypesofpivotsthatmustbeutilized.Whenanoffensiveplayerreceivestheballwhilehavinghisbacktothebasketatboththefull-courtandthehalf-courtlevels,hecanpivotawayfromthebasketandpotentialdefenders.Thispivotcanbedefinedasafrontpivot(eventhoughheisactualsteppingawayfromhisoffensivebasketandpotentialballdefenders).Anotheroffensivemoveoppositeofthisoriginalpivotwouldbeapivotthathastheballhandlerpivottowardhisbasketanddefenderbutcouldbecalledareversepivotoraninsidepivot.Confusioncanresulthere,ascallingapivotthatactuallyplacestheballhandlerimmediatelyclosertothebasketiscalledareversepivot.Thismisconceptioniscausedbythefactthattheballhandlerhasstartedwithhisbacktowardthebasket.Anothernameforthisreversepivotcan

beaccuratelycalledaninsidepivot.

Thenextdiscussiondealswithwhichfootshouldbetheactualpivotfoot:theoriginaloutsidefootortheinsidefoot(sincehisbackisinitiallytowardthebasket.)Advantagesanddisadvantagesresultfrombothtypesofpivotsbyballhandlerswhoreceivetheballwhileoriginallystartingwiththeirbacktothebasket.Theseplusesandminuseswillbediscussedandpresented,withthereadermakingtheevaluationandtheultimatedecisiononwhichismoreviableandcomfortabletothatcoach’spersonalityandphilosophy.

Thisfirstdiscussionisabouthowaballhandlerstartswithhisbacktothebasketinafull-courtlocationinthebackcourt.Advantagesoftheso-calledfrontpivot(offtheoriginaloutsidefoot)whilereceivingtheinboundspasswithhisbacktothebasketarethefollowing:afterthepivot,theballhandlerwouldthenhavehis(new)outsidefootashisfreefoot,andwouldbeabletoprotecttheballbetterbykeepingtheballawayfrompotentialcloseballdefenders,whetherfacingonedefenderortwotrappingdefenders.Theso-calleddisadvantagesofthisfrontpivotcouldbethatthispivotdoesnotallowtheballhandlerasquickofaviewofthebasketandhispotentialpassreceivers,sincethissituationisatthefull-courtlevelwheretheballhandlerisnotgoingtobeabletocatch,pivotandimmediatelyshoottheball;thisassessmentsomewhatcontradictsthefootworkthatwilllaterbedescribedforoffensiveplayersthathavetheirbacktothebasketandknowtheywillnotbeimmediateshootersoffthepass(infrontcourtsituations.)Advantagesforballhandlerswhoreceivetheinboundspassinthebackcourtandusetheso-calledreversepivotorinsidepivot(offtheoriginaloutsidefoot)couldinclude:thispivotallowsthenewballhandlerpossiblequickerviewsofthebasketandoffensiveteammates,andthenewoutsidefootoftheballhandlerisnowthefreefoot.Thedisadvantagesofthistypeofpivotinclude:thisquickpivotcouldresultinquickturnoversbytheunseenandunsuspectedclosedefenders,andthepossiblequickervisionofthebasketandteammateswheninthebackcourtisnotatrueadvantagewhenthechancesofaturnoveraregreaterwiththispivot.

Thepassreceiversshouldfirstcatchtheballandthenfrontpivotoffhisoriginaloutsidefoottowardthesideline.Thispivotisactuallyafrontpivotawayfromhisdefenderbecausethereceiverinitiallyhashisbacktothedefender.Eventhoughthepivotisturningawayfromthedefender,thispivotisstillconsideredafrontpivotbecausetheoffensiveplayerissteppingforwardfromthedirectionthatheiscurrentlyfacing.

Thisfrontpivotturnstheballhandlerawayfromthemiddlewherethemaximumamountofthedefensivepressuremostlikelywouldbe.Thisfrontpivotthenallowsthenewballhandlertofirstfindthedefenderthatisguardinghim,thentofacethebasketandhisteammates.Fromthere,thepassreceivercanbegintopushtheballdownthecourtbypassingtoanotherteammateorbydribblingtheball.

Whilemanycoachesbelieveinmakingthereversepivot(towardthedefense)afterthecatchbecausetheycanquicklyseethecourtandtheirteammatesdowncourt,itissafertousethefrontpivot(awayfromthedefense)topreventanysurprisedefensivepressurethatisnotanticipated.Also,thesafetyofthebasketballisworththeveryminutetimelostinsightingateammatedowncourtbyusingthefrontpivotinsteadofthereversepivot.Diagram2-1showsanexampleofanoffensiveplayer(01)receiving

Diagram2-1

aninboundspassinthebackcourt(from04)andfrontpivotingofftheoutsidefoot(inthiscase,itistheleftfoot).

Diagram2-2illustratesthesameinboundssituation,butwiththeballhandler(03)ontheoppositesideofthecourt.Thatballhandler,aswell,meetsthepass(from04)andthenalsofrontpivotsoffhisoutsidefootandthenlookstoadvancetheballviapassordribble.Inthiscase,theoutsidefootistherightfoot

andthefreefootistheleftfootonthisparticularsideofthecourt.

Diagram2-3showsanexampleofanoffensiveplayer(02)receivinganoutletpass(afteradefensivereboundby05)withthepassreceiveronthetransitionoffense’sleftsideofthebackcourt.Thepassreceiverisfacingtherebounderandhashisbacktohisownoffensivebasketattheotherendofthecourt.Hecannotseeanyoffensiveteammates,hisbasket,oranydefendernearhim.Thepassreceivershouldmeetthepass,frontpivotofftheoutsidefoot(onthissideoftheflooritistherightfoot),andsearchfordefenders,offensiveteammates,andthebasketdowncourt,beforeadvancingtheballdowncourt.

Diagram2-2

Diagram2-3

Thepotentialpassreceiver(02)isnottheonlyoffensiveplayerinvolvedwiththeall-importantpivot.Inordertoobtainthedefensiverebound,thatplayer(05)hashadtoalsocarryouttwopivots.Thefirstwasinhisexecutionofadefensivebox-outonhisopponent,whichwillbediscussedmorethoroughlyinChapter7.Thesecondpivotiswhenthedefensiverebounderturnstolocateapassreceiverandthenmaketheoutletpasstotriggerthefastbreak.ThisactionisalsoillustratedinDiagram2-3anditshowsanexampleofthedefensiverebounder(05)gettingthereboundonaparticularsideofthecourt,whilefacingtheopponent’sbasketandthereforehavinghisbacktowardhisownoffensivebasketandfacingawayfromtheopposition’spressure.Onthisparticularsideofthecourt,thismakestherightfootofthedefensivereboundertheoutsidefootandthereforethepivotfoot.Thedefensiverebounderwiththebasketballshouldmakeafrontpivotofftheoutsidefoot(right)tosighttheteammate(02),beforemakingtheoutletpass.Asshown,boththedefensiverebounder/outletpasserandtheoutletpassreceiverwhoreceivesthatpassbothmakefrontpivots(awayfrompressure)offtheoutsidefootbeforethenfacingtheirownbasket.

Whentheballisadvancedbypassingtheballdownthefloor,apassreceiverinthefrontcourtcouldverywelllikelyalsohavehisbacktohisownbasket.Hemustcatchtheball,facethebasketquickly,carefully,andimmediatelybecomeathreattothedefense.Thisendingpositionistraditionallycalledthetriple-threatposition,beingathreattothedefenseviapassing,driving,and/orshootingthebasketball.

TakingPossessionFromtheTurnoverortheActualDefensiveRebound

Whentheoriginaldefenderhashisbacktohisownbasket,thefootworkofacquiringpossessionoftheballafteranopponent’sturnoverortheactualdefensivereboundwouldsimplybethesameasreceivinganinboundsoroutletpass.Ifthedefenderisfacinghisownbasketwhenhesecurespossessionoftheball,thenthefootworkissimplytoadvancetheballdowncourt.

FrontcourtPassReceiving

ApassreceivermighthavetopopoutafteraV-cutoroffadownscreen,oruseothermeanstogetopen,whetherthesituationisaninboundedballorafrontcourtentry/playscenario.Versusthebackcourtfull-courtsituation,apassreceiverinthefrontcourtismoreofanimmediatethreattothedefense,especiallyaftertheballispassedtohim.Withthebackoriginallytothebasket,areversepivot(thatisactuallytowardsthebasket)offtheoriginaloutsidefoot(rightfoot)wouldswingthefreefoot(leftfoot)farthertotheoutside,placingtheballhandlerfarthertotheoutsideortowardsthebaseline.Ifthecutter(03)issurethatheisnotgoingtoshootthebasketballimmediatelyoffthispass,heshouldreversepivotofftheoutside(right)foot,whichallowshimtohavehis(new)outsidefoot(closesttothebaseline)asthefreefootaftercatchingthepass(Diagram2-4).

Anoffensiveplayerreceivingthepasswithhisbacktothebasket(03inDiagram2-4)whomakesafrontpivot(thatisactuallyawayfromtheoffensivebasket)offtheoriginalinsidefoot(left,inthiscase)willbeabletogettothebasketmorequickly,becausehewillbeclosertothebasketandtothemiddleofthecourt.Moreimportantly,hewillbeabletogettheshotoffmorequickly.Therefore,ifthecutterisexpectingtoshootimmediatelyoffthispass,03shouldmakeafrontpivotoffhisinside(left)heelsothathecancatchthepassandquicklygouptotakehisshot.

Coachesshouldstressforthecutter/shootertheseimportanttechniques:getthehandsintoshootingposition,givethepasseratarget,andpivotofftheinsideheel.

Diagram2-4

Allpivotsmustbemadeattheexactmomentthereceivercatchestheballtoavoidatravelingcall.Whentheinsidefootisthepivotfoot,theheelofthatfootshouldbedrivenhardtothefloorfortwoimportantreasons.Theheelpivotstopsthemomentumofthecutter(ordribbler),andkeepstheshooterfromfloatingordriftingaftertakingtheshotoffthepass(orthedribble.).Thispivotallowstheshootertojumpstraightupverticallyandcomebackdowninasomewhatstraightline.Coachesneverwantajumpshootertofallawayortodrift.Usingtheinsideheelpivothelpsdiminishthemomentumthatcausesthesetwofatalflawsinaplayer’sjumpshot.

Theheel,besidesactingasabrakeforthecutter,alsoallowsforaverysmoothandfluidfrontpivot.Pivotingoffoftheinsideheelisasmoothandfluidpivotthatwillspeedupthetimeofthepivot,gettingtheshootersquareduptothebasketinamuchquickerfashion.Thesetwotechniqueswillgivethereceiver/shootermuchmoreofanopportunitytogettheshotoffquickerandthereforeincreasethechanceofaneffectiveandaccurateshot.

Pivotingofftheinsideheelisasmoothandfluidpivotthatwillspeedupthetimeofthepivot,gettingtheshootersquareduptothebasketinamuchquickerfashion.Thesetwotechniqueswillgivethereceiver/shootermuchmoreofanopportunitytogettheshotoffquickerandthereforeincreasethechanceofaneffectiveandaccurateshot.

Initially,theoffensivepassreceiverhashisbacktowardthesamethreeimportantitemsaswheninthebackcourt:theopposition’sdefense,offensive

teammates,andtheoffensiveteam’sowngoal.Coachesshouldwanttheoffensivepassreceivertocatchtheball,immediatelyfrontpivotawayfromthedefenderwhoisimmediatelybehindhim,andgetinpositiontobecomeanimmediatethreattotheopposition’sdefense.

Beinginthefrontcourtwiththebacktothebasket,coachesshouldwantthoseoffensiveplayerswhoareexpectingtoimmediatelyshootoffthepasstofrontpivotofftheinsideheel.Aftermakingthispivotandfacingthebasket,thefreefootisnowtheinsidefoot.Thispivotplacestheoffensiveballhandlerfacingandmuchclosertothebasket,makingtheballhandlermoreofaseriousshootingand/ordrivingthreat.

Diagram2-4showsthepassreceiver(03)poppingouttothewingontheoffense’sleftside.Withtheoffensivecutter’sbacktothebasket,hisinitialinsidefootistheleftfootandthefreefootistherightfoot.Thecuttershouldfrontpivotoffthatleftfoot(hisheel)awayfromthedefenderwhoisbehindhimtoimmediatelyfacethebasketandbeinpositiontoquicklyshootoffthepass.

Diagram2-5showsapassreceiver(02)receivingadownscreen(from04)ontherightsideoftheoffense’sfrontcourt.Withhisbacktotheoffensivebasket,02’sfirstinsidefootistherightfoot(andtheoutsidefootistheleftfoot).Therefore,thepassreceiver(02)thatiswantingandexpectingtoshootquicklyoffthepasshastofrontpivotofftherightfoot(heel)atthesameinstantheiscatchingthepass.Thistechniquewillallowthepassreceivertobeabletoimmediatelysquareuptothebasketinthepropertriplethreatoffensivepositionsohecanshoot,drive,orpass.

Diagram2-5

PassReceiversWhoAreNotInstantShooters

Manycoacheswantfrontcourtoffensiveplayerswhoreceivetheballandarefacingthebasketontheperimeterbutarenotinstantshootersoffthepasstohavetheoutsidefoot(whenfacingthebasket)tobethedesignatedfreefoot.Thisapproachistheoppositeofthoseoffensiveplayerswhobreakoutoriginallywiththebacktothebasketbeforereceivingthepassandsquaringuptothebaskettobecomeimmediateshootersoffthatpass.Thepreviouslydiscussedcontradiction(inthebackcourtscenarios)canonlybesettledbycoachingstaffswillingtoteachtheiroffensiveplayersasecondtechnique.

Thissecondtechniqueobviouslywillrequiremoreteachingeffortbycoachesandmorelearningeffortbyplayers,butthemixtureofthesetwotechniquescanbeverysuccessful.Coachessimplymusttelltheiroffensiveplayers,whostartwiththeirbacktothebasketastheycatchtheballandarewantingtoquicklyshootoffthepass,topivotofftheinsidefoot(heel).Coacheswouldthentellthosesameplayersthatwhentheyarepoppingouttocatchtheballandexpectingnottoinstantlyshootoffthepassthattheyaretomakeareversepivot(towardthebasketandtowardthedefender)withtheoriginaloutsidefoot.

Thiscontradictionofthefootworktechniquesgivesthenewballhandlerhisinsidefootashispivotfootwhenfacingthebasketandhisbaseline(oroutside)footashisfreefoot.Thisapproachisbetterforoffensiveplayerswhoarenotexpectingtoimmediatelyshoot,butwhoaremoreofapassingthreattotheopposition.

Diagram2-6showsanoffensiveplayer(03)poppingouttothefreethrowlineextendedontheoffense’sleftsideofthecourt.Withhisbacktothebasket,03’sinitialinsidefootistheleftfoot.If03isreasonablyconfidentofnotcatchingandimmediatelyshootingoffthepass,then03shouldmakea(reverseorinside)pivotimmediatelytowardthedefenderandtowardhisbasketofftheright(ortheoriginaloutside)foot.

Diagram2-6

Aftercatchingandsimultaneouslymakingthisreversepivot,theballhandlerisfacingthebasketintriple-threatpositionwithhisnewoutsidefoot(left)ashisfreefoot.Naturally,hisrightfootisthepivotfootandisontheinside.

Thesetwotechniquescanbetaughttooffensiveplayersandstillkeptrelativelysimple.Thekeyinthedecisioniswhetherthepassreceiversthinktheywillbeinstantshootersoffthepassornot.

PassReceiversWhoAreInstantShooters

Iftheballhandlerisalreadyfacingthebasketbeforehecatchesthepass,hisinsidefootisoppositetheinsidefootwhenhestartswithhisbackistowardthebasket.Aplayerwhoisalreadyfacingthebasketwouldbeinthatparticularpositionasadribblerorafterreceivingapassoffsomeflarescreens,certainbackscreens,mostballscreens,orheisoriginallylinedupfacingthebasketintheparticularoffensivesettheteamisutilizing.

Diagram2-7showstheexampleofadribbler(01)passingtheball(to02)beforemakingaflarecutoff03’sflarescreen(ontheoffense’sleftsideofthecourt)andreceivingthepass(from02)whilealreadyfacingthebasket.01’sinsidefootremainstherightfoot(withtheleftfootbeingtheoutsidefootandalsothefreefoot).Heshouldpivotofftheinside(right)heelashecatchesthebasketball.01

isnowintriple-threatposition,readytoinstantlyshoot,drive,orpassthebasketball.

Diagram2-8showsanoffensivecutter(02)receivingabackscreenneartheelbowarea(setby05)whileshufflecuttingtowardtheballandthebasketfromtherightsideofthecourt.Inthisparticularsituation,thecutter’sinsidefootistherightfoot.Inthiscase,thisoffensivecutterisalreadyhalfwayfacingthebasket.Thecutter/passreceiver(02)shouldpivotofftheright(inside)heelattheexactmomentthat03’spasshitshishandssothathecanimmediatelysquareuptothebasket,becominganinstantshooting,driving,andpassingthreattothedefense.

Diagram2-7

Diagram2-8

DribblersandScreeners

Diagram2-9givesanillustrationofthetraditionalballscreenand01dribblescrapingoff05’sballscreentowardtheoffense’srightsideofthecourt.01comesoff05’sballscreenwhilefacingthebasketandpullsupforajumpshot.Thetechniquewouldhavehimfrontpivotingofftheleftheel(stilltheinsidefoot)andbyswinginghisfreefoot(right)aroundtosquareuptothebasket,allowinghimtoeithergettheshotoffquicklyortopasstheballtoateammate.

Diagram2-9

Ifthedribblerweretodribblescrapeoffaballscreenontheleftsideofthecourt,thedribbler’sinsidefootwouldbetherightfoot,andhisoutside(left)footwouldbethefreefoot.Whenhepulleduptotakethejumpshot,hewouldhavetofrontpivotoffhisright(inside)heelandswinghisleft(outsideinthiscase)footaroundtosquareupfortheshotorthepass.

Theballscreener(05)canmakemanyoffensivemovesafterhisballscreenisusedbythedribbler(01).Someofthesemovesinclude:thescreenroll,slippingthescreen,goingtosetanoff-the-ballscreenonasecondteammate,orreceivingascreenfromateammatetoimplementthescreen-the-screeneroffensiveaction.Onlythescreenrolloffensiveactionwillbediscussed.

Diagram2-10illustrates05settingaballscreenfor01tousetohisadvantage.Assoonas01makescontactwith05’soutsideshoulder(leftshoulder,inthiscase),the

Diagram2-10

screener(05)shouldreversepivotoffhisinsidefoot(rightfoot,inthisexample)whileswinginghisfree(left)foottowardthebasket.Thistechniqueallows05toconstantlyfaceboth01andthebasketballasherollstothebasketandas01dribblestowardthebasket.

Oncetheballhandlerisfacinghisownoffensivebasket,oneofhisoffensivethreatsisthedribble.Anoffensiveplayerhasthreemainreasonstodribble:

•Toadvancetheballtowardtheoffensivebasket

•Toimprovepassingangles(toteammates)

•Togetoutoftroublewiththedefense

Whenthedribblerisinthefrontcourtnotcompletelyfacingthebasketandhekillsthedribble,thedribblershouldfrontpivotofftheinsidefoottofullysquareuptothebasket.Ifthedribblerdoesnotbecomeashooter,heisstillapotentialpasser.

Coachingstaffsshouldhaveaseriesofoffensivemovesandcountermovesthataredesignedtoattackorcounteracttheopposition’sdefense.Coachingstaffsshouldthoroughlyteach,practice,anddrillthesetechniquesdailyinpracticeuntileveryplayercansuccessfullyexecutetheoffensivemoves.Coachesmustexpectallballhandlerstoexecutethesemoveseachtimetheyareoffensivepassersbothinthebackcourtandinthefrontcourt.

Whileinthefrontcourt,ajumpstopcanbemadeandtheinsidefootshouldbethenewpivotfoot,whiletheoutsidefootshouldbethefreefoot—thefootthatcanmoveandstepoutsideofthedefender’sfeetsothatthedribbler/passerisabletomakeapasstoateammate.Ifthepassreceiverdoesnottaketheshot,thepassershouldprotecttheballbyplacingtheballontheoutsideofthekneeoftheoutside(free)leg.

1-on-1PivotingTechniques

Thetwo-footjumpstop,describedinChapter1,isthefirstphaseinthisballhandlingandballprotectiontechnique.Thesecondphaseisthestep-out.Inthedescriptivelynamedstep-outphase,coachesshouldhavethepasserstephorizontallytotheoutsideortotheright(iftherightfootistheoutsidefoot)toseeifhecanoutflankthedefense,whilestillprotectingtheballbesidethepasser’sfreeknee.Thephrasesusedtohelpdescribethisstepoftheseriesofmovesareprotecttheballandstepoutsideofthedefense.Ifthepassershouldpasstheball,thatpassisdeterminedbythephrase:“Ifyourfootisoutsideofthedefense’sfoot,looktopassoverorunderthedefender.”Thisphrasesimplymeansthattheballhandlershouldfirstattackthedefender’soutsidefoot,andifthatissuccessfulandtheteamisabletopasstheball,heshouldthenpasseither

overorunderthedefender’soutstretchedarmandhand.Theteachingphrasesusedinthissituationare:fakehighandgolow,orfakelowandgohigh.Anotherpointofemphasisisforthepassertostepoutwide,butnotsowidethathebecomestooextendedandoffbalance.

Diagram2-11isanillustrationofthestep-outphase,whichfeaturesapasserontherightsideofthefrontcourt,makingtheinsidefoottheleftfootandthepivotfoot,andtheoutsidefoottherightfoot,otherwisecalledthefreefoot.Thepasserstepshorizontallytotheright(withtherightfoot)andlookstopasstheballifhis(right)footbeatsthedefense’s(left)foot.Anotherteachingphrasethatshouldbeusedtomakesurethatthepasserstepsina100percentlateraldirectionis:“Stepdueeastorduewest—notnorthorsouth.”Thiscommandisawayoftellingtheoffensivepassernottostepeitherawayfromthedefenderortowardthedefender,buttoattempttosteplaterallyaroundthedefenderandhisfeet.

Diagram2-11

Ifthedefenderstepsinthesamedirection(horizontallytohisleft)asthepassersteps(horizontallytohisright),thepasserfacesincreasinglymoredifficultytomakethepass.Iftheballhandler’sfootisnotoutsideofthedefender’sfoot,anoffensivecountermovemustbeexecuted.Thisoffensivecountermovetothedefense’sreactionisthethirdphaseoftheoffensivetechnique.

Thisphaseiscalledtherip-throughmove.Withtheballstillfirmlyprotectedbesidetheoutsideknee,thepassershouldriptheballlowandhardacrosstheshoetopsasboththeballandtheoutsidefreelegcompleteafrontpivotinfrontofthedefender.Theballisheldstronglywithbothhandsjustinchesabovethefloor(awayfromthedefender’shands)untilthefreefootlandslaterallyoutsideofthedefender’sfootthatisoppositeoftheoriginalfoot.Astheballisbeingquicklyandstronglypulledacross,thefreelegimmediatelyfollowsinthesamemotiontohelpprotectthebasketball.Theballisthenplacedbesidethe(samefree)knee,againprotectingtheballfromthedefender.

Mostdefenderswillnotgetthatlowwiththeirhands,whentheballisrippedacrosstheshoetopsinfrontofthedefender.Mostdefendersareunabletostealtheballwhenitispulledacrossquicklyandlowjustinchesfromthefloor.

Keypointsofemphasisofthisthirdphasearethatthepassershouldstepduewestandattempttostepoutsidethedefender’sleg(withtheballstillprotectedbesidethefreeknee).Thestepshouldnotbetoomuchofanextendedstep.Thepassershouldremainbalancedandnotoverextended.Ifthepasser’sfreefootbeatsthedefender’sfoot,thepassershouldbeabletopasstheballoverorunderthedefender’sarmandhandandthepassissuccessfullyexecuted.

Theballhandlernowhashisbacksomewhattowardthedefenderandthepassreceiver.Thepassershouldstillhavetheballprotectedbesidethekneeofthefreelegandcanmakethepasswiththesamehand.Thesamehandisused,butthathandisontheothersideoftheballandinasomewhatcuppedposition.Sincetheballhandlerissomewhatturnedawayfromhisdefender,anothercoachingpointofemphasisistostressthattheballhandler/passermustlooktomakesurethatthereceiverisopenbeforemakingtheactualpass.

Diagram2-12illustratesthethirdphaseofthetechniquewhenthepassermakesthefirstfrontpivotacrossthefaceofthedefender.Inthissituation,thethirdphaseisfromtherightsideofthecourtwiththeinsidefootorleftfootasthepivotfoot.Thefreefootistherightfoot,andthepasserhasattemptedtostepoutsideofthedefender’srightfootwithhisfreefoot.

Diagram2-12

Aftertheinitialfrontpivot,ifthedefenderreactstotheballhandler’smovesandtechniques,thedefendercouldagainsteplaterallyinthesamedirectionoftheballhandleranddiscourageorpreventthepassfrombeingmade.Ifso,thefourthandfinalphasecanbegin.

Thedescriptivelynamedswing-aroundphaseisthelastoftheseriesofoffensivemovesthattheballhandlercouldmake.Theoffensiveballhandler’scountermovetothissecondreactionofthedefenderistothenmakeasecondfrontpivot(inonecompletestep)andswingaroundbacktotheinitialsideofhisattack.Eventhoughthismoveisstillafrontpivot,thispivotisactuallymadeawayfromthedefenderandthebasketbecausethepasserhashisbackturnedtothedefender.Thesamepointsofemphasisofthepivotandthepassareemphasizedbythecoachingstaff:•“Donotextendthestep-outtoofar,buttrytostepoutsidethedefender’sfoot.”

•“Protecttheballbesidethekneeofthefreeleg.”

•“Stepdueeast.”

•“Fakehightogolow”or“Fakelowtogohigh.”

Diagram2-13showsthefourthphaseoftheballhandler.Ithasthedefendernotallowinghimselftobeoutflankedbytheballhandlerontheoffense’sleftside,andthereforeforcingtheballhandlertomakethesecondfrontpivot.

Diagram2-13

Remember,thispivotisactuallyconsideredafrontpivot,butthispivotactuallyturnsawayfromthedefensivepressurebecausetheoffensivepassernowhashisbacktowardthedefense.Iftheballhandlerissuccessfulwiththisfinalphaseofthetechnique,thepasser’srightfoot(free)islaterallyoutsideofthedefender’sleftfoot,whichallowsthepassertomakeanunguardedpasstoateammate.Ifthepasser’sfootbeatsthedefender’sfoot,thepassercanagainfakelowtogohigh(orfakehightogolow)andmakethepass.

Ifthedefenseagainreactstotheoffensivemovement,thepassercouldrepeatthephasesofthepivotingtechniquesorpasstheballtoateammatewhoismoreofasafetyvalvereceiver.Thisnewreceiverwouldhavelessdefensivepressureappliedtohim.

Obviously,thesametechniqueswillworkwithallpasserslocatedontheleftsideofthefloor.Withthepasserfacingthebasketandbeingontheleftsideofthecourt,theoutsidefootisnowtheleftfoot,withtheinsidefootstillthepivotfoot.Thefirstmove(thestep-outmove)shouldbeforthepassertostepwiththeoutside(left)footlaterallytohisleft(stepduewest)andtokeeptheballsafelyprotectedbesidethekneeoftheleft(thefreeortheoutside)leg.

Ifthestep-outmoveisunsuccessful,therip-throughmove(thefirstfrontpivotofftherightpivotfoot)shouldbemadewiththeleftlegsteppingacrosslowandhardacrosstheshoetopsinfrontofthedefense.Astheballispulledacrossnearthefloor,thefreelegquicklyfollowsbehindtheballandcontinuestoattempttostepoutsidethedefender’sleftfoot.Ifthepasser’sfreefootisoutsideofthedefender’sfoot,thechanceofasuccessfulpassismuchgreater.

Ifthestep-outandtherip-throughmovesaresuccessfullydefendedbythedefense,theswing-throughmovemustbeused.Ifthefreefootofthepasserisnotlaterallyoutsideofthedefender’sfoot,thepasser(whosebackisnowturnedawayfromthedefender)shouldmakethesecondfrontpivot(thistimeawayfromthedefense).Thepasseristryingtooutflankthedefenderbyattemptingtoplacehisfreefootoutsideofthedefender’sfoot.Ifthepasser’sfootisoutsideofthedefender’sfoot,thepassershouldagainfakehighandgoloworfakelowandgohightomakethepass.Ifthepivotattemptisunsuccessful,thepassermayhavetolooktomakeapassthatisnotasclosetothebasketastheinitialpassreceiver.

DribblingandDrivingTechniques

Dribblinganddrivingisanessentialpartofanyoffensiveattack,whetheritisamanorzoneoffense.Thedribblingpenetrationcanprovideverycloseshotsforthedriverorforteammateseitherinsideorontheperimeter.Iftheoriginaldefendercannoteffectivelystopthepenetration,anadditionaldefenderortwomusthelp.Drawingmorethanonedefenderontheballobviouslycausestheopposition’sdefensetotrytodefendthefouroff-the-balloffensiveplayerswithonlythreedefensiveplayers.

Inthelastcoupleofseasons,oneofthenewestmanoffensiveraves,ironically,iscalledthedribbledriveoffense.Thisnewestoffensiveattackshouldonlyreinforcetheimportanceofproperfootworkbyoffensiveballhandlers.

Whenthedribblerpenetratesthedefensewithanattackingdribble,andthenpassestoateammateontheinside,theoffensiveplayiscalledthedriveanddump.Whentheballisdrivenandthenpassedouttoanoffensiveteammateontheperimeter,thisoffensiveactioniscalledthepenetrateandpitch.Bothtypes

ofplayaresimpletoutilizeifandonlyifthedrivercanmakeanattackingdrivetothebasket.Hence,itisveryimportantthatalldribblersareabletoexecutethepropertechniquestosuccessfullydriveontheopposition’son-the-balldefense.

Ifthepassreceiverstartswithhisbacktothebasketbeforebreakingopenontheperimeter,andifhehasmadethedecisionthathewillnotshootoffthepass,thereceiverwillusetheoriginaloutsidefootasthepivotfootashemakesthecatch.Hethenwouldhavetomakeareversepivotoraninsidepivot(actuallytowardhisdefender)offhisleftfootontheoffense’srightsideofthecourt.Sincetheballhandlerhasdecidedtobecomeadriver/dribbler,theballhandlerfirstwouldobviouslyhavetokeepthenewinsidefoot(left)asthepivotfoot.

Iftheshotisnotobtainableandmakingapassisnotavailable,theballhandlershouldthenlooktodriveortoattackthedefensewithadribble.Often,theballhandlercanfreehimselfforthedrive/dribbleaftermakingashotfake.Theshotfakemustbearealisticshotfake—thatis,theshotfakemustlooklikehisactualshot.Oneofthebesttechniquesinshotfaking(beforedriving)istomaketheshotfakenottooquick,butslowenoughforthedefendertoreacttotheshotfake.Anothergoodtechniqueistobringtheballupthroughthefaceandlookattherim.

Whenthedefenderreactstotherealisticfake,theoffensiveballhandlermustimmediatelystarttheproperdribblingtechniques.Thedrivershouldfirstplacetheballinaprotectedarea,wheretheballcannotbestolen,slappedaway,ordeflected.Theideallocationforadriverwhohasnotkilledhisdribbleistoplacetheballbesidethekneeofthefreeleg.Thislocationhasthekneebetweenthedefenderandtheballandthereforeprotectstheballfromthedefender.

Ifthedriverwantstothenattacktheballdefender,hecanlooktoattacktheleadfootofthedefender.Iftheleadfootofthedefenderisonthesamesideasthefreefootoftheballhandler,theballhandlershouldmakeasimpleblastmove.Thismoveisbasicallythedribblerdrivinginmoreofastraight-aheaddirectionagainsttheballdefender.Itshouldberememberedthatpassersonlyshouldstepeastorwest—notnorthorsouth;whiledriversshouldstepnorth—noteastorwest.

Whendriving,thedribblershouldstepwiththefreefootinthedirectionofthe

shoulderofthedefender’sleadfoot.Theteachingandcoachingphrasesusedtodescribethistechniqueare:“Attacktheleadfootofthedefender”and“Scrapeoffthedefender’sshouldertocutoffthedefender’sangleofpursuit.”

Thethirdcoachingphraseinthisdribbling/drivingsituationistotellthedribblertostepnorth.Steppingalmostdirectlytowardthedefenderallowsnoroomorspaceforthedefendertoreactandattempttocutoffthepathofthedribbler.Scrapingoffthedefender’sshoulderisveryimportantbecauseitpreventsthedefenderfromhavinganyangleofpursuitonthedriveroncethedribblerisaroundorpastthedefender.Ifthedriverstepslaterallyandawayfromthedefender,itprovidesthedefendertheneededspacetorecoverandpossiblycutoffthedribbleronhisdrive.Steppingmoretowardthedefendermakesthedribblermoreaggressiveandputsthedefenderatagreatdisadvantage,makingitdifficultforthedefendertorecover.

Amisconceptionofmanydribblersistotrytoavoidthedefenderbylaterallygoingaroundthedefender.Ifthesameconceptwasappliedtopassersandtheinitialstep-outwasdefended,steppingforwardinthismannerwouldnotallowthepassertothenfrontpivotandtrytoattacktheoppositesideofthedefender.

Thedirectionofthefirststepofthepasserisdifferentthanthatofthefirststepofthedribbler.Diagram2-14showsanexampleofthedribblerbeingontherightsideofthecourtwiththedefenderhavinghisoutsidefoot(left)upastheleadfoot.

Diagram2-14

Thedribblershouldhavehisinsidefoot(left)asthepivotfoot,sothedribbler’sfreefoot(right)istheattackingfoot.Thedribbler’srightfootthenwouldattackthedefender’sleftfootbysteppingalmostdirectlyatthedefender.Thedribblerwouldscrapeoffthedefenderbysteppingwiththeoutsidefoot(right)pastthedefender’sleftside.Theballshouldbeplacedbesidethekneeofthefreeleg(right),andasthatfootcompletesthefirststep,theballshouldbeplacedaheadtomakethefirstdribble.Fromthere,thedribblercancontinuethedribblingattackonthedefenderwithmoredribbles,ifnecessary.

Iftheinsidefootofthedefender(therightfoot)istheleadfoot,thedribblershouldattackthatleadfoot.Iftheoutsidefootofthedribbler(therightfoot)isthefreefoot,thedribblermustmakewhatiscalledafrontcrossovermove.Thismoveisdonewiththedribblerprotectingtheballbesidethekneeofthefreeleg(outsideleg—therightleg,inthiscase).Astheballisrippedlowandhardacrosstheshoetops,thefreelegandfootfollowthepathoftheball,stepnorth,andscrapeoffthedefender’srightshoulder.

Thefirststepshouldbemadenearthedefender(tocutoffthedefender’sangleofpursuit)withtheballstillprotectedbesidetheknee.Asthefootofthefreelegtouchesthefloor,theballhandlerinitiatesthefirstdribblewiththehandthatisawayfromthedefense(thelefthand,inthisinstance).

Diagram2-15illustratesthedribblermakingafrontcrossovermovethatincludesafrontpivottowardthedefender’sshoulder,immediatelyfollowedbyadribble.Thedriver’sfreefoot(rightfoot)stepsacrossandscrapesofftherightshoulderofthedefenderbeforemakingthedribblewiththelefthand.Agooddefenderwouldmakeaswingstep(frontpivot)totrytoregaintheadvantage(seeChapter7fordefensivefootwork).

Diagram2-15

PivotingWhileBeingTrapped

Iftheballhandleriscaughtinadouble-teamtrapbythedefense,thethreephasesoftheoffensivetechniquesofpassingoutofatraphavetobemoderatelyadjusted.Usingthefreefoottostepout,coachesshouldteachtheballhandlertoinitiallyattackthetrappingdefender’soutsidefootthatisonthesideofhisfreefoot,andusethestep-outmove.

Diagram2-16illustratesaballhandlerbeingtrappedbytwodefenders(X1ontheballhandler’sleftside,andX2beingthedefenderontheballhandler’srightside)withtheballhandler’sfreefootbeingtherightfoot.Thestep-outmoveisshownwiththeballhandlersteppingdirectlytohisrightwithhisrightfoot,whileprotectingtheballbesidetherightknee.IfhisrightfootcanstepoutsideoftheX2’sleftfoot,heshould

Diagram2-16

beabletopassoverorundertheoutstretchedlefthandofX2.Thesamecoachingphrasesshouldbeused:

•“Stepeastorwest—notnorthorsouth.”

•“Protecttheballbesidetheknee.”

•“Ifyourfootbeatshisfoot,looktopass.”

•“Fakehighandgolow”or“Fakelowandgohigh”tomakethepass.

Ifthedefenderstepsoutsothatthepasser’sfootdoesn’tbeatthedefender’sfoot,thentheballhandlerfrontpivotsandripstheballlowandhardacrosstheshoetopstoattacktheoutsidefootoftheseconddefender.Thissamerip-throughmoveisusedagainstonedefender,butnowtheotherdefender’soutsideshoulderandfootareattacked.

Diagram2-17illustratesthesameballhandlerbeingtrappedbythesametwodefenders.Inthisdiagram,thestep-outmoveisdefended,andtheballhandlerimmediatelygoestotherip-throughmovetoattacktheoutsideofthesecondtrappingdefender.Theballhandlermakesafrontpivotandripstheballthroughandacrosstheshoetops.Mostdefenderswillnotgettheirhandslowenoughto

stealtheballthatisbeingswungquicklyandmereinchesoffthefloor.Iftheballhandler’s(outside)freefootisoutsideX1’srightfoot,thepasscanbemade.Thepassermayhavetofakelowtogohighorfakehightogolow.Theplayerusesthesametechniquesinattackingthetrapashedoesinattackingonedefender.

Diagram2-17

Aslightlydifferenttechniqueisusediftheseconddefenderalsolaterallystepsouttodiscouragetheballhandlerfrommakingthepass.Theballhandlermakestheswing-aroundmove,thesecondfrontpivotawayfromthedefense.Ifthetwodefensivetrappershavebothsuccessfullydefendedtheoffense’sattemptstoattackthedefensebyoutflankingthem,maybebothdefendershavespreadthemselvestoothin.

Diagram2-18illustratestheballhandlerbeingtrappedandunabletomakethepassontheoutsideofeitherdefender.Theballhandlershouldthenmaketheswingaroundmove,justashedoesagainstonedefender—withoneexception.IfX2protectedhisoutsideandX1protectedhisoutside,theballhandlernowprobestheareabetweenthetwotrappers.

Diagram2-18

Ontheswingaroundmove,thesecondfrontpivotthatisnowawayfromthedefenseshouldbemadeinthesamemannerasbefore.Theonlyexceptionisthatthestepwiththerightfootgoesonlyasfarasthespacebetweenthetwotrappers.Theballhandlerthenstepsthroughbothdefenders.

Theballissqueezedwithbothhandstoprotecttheballfrombothdefenders,withbothelbowsextendingout.Thistechniquefurtherprotectstheballfromthereachingandslappinghandsofthedefenders.Theloweredheadalsoprotectstheball.Thismovecanbedescribedasafullbacktakingthehandoffandgoingintothedefensiveline.

Theeyesmustbeuptoseeandtonotbowloverthetrappers,committinganoffensivefoul.Theballhandlerdoesnotoverextendhimselfandbecomeoffbalanced,committingatravelingviolation.Oncehehassplitthetrap,theballhandlerlookstopasstheballoutofthetrap.Withtwodefendersontheballhandler,theoffensenowhasfouroff-the-ballpassreceiverswhomustbedefendedbyonlythreedefensiveopponents.Somebodymustbeopen.Whenthatpassissuccessfullycompleted,theoffensehasafastbreakadvantageovertheoppositionandshouldcapitalizeonthatadvantage.

Theswing-aroundmovedoesnotcomebacktotheoriginalflankofthedefense.Instead,theswingaroundstepgoesonlybackhalfway.Theswingaroundstepattackstheweakenedmiddleofthetrappers,bygoinginbetweenthetwodefenders.

Afterthesecondfrontpivotismade,theballhandlerlookstosplitthetrapandstepthroughthetrapwiththeballhandler’sbodyprotectingtheball.Theballhandlerpullstheballinclosetotheupperchest,andasthestepismadebetweenthetrapperswiththefreefoot,theballhandlerslightlylowershisheadandchinstheball.Theelbowsareplacedout,protectingtheballfromthedefenders.Theballhandlerremainsbalancedandundercontrol.Oncetheballhandlerhassteppedthroughthetrap,theheadcomesuptosearchforanopenteammatetowhomhecanpasstheball.

Pivot-and-PassDrill

Thepivot-and-passdrillispartofthefundamentalsandstretchingroutinediscussedinChapter1.Inthedrill,threeplayersareplacedineachgroup.Eachplayerworksonspecificoffensive(andsomedefensive)fundamentals.Oneplayerworksonpivotingandthenpassingtheballtoanoffensiveteammate,whoworksonpivotingasthecatchismade.Afterhemakesthesimultaneouspivotandcatch,heimmediatelyshootstheball(withthepropershootingform)backtotheoriginalpasser.Thethirdplayerinthedrillplaysdefenseonlyonthepasser.

Diagram2-19illustratesasecondsetupofthepivot-and-passdrill,with01beingthefirstpasser,X2beingthefirstdefender,and03beingthefirstpassreceiver/shooter.After55seconds,01becomesthenextdefender,X2becomesthenextreceiver/shooter,and03rotatestobecomethenextpasser.Therotationtakesplaceagain55secondslater,withallthreeplayersrotatingstations.Inthreeminutes,theentiresquadwillhaveplayedallthreefundamentalstations.Goinghardfor55secondsandthenusingfivesecondsforthetransitionfromonepositiontothenexttendstoincreasetheintensitylevel.

Asmallareacanincludefourgroupsofplayersperformingthisdrill,whichmakesupanentire12-manteam.Onecoachcaneasilyobservethisarea.

Diagram2-19

Duringpractice,thepivot-and-passdrillcanbeexecutedfollowinganykilleddribblebytheballhandler.Thecoachmerelyneedsasignal,liketwoquickwhistles,toactivatethedrill.

Diagram2-20exhibitsthepivot-and-passtechniquesbeingusedintwoways:firstagainstsolodefendersandthenagainsttrappingdouble-teamingdefenders.First,havetheentiresquadperformthedrillatthesametime,inthesamegeneralareaofthecourt.Thismethodallowsone(ormore)coachestomoreeasilyobserve,evaluate,teach,critique,andcorrecteveryplayerthatisperformingthedrill.

Diagram2-20

Secondly,havethepassersstartthedrillbydribblingtowardthedefender.Thelocationissomewhatdifferent,inthatthedribblersactuallystartout-of-boundsononeofthesidelines.Coachesshouldalwayshavethedribbler/passerdribbletothedefense,whomustbepositionedontheactualsideline.Thedribblershouldkillhisdribbleandtakeasmallbunnyhoptolandsimultaneouslyonbothfeet.Thismoveallowstheballhandlertostillhavethefreedomtochoosewhichfootisthefreefootandwhichfootisthepivotfoot.

Alwayshavethedribblerkillhisdribbleontheactualsideline.Inthisway,boththeplayersandthecoachingstaffcanusethesidelineasavisualreferencetoseeifthepassersaretrulysteppingdueeastorwest.Duringanyofthephases,thecoachingstaffcaneasilymonitorifthestepsarewheretheyaresupposedtobe.Playerscanalsomoreeasilyscrutinizeandcorrectthemselves.Sometimes,coachesshouldplacethesame55-second(orlonger)timelimitfortheplayers.

Coachescanincreasetheintensitylevelwithwinnersandlosersbetweenthepassersandthedefendersandtheykeepscore.Successfulpassescouldbeworth+1,travelingorbadpassesareworth-2,anddeflectedpassesareworth-1.Iftheoffensiveplayershaveapositivescore,theywin.Iftheoffensiveplayersinthedrillhaveanegativescore,thedefensiveteamwins.Thewinningplayersgettoshootfreethrows,whilethelosingplayersmustrunsomeformofsprintswhiledribblingthebasketballforoneminuteorso.

Onthesecondsequenceofthreeminutes,thepassersandshootersworkonusingtheoppositefootasthepivotfoot.Thus,inamatterofjustsixminutes,eachplayerinvolvedinthepivot-and-passdrillhavehadalmosttwominutesofpivotingandpassingthebasketball(usingbothfeetasthepivotfoot),twominutesofplayingsomeon-the-balldefense,andtwominutesofcutting,catching,andshootingthebasketball(usingbothfeetasthepivotfoot).

Thisdrillisanintense,productive,andverytimeefficientdrill.Ballhandlingissuchanimportantpartoftheoffensivegamethatallofthenecessaryfundamentalsinregardstosuccessfulballhandlingmustbethoroughlytaughtbythecoachingstaff,completelylearnedbytheplayers,anddrilledandpracticedcontinuallybytheplayersandcoaches.Thisdrillcoversamultitudeofthose

fundamentalsinonequick,intense,andusefuldrill,inamannerthatmakesiteasyforthecoachingstafftoevaluateandcorrecteachandeveryparticipantinvolvedinthedrill.

Thesecondwaythedrillshouldbeusedistoprepareoffensiveballhandlerstoattacktrappingdefenders.Thesameformatisusedwiththeexceptionthatfourplayersmustbeinvolvedinthedrill.Soinsteadofhavingfourgroupsofthreeplayers,coachescanusethreegroupsoffourplayers.Also,thedrilltopracticeoffensiveskillsinattackingtrappingdefenseswilltakefourminutesinrepetition(insteadofthreeminutes).Thethirdslightdifferenceistoplacethepassreceiver/shooterfartherfromthedribbler/passerandemphasizetothepassreceivertobreakupaggressivelyandmeeteverypass.

Coachesplacethetwotrappers(insteadoftheonedefender)onthesamesidelinewiththeoffensiveplayersinthesamelocations.Therotationwouldbe01(theoriginaldribbler/passer)movestoX2’sspot(thetrapperontheleft),whileX2movestoX3’sspot(theoriginaltrapperontheright),whileX3rotatesto04’sspot(theoriginalpassreceiver/shooter),and04becomesthenextdribbler/passer.Afterjustfourminutes,allfourplayershaverotatedtothefourpositions.

Anotherfourminutescanbeusedsothateachplayercanpracticehisskillsusingtheoppositefootasthepivotfoot(whentheyarethedribbler/passerandwhentheyarethepassreceiver/shooter).Withalltheoffensive(aswellasdefensive)fundamentalspracticed,youwillhaveusedonlyeightminutesofpracticed.

MassBallhandlingandPivotingDrill

Diagram2-21illustratesanothermassdrillfeaturingballhandlersagainsttrappingdefenders.Inthisdrill,theinitialpasser(01inthediagram)usesthesametechniquesofpivotingandpassingtodefeattheinitialtrappingdefense(ofX2andX3).

Thefirstpassreceiver(04inDiagram2-21and010inDiagram2-22)worksonthevariousimportantoffensivefundamentalssuchas:

•Meetingthepass

•Protectingthecatchwithhisbody(byturninghisbodyslightlybeforeandasthecatchismade)

•Pivotingawayfromthedefense(ormanager)

•Extendingthepasstoasecondcuttingteammate(05or011)

•Havingthesecondreceivercut,catchtheball,andthenshoottheballwithapowershot(05inDiagram2-21and011inDiagram2-22)

Diagram2-21

Diagram2-22

Thefirstpassreceiver/secondpasser(04inDiagram2-21and010inDiagram2-22)mustworkontheproperoffensivefundamentalsofpivoting.Thisdrillemphasizestheoffensiveconcept:“Whenevertheballispassedintothemiddleofatrappingdefense,looktoimmediatelyextendthepasstoanotherteammate.”

Diagrams2-21and2-22showthegeneralsetupofthedrill.Diagram2-21showsthesetupwiththeoffenseinitiallyattackingfromtherightsideofthecourt,whileDiagram2-22showstheoffensebeginningitsattackofhalf-courtpressurefromtheleftsideofthefloor.Theadministrationofthisdrillcouldbeleftuptothecoachingstaff’sdiscretion,butitissuggestedthatallfiveplayersstayinthesamepositionsforthreeorfourrepetitions,beforerotating(01toX2toX3to04to05).Keepingtheplayersinthespecificpositionstheyplayinduringthegamesisanotherwaytorunthedrill.

Summary

Withoutballhandlingskills,anoffensiveteamfails.Theoffensecannevermakeuseoftheirotherskills.Forexample,anoffensiveteamhasgreatpostplayerswhocanscoreefficientlyfromtheinside.Thosepostplayerscannotexcelatwhattheydobestifthatteamcannotdelivertheballtothosespecificplayers.Assumingthatateamhasaverygoodhalf-courtoffensefilledwithgreatperimetershooters,ifthatteamcannotadvancetheballintothefrontcourt,thenthoseoffensiveshootingskillsandtalentsarewasted.

Withoutthebasicfundamentalsofpassingthebasketballtoadvancetheballintothefrontcourtortogettheballintothehandsofthedominantscorerswithintheoffense,theoffensewillbeineffectiveandwasted.

Withoutthebasicfundamentalsofdribbling,anoffensewillstrugglewithadvancingtheballtowarditsbasket.Asimportantaspassing,catching,anddribblingaretotheoffensiveschemesateampossesses,itisstillthemostelementaryfundamentalskill.Pivotingactuallyprecedesthetwoskillsofpassinganddribbling.Pivotingisthemostelementaryskillneededtoperformthefundamentalskillsofcatching,passing,anddribblingthebasketball.The

ultimateimportanceoftheskillofpivotingandthepropertechniquesofpivotingmustbeaddressedbybothcoachingstaffsandplayers.

Asimportantasballhandlingistotheoveralloffensiveschemes,theartofpivotingismoreimportant.Thus,theartofpivotingisessentialtotheoffensivesuccessofabasketballteam.Playerswhocannotpivotcannotgetintoproperpositiontodribbleorpasswithoutcommittingaturnover.

ImportantPivotsoftheShooter

“Shootingmakesupforamultitudeofsins.”—CoachHubieBrown

Anoldadageinbasketballgoesasfollows:“Offensewinsgames,butdefensewinschampionships.”Thatstatementisveryaccurate,particularlyfordefense-mindedbasketballcoaches.Butdespitethatfirmbelief,itiswidelyknownthatthegreatestdefenseyourteamcanplaywillnotholdyouropponentscoreless.Soinordertowin,ateammustbeabletoscore.Tobeabletoscore,ateammustbeabletoshootthebasketballwell.Howmanytimeshaveyouseenateamrunagreatoffensewithgoodcrisppassing,cutting,screening,andintelligentmovementofallfiveoffensiveplayersthatproducesgoodshotopportunitiesandnotscorebecauseofpoorshooting?

Goodoffensiveteamsmusthavegoodshootersandanoffensiveschemethatcanfreeupthoseshooters.Shooters’shouldersmustbecompletelysquareduptothebasketinlocationsonthecourtwheretheshootercanscore.Offensiveschemesmustprovidetheshotswheretheleastamountofdefensiveresistanceexists.

Allshootersshootthebasketballbetterwiththeleastamountofdefensivepressureonthem.Ateam’soffensiveschemescanhelpeliminatethatdefensivepressure,buteachindividualoffensiveplayermusthelpreducetheamountofdefensivepressureplaceduponhisshot.Offensiveshootersusetime-proventechniquesandmethodspriortotheactualtakingoftheshottoproducetheirownspaceanddistancefromtheirdefendersandthereforereducethepressureonthem.Again,theartofpivotingisessentialtotheoffensivemovesofashooter.

Shootersmustalwaysbeintheprocessofgettingtheirfeetandhandsreadyevenbeforetheyreceiveapass.Gettingthefeetandhandsreadyisaphrasethatsimplymeansthattheshooter(orpotentialpassreceiver/shooter)shouldbepreparinghisstepssothatheisundercontrolandbalancedandcanquicklyexecutetheproperfootworkoncetheballisactuallyreceived.The“handsready”partofthephrasesimplymeansthatthepotentialpassreceiver/shootershouldhavebothhandsuptoalwaysbepreparedtocatchtheballandthatthehandsarealreadyveryclosetothesamepositionthattheyshouldbeinwhenactuallyshootingthebasketball.Thehandsareintheshootingpocketwithboththeshootinghandandtheguidehandinalmosttheexactlocationtheywouldbeiftheballwereactuallyintheoffensiveplayer’shands.Havingthehandsupandalreadyinverycloseproximitytotheshootingpocketalsohelpsthepasseroutbygivinghimanexacttargetofwherethereceiverwantstheballpassedtohim.Youshouldtellthepassreceiversthattheirhandpositionhelpsmakethepasserabetterpasser(bygivingthepasseranexcellenttarget,similartoabaseballcatchergivingatargettoapitcher.)Shooterswhowanttogettheirshotoffquicker(toavoidmaximumdefensivepressure)musthavetheirfeetandhandsreadytoreceivethepass,thencatchtheball,squareuptothebasket,andthenshoot.Forashootertobereadytoshoot,theplayermusthavetheknowledgeandskillstoperformtheproperpivotsquicklyinordertogethisshoulderssquaredupandtogettheshotoffbeforeanopposingdefendercanputmoredefensivepressureonhim.Inessence,theshootermustknowhowtocreatespaceanddistancefromhisdefender,whetheroffthedribbleoroffthepass.Thatimportantconceptinvolvestheproperfootworkofthepassreceiver/shooter.

ThreePivotsofShooters

Threedifferentmethodsofpivotingsuccessfullyenableshooterstogettheirshotoffquickerandthereforewithlessdefensivepressure.Acoachcanteachallthreemethods,orhecanlimithisplayerstolearninganddevelopingoneortwoofthesemethods.Oncethemethodhasbeenchosenbythecoachingstaff,theyshouldcomprehensivelypresentthatmethodtotheplayers.Thereasonthatmethodistobeusedshouldbethoroughlyunderstoodbybothcoachingstaffsandplayersalike.Themethodshouldthenbethoroughlytaughtanddemonstratedtotheplayers.Theplayersshouldhavenumerousopportunitiestopracticethemethodwithacloseandpositivescrutinybytheentirecoachingstaff.

Onemethodcouldsimplybecalledthetwo-stephop.Astheballisbeingpassedtotheshooter,thepassreceiver/shootertakesahopwithbothfeetashealsosquaresuptothebasket.Eitherfootbecomestheactualpivotfoot,andtheshooterquicklybecomessquareduptothebasketasthepivotismade.

Anothermethodthatmanycoachesbelieveinistoteacheveryshootertouseadesignatedpivotfoot,regardlessofwhatsideofthefloorheison.Thestrongpointinthismethodisthatitspecializeseachshooterintobeingveryproficientinhispivoting(alwaysoffonespecificfoot)whilecatchingtheball.

Anothermethodofpreparingtoshoottheballafterreceivingthepassisthepivotingofftheinsidefootmethod.Thismethodrequirespivotingoffthefootthatistheinsidefootinrelationshiptothecourt.Shootersontheoffense’sleftsideofthecourtwillusetherightfootasthedesignatedpivotfootwhenfacingthebasketandtheleftfootwhentheirbackisoriginallytothebasketastheyareabouttoreceivethepass,andviceversawhenthepassreceiver/shooterisontheoppositesideofthecourt.

Eachshooternotonlypivotsofftheinsidefoot,buttheshooterpivotsofftheinsideheeloftheinsidefoot.Pivotingofftheinsideheelstopsthemomentuminthedirectionthepotentialshooterwasgoingasacutter(ordribbler).Thismomentummustbestoppedsothatthenewmomentumcanbeshiftedtothedirectionofthebasket.Allowingtheoriginalmomentumtocontinuecancausetheshootertofallawayfromthebasketaftertheshotortodrifttoonesideortheotherduringandaftertheshot.

Allshootersshouldrisestraightupandcomestraightdown.Ifanylandingoccursaftertheshot,itshouldbeonlyfallingslightlyforwardtowardthetarget.

Ifthemomentumoftheinitialcutwaslaterallytoeithertherightortheleftofthebasket,orifthecutoriginatedclosertothebasketandcontinuesoutawayfromthebasket,themomentumofthosetypesofcutsmustbecompletelystopped.Thismovecanbedonebythecutter(ordribbler)pivotingofftheinsideheel,immediatelybeforetheactualshot.Pivotingofftheinsideheelalsoallowsforasimple,smooth,andeasypivot,whichgetstheshooterquicklysquaredup,facingthebasket.Inaddition,thequickpivotgetstheshooter’sfeetandlegsdirectlybelowthebodyoftheshooter.

Anaccurateshootermustbeabletoseethebasketassoonaspossible.Doingsoenablestheshootertobemoreaccurate.Properfootwork,whichprimarilyinvolvesthepivot,helpsenabletheshootertoseethebasketsooner,aswellasallowinghimtoreleasehisshotmuchquicker.

FormerNBAplayerAntoineWalkerwasonceaskedbyESPNaboutthetechniquesofhisthree-pointshootingsuccess.Hisanswerwas:First,“Getmyfeetset;”second,“Getmyhandsallreadytogo;”andthird,“Getmylegsupunderme.”Usingthe(inside)heelpivotandhavingthehandsupandreadycanverymuchaccomplishAntoine’sNBAgoal.

Shooter’sPivotsOffScreens

Diagram3-1showsanexampleofacutter(02)comingoffadownscreen(withhisbackinitiallytowardthebasket)whileontheoffense’sleftsideofthecourtwiththefullintentionofshootingafterhereceivesthepass.Hefirstwillhavetosethisdefenderupbeforereceivingthedownscreenthatwillfreehimuptotaketheshotoffthepass.Todothat,hewillhavetomakeagame-realisticV-cutbysteppingintothelanewiththatinsidefoot.02’sinitialinsidefoot(withhisbacktothebasket)ishisleftfoot.Hethenmakesachangeofdirectionbyplantingthatinsidefoot,followedbyastepwiththerightfootjustpriortoreceivingthedownscreen.

Diagram3-1

Afterscrapingoffthedownscreenandgettingopen,hewouldthenreceivethepass.Uponreceivingthepass,thepotentialperimeterjumpshooterusestheleft(inside)footasthepivotfoot.Withhisbacktothebasket,inthiscasetheleftfootisthatinsidefoot.Inthisexample,04isthedownscreener.04screensfor02nearthelowpostblock.X4stillmustguard04andwillfollowhimashesetsthescreenonX2.Aftersettingthedownscreen,04canslipthatscreenandduckintothemiddleofthelanetopossiblybecomeagreaterscoringthreatthan02isontheperimeter.04willsetthescreenandeithermakeareversepivotoffhisinsidefoot(whichwouldbehisrightfootinthisinstance)tosealoffhisdefenderandpostupnearthelane,or04couldmakeaforward(crossover)pivotwiththesameinsidefootasthepivotfoot.Boththeoriginalcutterandthescreenermustmaketheappropriatepivots,usingthepropertechniquestobecomeviablescoringthreats.

Ifacutterisscrapingoffadownscreenontheoppositesideofthecourt,thatcutter’sinitialinsidefootandplantfootalongwiththedownscreener’sinsidefootandpivotfootwouldbetheoppositefeetrespectively.

ItmustbenotedthatthefollowingdiscussionsanddescriptionsofV-cutsdoesnotnecessarily(andreallyshouldnot)meanthataV-cutisjustasinglejabstep.TheV-cutcouldbemanymorestepsthataretryingtosellthedefendersthattheoffensiveplayerisgoinginonedirectionfurtherintoorthroughthelane,when,infact,thecutteriswantingtocutintheoppositedirection.ThreestepsshouldbeanadequateseriesofstepsthatcouldbedescribedasthesingularV-cut.

Diagram3-2showsaslightlydifferentoffensiveaction.Inthiscase,03stepsfromthelowpostarea(ontherightsideofthecourt)toseta(small-on-big)backscreenonX5for05,whoisinitiallyfacingthebasket.03startswithhisbacktothebasket.03’sinsidefoot(orpivotfoot)istherightfoot.After05makesaV-cuttowardthemiddleofthefloortosethisdefenderup,heshouldthenplanttheinside(left)footbeforereceivingthebackscreen.05thenscrapesoffof03’sbackscreenandcutstothebasketforapossiblelobpassandhighpercentageshot.

Diagram3-2

Thelobpasstothelobcutterisnottheonlyoffensivescoringthreat.Aftersettingthebackscreen,03canslipthescreenandstepoutontheperimetertobecomeapotentialpasser/driver/shooter.

03usesthesametypeoffootworkasifheweretheoffensiveplayertoreceiveadownscreentogetopenontheperimeter,aspreviouslydiscussed.Hemayfeelhewillbecomeaninstantjumpshooterorcouldbecomejustapasser/driverontheperimeterafterslippingthebackscreenhesetfor05.Thatdecisionmostlikelywillaffectwhattypeofpivot03shoulduseandwhichfootwillbehisactualpivotfoot.Inthissituation,03frontpivotsoffhisinitialright(inside)foottobecomeanimmediateshootingthreat.Ifhedoesn’texpecttobeanimmediateshootingthreat,03couldmakeareversepivot(whichcouldbecalledaninsidepivotsincethepivotisactuallytowardsthebasket)offhisoutsidefoot(theleftfootinthiscase).Uponcatchingtheballandpivotinginthismanner,03isin

triple-threatposition,facingthebasket.Henowhashisnewinsidefootashispivotfootandhisoutsidefootasthefreefoot(todrivetowardthebaselineonhisparticularsideofthecourt).

Diagram3-3shows04settingabackflarescreenfor02ontheoffense’sleftsideofthecourt.With02facingthebasket,02setshisdefenderupbyV-cuttingtowardthemiddlebeforethenscrapingoff04’sflarescreentowardtheoutsideperimeterarea.HisV-cutwillbeexecutedbyplantinghisright(inside)footandthensteppingoutwithhisoutsidefootandcuttingoffof04’sscreentomakehisflarecuttowardstheleftwingarea.02remainssomewhatfacingthebasketandthepasser,beforereceivingtheskippassfrom03.Hecanthenbecomeanimmediateoffensivetriplethreatbymakingaslightfrontpivotoffhisoriginalinside(right)footandswinginghisfree(left,inthissituation)footaroundtocompletethefullsquaringuptothebasket.Somewhatfacingtheskippasserandthebasketallowsforsuccessfulcompletionofthepassaswellasbeingabletogettheshotoffevenmorequicklyfromtheskippass.

Theflarescreener(04)startswithhisbacktothebasket.Aftersettinghisscreen,04canslipthescreenbypoppingoutontheperimeterorbysteppingintothelanetowardtheball.Ifhefeelshecangetanimmediateshotoffthepass,04slipstheflarescreenandcutstowardtheball.Ifhereceivesthepass,heshouldfrontpivotoffhisinsidefoot(theleftfootfromtheleftsideofthecourtandwithhisbacktothebasket)tosquareupforanimmediatejumpshotneartheelbowarea.

Diagram3-4illustratesvarioustypesofoffensiveaction,includingV-cuts,screens,slippingofscreens,anddifferenttypesofpivots.01makesapassto02,whohasfreedhimselffromhisdefender.02hasmadeanexaggeratedV-cuttogetopenatthefreethrowlineextended.02startsbyfacingthebasketandmakesabackdoorcutbeforeplantinghisoutside(left)footandpushesoffwiththatsamefoot.Heuseshisinside(right)foottopopoutbacktohisoriginalarea.When02catchestheballwithhisbacktothebasket,hemustquicklydecideifheisgoingtobeapotentialshooterorpasser/driver.Thisdecisionwilldictatewhichtypeofpivotandwhichfootwillbethepivotfoot,ashasbeenpreviouslydiscussed.

Diagram3-3

Diagram3-4

03startsontheoffense’sleftmid-postblockareawithhisbacktothebasketandisgoingtoreceiveastaggerscreenfrom05andtheoriginalpasser(01).Thisstaggerscreenshouldfree03fromhisdefender,X3.03wantstogetopennearthetopofthekeyforajumpshotwithminimaldefensivepressure.

Tofreehimselfofhisdefender,03mustalsomakeastrongV-cuttosethisdefenderupevenbeforethestaggerscreenaction(of05and01)begins.03wouldplanthisinsidefoot(leftinthiscase)andthenstepuptoreceivethe

staggerscreenssetbyteammates01and05(astheoutsidescreenerandtheinsidescreenerrespectively)withhisrightfoot.Thefrontpivotversusthereversepivotallows03tobeabletoalwaysseeallfourimportantpiecesoftheoffensiveaction:thepasserwiththebasketball,thetwostaggerscreeners,andhisdefender.

Whenastaggerscreenisset,itismostlikelythatthecutterreceivingthescreenshouldhaveanopenshotopportunitysomewhereontheperimeter.03shouldscrapeoffthescreenandpreparehimselfforthequickshotoffthepassbygettinghisfeetandhandsready.

Diagram3-5showstheactualfootworkofthecutter(03)aswellasbothscreeners(01and05)inthestaggerscreenaction.Thisfootworkentailsthat03pivotoffhisinside(left)heelashescrapesoff01’soutsideshoulderandpeeksaroundthestaggerscreentoreceivethebasketballfrom02.Scrapingoffthescreenandcuttingtowardthepasserhelpsprepare03formoresuccessfullyreceivingthepassaswellasshootingmorequicklyoffthescreensandthereforegreatlyreducingtheamountofdefensivepressureonhisshot.

03isnottheonlyoffensiveplayerusingvarioustypesofpivotsinthisaction.InDiagram3-5,01reversepivotsoffthefootfarthestfromtheballanddriftsoutofthelane.Thereversepivotallows01tomaintainsightoftheballandthepasser(02),the

Diagram3-5

cutter(03)andthesecondscreener(05).Thesecondscreener,theinsidescreener(05),alsomakesareversepivotoffthefootclosesttotheball(therightfootinthiscase),opensuptotheballandstepsbacktowardthebasketball.Inthispivot,05picksupsightoftheballearlierashecutstowardtheballandthemiddleofthefreethrowlane.

Diagram3-6showsaballscreensetby04for01.01scrapesofftheoutsideshoulderof04totherightwingarea.Aftersettingtheballscreen,04rollstothebasket.04couldpossiblysettheballscreenbeforethenreceivingascreen-the-screenerscreen-and-lobcuttothebasket,orhecouldpossiblythenreceiveaflarescreenfollowedbyhisflarecuttothewidewingarea,orhecouldsimplysliphisballscreenandremainoutsideasaperimeterplayerinwhatcanbecalledpick-and-popaction.04slipsthescreenandstayoutsideofthethree-pointlineasapotentialoffensivetriplethreat.Theproperfootworkfor04touseinthepick-and-popactionistoreversepivot(offtheinsidefoot)sothathecanmoreeasilymaintainsightoftheball,thebasket,andhisdefenderbeforereceivingthepotentialthrowbackpass.

Diagram3-6

Diagrams3-7and3-8show02comingoffscreenswhileinitiallyfacingthebasket.Inbothinstances,02mustutilizeafrontpivotwiththeinsidepivotfoot(rightfoot)tosquareuptothebasketasapotentialshooterorpasser.

Diagram3-7showstheactionofaflarescreensetby05for02sothat01canmakeaskippassto02ontheweaksidewingarea.Since02hasstayedmainlyfacingthebasket,heshouldpivotoffhisinsideheel(therightheel)andmaketheshortswingofhisfreefoot(left)tocompletelysquareuptothebaskettobeabletomorequicklyshootofftheskippass.

Theflarescreener(05)couldalsobeasecondaryscoringthreatafterslippinghisflarescreenbysimplysteppingtowardtheball.Initiallywithhisbacktothebasket,05couldthenmakeafrontpivotoffhisinside(left)footashecatchesthepassfrom01toattackhisdefender.

Diagram3-7

Diagram3-8

Diagram3-8showsatypicalbaselineout-of-boundsplaywith03receivingscreensontheoffensiveleftsideofthecourt.02setsuphisdefenderwithaV-cutbeforecuttingtowardthescreener.TheV-cutbeginswithastepwiththeinsidefoot(right)beforeusingafrontcrossoverstepashescrapesoffthescreen(setby05and03,respectively).Inbothcases,atthemomentofcatchingtheball,02wouldmakeafrontpivotofftheinside(right)heelandswingtheoutsidefreefoot(left)aroundtosquareuptothebasket.Thismoveallows02toquicklytakeashotimmediatelyofftheinboundspassfrom01.

Diagram3-9shows02ontheleftsideofthecourtcomingoffadoublescreenwhilesomewhatfacingboththebasketandtheball(in03’shandsontherightsideofthefloor).02cutsoffthedoublescreenintothelaneashelookstoreceivetheballfrom03,whoislocatednearthefreethrowlineextendedontherightsideofthecourt.Tosethisdefender(X2)up,02mustfirstmakeaV-cutbysteppingtowardthebasket,plantinghisleftfootasthepivotfoot,andthenmakingafrontcrossoverstepto

Diagram3-9

scrapeoffthetopscreener’s(05)highshoulder.02cutsacrossthelaneandprepareshisfeetandhandstoreceivethepassfrom03.Ifhefeelshewillhaveanopenjumpshotimmediatelyoffthepass,hewouldplantandpivotoffhisinsideheel(leftfoot)beforeswinginghisoutsidefoot(right)tosquareupand

quicklygethisjumpshotoff.

Thesameoveralloffensivetechniqueforthecutters/shootersshouldagainbeusedtogetthefeetandhandsready.Ifeitherscreener(04or05)seeshisdefendertryingtoswitchorhedgeonthecutter,hecouldslipthescreenandsteptowardtheballandintothelane,whilealsogettinghisfeetandhandsready.Ifheisfacingtheoriginalcutter(02)towardtheoutside,hewouldhavetoreversepivotwiththecontactfoot(thefootclosesttotheirdefender)toeffectivelysealoffthedefender.

Inthisexample,X5isplayingonthetopsideofhisman.05wouldhavetoreversepivot,usinghistopfootasthecontactfootandthereforethepivotfoot.05wouldswinghisrightfootintoX5andsealX5off,withhishandsupwhilelookingforthebasketballfrom03ashestepsfartherintothelane.X4isplayingonthelowsideof04,whichdictatesthat04makeareversepivotoffhisright(low)footandswinghisleftfootintoX4tosealoffhisdefender.Hishandsoughttobereadyalso.

Diagram3-10isanexampleof02settingaballscreenfor01,receivingaback/flarescreenfrom04,andthenreceivingaskippassfrom01ontherightsideoftheoffense.Thisscreenisthetraditionalpick-the-pickeraction,withthenewcutter/shooter(02)facingthebasket(ontheoffense’srightsideofthecourt).

Diagram3-10

Diagram3-10has02facingtheoffense’srightsidelinewhilealignedatthetopofthekey,andthensettingtheballscreenfor01todribblescrapeoffasheheadstothefreethrowlineextendedontheoffense’sleftside.04stepsuptosetaflarescreenfor02tomakeaflarecuttothefreethrowlineextendedontherightsideofthecourt.As02scrapesoff04’sflarescreenandflarecuts,heshouldalreadystarttosquarehisshouldersuptothebasket.02startstofacethebasketaswellaslookoverhisinside(left,inthiscase)shoulderforthepasser(either01or04).02’sfootworkshouldbethesameasanypotentialshooterthatisfacingthebasketontherightsideofthecourt.02shouldpivotoffhisinside(left)heelandmakeafrontpivotwithhisoutside(right)foottosquareupandbecomeanimmediateoffensivetriplethreatwhenhereceivestheskippass.

PivotsUsedinStationaryShooting(FacingtheBasket)

Theonlyexceptiontothe“insidefootisthepivotfoot”ruleforallprospectiveshootersoffthepassisthestationaryshooterwhoisalreadyfacinghisbasket,particularlyinzoneoffensesandsometimesinspecificmanoffenses.Ifthestationaryshooterhasadistinctpreferenceinhavingaspecificfootasthepivotfoot,coachescouldallowtheshootertousethatfavoritepivotfoot.Mostright-handedshootersprefertousetheleftfootasthepivotfoot,while,conversely,themajorityofleft-handedshootersliketousetherightfootasthepivotfoot.

Diagram3-11illustratesaright-handedshooter,settingupinastationaryposition,ontheleftwinginahalf-courtoffensiveset.Ifthisright-handedshooterhasastrongpreferenceofusingtheleftfootasthepivotfoot,theshooterlinesupwiththeleftfootasthepivotfoot,slightlyaheadoftherightfoot.Theplayer’srightfootopensuptofacethepointguard,withthepivotfoot(left)facingthebasket,whilethehandsarealreadyinpositiontocatch(andimmediatelyshootoffthecatch).Astheballiscaught,theheeloftheleftpivotfoottouchesthefloor.Therightfootstepsup,andtheballisimmediatelypulledintotheshootingpocket.Theshotcanbetakenmorequicklyandthereforewithlessdefensiveresistanceifalloftheproper(feetandhandpreparation)fundamentalsandtechniquesareutilized.Lessdefensivepressuremakesthechanceofscoringoffthisshotmorelikelytobesuccessful.

Diagram3-11

Diagram3-12showsthesamehalf-courtoffensivescenario,butontheoffense’srightsideofthecourt.Theright-handedpassreceiverlineshisfeetupwiththeleftfootagainasthepivotfootandslightlyaheadoftheright(free)foot.Thepassreceiverhasalreadystartedsquaringhisshouldersuptowardthebasketandhashishandsupandready(tocatchandshootinstantlyoffthepass.).Thistechniqueallowstheshootermoretimetogettheshotoffwithlessdefensivepressure.

Diagram3-12

Goingbacktotheoffensiveleftsideofthecourt,Diagram3-13illustratesahalf-courtleft-handedshooterwhopreferstousetherightfootasthepivotfoot.Beinginastationaryposition,thehalf-courtoffensiveplayerstartshisinitialpositionoffacingthebasketevenbeforethepassismade.Therightfootisthefavoredpivotfootandstartsslightlyaheadoftheleftfoot.Thatinside(right)footthatistobethepivotfootisalreadyfacingthebasket.Bothhandsareturnedtowardthepasser.Bothhandsarealreadypositionedsothatassoonastheballiscaught,thehandscanbringtheballbackintotheshootingpocketandimmediatelyshoottheball.Again,thistechnique

Diagram3-13

shouldmakethepasseramoreaccuratepassernowthathehasaspecifictargettopasstheballto.Thispivotshouldhelptheshootergethisshotoffmorequickly,whichisagreatadvantagetotheshooter.

Diagram3-14illustratestheleft-handedshooterontherightsideofthecourt,stillfavoringusingtherightfootasthepivotfoot.Inthishalf-courtoffense,thepassreceiver/shootercansetupwiththepivotfootalreadyfacingthebasketandthefree(left)footsomewhatfacingthepasser.Thehandsarefacingthepasser,againpresentingthepasserwithaverygoodpassingtarget.Whentheballis

caught,theballissimultaneouslybroughtintotheshootingpocketasthefreefootisbroughtslightlyforwardtosquaretheshouldersandfacingthebasket.

Coachesshouldonlyallowshootersthisexceptiontotheruleofpivotingofftheinsidefootwhentheshooterhasaverystrongpreference.Thisexceptionshouldoccuronlywheninahalf-courtoffensewithstationaryprospectiveshooters,inzoneormanoffenses.

Diagram3-14

ShootingOfftheMove:CuttingorDribbling

Shootingoffadribbleorshootingoffapassthatisprecededbyacutarebothshootingoffthemove.Whenashootershootstheballoffthedribble,coachesshouldusethesameconcepts,methods,techniques,andcoaching/teachingphrasesaswhentheshooterisreceivingthepassandthenquicklyshootingtheballoffacut.Thetimingandpositioningofthefeetandhandsshouldbealmostidentical,whiletherhythmshouldalsobethesame.Thedribblersorcuttersshouldstaybalancedastheyaremovingandtheyshouldbeaquickastheycanbewithoutlosingtheall-importantbalanceandbodycontrolfactors.AsCoachJohnWoodenalwayspreaches,“Bequick,butnotinahurry.”

Ifadribblerisontheleftsideofthecourtdribblingtowardthebasket,thedribblermustdribblewiththeoutside(left)handthatisthefarthestfromthedefender.Whencomingtoastop,thedribblerpivotsofftheinsideheeloftheinsidefoot.Thispivotisdoneforthesamereasonsasacutter/passreceiverthatisbreakingtoanopenspotontherightsideofthecourt.Utilizingtheheeloftheinsidefootimmediatelystopsthelateralmomentumofthedribbler,whichallowstheshootertorisestraightupandcomebackdowninalmostthesamespotwherehetookoff.Ifashooterdoesnotlandwherehehaslaunched,ashooter’saccuracywillgreatlydecrease.GoodshootersdonotfallawayorfloateithertotheleftortotherightThedribblermakesthelastdribblebeforetheshotthelowestandthehardestdribbleofallofhisdribbles.Thistechniquehelpsgeneratemomentumfortheshooter’sactualtakeofforlaunchforthejumpshot.Thehandsshouldbeinaverysimilarproximityasiftheshooterwerecatchingthebasketballfromateammate’spass.Therhythmandfluidityofgettingbothhandsquicklyandeasilyintotheshootingpocketshouldbenearlyidenticalforapotentialshooterinboththepassreceivingandthedribblingscenarios.Thecloserthetwosimilaritiesareinthetwoscenarios,thebettertheshooterwillbeinbothfacets—shootingoffthepassandshootingoffthedribble.

Diagram3-15showsadribblerdribblingtohisleft.Thisapproachmakestheoutsidehand(awayfromthedefender)thelefthand,whiletheinsidefootistherightfoot.Theheeloftheinsidefootshoulddriveitselfstraightdownhardintothefloorattheexacttimethatthelastdribblehitsthefloor.Thistechniqueisidenticalinwhatshouldbetaughtforacutterthatisreceivingthepassandinstantlyshootingoffthepass.Thecutter/shootershoulddrivehisinsideheeldownthemomenttheballishittinghisshooting(target)hand.Theleft(free)footshouldswingaroundtofinishsquaringuptheshouldersastheballispulledintotheshootingpocketwithboththeshootinghandandtheguidehandastheshooterbeginshisjump.

Diagram3-15

Diagram3-16displaysadribblerdribblingtohisright.Thisapproachmakestheoutsidehand(awayfromthedefender)therighthand,whiletheinsidefootorthepivotfootisnowtheleftfoot.Asthelastdribbleismade,theleftheelshouldbedrivingdowntoagainstopthelateraloffensivemomentumofthepotentialshooter.Astheballispulledintotheshootingpocket,thefree(right)footswingsaroundtofacethebasket(tosquareupfortheshot)andisquicklyfollowedbytheactualjumpingbytheshooter.

Diagram3-16

BreakdownPivotingDrillsforShooters

Toimprovethefootwork(andthehandwork)oftheshooters,itisimperativethatacoachingstaffhasseveralbreakdowndrillsthatdealwithnothingbuttheproperfootworkneededforagoodshootertobesuccessful.Later,otherdrillsinvolvingtheactualshootingoftheballcanbeincorporated.

Tomakethesebreakdowndrillsmoretime-efficientandtogetmorereceivers/shootersinvolvedinthedrillssimultaneously,coachescouldhavethepassreceiverspasstheballtothemselvesbytossingtheballslightlyoutinfrontofthem.Toconcentrateonnothingbutthefootwork(andhandwork)offthepass,coachescouldhavethepassreceivers/shooterstosstheballtothemselvesbutnotactuallyshoottheball(atabasket).Thisapproachallowstheplayerstofocusonwhatthestaffwantsthemtoconcentrateonaswellassavevaluablepracticetime.Theactualshootingoftheballwillnotbeadistractionorconsumevaluabletime,whenthetimeissolelyspentonexecutingtheproperfootworkandhandworkforpotentialshootersoffthepass.

Afterthereceivers/shooterscatchthepass(fromthemselves),eachshootershouldpivotofftheinsidefoot,squareup(toanimaginarybasket),andstop.Bynotshootingtheball,atremendousamountoftimeissavedandnodistractionsaremade.

Byusingthecirclesatapossiblesixfreethrowlinesandthecenterjumpcircleinatypicalgymnasium,visualreferencesandguidesforeachandeverydrillparticipantisavailable.

Threeorfourplayerscansetupateachofthesesevenlocations.Theplayerscanbeinstructedtojogundercontrolinaclockwisedirectionslightlyoutsidethelineofthecircle.Aball,amanager,oracoachcanbepositionedintheexactcenterofeachcircletorepresentahypotheticalpasserwiththeball.Thiscentrallocationputsthehypotheticalpasserinthesamepositionandlocationregardlessofwherethevariouscutters/potentialpassreceivers/potentialshootersareonthecircle.Also,acoachinthecenterofacirclecanclearlyseethefootworkof

everyplayerinthespecificgroup.Theplayersonacommandaretoldtostarttheirjoggingaroundtheircircle.Onasecondcommand,eachplayerstopsthejogandtossestheballslightlyaheadofhimself.Hethenpivotsofftheheeloftheinsidefootashecatchesthepass(fromhimself),pullstheballintohisshootingpocketandsquaresuptothe(simulated)basketlocatedinthecenterofthecircle.

Onthenextcommand,allfourplayersstarttheirjogagainuntiltheyagainhearthenextcommandtopivotandsquareup.Afterseveralrepetitions,eachgroupoffourplayersswitchestheclockwisedirectionoftheirjogging.Joggingcounterclockwisearoundthecircleforceseachshootertonowusetheleftfootasthenewinsidepivotfoot.

Diagram3-17shows01,02,03,and04usingoneofthecirclesjogginginaclockwisedirectionandworkingontheproperfootworkandhandworkoffthesimulatedpass.Inthisclockwisedirection,allfourpotentialpassreceivers/shootersshouldbearoundthecircleundercontrolreadytocatchthepass(fromthemselves).Onthewhistle,allfourcutterstosstheirbasketballoutinfrontofthemtocatchthepass(fromthemselves).Astheycatchthepass,eachshouldmakeaquickbutundercontrolfrontpivotofftheinside(right)heeltocompletelysquareuptothe(imaginary)basketinthecenterofthecircle.Theyswingtheirfreefoot(left)aroundandtaketheshotatthecenterofthecircle.

AsshowninDiagram3-18,thissameformatofthefootworkdrillcanalsobeusedfordribblers/shooters,becausethebasicfootwork(andhandwork)techniquesforallcutters/shootersarethesameasforalldribblers/shooters.Inthissameclockwisedirection,allfourdribblersshouldbedribblingwiththeirheadupundercontrolandusingtheiroutside(left)hand.Onthewhistle,allfourdribblerspivotofftheirinside(right)heelandmakeafrontpivottosquareuptothe(imaginary)basketinthecenterofthecircle.Theyswingtheirfreefoot(left)aroundandtaketheshottotheimaginarybasket,locatedatthecenterofthecircle.

Tomakesureallplayerscanshootwhilecuttingordribblingfromtheirleftortheirright,thesetwodrillsshouldbeusedbygoinginbothdirections.Playersliketoworkondrillswheretheyarealreadyfundamentallystrong,butcoachesmustmotivateplayerstoworkonskillsandtechniqueswheretheplayersshowweaknessesand,therefore,mustimprovethosetechniques.

Diagram3-17

Diagram3-18

Diagram3-19illustrates05,06,07,and08startingatadifferentcircleandgoinginacounterclockwisedirection.Theseplayersdribblewiththeoutsidehand(righthand)andgoaroundthecircle.Onacommand,theykilltheirdribbleastheypivotofftheheeloftheinsidefoot(left)tosquareuptothesimulatedbasket.Onthenextcommand,thefourplayersstartdribblingawaitingthenextsignaltopivotofftheinsideheelandsquareupagain.

Diagram3-20illustratesthesameplayerspracticingtheirshootingfootwork

(andhandwork)techniquesgoinginthesamecounterclockwisedirection,butthistimeoffthepass.Again,thesametechniquesshouldbeused,andthesametimingandrhythmshouldbeemphasized.

Diagram3-19

Diagram3-20

Cutting,OutletPass,andShootingDrill

Adrillemphasizingproperfootworkandhandworkofbothcutters/shootersandrebounders,inadditiontotheactualshootingandoutletpassingofthebasketball

isdescribedinthefollowingsection.Diagram3-21showsfourpairsofplayersateachbasket.Eachplayerinthelanepassestheballtohiscuttingteammateontheperimeter(thefirstsessioninfrontofthethree-pointline,andthesecondsessionbehindthethree-pointline).Eachcutterstartsbyfacingthebasketandcuttingtohisright,gettinghisfeetandhandsreadytocatchandshoot.Thispositioningmakeseachcutter’sinsidefoottobetheleftfoot,whichwillbethepivotfootasthepassisreceived.Astheballisactuallycaught,theheeloftheinsidefootshouldbedrivendownandtheoutsidefreefoot(right)swingsaroundtosquareuptheshooter’sshouldersbeforetheshotistaken.

Diagram3-21

Aftertheshot,thepassingteammatereboundstheshot,whiletheshootingteammateagaingetshisfeetandhandsready.Therebounderscanalsoworkonreadingthetrajectoryoftheshotandthepropertechniquesofreboundingthebasketball.Therebounder(nowtheoutletpasser)canworkonthepropertechniquesofpivotingoffhisoutsidefootandmakingafrontpivot(awayfromtheimaginaryopponent),swinginghisinsidefootaroundbeforemakingatwo-handoverheadoutletpasstoateammateinthedrill(seeChapter5).

Whenthereboundersecurestherebound,thecutterstartsthenextcutinthesamedirection,andtherebounderpassestheballagaintothecuttingshooter.Thecuttingshootercontinuestherotationaroundtheperimeterofthecourtuntilhegetsthedeepcornerspot,whereherunsout-of-bounds.Afterwards,thecuttershouldsprintacrossthebaselineandstartinthedeepcornerontheoppositeside

ofthefloor.Afteradesignatednumberofshots,thepassingreboundersswitchpositionswiththecuttingshooters.

Afterbothplayersinthetwo-mangrouphaveexecutedthedrill,thedrillcanthenberepeatedinthesamedirection,butwiththecuttingshootersnotshootingimmediatelyoffthepass.Instead,thecutter/shootercatchestheball,shotfakes,andthendribblesoneortwodribblesbeforeactuallyshootingoffthedribble.Thecutter/dribbler/shooterusesthesametechniques,pivotingofftheheeloftheinsidefoot,swingingthefreefootaroundtosquareuptheshoulders,andshootingthebasketballwithafundamentallysoundfollow-through.

Thisdrillalsocanberunforpassreceivers/shootersorforcutters/shootersgoingineitheraclockwiseoracounterclockwisedirection.Thethirdvariationofthisdrillcouldbeforplayerstoexecuteagame-realisticshotfake,beforedribblingarequirednumberoftimesbeforeshooting.

Individual,group,andteamgoalscouldbeestablishedwhenthesedrillsareexecuted,sothateachdrillofferspressureandcompetition.Thisapproachmakesthedrillsmoreexciting,lessmundanefortheplayers,aswellasmoregamerealisticand,therefore,moreproductiveforallinvolved.

Summary

Teachingtheproperfootworkandhandworkforalloffensiveplayersandthencloselyobserving,critiquing,andcorrectingthoseplayersduringspecificbreakdowndrillswillallowthoseplayerstobecomemoreproficientinalloftheimportantshootingfundamentalsandtechniques.Thisapproachwillgiveplayersamuchgreateropportunitytosucceedwhileshootingtheball.Havingpropermechanicsandtechniquesforallshooterscannotbeminimizedandtakenlightly.

Asimportantasshootingistotheoveralloffensiveschemesofabasketballteam,theartofpivotingisjustasimportant.Pivotingisanintegralpartofrebounding,passing,gettingopentoreceiveapass,passreceiving,andoverallshootingtechniques.Theartofpivotingisessentialtotheoveralloffensivesuccessofabasketballteam.

ImportantPivotsoftheOffensivePostPlayer

“Footworkandbalancearenecessaryeverymomentofagame.”

—CoachPeteNewell

Manybasketballcoachesbelievethatgoinginsideonoffenseisoneofthemostimportantconceptsofoffensivebasketball.Goinginsideallowsanoffensiveteamgreateropportunitiesforclosehighpercentageshots.Goinginsideallowsanoffensegreateropportunitiestodrawfouls,therebyshootingmorefreethrows.Italsoplacestheopponents’defensiveplayersintopotentialfoultrouble,therebyreducingopposingplayersplayingtimeandtheiroffensivescoringcontributions,theirrebounding,andtheirdefensivepostplay.Goinginsidecanverylikelyalsosetupanoutsidegame,givingtheoffensiveteamamorewell-

balancedandmoredifficultoffensethatcanthatcanattacktheopposition’sdefense.

Passingtheballinsiderequiresseveraldifferentpivotingtechniques.Forpassreceivers,itisextremelyimportantininitiatingtheprocessofscoringpointsinthepaintforpostplayerstopossesstheskillsneededtogetopenagainstaggressivepostdefenders.Butgettingopeninsidefollowedbythepassinsidestilldoesn’tproducepointsfortheoffense.

Theactualscoringofpointsrequiresthefinalseriesofoffensivetechniquesandproperfootwork.Soundfundamentalfootworkintheoffensivepostgameisnecessaryforgettingopen,creatingspace,andgettingtheshotoff.Footworkhelpsproducespoints.

Offensivepostmoveswiththeballarethefinalkeytooffensivescoringsuccessinthelow-postarea.Whatsometimesisforgottenishowimportanttheartofpivotingistotheoffensivemovesofapostplayer.

Offensivepostplayerscanbeplayeddefensivelyinavarietyofways.Anoffensivecounter-attackmustbeinplaceforeachofthosedefensivemethods.Ifnotsuccessful,everyopponentwilllearnfromthesuccessofprioropponentsandapplythatsamemethod.Theoffensiveinsidegame’sproductionwillsoondwindle.Withoutinsideandoutsidebalance,beforelong,theoffensiveperimetergamealsowillsuffer,andreductioninoverallteamperformancewillsoonfollow.

GettingOpen

Footworkforanoffensivepostplayer(aswellasforadefensivepostplayer)isessentialfortheoverallsuccessofthoseoffensiveplayers.Anoffensivepostplayermustgetopenbeforehecanreceivetheball,andthatpostplayermusthavepossessionoftheballbeforehecanscoreordrawfoulsontheopposition.

Coachescouldusethephrasethebattleofthefeetindescribinghowtheoffensivepostplayermustpositionhisfeet(andbody)tomakehimselfavailable

toreceivethepass.Coachingstaffscanalsosaytoall(offensiveaswellasdefensive)postplayers,“Youcan’twinthewarunlessyouwinthebattle.”Thisinstructiontellsinteriorplayersthatwithoutproperfootworktechniques,theywillnotbeabletoreceivetheball.Iftheydon’treceivetheball,theycannotscore.

Thequickestandsimplestwaytogetgoodoffensivepositiononapostdefenderistobeatthatopponentdownthefloor.Postplayersshouldhustletobeattheirdefendertothespotjustabovethelowblock,establishthatposition,andthenmaintainthatpositiononthesideofthelane.Thatpositionisaspotnolowerthanthefirstnotchabovetheblock.

Oneeffectivewayanoffensecanscorepointsisfortheoffensivepostplayerstoscoreontheinterior.Forpostplayerstoscoreinside,theymustbeabletooperateeffectivelyfirstwithoutandthenwiththeballagainstnumeroustypesofdefenses.Forpostplayerswiththeballtobeabletoattackthedefenseandscore,theymustfirstknowhowtogetopen.Againstastrongandaggressivedefense,thepostplayermayhavetoutilizespecificmovestogetopenastheytrytoreceiveaninsidepass.

TwoIndividualTechniquestoGetOpen

Againstagooddefense,apostplayercannotjustflashtotheballandexpecttoreceivetheballwherehewantsit.Followingaresomeindividualmovesthatalloffensivepostplayersshouldbeabletolearnandusetobeeffectiveoffensivepostplayers.

Theseindividualoffensivemoveswithouttheballtofreethemselvesfromtheirdefenderworkjustaswellforplayersontheperimeterthatfaceaggressivedenialdefensivepressure.Onemethodofgettingopenwhereaplayerwantstogetopeniscalledtheripmove,anotheriscalledtheswimmove,whileanothertechniqueiscalledthecontactandreversepivotmove.

Theseindividualposttechniquesrequirepivotsandotherstrongfootworkbytheflashpostplayers.Thesemovesfirstincludeatwo-orthree-stepV-cutbeforethe

actualflashacrossthelanetothebasketball.

Ifthedefender(X5)hasstartedplayingtheoffensiveplayer(05)low,05shouldtakehisdefenderlower.AV-cut(thatcouldideallyconsistofoneormoreinitialsteps)inonedirection(low)followedbyacutintheoppositedirection(high)shouldbeexecutedbyusingafrontpivot.

Diagrams4-1and4-2illustrateoneofthetwotypesofV-cuts,onefakinglowandcuttinghigh.Withhisbacktothebasket,05canseehisteammates,hisdefender(X5),andhowheisbeingplayed.Healsoknowsthelocationoftheball.Alloftheseelementsfactorinthemovesandtechniquesthattheoffensiveplayershouldutilize.

Diagram4-1

Diagram4-2

Withthepostplayer(05)ontheoffense’sleftsideofthefreethrowlaneandhisbacktothebasket,05firstmakeshisV-cutbyplantinghisinside(left)footinthelane,followedbyastepwithhisrightfootandthencrossingoverinsomewhatofafrontcrossoverpivot(withhisleftfoot)beforeflashingacrossthelanetowardthebasketballontheoppositesideofthecourt.Whenthefrontcrossoverpivotisbeingmade,theoffensivepostplayershouldripwiththecontactarm(theleftarm,inthiscase)acrossthedefender’schestandscrapeoffofhisdefenderasheflashestotheballacrossthelane.Thismovegivesthedefendernospacingforaproperangleofpursuittocatchuptoortocutofftheflashpostcutoftheoffensiveplayer.

Diagrams4-3and4-4illustrateanothertypeofV-cut,startingwithafakehighandcutlowacrossthelanetochasethebasketball.Diagram4-3illustrates05againpreparingtoflashtotheballagainsthisdefender(X5).Inthissituation,05shouldreadthatX5isplayinghimhigh,so05shouldstartwithahighV-cut,beforethencuttinglow.Thefirststepinthiscaseshouldbewiththetop(right)foothigher,thenwiththelower(left)foot,andthenwithafrontcrossoverstepwiththetop(right)foot.Asthefrontcrossoverstepisbeingmade,thepostplayershouldagainripthecontactarm(thistime,itistherightarm)pastthedefender’sbaselineshoulderashecutslowacrossthelanetopostupontheoppositesideofthelane.Heshouldremembertopostuponthenotchabovetheblockandthenholdhisground.

Diagram4-3

Diagram4-4

Goodpostdefenderswillknowwhereoffensivepostplayerswanttogo,andtheywillattempttopreventanoffensiveplayerfromgoingtothosedesiredlocations.Theconceptandtheshortteachingphrasecoachesshouldusetosimplifytheteachingprocessisasfollows:Concept:“Ifyouarestationaryinthepostareaandthedefenseplaysyouonthelowside,startyourinitialpositioninginthepostbyoriginallysettinguplower.”

Teachingphrase:“Iftheystartlow,youstartlower.(Butneverstartbelowtheblock.)”

Concept:“Ifthestationarysituationhasthedefenderplayingyouonthehighside,startyourpositioninghigher.”

Teachingphrase:“Iftheystarthigh,youstarthigher.”

Concept:“Ifthedefendertriestotakesthelowcutaway,firsttakehimlowerandthenmaketheflashpostcuttowardthehighside.”

Teachingphrase:“Iftheyplayyoulow,takethemlowerandscrapecuthigh.”

Concept:“Ifthepostdefendertriestotakethehighcutaway,firsttakethedefenderhigherthenmaketheflashpostcuttowardthelowside.”

Teachingphrase:“Iftheyplayyouhigh,takethemhigherandscrapecutlow.”

SwimMove

Offensiveanddefensivepostplaycanbeaveryphysicalpartofthegameandbothoffensiveanddefensivepostplayershavetolearnthetechniquesoflegalphysicalpostplay.Ifthedefender(X5)triesphysicallytodenytheoffensiveflashcutsby05byhugginguponthepostplayerandplayinghimmuchtighter,05needstomakeasomewhatsimilarmovetobeabletoneutralizethemorephysicalplayofX5.Thesamephrasespreviouslytaughtcanbeused,butwithoneword(swim)addedtoeachofthephrases.

AfterV-cutting,ifX5triestojam05’scutbybeingphysical,05mighthavetoswinghiscontactarmoverthedefenderasheismakinghisfrontcrossoverstepbecausenospaceisavailabletoriphisarmthroughthedefender.Theseswimmoveconceptsandtechniquesandteachingphrasesareasfollows:Concept:“Ifthedefenderjamsthelowcutaway,firsttakehimlower,andthenswimtomaketheflashpostcuttowardthehighside.”

Teachingphrase:“Iftheyjamyoulow,takethemlowerandswimhigh.”

Concept:“Ifthepostdefenderjamsthehighcutaway,firsttakehimhigher,and

thenswimtomaketheflashpostcuttowardthelowside.”

Teachingphrase:“Iftheyjamyouhigh,takethemhigherandswimlow.”

Concept:“Akeypointfortheflashcutteristogetasclosetothedefenderbeforemakingthefront(pivot)crossovermovetogetopen.”

Teachingphrase:“Getintothedefender’sbodybeforeyoumakeyourswimmove.”

Theswimtechniqueofthearmsaddedtothefrontcrossoverstepfootworkneutralizesthedefender’smoreaggressiveaction.Theoffensivepostplayershouldendupinthelocationwherehewantstogo.Thisswimtechniquetakesadvantageoftheaggressivenessandthestrongdefensiveaction.

InDiagram4-5,thedefender(X4)isshadedmoreontheflashcutter’srightside(whosebackistowardthebasket),sotheleft(higher)footoftheflashpostplayer(04)isthefreefootthatmakesthefirststeptowardthedefendertogetclosertothedefender.Gettingclosertothedefenderwilleventuallygivethatdefenderlessreactiontimewhentheoffensiveplayermakestheactualcuthewantstomaketoactuallygetopen.Thesecondstepiswiththerightfootintothelaneas04makesafrontcrossoverpivotmove(withtherightfootswingingover/throughthedefender).

Diagram4-5

Atthesametimeofthefrontcrossoverstep,04shouldswinghiscontactarmoverthedefendertoavoidthecontactandthelegalbumpingtechniquebyanydefenderwhoisdefendinganddenyinganyoffensiveplayerfromreceivingthebasketball(whetherontheinteriororontheperimeter.)Thiseffectivemove,calledaswimmoveisusedto“swim”overthedefenderthatnowhasverycloseproximitytotheoffensivepostplayer.Theswimmoveallowstheoffensivecuttertofreehimselffromthedefenderandultimatelyenduponthehighsideofthedefenderandactuallyclosertotheballthantheactualdefender.

Keepinmindthattheswimmoveisjustaseffectiveontheperimeteraswellasinpostarea.InDiagram4-5,03wouldstartbyfacingthebasketandshouldmakeaV-cuttowardthebasketwithhisrightfoot(contactfoot)firstandthenafrontcrossoverstepwithhisleftfootbeforethenexecutingaswimmoveonhisdefender(X3).Here,theswimmoveisusedtogetbetweenhisdefenderandtheballtothengetopentoreceivetheinitialwingpassfrom01.

ContactandReversePivotMove

Thesecondindividualmoveiscalledthecontactandreversepivotmove.Diagram4-6illustratesthisindividualmove.AlloffensivepersonnelareinthesamelocationsasinDiagram4-5.Inthisscenario,02reversestheballto01,whoswingstheballaroundtheperimetertotheoppositesideofthecourtto03.X4preventstheduck-incutof04byplayingonthehighsideof04.X4attemptstodefend04’sduck-incut,byusingphysicalcontacttojamtheduck-incut.04stepsintothebodyofX4byplacinghiscontactfoot(whichisthelowerbaselinefootorhisrightfoot,inthiscase)betweenthetwofeetofX4andthenmakeastrongandquickreversepivotbyswinginghisleftfoottowardthebaselinewhileholdinghisleftarmandelbowupasanarmbar.Heshouldthenbeonthelow(baseline)sideofX4.HesealsX4offwithhishighfoot(theleft,inthisinstance)andarm/elbow.Thearmbarshouldstayupand04shouldtrytositdown

Diagram4-6

onX4’slowleg(rightleg,inthiscase).04wantstostayonorabovethefirstnotchabovetheblocktohavetheverybestangletobeabletodrop-steptowardthebasketbygoingtohisleftortohisright.Notethat03mighthavetosteptowardthebasketbeforeutilizingthesamefootworkandreversepivottogetopenontheperimetertobecomethepassertohisteammatenowpostinguponhissideofthelane.

SpinScreenMove

Mostmodernoffensiveschemesdesireallplayerstoeventuallyendupinthepostareaaswellastheperimeterarea.Athirdtechniquerequiresateammatetohelpouttheoffensivepostplayer.Thisthirdtechniquemaybethemostdevastatingmethodthatapostplayercanusetoreceivetheballwherehewantstheball:inthelaneformaximumscoringopportunities.

Thisthirdmove,calledthespinscreenmove,seemstobealmostunbeatable,butitrequirestwoplayers:theoriginalballsidepostplayer(05,inthiscase)andateammatetosetascreenforhim.Thisscreenisbasicallyaninteriorbackscreenwithaweaksidepostplayer(02,inthisexample)settingaspin(back)screenwhentheballisreversedontheperimetertothetopofthekey.Ideally,ifasmalleroffensiveteammateistheactualspinscreener,itcanbeadvantageousfortheoffense.

Thismismatchinsizebetweentheactualscreener(02)andthespinscreencutter(05,inthiscase)discouragesdefensiveswitcheswhentheballisreversedtothecenterofthecourt.Ifadefenseswitchesthesmall-on-bigspinscreen,thesmaller(morelikelyweakerandlessskilledpostdefender)willbeforcedtodefendthebigoffensivepostplayerinthepaint.Minimal(ifany)interiordefensivesupportwouldresultbecauseofspacingontheperimeteraswellashavingtheballinthecenterofthefloor,whichmeansnotrueballsideandnotruehelpsideexist,andtheclosestdefendersnotinvolvedinthetwo-manscreeningactionareonbothperimeterwingareasatthefreethrowlineextended.

Diagram4-7displaystheoriginalballsidepostplayer(05)lookingtoreceivetheballfrom01ontheballsidewing.02startsintheweaksidepostarea,04istheweaksidewing,and03isatthetopofthekey.Whentheballisreversedfrom01to03,the(original)ballsidelowpost(05)makesanormalduck-incuttothecenterofthelanejustinsidethe(old)dottedcircleline.Thisformofattackisaggressiveandnormalforanoffensivepostplayer.

Diagram4-7

IfX5playsbehind05’soriginalduck-incut,05shouldbeabletoreceivetheballfrom03inanidealscoringlocation.IfX5jamstheduck-incut,05couldusetheproperfootworktomakewhatcanbecalledthespincut,whichisbasicallythe

contactandreversepivotmovewithonemajorexception.05willhavetheaddedadvantageof02comingacrossthelaneandheadhuntingX5withablindbackscreen.IfX5jams05onhisduck-incut,05thenreversepivotsandcutslow,andheshouldscrapeoffofthe(small-on-big)laneexchangebackscreensetby02onthelow(baseline)sideofthespinscreen.

Theweaksidepostplayer(02)shouldoriginallystartonalowerverticallevelthan05.Thislevelplaces02outofthelineofsightofX5,giving02abetterscreeningangletoaggressivelyblindside05’sdefenderwitha(inthiscase,small-on-big)backscreen.X5shouldhaveplacedallofhisattentionandeffortondefending05’sduck-incut.When05getsjammedbyX5,hechangesdirectionandusesthereversepivot,anditwillseemthat02cameoutofnowheretoblindsideX5onthealmostindefensiblebackscreen.

IfX5andX2electtoswitchthespinscreen,X2willenduphavingtoattempttodefend05(whichcouldbeahugeheightmismatch)ontheoppositesideofthecourtfromwhere05started,butthisdefensiveswitchwillalsogivetheoffenseasecondhighpotentialscoringthreat.If02setsthespinscreenonX5andthedefenseswitchesthatscreen,02wouldbeontheinsidehalfofX5inthemiddleofthelane.If02thensealshisnewdefender(X5),hewillmostlikelybecomeasecondviablescoringthreatoffthespinscreenactionwithverygoodoffensivepositioning.If02hashadtheproperoffensivepostmovestrainingandeducation,hemayactuallybetheprimaryscoringthreatonthisoffensiveaction.

Diagram4-8illustratestheprecisefootworkofthespinscreencutter(05),originallylinedupontheoffense’sleftlow-postblockwhentheballisreversedtothetopofthekey.05wouldstarthisduck-incutwiththefirststepbeingwithhisinsidecontactfoot(leftfootwithhisbacktothebasketandontheoffense’sleftsideofthecourt).Hewouldfollowwiththenormalrightfootifhisdefenderdidn’tdenythecut.ButwhenX5deniesthepassbythree-quarterorfullfrontingtheduck-incut,02cutsacrossthelaneandsetsthespinscreen.05’snextstepwiththerightfootisareversepivotspinningoffthelow(baseline)shoulderofthespinscreener,02.05reversepivotsandspinsacomplete180degreesoffof02andcutsacrossthelanetopostupontheoppositesideofthelane.

Diagram4-8

Becausethedefenderwouldhavetomakecontactwiththecutter’sleftside,05’srightfootisthefreefootthatmakesthespinmove.05spinsaroundtothebaselinesideofthedefendertoultimatelyfreehimselffromeitherdefender.

05placesthecontactfoot(thefootthatisonthesideclosesttohisdefender)inbetweenthetwofeetofthatdefenderandusesthatfootasthepivotfoot.AftersteppingintoX5,05thenmakesa180-degreereversepivotandswingsthefreefoot(rightfoot,inthisinstance)aroundthedefendertosealoffthatdefender,regardlessofwhetherthedefenderisX5orisnowX2.

Theelbow(right)thatisonthesamesideasthefreefoot(thefreeelbow)istobeheldhighandlockedasthereversepivotismade,similartothereversepivotmadewhenexecutingdefensivebox-outs.Whenthefreefoot(rightfoot)swingsaroundthedefender,thepostplayershouldholdoffthedefenderbyusingthefreeelbow.Heshouldalsousehisbackside,makingcontactwiththedefenderandholdingthecontact.Thepostplayershouldsitdownonthe(left)legofthedefendertokeephimsealedoff.Coachesshouldusethephrase,Itisabattleofthefeet.“Towinthewar(catchandscore),thebattle(ofthefeet)mustbewon.”Itdoesn’tmatterwhichdefenderattemptstoguardthepostplayer(05)whenhepostsupontheoppositesideofthelane,butitisextremelyimportantthat05doesnotallowthedefendertopushhimbelowthenewballsideblock.Theideallocationwouldbefor05totrytoestablishandmaintainhisnewlocationonthenotchabovetheblock(formaximumscoringopportunities).

Obviously,iftheoffensivepostplayerstartsontheoppositesideofthecourt

(whilemakingaV-cutandfakinglowtogohigh,ormakingaV-cutandfakinghightogolow,makingaswimmovetogetopen,ormakingaspinmovetogetopen),thefootworkwouldbethesame,butusingtheoppositefootthatisshowninDiagrams4-4,4-5,and4-8.

Diagram4-7firstdisplays05makingtheproperduck-incutfollowedbythespinmoveoff02’sscreenwithX5andX2switchingthatscreen.02setsthescreenonX5’sbacksideashewouldalwaysdo.X2switchesthisspinscreeninanattempttodenytheprimarypassreceiver/scorer(05)fromreceivingthepass.Ifthedefensiveopponentsmakeaswitchonthespinscreenaction,twohighlyprobablescoringthreatsresult—boththespinscreencutter(05)andtheactualspinscreener(02).Theprimaryreceivercouldvaryeverytimethisspinscreenactionisrun.Theoffensecouldlookforaspecificoffensiveplayerinsidetobetheprimaryscoringthreat,couldlooktoattackaspecificdefensiveopponent,orcouldhaveacompletelyopenmindandsimplylookfortheoffensiveplayerthatismoreopen.Theseoptionsthatthespinscreenactionpossessesmakethisoffensiveactionevenmoredifficulttodefendbecauseofitsincreasedlevelofunpredictability.

Diagrams4-9and4-10illustratethesametwopostplayers(05ontheleft,and02ontheoffense’srightside)withtheballbeingreversedbythesameperimeter

Diagram4-9

Diagram4-10

player(01reversingtheballto03).Thespinscreenissetby02onX5for05.Thedefenseelectstoswitchthespinscreentohopefullydefendthisaction.Theoffensecaneasilycounterthatdefensiveadjustmentwiththeactualspinscreener(02,inthiscase)executingeitherareversepivotandsealingoffX5orafrontpivot(toexecuteaswimmove)andsealingoffhisnewdefender(X5).

Diagram4-9illustratesthefootworkoftheoffenseexecutingthe(02screening05)spinscreenbeingdefendedwithadefensiveswitch.02thenexecutesareversepivottosealoffhisnewpostdefender(X5).Inthissituation,02startswithhisbacktowardthebasketandbreaksacrossthelanefromtheoffense’srightside.02makesareversepivotoffhistop(left)footandthenswinghislower(right)footaroundto(inessence)box-outX5.Withtheballcenteredupin03’shands,nohelpsideorballsidedefenseisdesignated.X5isevenmoreisolatedthannormal,asisX2,regardlessofwhetherX2isattemptingtodefend05or02.

Thisseal-offofhisnewdefenderputs02inthemiddleofthelane,giving02ahigherscoringprobability.Lackofheightversushisnewdefendermightnotbeasbigofadetrimentasthedefender’slackofquicknesswhentryingtomatchuptoa(possibly)smallerbutquickeroffensiveopponentinahighpercentagescoringarea.Iftheballandspinscreenerstartedontheoppositeofthecourt,thedefinitionsoftopfoot,lowerfoot,pivotfoot,andreversepivotwouldbetheoppositefeetpreviouslydiscussed.

Diagram4-10illustratesthesameoffensive(anddefensive)personnelinthesamelocationsonthecourtwiththesametypeofballreversalontheperimeter.Again,X2switcheswithX5(tohelphisteammateout)onthespinscreenaction.However,thistime,02setsthespinscreenandthenmakesafrontcrossoverpivotoffhistop(left)foot.02thenusestheswimtechniquewithhiscontact(right)armtosealoffX5inthesamelocation.Thistechniqueplaces02inthesameideallocation/positiontobeabletoattackX5inaveryhighpercentagescoringarea,butwithadifferenttypeoffootworktechnique.Again,ifontheoppositesideofthecourt,allthefootworkwouldbethesameexceptwiththeoppositefeet.

Foroffensivepostplayerstobeadeptatscoringfromtheblocks,coachingstaffsshouldteachallpostplayerstousethenecessaryfootworktechniquesdescribed.

Anytimeanoffensivepostplayerisflashingtotheballorcancatchtheballwithoutbeingcompletelyfrontedbythedefense,theplayerreachesforthepasswithbothhandsoutstretched.Ifthepostplayerisinastationaryposition,thepostplayershouldstaggerhisfeetsothatthecontactfoot(thefootclosesttothepostdefender)isfartherinfrontoftheotherfoottohelpsealoffthedefender.

Simultaneously,astheballisbeingcaught,thepostplayertakesasmallhop,landingonbothfeetatthesametime,whichallowstheoffensiveplayertochooseeitherfootasthepivotfootand,therefore,theoppositefootasthefreefoot.Thepostplayerchinstheballtoprotecttheballfromdefendersreachinganddeflectingtheballaway.Thepostplayer’selbowsshouldbestickingouttokeepthedefendersfartheraway.Thepostplayerlooksoverhishighshouldertoreadtheindividualpostdefenderandtosearchforanypossiblecollapsingdouble-downdefendersfromthedefensiveperimeter.Thepostplayerdoesnotwanttousethedribbleunlessheisadvancingtheballtothebasketandonlythenafterhehasmadetheappropriatereadsandsearches.

Show-and-Go-OppositeDrop-StepPostMove

Thefirstpostmoveiscommonlycalledtheshow-and-go-oppositedrop-stepmove.Thisscoringmoveisforstationarypostplayersaswellasforpostplayerswhohaveflashedtotheball(bythemanydifferentmeanspreviouslydiscussed.)

Thepostplayermakesthesmalltwo-stephopashecatchesthepass,chinstheball,andsnapshisheadtolookoverthetopshoulder.Thesmall,two-stephopwillhavebothofthepostplayer’sfeetlandbackonthefloorsimultaneously,givingthepostplayerthefreedomofhavingeitherfootashisnewpivotfootand,likewise,theoppositefootasthefreefoot.Quicklylookingoverthetopshoulderwillallowthepostplayerwiththeballtoseeanydefensiveperimeterplayerswhoareattemptingtodouble-downonhimfromabove.Atthesametime,eitherseeingornotseeinghisownpostdefender’spositionallowstheoffensivepostplayertoactaccordingly.

Quicklyseeingthedouble-downdefendersallowsthepostplayertokicktheballbackoutontheperimetertotheopenteammateforaprobableopenshot.Iftheballiskickedouttoperimeterplayersandtheythenscorefromtheoutside,thedouble-downsfromthedefensiveteamwillmostlikelydecrease.Thisdefensiveadjustmentwillgivetheoffensivepostplayersmoreopportunitiestoattackthedefenseinamoreisolatedmanner.Thisadjustmentgreatlyincreasesanoffensivepostplayer’schancesofscoringfromtheinsideagainstasolodefender.

Ifthepostplayerlooksoverthetopshouldertosearchfordouble-downdefenders,heshouldalsobeabletoreadhisdefensiveopponentatthesametimeifhehasnotalreadydeterminedhiscounterpart’slocationandposition.Whenlookingoverthetopshoulder,hewillalsoseeifhispostdefenderisplayingonthehighsideorhewillnotlikelyseehimifthedefenderisplayinghimonthelow(baseline)side.Iftheoffensiveplayerlooksoverhisshoulderandseesnothing,heshouldshowandgooppositetowardthemiddle,whichmeansthatheshouldshowtheballlowanddrop-steptowardthemiddlewithhishigherfootbeingthefreefootthatisdrop-steppingintothelane.

Diagram4-11illustratesashow-and-go-oppositedrop-stepmove,startingfromthesamesideofthelaneandwithX4playing04onthebaselineorlowside,whichmeansthat04’scontactsideisonthebaseline(low)side.Withthecontactsidebeingtheoppositesideaspreviouslydiscussed,04’spivotfoot,hisfreefoot,andhisshowshoulderarealltheoppositeaspreviouslydiscussed.Inthiscase,04’scontactsidewouldbehisleftside,meaninghewouldraisetheballtowardhisleftshoulderanddrop-steptowardthemiddle,withhisfreefootbeingtheleftfootwhilehisleftfootisthepivotfoot.

Diagram4-11

Aftermakinghisdrop-step,04wouldhavetocontinueinthesamedirectiontoshootaleft-handedlay-uporbabyhookshot(inthiscase),or04couldmakeafrontpivotoffhisinsidefoot(inthiscase,itwouldbetherightfoot)tosquareuptofacethebasketforaturn-aroundjumpshot.Withhisbacktothebasket,theinsidefootwouldbehisrightfoot,andhewouldhavetosquareuptothebasketbyswinginghisleftfootaround,or04couldfakethejumpshotanduseanup-and-undermove,stillmakingtherightfoothisfinalpivotfootbeforeactuallyshootingtheball(Diagram4-12).

Diagram4-12

Diagram4-13shows(04)lookingoverhistopshoulderanduponseeingthepostdefender(X4),04realizesthepostdefenderisshadingtowardhishighside.Therefore,04shouldmakethesameshow-and-go-oppositedrop-stepmove,butshouldusethebaselinefootasthefreefoottouseforthedrop-steptothebasket.As04makeshisdrop-stepmove,heshouldgivethepostdefenderaslightvisionofthebasketballbyshowingtheballoverhisrightshoulderbeforeactuallydrop-steppingintheoppositedirectiontowardthebaseline.

Diagram4-13

TheteachingpointofemphasisphrasecoachingstaffsshouldconstantlyuseisShowandgoopposite.Theactualshowingoftheballshouldbedonewithbothhandsstillchinningtheballinastrongmanner,heldcloselytothechest.04shouldslightlyraisetheballjustaboveshoulderheighttoallowthepostdefendertoseetheballand,therefore,usetheballasbait.04couldalsousehisrightshoulderasaslightfake.04mustnotallowthedefendertobeabletograbortodeflecttheball,whenheshowstheballtolurethedefendertoleantowardthedirectionoppositeofwhereheactuallywantstotaketheball.

04makesareversepivotwithhistopfootbeingthepivotfootandhislowerfootbeingthefreefootthatswingsanddrop-steps.Whenthepostplayerusesthedrop-stepmovetowardthebaseline(withthetopfootasthepivotfoot),thepostplayerbeginsbylininguponthenotchabovetheblock.Thislocationgivesthepostplayerthebestanglesforsuccessfulpowermovestothebasket.

Whentheactualdrop-stepismade,alowandhardpowerdribbleshouldbemadetoadvancetheballevenclosertothebasket.Thepostplayershouldhavebeenabletosealoffhisdefenderwiththedrop-step,andheshouldsitdownonthethighofthepostdefendertofurthersealhisdefenderoff.Beforethepostplayerpicksuphispivotfoot(therightfoot,inthissituation),hemustmakeapowerdribblebyslammingtheballdownhardwithbothhandsbetweenbothfeet.Afterslammingtheballdown,whiletheballisstillintheair,theoffensivepostplayershouldtakeaquickchickenstep,whileadvancingtheballandhislocationtowardthebasket.Whenhelandsfromthequickchickenstep,heagainmakesatwo-footjumpstop,givingthepostplayertheluxuryofagainchoosingwhichfootwillbethefreefootandwhichfootisthepivotfoot.

Attheendof04’schickenstep,andaggressivepowerdribble,hetakeshispowershothighandsoftofftheglass.Thepowershotoffthedrop-stepisprobablytheonlyshotinbasketballthatshouldnotbetakenwiththeshoulderssquare-uptothebasket.Iftheshooterdefeatshisoriginaldefenderandthensquaresuptotaketheshot,aseconddefendercouldrotateovertoblocktheshot.Thepowershotshouldbetakenwiththefeetata45-degreeangletowardthebaskettoprotectboththeballandtheactualshotfromhelpsidedefenders,whoarerotatingovertohelp.

Iftheoffensivepostplayerwereontheoffense’sleftsideofthelanetopostupandattack,thesameshow,gooppositeanddrop-stepmovestowardthebaselineortowardthemiddlecouldobviouslybeexecutedwiththesamefootwork;butwithoppositefeetactingasthepivotandfreefeet.

TheOlajuwonWhirlMove

Theinitiallocationofthepostplayershouldalwaysbethesame,regardlessofwhetherthepostplayerhasdecidedwhichpostmovehewillactuallyuse.Again,theidealposition/locationofthepostplayeristhenotchabovetheblock.Thispositiongivestheoffensivepostplayermuchbetterangleswhetherthepostplayerattacksthedefenderandthebasketonthebaselinesideorattacksthedefensetowardthemiddleofthelane.

Aswiththedrop-stepmove,thepostplayershouldmakethesamesmallhopandlandonbothfeetatthesametimeashereceivestheinsidepass.Again,eitherfootcouldbechosentobethefreefootandthepivotfoot,whichpermitsthepostplayertobeabletoattackeitherthebaselineorthemiddleofthecourt.Topreventatravelingcall,histwo-foothopmusthappenatthesameinstantthepostplayeractuallycatchestheball.

Thesearchforcollapsingdouble-downdefendersaswellasthereadingoftheindividualpostdefenderisexactlythesameaspreviouslydescribed—thatis,chinningtheballbeforesnappingtheheadandlookingoverthehighshoulder.Oncethereadofthepostdefenderandthesearchforthecollapsingdefendersismadebytheoffensivepostplayer,thepostplayershouldshowtheballandgointheoppositedirection.Butinthissituation,thepostplayerusesthecontactfoot(thefootnearestthedefense)tomakeafrontpivotthatisactuallyawayfromthedefense(sincetheoffensiveplayer’sbackistowardthedefense).

Diagram4-14demonstratesanexampleofthepostplayercatchingtheballontherightsideofthelane.Aftermakinghisreadandsearchandfindingthatthepostdefenderisshadinghimonthehighside,thistimetheoffensivepostplayerusesthe(right)contactfootasthefreefootandmakesa180-degreefrontpivotawayfromthedefender(towardthebaseline).Itisimperativethatthepostplayerstepswiththatfreerightfoottowardthebasket—notlaterallyawayfromthedefender.Justasintheperimeterattackofalonedefenderortheinsideattackofthelonedefender,theoffensivedriveruseshisownbodytoscreenand/orsealoffhisdefender,butinthedrop-stepmethod,theactualsealingoffofthedefenderiswiththebackside,theback,andthelegs.WiththeOlajuwonmove(namedforHakeemOlajuwon),thesealingoffofthepostdefenderisdonewiththechestandsideaftertheoffensivepostplayerhasalreadypivotedandisfacingthebasket.Sealingoffthedefenderinthismannerdeniesthedefenderanyspaceneededtohelpprovideagoodangleofpursuittocuttheoffensivepostplayeroffonhispowermovetothebasket.

Diagram4-14

Beforethepostplayeractuallyliftsuphis(left)pivotfoot,theballmustbedribbledwithalowandharddribble,advancingtowardthebasketwiththefirstdribblelandingjusttotheoutsideofthefreefoot.Oncethefirstdribbleisused,thepostplayermustdeterminewhethertocontinuedribblingortokillthedribble.Ifthedribbleistobekilled,anotherlittlebunnyhopshouldtakeplaceandbothfeetshouldlandsimultaneously.Thismoveallowstheoffensivepostplayertheopportunitytouseeitherfootasthenewpivotfoot.

Aftertheadvancingdribblehasbeenkilledandthetwo-footbunnyhophasbeenexecuted,thefeetshouldagainbeata45-degreeangletowardthebasket—notsquaringuptothebasketasmostshootersshoulddoontheperimeter.04hasalreadyfreedhimselffromX4withtheOlajuwonwhirlmove,but04mustbecognizantofthefactthatgooddefenseswillhavearotatinghelpsidedefenderrotatingovertoalsoattempttostoptheinsidescoringof04.Beingata45-degreeangleallows04toprotecttheballfromthenextdefenderaswellastogivehimselfagoodopportunitytoscoreonanyandalldefenders(Diagram4-15).Thismoveistheonlytimethatanyshootershouldevernotbesquare-uptothebasket.

Diagram4-15

Diagram4-16showsanexampleoftheoffensivepostplayer(04)chinningtheball,ashemakesthesmall,two-foothopandimmediatelysearchingandreadingthedefensetofindX4(thistime)onthelowside.Thisexampledemonstratesthat04hasreadthedefenseanddecidedtousetheOlajuwonwhirlmovetoattackanddefeatX4towardthemiddleofthelane.04swingsthefreefoot(thebaselinefoot,whichistheleftfootonthissideofthelane)completelyaroundtowardthemiddleofthelaneandthebasketwithafrontpivotofftherightpivotfoot(shadedfootinDiagram4-16.).Alay-up,babyhook,oraturn-aroundjumpshot(usingafrontpivotofftherightheel)wouldfinishtheoffensiveactioninthemiddleofthefreethrowlane.

Diagram4-16

Diagram4-17demonstratesanotherpivotingtechniqueanypostplayershoulduseoncearrivingtothemiddleofthefreethrowlane.Postplayersusethispivotafterusingeitherashow-and-go-oppositedrop-stepmoveoranOlajuwonwhirlmove.Thispostmovefrees04fromX4andplaceshiminthemiddleofthelanewiththebasketball.Similartoaperimeterplayerwhodribbledrivesandpenetratestothebasketforajumpshot,postplayersalsocouldusethesamefootworktosquareuptothebasketforajumpshot.Inthiscase,if04isgoingtotakeajumpshotafterdrivingtotheleft,hewouldfrontpivotofftheinside(right)heelandswingtheleftfootaroundtosquareuptothebasketfortheshortjumpshot.

Diagram4-17

FrontOutsidePivot(andSquare-Up)Move

Onceagain,asthepassismadetothepostplayer(05,inthisexample),thepostplayershouldsimultaneouslymakethesmall,two-foothopandsnaphisheadandlookoverthetopshoulder—thehighshoulderawayfromthebasket.Thispostmoveisnotthe(Jack)Sikmainsidepivot(andsquare-up)movethatwillbedescribedlater,butcanbeutilizedinthesamemanner.

Bothofthesepostmovesareprimarilyusedbypostplayerswhocannotreadthe

lonepostdefender’sposition(X5,inthiscase).Thepostdefenderisnothalforthree-quarterfrontingtheoffense(oneitherside:highorlow)ormaynotbemakingphysicalcontactwiththeoffensivepostplayerinanymanner.Thistypeofdefensivepositioningpreventstheoffensivepostplayerfromseeingorfeelingthedefender.Thepostplayermustpivotandsquareuptofacethebasketandalsotofindhisdefender.Facingthebasketallowsthepostplayertoseethebasketaswellastolocatethedefensebysightinsteadofbyfeel.Tosquareuptothebasket,thepostplayercouldutilizeeitherfootasthepivotfootandtheoppositefootasthefreefoot.

Theonlydifferencebetweenthefrontoutsidepivot(andsquare-up)moveandtheSikmamoveisthedirectionoftheinitialpivot.Usingthefrontoutsidepivot(andsquare-up)move,thepostplayercouldmakeafrontpivot—thatisactuallyawayfromthebasketaswellasthedefender,sincethedefenderisbetweenthebasketandtheoffensiveplayerwiththeball—witheitherfootasthepivotfootandswingthe(opposite)freefoot180degreesbacktowardthebasketwithoutusingthedribble.Thispivotaccomplishesthegoaloftheoffensivepostplayerbeinginasquare-uppositiondirectlyfacingthepostdefenderaswellasthebasket.

Sincethedribblehasnotbeenusedbutthepivotfoothasbeenestablished,05canusetheappropriatemovethatisdependentuponthewaythedefenseisplayingthepostplayer,justasanoffensiveperimeterwoulddo.

Afterfacinguptothebasket,ifX5isplayinguptighton05,05couldusethefrontcrossoverpivotortheblastmove.Thesemovesarethesamemovesthataretaughttoeveryperimeterplayer(aswellaseverypostplayer).Thefrontcrossoverpivotisgoingintheoppositedirectionofthechosenpivotfoot,andtheblastmoveisgoinginthesamedirectionoftheactualpivotfoot.Ifthedefenderisplayingsoftlyonthepostplayer,thepostplayercoulddecidetoriseupandtakeajumpshotwithouthavingtoutilizethedribbleorcouldusethedribbletoadvancetheballtothebasket.

Diagram4-18illustratesoffensivepostplayer05(withhisbacktothebasketandtoX5)ontheoffense’sleftsideofthecourtusingtherightfoot(shadedfootinDiagram4-18)asthepivotfoot.05makesafrontpivot(actuallyawayfromthebasket)andthedefendertowardthebaselinebyswingingthe(free)leftfoot

aroundtherightpivotfoot.

Diagram4-19showsthesamepostplayerwithhisbacktowardthebasketanddefenderontheoffense’sleftsideofthecourt.Thepostplayermakesafrontpivotawayfromthebasketandthedefender,butturnstowardthemiddleofthefreethrowlanebyusingtheleftfootasthepivotfootandsteppingtowardthemiddlewithhisrightfreefoot.

Diagram4-18

Diagram4-19

TheSikmaInsidePivot(andSquare-Up)Move

TheSikmainsidepivotmoveobviouslygotitsnamefromtheoutstandingpostplayer(JackSikma),whoplayedcollegebasketballatIllinoisWesleyanUniversityforCoachDennisBridges,startedhisNBAcareerwiththeSeattleSupersonics,andbasicallycreatedthespecificfootworkinthisoffensivepostmove.Asmentionedearlier,thisoffensivetechniqueandpostmoveisnotthesame,butitcanbeusedinthesamemannerasthefrontoutsidepivot(andsquare-up)movepreviouslydescribed.

Theonlydifferencebetweenthesetwooffensivepostmovesisthedirectionoftheinitialpivot.TheSikmainsidepivotmovehasthefreefootsteppingtowardthebasketandthedefenderina180-degreereversepivot.Thismovealsoputstheoffensivepostplayerinasquare-upposition,facingboththebasketaswellasthedefender,butitalsocreatesspaceforthepostplayerasheactuallyreversepivotstowardthepostdefender.Thismoveisalsousedbyperimeterplayerstocreateseparationbetweentheballhandlerandtheballdefender.

Diagram4-20illustratesaSikmamovewiththeballbeingcaughtbythepostplayerontheoffense’sleftsideofthelane.Afterthequicktwo-foothop,thechinningoftheballwithbothelbowsextended,andthereadandsearch,thepostplayer(04,inthiscase)decidestousethetop(left)footasthepivotfoot.Thismoveallowshimtousetherightfootasthefreefootashemakesa180-degreereversepivot.Withthepostplayer’sbackoriginallytowardthebasket,areversepivotisactuallyswingingthefreefoottowardthebasketandalsotowardthedefender.Thistechniqueplacesthepostplayerinasquare-upposition,facingthebasketandthedefender,withtheleftfoot(whichnowthebaselinefoot)beingthepivotfoot.Atthispoint,04canattackX4inthesamevarietyofwayspreviouslydescribed.

Diagram4-20

TheSikmamoveisapostplayer’spivotthatcouldbecalledordescribedeitherasareversepivottowardthebasketoraninsidepivot.Diagram4-21illustratesthesameSikmamovewiththeballbeingcaughtbythepostplayerwithhisbacktothebasketonthesameleftsideofthelane.Butinthisscenario,thepostplayerdecidestousethelower(right)footasthepivotfoot,whichmakesthefreefoottheleftfoot.Theleftfootmakesa180-degreereversepivottowardthebasketandthepostdefender,puttingthepostplayersquare-uptothebasket,withthenewlowerfoot(towardthebaseline)beingtheleftfootandalsothefreefoot.Theonlyproblemwiththisapproachcouldbethat04mightendupsquaringuptothebasket,butbelowtheblock.Thispositioncouldtakeawaysomeoftheidealshootinganddrivinganglesbecauseof04’sverticaldepthinrelationtothefreethrowlaneandlow-postblock.Ifthatisthecaseandthatisamove04wantstousewithagreatdealoffrequency,hesimplymuststarthisinitialpost-uppositionhigherupthefreethrowlaneline.

Diagram4-21

TheSikmamovescouldobviouslybeusedonbothsidesofthecourtwitheithertherightfootortheleftfootbeingtheinitialpivotfoot.Inthesetwoillustrations,therightfootwasfirstusedasapivotfoot,andafterwards,theleftfootwasusedasapivotfoot.Ontherightoffensivesideofthecourt,theoppositefootwouldbeusedasthepivotfoot.

Summary

Manybreakdowndrillscanbecreatedandusedtoworkonthevariousoffensivepostplaytechniquespreviouslydescribed.Afewofthetechniquesthatshouldbetaughtandthencontinuallyrepetitionedinbreakdowndrillsinclude:•Gettingopentocatchtheball

•Thetechniquesofactuallycatchingthevarioustypesofinsidepasses

•Thevariouspostmoves(afterthecatch)thatshouldbeusedversusthevariouswaysthatpostdefensescanbeplayed

•Theactualshootingtheballoffthedifferentoffensivepostmoves

Themoreacoachingstaffcandevelopdrillsthataregame-realisticandcanintegratetheuseofseveraldifferenttechniquesatthesametime,themoreproductiveandtime-efficientthosedrillswillbe.Thedrillsarelearningstationsfortheplayers,teachinganddemonstrationstationsforthecoachingstaff,andthenshouldbecomeobservation,evaluation,andcorrectivecriticismstationsforthestaffandtheplayers.Coachesshouldalwayskeepthedrillsgame-realistic,competitive,andintense.

Keepingthedrillsshort,butrepetitive,seemstomakethedrillsmoreproductive.Manydrillscanbecreatedtofitthecoachingstaff’spersonality,theplayers’needs,andthecircumstancesthattheteamisin.Severalshootingdrills—suchasthedotshotsdrillaswellasmanyothers—arethoroughlydescribedinthesectionofChapter1thatdescribesthefundamentalsandstretchingdailystationsroutine.

Asimportantofaconceptasoffensivepostplayistotheoveralloffensiveschemesofabasketballteam,theartofpivotingisanintegralpartoftheactualpostplaygame,whichmakestheartofpivotingessentialtotheoffensivesuccessofabasketballteam.

ImportantPivotsoftheRebounder

“Youcandribbletoomuchandyoucanshoottoomuch,butyoucannotreboundtoomuch.”

—Anonymous

Ateammustbeabletoscoreandalsoplaydefenseinordertowingames.Forateamtobeabletoscore,thatteammusthavepossessionofthebasketball.Possessionoftheballalwaysgivesateamachanceofscoring;whilemaintainingpossessionoftheball,theopponenthasabsolutelynochanceofscoring.Possessionofthebasketballis,therefore,ofvitalimportancetothesuccessofabasketballteam.

Itisextremelyimportanttouseallmethodsofgainingandmaintainingpossessionofthebasketball.Oneveryimportantwayofacquiringpossessionof

theballisbyforcingtheopponenttocommitturnovers.Anegativewayofgettingpossessionoftheballisaftertheoppositionhasscoredandtheballistobetakenout-of-boundsbythescored-upondefensiveteam.Possiblythemostimportantwayofgettingpossessionormaintainingpossessionofthebasketballisbythereboundfromanytypeofmissedshot—whetherthereboundisanoffensivereboundoradefensiverebound.

Maintainingpossessionofthebasketballviaoffensivereboundingisveryimportant.Shooterswhomissshotsandseetheoppositionreboundthemajorityoftheirmissedshotsmaycausethoseshooterstobecomeveryhesitanttoshoottheball.Whenanoffensiveteamishesitantaboutshootingtheball,theoveralloffensiveproductionwillmostlikelydecrease.DecreasesinoffensemostlikelywillmeandecreasesintheWcolumn.

Inaddition,gettingoffensivereboundsgivestheoffensiveteamexcellentopportunitiesforsecondshots.Thesesecondshots,orwhatarecalledstickbacks,areprobablythemostidealshotsthatanoffensiveteamcanhave.

Aplannedoffensiveplayorentrymostlikelycannotmatchtheshotopportunitiesthatstickbackscangivetoanoffense.Anoffensiveteamthatexcelsatoffensivereboundingalsorelievesagreatdealofpressureonitsshooters,becausethoseshootersrealizethattheirmissedshotdoesnotnecessarilymeanachangeinpossessionofthebasketball.Morethanlikely,relievingpressureonshootersimprovesshooters’performancesandeffectiveness.Evenifanoffensiveplayergetstheoffensiverebound,shoots,andmisses,absolutelynoorganizationismadeonthepartoftheopposition’sdefensetoattemptanotherdefensivebox-outonthesecondshotbytheoffense.

Withboththedefensiveandtheoffensiveteamsunderstandingtheimportanceofreboundingthebasketball,defensiveteamswillvaluethedefensiverebound,whileoffensiveteamswillalsoplaceahighpremiumonoffensiverebounds.Themostimportant(aswellasthemostcommon)factorinateamtryingtogetdefensivereboundsandalsopreventingoffensivereboundsisthedefensivebox-outbythedefenderonthe(potential)offensiverebounder.

Inashortsummary,theimportanceofpossessionsissogreatthatitputsatremendousvalueondefensiveandoffensiverebounds.Thesignificanceofsuccessfulexecutionofdefensivebox-outsandbeatingtheopponents’defensivebox-outs(foroffensiverebounds)cannotbeoverstated.Defensiverebounders

mustunderstandtheimportanceandmustbeabletoexecutethedefensivebox-out.Offensivereboundersshouldcomprehendandbelieveinthevalueoftheoffensivecountertoadefensivebox-out.

Intheexecutionofthedefensivebox-out,properfootwork,usingboththefrontandreversepivots,isthefirstandthemostimportantcomponentneededforsuccessfulbox-outs.Boththefrontandthereversepivotsarerequiredincertainsituationswhenexecutingdefensivebox-outs.

Thefrontandreversepivotsaretwomethodsofjuststartingtheactualdefensivebox-out.Thepivotsareonlytheinitialphaseofthebox-out.Themakingcontactwiththeoppositionwhilesearchingforthemissedshotisalsoofgreatimportance,butthatcomponentcomesafterthesuccessfulpivotsbythedefendertomakecontactwiththeoffensiveopponent.

Oncethecontactismadebythedefenderwiththepotentialoffensiverebounder,theremainingbasicfundamentalsofboxingoutareallthesame.Aftertheinitialphaseofmakingcontactwiththeoppositionisdone,thedefensiveplayershouldhaveawidebase,withhiselbowsheldatshoulderheight,extended,bentat90-degreeangles,andpulledbackward.TheelbowsareupandheldbacktoformaV.ThatVisusedtosomewhatholdtheoffensivereboundersothathecanbecontrolledbythedefender.

Theheadofthedefenderisuptobeabletoseewheretheballiscomingoffthebackboard.Thehandsofthedefendershouldremainuptofirstkeepthedefenderfromthetemptationofreachingdowntoholdtheopponentaswellastoalsobeabletograbthe(defensive)rebound.

Short,choppystepsaretobeusedtostayinfrontoftheoffensiveopponent,whoistryingtoavoidthedefenderandgetaroundhimtoretrievetherebound.Theseshort,choppystepsareusedtomaintainbalanceandpossessaquicknessofthedefendertocutoffthepathsoftheopponenttothemissedshot.

Box-outdefendersmustkeeptheirhandsofftheopponentfortwomainreasons:topreventdefensiveholdingfoulsandalsotogivethedefenderachancetograbthemissedshot.Ifhishandsaredown,howishetograbtherebound?Iftheoffensiverebounderismuchstrongerphysically,thedefendershouldstaggerthefeettooffermoreresistancetopreventtheoffensiveopponentfrompushingthe

defenderunderneaththebasket,wheretherearenodefensiverebounds.

Thephrasesusedtoteachandreinforcetheboxingouttechniqueare:

•Pivotandmakecontact.

•Keepyourelbowshighandlocked.

•MakeaVwithyourbentelbows.

•Keepyourelbowsback.

•Seeyourmanwithyourbody(notyoureyes).

•Useshort,choppysteps.

•Don’tgetshovedunderthebasket.

•Handsupandheaduptoseetheballandtogetit.

Thesebasicfundamentalsareextremelyimportant,butiftheinitialstepofthedefensivebox-outisnotperformedcorrectly,thebox-outcanneverbesuccessful.Thefirstphaseandthemostimportantphaseofthebox-outistheinitialquickcontactthatmustbemadebyeachdefender.Thiscontactisinitiatedbyeitherthefront(crossover)pivotorthereversepivot.Bothpivotsshouldbeusedincertaincircumstancesbecausebothhavespecificadvantagesthatmustbeutilized.

Diagram5-1illustratesthestancesforallfivedefendersplayinginaman-to-mandefensivesystem.Thebracketsrepresentanindividualdefender’sstancefacingtowardtheright.Thediagramshowstheleftarm,therightarmandtheplayer’sbackofallfive

Diagram5-1

defenders.ThisdiagramshowsX2defending02withtheball.X1isinthedefensivepositionthatisonepassaway,withX4beingtheballsidepostdefender.X5andX3arebothhelpsidedefendersmorethanoneperimeterpassawayfromthebasketball.

BoxingOuttheShooter

Defendersshouldonlyusethefrontpivotwhendefensivelyboxingoutanopposingshooter,whilealloff-the-balldefendersshouldusethereversepivottomaketheinitialcontactwiththeiroffensiveopponent.On-the-balldefenderswanttoputasmuchpressureontheshooteraspossible.Suchpressurecomesfrombeingasclosetotheshooteraspossible,havingahandup.Defendersshouldnottrytoblockeveryshotbytheopposition,buttheyshouldattempttoaltereveryshottheopponentstake.Aphraseusedtohelpreinforcethisphilosophyistellingdefenders:“Don’tleavetheground(toblocktheshot)untiltheshooterleavestheground.”

Astheshotistaken,thedefenderontheshootershouldbefacingtheshooterwithhishanduphighneartheactualshootinghandoftheshooter.Thedefender’smomentumshouldbegoingslightlyforward.Thedefendercontinuesthatmomentumandmakesthefront(crossover)pivottoinitiatethecontactassoonashereadsthedirectionthattheshooterisgoingtotaketowardthemissed

shot.Thefrontpivotallowsthedefendertoquicklymakecontactwiththeopponent,aswellastopickupboththesightoftheballandwheretheballisgoingtoricochet.

Conversely,fortheshootertorebound,hemustseetheballandreacttoit.Sincethedefenderinitiallyisfacingtheshooter,hecannotseeboththeballandrimimmediatelyaftertheballisshot.Therefore,thedefendershouldfirstrespondtotheoffensiveplayer’sreactiontothemissedshotandthen,asquicklyaspossible,lookfortheball.Thefrontpivotallowsthedefendertoimmediatelygainvisionoftheballandstarttoreadthedirectionthattheballwilltakeafterhittingthebackboardand/orrim.

Thedefenderfrontcrossoverpivotsdirectlyintothepaththeshooter(nowtheoffensiverebounder)takestogoafterthemissedshot.Iftheshooterfollowshisshotandgoestohisleft,thedefenderfront(crossover)pivotbysteppingacrosswithhisleftfoot(andpivotoffofhisrightfoot)directlyintothepathoftherebounder.Iftheshooterfollowshisshotandcutstohisright,thedefendershouldthenmakethesamefrontcrossoverpivot,butstepacrosswithhisrightfoot.Thedefendercanevenslideastepwiththeshooterbeforeperformingthefrontpivottomaketheinitialcontact.

Defensively,Diagram5-2isanexampleofthecorrecttechniqueandfootworkforthedefensivebox-outonashooter(02)thatgoestohisleftfortheoffensiverebound.Iftheshooterfollowstheshotbygoingtohisright,thedefenderfrontpivotsbysteppingforwardwiththerightfootacrosstheoffensiveplayer’spath.

Diagram5-2

Ontheoffensivesideoftheballconcerningthefootworkforoffensiverebounds,Diagram5-3showstheproperfootworkwhentheshootercutstohisrighttoattempttooffensivereboundtheshot.Coachescoulduseaphrasethatclearlyexplainstotheon-the-balldefenderhowtoperformthecorrectfront(crossover)pivotbox-out

Diagram5-3

technique:Whentheshooterstepstogofortherebound,thedefendershouldmakeafrontcrossoverpivotandstepintohisopponent’spathwiththehandsupasifthedefenderweregoingtopunchtheopponentinthejaw.Whilenotwantingthedefendertoactuallypunchtheopponent,thisphrasestressestothedefendertobetheaggressorandtoquicklystepintothepathoftheoffensiveopponent,aswellastoholdtheelbowshigh.Coachingpointsofemphasisandphrasesthatcoachescanusetostressthepropertechniquesoncetheinitialcontactismadewiththehips,legs,andbuttinclude:

•Gobutttogut.

•Maintainthecontactwithshort,choppysteps.

•Keepthehandsup.

•Keeptheelbowshighandlocked.

•Gogetit.

BoxingOutOnePassAway

Alloff-the-ballandone-pass-awaydefendersshouldutilizethereversepivottoinitiatecontactwiththeopposition’soffensiverebounder.Thesedefendersincludemostballsidepostdefenderswhoareinahalforthree-quarterfrontposition.Inaman-to-mandefense,allone-pass-awaydefenderswouldbeinadenialstance.Thisstanceisveryconduciveforthemtoeasilyreversepivotoffofthetrailfootandswingtheleadfootaroundquicklyintothepathofwheretheoffensiveopponentisbasicallybeingforcedtogo.

Theinitialdenial(ofthepass)stancepreventstheopponentfromgoinginthatdirection,sohisonlychoicewouldbetotrytogoaroundthedefender.Thereversepivotmakesiteasyforthedefendertoinitiatethecontactofthebox-outandalsoquicklypickuptheflightoftheshotsohecantrackdownthedefensiverebound.

Thedefendersinitiatethecontactwiththeopponentonthebox-out.Reversepivotingallowsthedefendertoquicklyfindtheballandestimatewherethericochetwilloccur.Thereversepivotistheonlymethodtoaccomplishbothgoals.

Diagram5-4illustratesthereversepivotsmadebydifferentman-to-mandefensiveplayerswhoareonepassawayfromtheshooter.InDiagram5-4,04hastheballinthedeepcorner.X1isdenyingthepassfrom04to01nearthefreethrowlineextended.X5isdenyingtheinsidepassto05,whoispostingupattheballsideblock.X3andX2areplayinghelpsidedefenseontheirrespectivemen,whoaretwoperimeterpassesawayfromtheball.

X4makesafrontpivottofollowtheruleofusingthefrontpivottoboxouta

shooter.X5andX1bothmakereversepivotsbyswingingtheirfreefoot180degreesaroundintotheexpected(andonly)paththattheoffensiveopponentshavetogotothebasket.

Diagram5-4

Thetopfootisalwaysthefreefoot,andthepivotfootisalwaysthelowerfoot.X1andX5bothswingtherightfootaroundtomakeareversepivotoffoftheleftfoottoinitiatecontactontheirdefensivebox-outassignment.X3andX2’stechniquesofboxingoutwillbediscussedinthenextsection.

BoxingOutMoreThanOnePassAway

Forallman-to-mandefensiveplayersthatareoff-the-ballandmorethanonepassaway,theirinitialpositionshouldbesaggingofftheiractualoffensivemaneitheronestepmansideoronestepballside.Theirlocation/positionshouldbeinaball-you-manflattriangleonetoone-and-a-halfstepsoffofthepassingline,andtheirstanceshouldbeinapistolsstancewiththeirheadonaswivel,seeingtheballandseeingtheirman.

Thesedefendersareknownashelpsidedefenders.

Whentheballisshot,thehelpsidedefenderssprintundercontrolattheirmanandshadeandrunatthehighshoulderoftheiropponent.Thismoveissimilartothefanningoverplayoftheon-the-balldefenderswhenplayingtheman-to-mandefense.Thefanninginfluencethatthehelpsidedefendersaremakingshouldforcetheoffensiveplayerstomakethepredictablecutmoretowardthebaseline(awayfromthedefender).

Whenfanningtheweaksideoffensivereboundingopponent,thatoffensiveopponentwillwanttoavoidthebox-out,sohemostlikelywillrunintheperceivedopenchanneltowardthebasketandtheballand,therefore,runstotheoutsideofthedefender.Whenthedefendergetscloseenoughtohismanonhisapproach,thedefendermakesareversepivotintotheoutsidepathoftheopponent.Sincethedefenseoverplaystheopposition’soffensiverebounderswiththefanningstyleofplay,itmakestheoppositionmuchmorepredictableastowhatdirectionheisgoingtousetoapproachthebasket.Therefore,thedefensivereboundercanverywellsafelypredictthedirectionhisoffensiveopponentwillcutfortheoffensiverebound.Itismucheasierforthathelpsidedefendertothenbeabletomakethereversepivotandsuccessfullyboxouttheopposition’srebounder.

Thedefendershouldalwaysinitiatethecontactwiththeopponentoutsideofthefreethrowlane.Ifcontactismadeinthelaneitself,oftentimesthedefenderisboxedin(insteadofthedefenderboxingouttheopponent)asthemissedshotbouncesoverthedefenders’heads,givingthatweaksideoffensiveopponentamuchgreaterchanceofgettingtheoffensivereboundandmaintainingpossessionoftheball.

Diagram5-5illustratesashotfromthedeepcornerontherightsideofthecourt.Inthisillustration,X1defends01,whoistheshooterfromthedeepcornerontherightsideofthefloor.X2isdenyingtheuppassto02atthefreethrowlineextendedandisinaonepassawaydefensiveposition.X2wouldbeinadenialstancewithhisleftfootbeingupandhewouldreversepivotoffofhislower(right)footandleadwithhisleftfootashemakesbutt-to-gutcontactwithhisopponent(02).X5ismorethanoneperimeterpassfromtheball,saggingoffandguarding05,whilesettlinginatthetopofthekey.X3issaggingoffandsettingupdefensivelyinthemiddleofthefreethrowlane.X3isguarding03,whoisthreeperimeterpassesfromtheball.X4isalsoplayinghelpsidedefenseinthelane,whiledefending04intheweaksideblockarea.04isdefinedasbeingmorethanoneperimeterpassfromtheball,unless04wouldflashtotheballside

postarea(highorlow),wherehewouldbecomeaplayeronepassawayfromtheball.

Diagram5-5

If01cannotpasstheballtoateammateandisinfluencedtoshoottheballfromthedeepcorner,X4wouldquicklygoacrossthelanetoheadhuntthehigh(inside)shoulderof04(inthiscase,therightshoulder)toinitiatethecontactoutsideofthefreethrowlane.Thisshouldinfluence04topredictablygotowardthebaseline,whichiswhereyouwanthimtogo.X4wouldreversepivotinto04byswingingthetopfoot(left,inthiscase)andpivotoffofthebottomorthebaselinefoot(right)andmakecontact(ideally,outsideofthelane)toboxouthisopponent(04).

X3wouldfollowthesametechniquesbyfanningtheopponentandalsousetheright(thelowerorbaseline)footasthepivotfoottoreversepivotinto03(hopefully,outsideofthefreethrowlane.)

X5wouldalsotrytoinfluence05intoapredictablepathtothebasketandlikewisewouldreversepivotofftherightfoot,whileswingingtheleftfootdirectlyinto05’ssupposedlyopenpathtotherebound.

Diagram5-6illustratestheteamconceptofallfivedefensiveplayersexecuting

theappropriatetechniquesofboxingoutfromtheirspecificsituation.X2usesthecorrectfrontpivottechniquetoboxouttheshooter(02).

Diagram5-6

X4isaballsidepostdefenderwhoisonepassawayandmakesareversepivotoffofthelower(right)footsothathecanswinghisleftfootaroundtomakethesamebutt-to-gutcontactinto04.X1isalsoonepassawayontheperimeter,andheshouldmakethesamereversepivotoffofthesamelower(right)foot.BothX4andX1thenswingtheleftfreefootintothepredictablepathoftheiroffensiveopponenttoinitiallyestablishcontactwiththeirrespectiveopponents.Theythenmustmaintainthatcontactandstaybetweentheirmanandtheball.

X3,asahelpsidedefenderwhoistwoperimeterpassesawayfromtheball,reactstotheshot,andshouldquicklygoacrossthelanetosearchouthisopponenttoboxout.X3shouldinfluence03togotowardthebaselinebyrunningathishigher(right)shoulderandshouldtrytomakecontactwithhisopponentoutsideofthelane.X3makesareversepivotoffthelower(right)footandswingstheleftfootinto03’spredictablepathtothebasket.X5isalsoahelpsidedefender,andhe,too,goesacrossthelane,fanning05towardthebaseline.X5alsomakesareversepivotoffofthelow(right)footbyswinginghisleftfootinto05eitheroutsideofthelaneorasclosetotheedgeofthefreethrowlaneaspossible.X3andX5arestronglyurgedtomaketheinitialcontactoutsideofthefreethrowlanetopreventgettingboxedinandgivingtheirrespectiveopponentsagreateradvantagefortheoffensiverebound.

Youcannothaveoneweaklinkinadefensiveteam’sbox-outeffort,ortheoppositionwillstartgettingmoreandmoreoffensiverebounds.Surrenderingoffensivereboundstrulydemoralizesadefensiveteamthatworkshardonbothon-the-ballandoff-the-balldefense,forcestheoppositiontomissshots,andthengivesupevenclosershotstothebasketontheopponent’soffensivestickbacks.

Ifadefensiveteamcanminimizetheopponent’snumberofoffensivepossessionsandshots,thatdefensiveteamhasamuchgreaterchanceofwinningthegame.Defensivereboundsnotonlylimitthenumberofpossessionsandshotsbytheopposition,butalsomaximizethenumberofpossessionsthedefensive-turned-offensiveteamhastoscore.Withoutthedefensivebox-out,minimaldefensivereboundswillbeavailableforthedefensiveteamandamaximumnumberofopponent’soffensiverebounds.Withouttheproperbox-outtechniques,minimaldefensivereboundswilloccur.Properfootworkandpivotingaretwoofthemostimportantdefensivereboundingandbox-outtechniques.

TheDefensiveReboundandtheOutletPass

Besideseliminatingtheopponent’soffensiveteamtheirpossessionofthebasketball,anotherimportantfactoristhedefensiveteamthenquicklyconvertingfromdefensetooffense.Anintegralpartofthedefensivereboundistheoutletpassafterthedefensivebox-outhassuccessfullybeenexecutedandthedefensivereboundhasbeenclaimed.Adefensiveteamdoesnotwanttoexpendlargeamountsofeffortonthedefensivesideoftheball,maketheproperdefensivebox-outtechniques,securethedefensiverebound,andthengivetheoppositiontheballbackbecauseofpooroutletpassingtechniques.

Grabbingthedefensivereboundconcludestheopposition’spossessionofthebasketball.Italsobeginstheactualpossessionoftheballforthedefensivereboundingteam.Thisapproachobviouslyhaltsthescoringchancesoftheoppositionandbeginsthescoringopportunitiesoftheinitialdefensiveteam.

Afterthedefensehassuccessfullyboxedouttheoffensiveopponentandgrabbed

thedefensiverebound,thereboundermustmakeanoutletpasstoinitiateafastbreak.Ifthefastbreakstyleisnotutilizedbythatteam,theoutletpassmuststillbeusedtogettheballintoamorecapableballhandler’shandstobringtheballdownthecourtsuccessfully,regardlessofthespeedthe(new)offensiveteamelectstoutilize.Todosoeffectively,thedefensiverebounderthatobtainsthereboundmustmakeafrontpivot(awayfromtheopposition’sresistance)beforetheactualoutletpasscanbemade.

Diagram5-7showsadefensivereboundergainingpossessionofthereboundontheoriginaldefense’sleftsideofthecourt.Thereboundershouldchintheball(asoffensivepostplayersaretaughttodowhencatchingtheinsidepass),frontpivot(thatisactuallyawayfromthenewdefensivepressure)offtheoutsidefoot(inthiscase,

Diagram5-7

therightfoot),andswingtheinsidefoot(left)toturnawayfrompotentialopposingdefenders.Thispivotallowsthereboundertofacealloutletreceiversaswellashisbasket,beforemakingthepasstohisteammate(01).

Thereceivercatchingtheoutletpass(01)mustgetopensothathecanbeanopenpassreceiver.ProperfootworkpossiblybymakingV-cutstofreehimselffromanopponentverylikelywillbenecessarytogetopensothattheballcanbe

placedinabetterballhandler’shandstospeedupapossiblefastbreak.Onceheisopen,hemustmeetthepassbeforecatchingtheball.Uponmeetingtheoutletpassfrom05,01shouldalsomakeafrontpivot(awayfromtheinitialdefender)towardthesideline(awayfromallotherdefenderslocatedinthemiddleofthecourt).Thismoveshouldbedonebyfrontpivotingoffoftheoutsidefoot(alsotherightfootinthiscase)andswingingtheinside(left)foottowardthesideline.Heshouldalsochintheballandimmediatelylooktoadvancetheballdownthecourtinthequickestandmostsecuremethod,viadribbleorpassingaheadtoanopenteammate.Thistechniqueallows01toprotecttheballbeforeknowinghowmuchdefensivepressurehewillimmediatelyreceive.Thisfrontpivotalsogiveshimthefullviewofthefrontcourtaswellashisteammates.Thisfrontpivotisthesafestaswellasaverysafemethod.Somecoachesbelievethatthereversepivotshouldbeusedatthispoint,asitmaybealittlequicker.However,safetyispreferableoverthepossiblyminuteincreaseinspeedofthereversepivotversusthefrontpivotbytheoutletpassreceiver.

Ontheoppositesideofthecourt,Diagram5-8showsadefensiverebounderwhohasmadethedefensivebox-outandgrabbedthedefensiverebound.Thisrebounder(04)willalsochintheballandturnawayfromthemiddlewheremostopposingdefendersshouldbelocated.Thismoveisdonebyfrontpivoting(awayfromthedefensivepressure)offoftheoutsidepivotfoot(left,inthiscase)andswingingthefreeinsidefoot(right)againtowardthesideline.

Thisoutletpassismadetotheguard(02)whoalsofrontpivotsoffoftheoutsidepivotfoot(left)andswingstheinsidefreefoot(right)towardtheoutside(awayfrom

Diagram5-8

mostdefenders).Thisfrontpivotbyboththedefensiverebounder/outletpasserandthepassreceiveragainallowsboth(now)offensiveplayerstoprotectthebasketballwithoutseeingorknowingthedegreeofpressuretheywillfaceuponpossessionofthebasketball.Oncetheyhavefacedandthengaugedthedegreeofthedefensivepressure,theythencansafelylookdowncourttotheirownoffensivebasket,toalsolookforteammatesandtoadvancetheballdownthecourtviapassingordribbling.

Asimportantofaconceptasdefendingtheballistotheoveralldefensiveschemesandhowimportantdefensivebox-outsandoutletpassesoffthedefensivereboundare,theartofpivotingisavitalpartofallthreepartsofthedefense.Asaresult,theabilitytopivotisveryimportanttothedefensiveandthetransitionsuccessofabasketballteam.

OffensiveRebounding

Whilethepreviousdiscussionexplainshowimportantdefensiveboxingoutanddefensivereboundingaretoadefensiveteam,beatingtheopposition’sdefensivebox-outtechniquestogainoffensivereboundsisequallyimportanttooffensiveteams.Asuccessfulbasketballteammusthaveskillsinbothdefensiveandoffensiverebounding.

Thenextdiscussionisabouttheappropriatetechniquesthatshouldbeusedtoovercomeagoodopponent’sdefensivebox-outs.Thesetechniquesmustbedemonstrated,taught,andpracticedasoffensiveplayersbecauseoffensivereboundingisalsoanimportantpartofateam’soffense.

Beforethefirsttechniqueisevershown,thecoachingstaffshouldselltheteamontheimportanceofoffensivereboundsandexplainhowstickbackscanbeaveryeffectivewayofscoring.Stickbackscanbeveryclosetothebasketandwillbetakenagainstanopponent’sdefensethatprobablywillneverbeinmoreofadisorganizedstatethantheyareimmediatelyaftertheoffensehasshotthebasketball.Theattitudethatacoachingstaffshouldinstillinitsplayersistolookateverymissedshotbythemselvesorateammateasapasstothem.

Iftheoppositionisplayinganytypeofazonedefenseortrappingdefense,itmustbeimpressedupontheoffensiveteamthattheyhaveagreateradvantageofoffensiverebounds.Becauseofthemakeupofzoneandtrappingdefenses,reboundingassignmentsarenonexistent.Thisdisadvantageoftheopposition’sdefensemustbetakenadvantageofbytheoffensewithanaggressiveandpositiveattitudeoftheoffense.

ThreeMethodsofOffensiveRebounding

Threedifferentmethodscanbetaughttooffensivereboundersontryingtodefeatdefensivebox-outs.Allthreemethodsaresomewhatdifferent,butallthreemethodsrequirepivots.

Thefirstmethodisexplainedinthissimplemanner.Coachescouldtelltheoffensiveplayertogobutt-to-butt(withhisdefensivecounterpart)andspinoff.Theoffensivereboundershouldseetheballbeingshot,makeaquickreversepivot,andmakecontactwiththedefendertoliterallyspinoffofhim.Eitherfootcouldbeusedasthepivotfoottomakethereversepivot.

Thesecondmethodrequirestheuseofafrontcrossoverpivotandtheswimtechnique.Usingtheswimmovewiththearmclosesttothedefendershouldbestressed.

Itisbesttousetheleftfootasthepivotfoot(and,therefore,therightfootasthe

freefoot)tomakeafrontcrossoverstepwhenattackingthedefender’srightside.Iftheoffensiverebounderwantstogotohisownrightside,itisbesttousetheleftfootasthefree(frontcrossover)footandmaketherightfootthepivotfoot.

Thethirdmethodisfortheoffensiveplayertostepbackwardandbreakphysicalcontactwiththedefensiveplayer.Whenthedefensiveopponentlooksoverhisshouldertofindtheoffensiveplayer,theoffensiveplayermakesafrontcrossoverpivotandattackstheshoulderoppositetheonethedefenderturnedtosearchforhim.

CircleBox-OutDrill

Oneofthemostproductivedrillsutilizedfortheboxingoutpartofrebounding,bothoffensivelyasdefensively,isadrillcalledthecirclebox-outdrill.ThisdrillispartofthefundamentalandstretchingroutinethatwasdescribedinChapter1.Itisverytime-efficientandproductivebecausetheoffensiveconceptsandtechniquesaswellasthedefensiveconceptsandtechniquescanbeobserved,evaluated,andcritiquedbythecoachingstaffaswellaspracticedbyanentiresquadatthesametimeinarelativelyshortamountofcourtspaceandpracticetime.

Twopairsofplayerscanbeplacedatanyofthethreecirclesorsemicirclesonamaincourt.Thecenterjumpcircleandthecirclesateachofthepossiblesixfreethrowlines(wheretherearetwomaincourtbasketsandfoursidecourtbaskets)canbeused.Thosesevencircleswithtwopairsofplayersallow14playersopportunitiestoworkondefensiveboxingoutand14otherplayerstoworkondefeatingthedefensiveboxingout.Thissetupmakesforgreatcompetitionaswellasexcellentopportunitiesforcoachingstaffstoevaluateandcorrectanymistakesmadebyeitheroffensiveordefensiveplayers.

Abasketballisplacedinthecenterofeachcircle.Thedefensiveplayersfaceouttowardtheiroffensiveopponent.Thedefensiveplayerslineupinvariouson-the-ballandoff-the-balldefensivestancesattheouteredgeofthecircle.Offensiveplayerslineuponefullsteptotheoutsideoftheirdefender,facingtheirdefenderandtheballinthecenterofthecircle.

Oneoftheobservingcoachesyells“Shot!”andeachdefenderpracticesinitiatingcontactwithhisopposingpracticeplayerwiththeappropriatepivotandcontinuesmaintainingcontactwiththeshort,choppystepswiththeelbowshighandlocked.Eachdefenderutilizesthecorrecttechniquesofeitherboxingouttheshooter,boxingoutaplayeronepassaway,orboxingoutaplayer(acrosstheimaginaryfreethrowlane)fromthehelpside.Theoffensiverebounderworksondefeatingthatdefensivebox-outandgettingtheoffensiverebound.

Thedrillisa1-on-1competitivedrillwithbothawinnerandaloser.Forthedefensiveplayertowin,hemustkeeptheoffensiveplayerfromtouchingthebasketballforapredeterminedtime(threeorfoursecondsisaverygoodtimelimitforcoachestouse).Thedefenderlosesifheislegallypushedintothecircle(andtheoreticallyunderthebasket,wherenodefensivereboundsexist).Iftheoffensiveplayerinthisdrillcanlegallypushandshovethedefensiveplayertothemiddleofthecircletowardtheball,thatdefensiveplayerwillallowhimselftobeshovedunderthebasketinanactualgame.

Eachplayermustpracticethreescenariosbothdefensivelyaswellasoffensivelyeachtimethecirclebox-outdrillisusedinpractice.Oneplayerstartsondefensefortworepetitions,whilehispartnerstartsonoffense.Theythenswitchfortworepswiththesamescenario.Eachpairofpracticeplayersthenmovetothesecondscenariofortwomorerepetitionsatboththeoffenseaswellasthedefense,andfinishwiththethirdscenarioandtworepsonoffensebeforetworepsondefense.

Thethreescenariosthateachplayerpracticesbothoffensivelyaswellasdefensivelyare:

•Theoffensiveplayerisashooter(andthereforethedefenderisanontheballdefender).

•Theoffensiveplayerisonepassaway.

•Theoffensiveplayerismorethanoneperimeterpassaway.

Inthefirstscenario(Diagram5-9),eachoffensivepracticeplayerpretendstoshoottheball.Everydefensiveplayer(X1andX2)worksontheappropriatetechniquesofdefendingashooter(01and02)beforemakingtheappropriate

pivotandthentheactualdefensivebox-outofashooter.Eachoffensiveplayerplayactsasashooterandthenbecomesanoffensiverebounder,practicingthecorrecttechniquesofbreakingcontactthatthedefensiveplayermakes,whilethenattemptingtogetthepseudo-offensiverebound.

Diagram5-9

01breakstohisrightasX1stepsacrosstomakeafrontpivotwithhisrightfreefoot,usingtheleftfootasthepivotfoot.With02breakingtohisleft,X2stepsacrosswithafrontpivotwithhisleftfootasthefreefootandtherightfootasthepivotfoottomakethebox-outon02.

Aftertworeps,allfourplayersswitchassignmentsfromoffensetodefenseordefensetooffense.Pointsareawardedtothewinnersofeachsimulatedmissedshot.Keepingtheoffensiveplayeroutofthecircleandawayfromtheballfortwoorthreesecondsisawinforthedefense.Laterintheseason,thetimecanbeincreasedtofoursecondsforthedefense.Ifanoffensiveplayergetsintothecircleandtouchestheballinthemiddleofthecircle,heisdeclaredthewinner.Scoreiskeptforeachdifferentattemptoftheoffensivereboundingtoindicatewhetheritwastheoffensiverebounderorthedefenderineachpairofcompetitorsthatwonthebattle,withthelosingplayershavingsomeformofminorconsequenceorpenalty.Theoffensiveplayersshouldworkonalloftheiroffensivereboundmoves.Thestaffmightdictatewhichonetheywanttheirplayerstoworkonoritmaybeleftuptotheoffensiveplayerstochoose.

Aspreviouslydiscussed,inthesecondscenario(Diagram5-10),theoffensiveplayerspretendtobeonepassaway.Bothdefensiveplayers(X3andX4)workonthe

Diagram5-10

appropriatestancesandthenthetechniquesofboxingouttheirspecificman(03and04)whentheirmanisonepassaway.

Whentheballisnotpassed,butanimaginaryshotistakenbyacoachoramanager,thesetwodefendersmaketheappropriatepivotandthenthedefensivebox-out.Eachoffensiveplayer(03and04)playactsasapassreceiverandthenbecomesanoffensiverebounder,practicingtheircorrecttechniquesofavoidingthedefensivebox-outbeforethenattemptingtogettheimaginaryoffensiverebound.

Whenthecoachyells“Shot!”03breakstohisrightasX3(inaone-pass-awaydenialstance)reversepivotsofftheleft(lower)footandswingshisrightfootintothepathof03.Meanwhile,04breakstohisleft,sothatX4reversepivotsoffthetrailfoot(right)andswingsthefree(left)footintothepathof04tomaketheinitialcontactofthebox-out.Aftertworeps,theseplayersswitchoffensiveanddefensiveassignments.Beforestartingthesecondpairofshots,thecoachandthe(imaginary)ballswitchsides(ofthecircle)sothatoff-the-balldefenders

practicewiththeballonbothsidesoftheiroffensivepracticeopponent.

Winnersandlosersarenotedforeachdifferentattemptoftheoffensiverebounding.Theoffensiveplayersshouldagainworkononeoftheoffensivemovestheyhavebeentaught.Again,themovestheyaretoworkonmightbechosenbythecoachingstafforleftuptotheoffensiveplayers.

ThethirdandfinalscenarioisillustratedinDiagram5-11.Inthisscenario,theoffensiveplayersimulatesbeingapassreceiverontheoppositesideofthecourtfromtheball.X5playshelpsidedefenseintheappropriatestancewhileguarding05fromtheoppositesideofthecircle(whichsimulatesthefreethrowlane).Theotherdefender(X6)playshelpsidedefensealsointheappropriatedefensivestance,whileguarding06acrossthecircle.

Diagram5-11

Tomakethispartofthedrillgame-realistic,alloffensiveplayersshouldstepoffthecircleanextrastepbackfromthecenterofthecircle.Thedefenderswanttoinfluencetheiroffensiveopponentstogotowardtheoutside(towardthesidelineandbaseline)totrytogettheoffensiverebound.Whenthecoachyells“Shot,”bothdefenderssprintacrossthecircle(simulatingthefreethrowlane),headingfortheinsideshoulderoftheoffensiveplayer.Whentheoffensiveplayerscuttowardtheball,thedefensiveplayersmakeareversepivot(offtheoutsidefoot)andswingtheirinsidefootintothepathofwheretheyhavedictatedtheoffensiveopponenttogofortherebound.

Thedefendersmakecontactwiththeiropponentsandmaintainthatinitialcontact,usingthesametechniquesaspreviouslydiscussed.IfX5approaches05inthepropermanner,05isforcedtohisleftand,therefore,cutstohisleft.X5thenreversepivotsoffoftherightfootandswingstheleftfootintothepathof05toboxhimout.06alsoshouldhavebeeninfluencedbyX6’sapproachsothathewillbreaktohisright.Afterhisproperapproachto06,X6thenshouldreversepivotoffhisoutsidefoot(left)footandshouldthenswinghisinside(theright)footintothepathofoffensiveplayer06.Eachoffensiveplayershouldworkononeoftheoffensivereboundingmovesaswellasfirstavoidingtheinitialcontactmadebythedefender.

OneorMorePassesAwayBox-OutandReboundingDrill

Thisdrillfeaturesdefensivebox-outsaswellasthecounterattacksofbox-outsbytheoffenseusingalargergroupofoffensiveanddefensiveplayers.Diagram5-12illustratesseveralpairsofplayersinvariouspositionsandlocationsonthecourt.Acoachcanbethedesignatedshooterandshouldmovearoundtovariouslocationsonthefloor.Eachtimeacoachwiththeballmoves,itchangesplayersfrombeingonepassawaytomorethanonepassawayfromtheball.Thisshiftchangestheinitialpositionandstancesofmostdefendersaswellasthespecificmethodsthatthoseplayersshouldbe

Diagram5-12

usingtomaketheirdefensivebox-outs.Thisdrillmaynotbeasgame-realisticasthesubsequentdrill,butitsadvantagesaretimeefficiencyandtheconcentratedamountofrepetitionsthattakeplace.Thedrillcanbeshortenedtoobserveonlythestancesastheballchangeslocations,oritcanbeusedtoobserve,evaluate,andcritiquealldefenders’stancesaswellasthecompletedbox-outandalsotheoutletpass.

ShellReboundingDrill

Diagram5-13isasimilar,butmoregame-realistic,drill.Thisdrillisalsosetupinthe(half-court)shelldrillformatwithdefensiveplayerspositionedonoffensiveplayerswhoareeithertheshooter(02),onepassaway(01,04,and07),ormorethanonepassaway(03,05,and06).Thedrillcanincludeperimeterplayers(01,03,and05)aswellaspostplayers(04,06,and07),andoffensiveplayerslocatedbothabove(01,03,and07)andbelow(02,04,05,and06)thefreethrowlineextended.Everypossiblelocationandsituationcanandshouldbecoveredwhileutilizingthisdrill.

Diagram5-13

Offensiveplayersshouldchangefrombeingperimeterplayerstobecominginsideplayers,andviceversa.Offensiveplayersshouldswitchfromtherightsidetotheleftsideofthefloor,andviceversa.Eventually,afteradesignatednumberofrepetitions,playersshouldrotatefromoffensetodefense,andviceversa.Defenderswillnotonlyhavetodrilltheproperstancesandlocations/positionsineachoftheirdifferentball-you-manflattriangles,butwhentheballisfinallyshot,theywillhavetolearnhowtoinstantlyselectthepropertechniquesofboxingoutbothpostplayersaswellasperimeterplayersthataresometimesontheballsideandsometimesonthedefensivehelpside.Defenderswillsometimeshavetoboxoutshootersaswellashavingtoboxouttheiropponentonbothsidesofthecourt,aswellasperimeterplayersandalsopostplayers.

Thecoachingstaffcanlimitthenumberofoffensiveplayers.Thecoachingstaffcanspecifyacertainnumberofpassesthatmusttakeplacebeforethedesignatedshot(toinitiatealloftheaction).Inaddition,thecoachingstaffcandictatethetypesofmovementtheoffensiveteammakesbeforethedesignatedshotistaken(suchasoff-the-ballscreens,give-and-gocutstothebasketbeforethenemptyingout).

Offensiveplayerswillworkontheiroffensivereboundingtechniquesandtheproperfootworktodefeatdefensivebox-outs.Thecoachingstaffcanmakethisdrillasliveastheywantandascompetitiveastheywant,withrewardsand

punishmentstothewinnersandthelosers.

Summary

Drillsareveryvaluableincorrectingandimprovingthetechniquesofboththeoffensivereboundersandthedefensiverebounders.Closescrutinyandpositivecriticismbythecoachingstaffareinvaluabletoimprovinganddevelopingplayers’skillsandtechniquesinthisveryimportant,butsometimesoverlookedphaseofthegame.

Asimportantasreboundingistotheoveralloffensiveanddefensiveschemesofabasketballteam,thetechniquesofboxingoutand/ordefeatingtheopponents’box-outaremoreimportant.Properpivotsareintegralpartsofboththeoffensiveanddefensivereboundingphasesofthegame.Therefore,theartofpivotingismostimportanttothereboundingsuccessofabasketballteam.

ImportantPivotsoftheScreener

“Onoffensetherearethreeunselfishteamactionsthatarenecessaryforsuccess:passing,

screening,andmovingwithouttheball.”—BillBradley

Theprimarypurposeforsettingscreensisforanoffensiveplayertogetateammateopensothatthepassreceivercanfreehimselffromhisdefenderandthenreceiveapassforahighpercentageshot,whichcanbedonebyusingeithergeneraltypeofscreen—theballscreenandtheoff-the-ballscreen.Inmanyoffenses,screenersarebeingusedmoreandmoreaspotentialscorersineitheroneoftwodifferenttypesofaction.Thisfirstmethodistheoriginalscreenerslippingthescreen,sometimesjustcalledslippingthescreenorpickandpop.

Thesecondmethodisthattheoriginalscreenerisscreenedaftersettingtheinitialscreen.Thisparticularoffensiveactioniscalledscreen-the-screeneraction.Therefore,varioustypesofscreeningactioncannowbeimplementedsothattheactualinitialscreenersuddenlycanbecometheprimaryscorer,ifnotthesecondaryscorer.

Thecommonfactorintheactionimmediatelyaftertheinitialscreen(whetheritisaballscreenoranoff-the-ballscreen)issomeformofapivotbythatscreener.Thispivotbythescreenerisusedtocontinuethedirectionoftheoffensiveactionortobringthescreenerbacktowardthebasketball.Thepropertechniquesofthepivotandthecorrectfootworkareextremelyimportant,regardlessofthetypesofscreensusedinateam’soffensiverepertoire,sothattheoriginalscreenercansmoothlyandquicklybecomeareceiverandinstantscoringthreat.Hemustbeabletoquicklyfacetheball(tobeabletoreceiveaquickpass)whilealsoatleastpartiallyfacingthebaskettobecomeaninstantscoringthreat.

BallScreenAction

Diagram6-1showsthetraditionaloutsideballscreenwith01dribblingofftheoutsideshoulderof04,whoissettingtheballscreen.As04setstheballscreen,01aimsfortheoutsideshoulderof04(leftshoulder,inthisinstance).After01dribblescrapesoff04’sballscreen,theactionof04couldbeofvaryingtypesthatwillbediscussedmomentarily.

Themoremoderninsideballscreenwith03dribblingtothemiddleortowardtheinsideoff05’sballscreenneartheballsideelbowareaisshowninDiagram6-2.Aftertheinitialballscreenfor03,theactionofthescreener(05)canalsovaryinmanydifferentmethods.

Diagram6-1

Diagram6-2

Pick-and-RollAction

Probablytheoldestandmostoftenusedoffensiveactionaftertheballscreenisthetraditionalpick-and-rollaction.Diagram6-3shows04ballscreeningthedefenderofhisdribblingteammate(01).01dribblescrapesofftheoutside(left)shoulderoftheballscreener(04).Thescrapingofshoulderscontactbetween01and04signals04toopenuptotheball(as01continuesintheoriginaldirection)andfor04tomaintainvisionoftheballaswellastorolltothebasket.Theinside(right)footofthescreener(04)shouldbethepivotfoot(shadedinthe

diagram),whiletheoutsidefoot(left)wouldbethefreefoot.

Diagram6-3

As01rubsoffthe(left)shoulderof04,04shouldreversepivotoffhisinside(right)footandtrytoswingthefree(left)footabout90degreestosealoffhisowndefender(X4)asherollstothebasket;whileneverlosingsightof01orthebasketball.If01turnsthecornerandelectstomaketheinsidepasstohisscreeningteammate(04),01couldfirstmakeafrontpivotoffhisinside(left)foottofacethebasketandhisteammaterollingtothebasketandlooktohit04onthepick-and-roll.

Reverseandfrontpivotsbyboththepasserandthepassreceiverareessentialfootworktechniquesjustfortheballtobepassedtotheoffensiveplayerrollingtothebasket.Thisdoesnoteventakeintoaccounttheoffensivepostplayscoringpivotsnecessaryfortheoffensiveplayertouseafterreceivingtheballclosetothebasket.

Diagram6-4illustratesanexampleoftheballscreensetby04forhisteammate01.After01dribblescrapesoff04’sscreen,thatistheexacttimefor04toreversepivotandslipthescreenandstepouttothetopofthekey.01lookstodriveandthentopasstheballbacktotheinitialballscreener(04).Sincethedribblershouldalwayscomeoffthescreener’stopshoulder,thetopfootof04(theleftfoot)shouldbethe

Diagram6-4

freefootthatswingstoopenuptobeabletocontinuetoseetheballandthepasser.Insteadofrollingtothebasket,04swingshisfreefootapproximately180degrees.Thelowerfoot(therightfootof04inthisinstance)wouldbethepivotfootwherethereversepivotoriginates.

Diagram6-5shows04firstsettingaballscreenfor01andthenafterwardsgoingdowntosetanoff-the-balldownscreenfor03.01againscrapesoffthetopshoulderoftheballscreener,04.04thengoesdowntoheadhuntX3forthedownscreen.Inthiscase,afrontpivotoffthelowerfoot(rightfootof04,inthissituation)isthebestmethodfortheballscreener.Thefrontpivotwith04’sleftfootallowshimtoimmediatelylookforthenextdefenderheistoscreen(X3)Thereasontousethefrontpivotinthisparticularsituationisthatthefrontpivotwillallowtheballscreener(04)tomoreeasilyandmorequicklylocatethedefenderon(03).Inthisscenario,04isnotlookingtobecomeapassreceiver/scoringthreat,buttoscreenofftheballtofreeadifferentteammate(03)forapotentialshot.

Diagram6-5

01shouldexecuteproperfootworkandpivotssoofftheballscreen,hecanbebothasuccessfulshooteraswellasasuccessfulpasser.For03tobesuccessfulingettingopenaswellasbeingasuccessfulscorer,healsomustfirstgetopenbyexecutingtheproperV-cutfakebeforecuttingoff04’sdownscreen.Upongettingopenandreceivingthepassfrom01,03mustalsousetheproperpivotofftheinside(left)heeltosquareuptotakeanopenshotinthelane(off04’sdownscreen).Thedribbler/passer(01),thescreener(04),andthepassreceiver/shooter(03)mustallexecutevariousformsoftheproperfootwork/pivotsforthisoffensiveactiontoresultinamadebasket.

Screen-the-ScreenerAction

Diagram6-6showsanotheroneofthemoretraditionalconceptsofscreens—thescreen-the-screenerorthepick-the-pickeraction.Inthisoffensivescenario,04initiallysetstheballscreenonX1,01’sballdefender.After01dribblesofftheballscreensetby04,02stepsuptosetanoff-the-ballbackscreenfor04.04frontpivotsoffthelowerfoot(rightfoot,inthisscenario)andstepswithhisfreefoot,theleftfoot.Hethenshouldscrapeoff02’shighshoulder(rightshoulder,inthisinstance)andcutshardtowardthebasketwhilelookingoverhisinside(right)shoulderfortheballtobelobbedtohim.Thereasontousethefrontpivotinthisparticularsituationisthefrontpivotallowstheinitialballscreener(04)tomoreeasilyandmorequicklyseethepasser(01),thebasket,andtheball.After

02setsthescreen-the-screenerfor04,heshouldthenstepouttothetopofthekeytobeapossibleshooteroratleastapassreceiverfor01.

Diagram6-6

If04isnotopenonhislobroutetothebasketortheflarecuttotheperimeterarea,02isasecondaryoutletreceiverwhocouldbeapotentialperimeterscoreroraconduitthatcanreversetheballtotheoppositesideofthecourt.Aftersettingthebackscreen(thescreener)for04,02shouldthenhavehisfeetandhandsreadytobecomeapotentialpassreceiver/perimetershooter.02shouldpivotoffhisinside(left,inthiscase)footifhereceivesthepassfrom01sohecouldthenmakeafrontpivottosquareuptothebasketforapossibleandpotentialthree-pointshotatthetopofthekey.

Atthebeginningofthisaction,01shoulddribblescrapeoff04’sballscreen,andwhendribblingtotheoffense’srightside,01shouldpivotoffhisinside(left,inthiscase)footandsquareuptothebasketasapossibleshooterorapassertoanyopenteammate.Again,theproperpivotingfootworkisnecessaryforallthreeoffensiveplayersinvolvedinthisplaytobeeffectivescorersorjustoffensiveplayers.

Off-the-BallScreeners

Thesecondmajorcategoryofoffensivescreensinthetoday’sgameofbasketballisscreenssetondefenderswhoaredefendingoff-the-balloffensiveteammates.Manytypesofoff-the-ballscreensandmanydifferenttypesofactionfollowthesetypesofscreens.Differenttypesofpivotsarerequiredtoexecutethevariouskindsofactionthatfollowtheinitialoff-the-ballscreens.

Someofthetypesofscreensawayfromtheballincludethefollowing:

•Lane-exchangecrossscreens(fromblocktoblock)

•Perimeterscreensawayfromtheball

•Flarescreens

•Backscreens

•Spinscreens(reverselane-exchangescreen)

•Diagonaldownscreens

•Flexbackscreens

•UCLArub-offscreens

•Staggerscreens

•Pinscreens

•Combinationofanyofthesescreens

Withtheexceptionofthesimpleperimeterscreens(awayfromtheball)andtheflarescreens,everyothertypeofscreenmentionedcanveryeasilyhavesubsequentactionthatmayormaynotbeasimportantastheinitialscreen.Everytypeofactionfollowingtheinitialscreencannotbeexecutedwithoutsomeformofapivot(bytheinitialscreener)toinitiatethatoffensiveaction.Eachofthesescreensandatleastoneformofcomplementaryactionwillbediscussedandillustrated.Amainpointoffocusthatshouldbestressedtoalloff-the-ballscreenersisforeachscreenertosetthescreensothatthebacksideispointingdirectlytothespotwherehewantsthecuttertocuttogetopentoreceivetheball.Theangleofthescreenandthepositionoftheactualscreener

areveryimportantpointsofemphasisinbreakingoffensivecuttersopentoreceivetheballtobeproductivescorers.

Lane-ExchangeCrossScreens

Diagram6-7illustrates04’slane-exchangecrossscreenfor05,followedbytheinitialscreenercomingbacktotheball(afterthedefenseattemptstoswitchthescreen).Diagram6-8illustratesthefootworkoftheinitialscreener(04).

04emptiesoutandgoesacrossthefreethrowlaneandsetsthisscreenonhisteammate’sdefender(X5)withhisbacktotheball.After05setsX5upwithaV-cut,05couldfakehighandscrapeoffthelowshoulderof04,or05couldfakelowandscrapeoffthehighshoulderof04.Inthisscenario,thetwopostdefenders(X4andX5)willswitchmen,sothatX4picksup05onhiscut,andX5willattempttodefend04.Theshoulderof04that05scrapesoffisthesidetheswitchingdefender(X4)will

Diagram6-7

Diagram6-8

bewaitingtothenpickuphisnewoffensiveresponsibility(05).Thatsideisthatofthefreefoot04usestoreversepivotandthensealoffhisnewdefender(X5).Afterpivoting,04comesbackacrossthelanetolooktoreceivetheballfrom02.

Inotherwords,ifthecutter(05)comesoffthescreenonthehighside,thehighfoot(left,inthiscase)isthefreefootandthelowerfoot(right,inthisinstance)isthepivotfootusedby04toreversepivotbacktowardtheball.Iftheoriginallaneexchangecutter(05)firstfakeshighandthencutslow(acrossthelane)off04’sscreen,04’stopfoot(left)wouldbethenewpivotfoot.Aftermakingthereversepivotofftheappropriatefoot,theoriginalscreener(04,inthiscase)willflashbacktowardtheball.Theoriginalscreener-turned-flash-post-playermustalwaysmakesurethatheremainsonthenotchabovetheblocktobeinanefficientoffensivethreatontheinterior.Ifeitheroffensiveplayer(05or04)doesreceive02’sinteriorpass,theiroffensivepostmoveswillrequirespecificfootworkandpivotingthathaspreviouslybeendiscussed.Asaperimeterplayerandpotentialpasser,02alsowouldusetheproperpivotingandfootworkofaperimeterpassertobesuccessfulindeliveringtheballtoaninteriorteammate.

PerimeterBackScreensAwayFromtheBall

Diagram6-9illustratesatypicalsecondarybreakandalsoisanexcellentexampleofa(small-on-big)backscreenontheperimeter.Whentheballisfirst

reversedfrom01ontheinitialballside(theleftside,inthisscenario)to05atthetopofthekeyandswungto02ontheoriginalweakside,theoriginalballsideperimeterplayerinthecorner(03)stepsup(withtheproperangle)tobackscreenthedefender(X5).Justbeforethebackscreen,theoriginalballsidepostplayer(04)shouldmakeaseriesoffrontpivotsandreversepivotsashecutsandflashesacrossthelanetochasethebasketballandlooktoreceivetheballinitiallyfrom03orsubsequentlyfromeither01,05,or02.

Diagram6-9

Diagram6-9showsthebackscreensetatthetopofthekeyby03for05.ApossibledefensivereactiontothisbackscreenisforX3toswitchthebackscreenandpickupthecutting05.IfX3switchesandpicksup05,03canthenbecomeanewpotentialpassreceiverandscorerontheperimeter(withadefensivepositionmismatch—apostdefenderguardingaperimeterplayerontheperimeter).Thisadvantageshouldgototheoffense.

Diagram6-10showstheperimeterbackscreensetby03andtheeventualfootworkusedtoattacktheswitchingdefender(X5).Aftersettingthebackscreen,03shouldfrontpivotoffthefootclosesttotheball(theleftfoot,inthiscase,with02nowhavingthebasketballontherightsideofthecourt),stepwithhisrightfootinsideofX5tosealoffhisnewdefender,andlooktoreceivetheballfrom02.Thistechniquemakesthescreeneranimmediatepassreceivingthreatandultimatelyascoringthreattotheopposition’sdefense.After05hasfullyreversedtheball(from01)to02ontheoppositesideofthecourt,05

shouldpreparefor03’sbackscreenbysteppingtowardtheballwithhisballsidefoot(rightfoot,inthisscenario)beforemakingafrontcrossoverstepoffhisleftfootandscrapingoff03’sweakside(left,inthiscase)

Diagram6-10

shoulder.Hethencutstowardthebasketandlooksforthelobpassoverhisballside(right)shoulder.When02receivestheball,thenecessaryfootworkwillberequiredfor02tobeasuccessfulpassertoeither05orto03aswellasbecominganimmediateshootingordrivingthreattohisowndefender.

SpinScreens

Diagram6-11demonstratestheendofthesecondarybreakpreviouslydescribedinDiagrams6-9and6-10.Afterthecompleteballreversal(from03to01to05to02),if05doesnotreceivethelobpass,heshouldstepoutofthelanetoavoidthethree-secondlaneviolationandalsomakesureheisatalowerverticallevelthanhisteammate04isontheoppositesideofthelane.02stillcanre-reversetheballtothetopofthekeytotheoriginalbackscreener(03).Afteraplayersetsascreen,themajorityofthetimethatscreeneristhesecondoffensiveplayerwhowillbeopen.Inthiscase,02couldre-reversetheballto03.Whenthatpassismade,theoriginalfirsttrailer(04)againmakesthesameduck-incutfromthe

newballsidelow-postblocktothedottedcircleinthemiddleofthelane.IfX4playsbehindhim,03caneasilyfeedhimtheballinthemiddleofthelaneforahighpercentageshot.IfX4aggressivelydefendsthissecondduck-incut,allofhisattentionandenergywillbeon04onhisduck-incut.X4willnotseetheheadhuntinglaneexchangebackscreenthat05willsetfor04.WithalloftheattentionthatX4mustputon04andwiththeproperanglethat05mustuse,thisscreenisadevastatingscreenthatwillfreeup04or05orbothinthefreethrowlane.Diagram6-11featuresaspinscreenwith05settingaspinscreenon04’sdefender(X5).

Diagram6-12illustratesthescenarioif04issuccessfullyfrontedbyX4ontheduck-incutonthere-reversalpassfrom03to02atthetopofthekey.05wouldthencomeacrossthelanetosetwhatisbasicallyaninteriorbackscreenfor04.Theoriginalballsidelowpostplayer(04)becomesthecutterthatusesthereversepivotoffthe

Diagram6-11

Diagram6-12

insidefoot(leftfootinthisscenario)tocomeoffthelowersideof05’sbackscreenandcutacrossthelanetopostupontheoppositeside.

Asthisistakingplace,theoriginalweaksidelowpostplayer(05)becomesthebackscreenerthatcoulduseafrontpivottogetopenandtoalsomakehimselfasecondscoringthreat.Thebackscreener(05)comesacrossthelanefromtherightsideofthelane,frontpivotsoffthetopfoot(left,inthiscase),andthenstepstoward02andtheballatthetopofthekey.Thisscreeniscalledthespinscreen,sincethecutter(04)alwaysfakeshighandcutslowbyareversepivotandthenspinningoffthescreen.

If04spinsoff05’sscreenandcutsoffthelowerleftshoulderof05,04shouldbeabletoreceivetheballfrom01ontheoppositesideofthefloor.04shouldmakesurethathestaysabovethenotchabovetheblocktoensurethebestpossibleangletoattackthebasket.Uponreceivingtheballfrom01,04shouldtakeasmallhopandlandwithbothfeet.Thistechniqueallows04toreadwhereandhowhisdefenderisattemptingtoguardhimandalsotobeabletouseeitherfootasthepivotfoot.Fromthere,04cancontinuewithhisdesiredpostmovesthathavebeenpreviouslydiscussed.Duringthisspinscreenaction,allthreeperimeterplayers(03,02,and01)mustuseproperfootworkinhandlingthebasketballaspotentialshootersorasinteriorpassers.Again,theproperfootworkisneededbyallfiveoffensiveplayersinordertoproducepointsoffthissecondaryfastbreakaction.

Diagram6-13illustratesthefootworkbyboththespincutter(04)andthespinscreener(05)whentheballisre-reversedfrom03to02atthetopofthekey.Onthepasstothetopofthekeyto02,04againmakesastrongandaggressiveduck-incutfromtheballsideblockposition(ontheoffense’sleftsideofthelane).04’sstepsfirstwiththeinsidecontactfootthatisclosesttothedefender(X4,inthiscase)(leftfoot,inthiscase),thenwithhisoutsidefoot(therightfoot)andthenagainwithhiscontactfoot.Thesethreestepsposition04tobehigherupintothefreethrowlane(neartheolddottedcircle)andfurthertothemiddleofthelane.IfX4allowsthisthree-stepduck-incut,02shouldbeabletodelivertheballto04forahighpercentageshot.IfX4

Diagram6-13

deniesthiscut,whichheshould,then05cansetablindheadhuntingbackscreenonthevulnerableX4inthemiddleofthelane.Uponreceivingthescreen,04wouldthenspinlowoffof05’slow(right)shoulderbyreversepivotingandusinghiscontactfootasthepivotfootandthereforeusinghisfree(right)foottospin180degreesoffofthescreenandthenacrossthelanetopostupontheoppositemid-postarea.

Diagram6-13alsoillustrates05startingatalowerlevelthan04beforesteppingdiagonallyacrossthelanetosetthebackscreenon04’sunsuspectingdefender.Aftersettingthescreen,05shouldbereadytostepintohisoriginaldefender

(X5)withhistop(left)foottothenpostuphisdefender.Ifthetwopostdefendersswitchthisspinscreen,05shouldchangehisfootworkandmakeafrontpivot,withhislower(right)footbeingthefreefoot,andriphisnewcontactarm(right)acrosshisnewdefendertoposthimupinthedangerousfreethrowlanearea.

IfX5switchesandtakes04cuttingoff05’sspinscreen,X4mustthenalsoswitchtodefendhisnewman(05).05shouldbeabletosealoffhisnewdefender(X4)withhisfrontcrossoverpivot(offthetoppivotfoot).Regardlessofwhethertheinteriordefendersswitchthespinscreenornot,05’sfinallocationandpositioningwillallowhimtobeinanideallocationinthemiddleofthefreethrowlaneaswellasinexcellentpositiontobeabletoreceivetheballfromthetopofthekey.Havingtheballatthetopofthekeymeansthatthereisnotruedefensiveballsideorhelpside.Therefore,nodefinitivehelpsidedefensivesupport,whichX4mostlikelywouldneedtoadequatelystop04fromreceivingtheballandultimatelyscoring,isavailable.Properfootworkafterthescreentoreceivetheballandthenthesubsequentfootworkthat04wouldusetothenscoreonhisnewdefenderhaspreviouslybeendiscussedandshouldnowbeused.Becauseofthesimplefootworkrequiredby05andbecauseofthesmallamountofspacingavailableinthefreethrowlanearea,Diagram6-13showsonly04’sfootworktoexecutethespinscreencuttingaction.

FlexBackScreens

Diagram6-14illustratesatypicalflexbackscreenalongthebaseline.Thisscreenisthefirstoftwooff-the-ballscreenswhenevertheballisreversedinthecommonflexmanoffense.First,01reversestheballto05,triggering04tosetthebackscreenfor02cuttingalongthebaseline.Immediatelyafter04setsthebackscreen,04goesupandsetshissecondoff-the-ballscreen—abackscreenfor01.01makesaflarecuttothenewvacantweaksidecorner.Themoretraditionalflexbackscreenactionisfor04tosetthebackscreenfor02andthenfor04toreceiveascreen-the-screenerdownscreenby01.Aswillbediscussedlaterinthebook,thisinitialoffensiveaction(04’sflexbackscreenfollowedby04’sflarebackscreen)canbemoreproductivethanthetraditionalflexaction.Therefore,thissectionwilldiscussjustthefootworkforthatmethodofattack.

Diagram6-14

Diagram6-15illustratesthefootworkofthebackscreener(04)settingthebackscreenfor02.Initially,04isapostplayerwhoisfacingtheoriginalpasser(01).Assoonas01reversestheballto05,04mustpivotandface02withhisbackpointingtowardthemiddleofthelanetohavetheproperscreeningangletoscreenX2.

Diagram6-15

Immediatelyaftertheinitialflexbackscreenissetby04andisusedbythe

baselinecutter(02),04frontpivotsusingthehigherfoot(therightfoot,inthiscase)asthepivotfoot(and,therefore,thelowerfootasthefootthatswingsthroughonthefrontpivot).Thismoveisdonesothattheoriginalbackscreener(04)cannotonlymorequicklyandeasilypickupsightoftheball,andthenewpasser(05)butalsoX1.04shouldthenstepupthelanelinetoflarescreenX1for01tothenflarecuttothenewweaksidewingandcornerarea.

Thefrontpivotbythebackscreener(04)becomesveryimportantforthisparticularoffensiveaction.Theflexbackscreenmightbedefendedand,therefore,thenexttwopossiblepassreceivers/potentialscorerswouldbeeither01offtheflarescreenandflarecutor04tohimselfafterhehasslippedhisflarescreenfor01.Thisfrontpivotisthenecessaryfootwork,makingthisoverallflexbackscreenactionmoredifficulttodefendbecausethreepossiblescorersarenowinvolved,first02,then01,andfinally04.Theflarescreenby04andsubsequentflarecutby01ontheperimeterforcesX4andespeciallyX1tostaymoreontheperimetertodefendtheirownmen.ThisapproachremovesagreatdealofcongestioninthefreethrowlaneandforcesX4andX1tomakeadecisiononwhethertobestaywiththeirmenontheperimeterorbeinteriorsupportdefendersforX2.Whateverdecisiontheoppositionmakescanbecounteredbytheoffenseandmakethatdefensivechoiceacostlymistakeforthedefense.

Whethertheballispassedto02(whohasjustreceivedtheinitialbackscreen)inthelane,orpassedto01makinghisflarecutoffthesecondbackscreen,orpassedto04whohasjustsettheflexbackscreenfollowedbytheflarescreen,allthreeoffensiveplayersmustbepreparedtousethenecessarypivotstoquicklycatchandshootthebasketball.Theprimarypassreceiver(02)shouldrealizethatheistransitioninghimselffromaperimeterplayermomentarilytoapostplayer.Heshouldthenbepreparedtoutilizethenecessaryfootworkinreceivingthebasketballaswellasscoringasaninteriorpostplayeranywhereinthelaneoronthenewballsidelow-postblock.Thesecondtwopotentialscorers(01and04)shouldbepreparingthemselvestofrontpivotofftheirinsidefootasperimeterplayersjustastheyreceivethepassfrom05.

After01reversestheballto05,heshouldalsofirstV-cuttowardtheinside(tosethisdefenderupfortheupcomingflarebackscreenby04)withhisinsidefootbeforethenplantingthatinsidefootandscrapingoff04’sflarescreentowardthenewlydeclaredweaksidewingand/ordeepcornerarea(Diagram6-16).As01ismakingthatflarecut,heisalreadyopeninguptoboththeballandtothebasket

togethisshoulderssquaredup,aswellaspreparinghisfeetandhandsforthepassandfollowingquickshot.Thistechniqueallows01tomorequicklyseethebasketandseetheskippasscomingfrom05,sothathecangethisperimetershotoffmorequicklyagainstthedefender(X1)whoispinnedinby04.

Diagram6-16

While02istheinitialprimarypassreceiverfor05,04isalsoapotentialpassreceiver/shooterafterfirstsettingtheinitialbackscreenfor02.Onhiswayupthelaneline,04shouldgethisfeetandhandsreadyforthepossiblepassandquickshot.Iftheballwasnotpassedto02orto04,04couldthensettheflarescreenfor01,allowing01tothenflarecutanddrifttothenewweaksidecorner/wingarea.Aftersettingthissecondscreen,04couldthenpossiblysliptheflarescreenforashotneartheelbowareaorsteppingintothelaneforaclosershot,dependingonhowtheopposition’sdefensehandlesthisoffensiveaction.

Whether04choosestostepinsideorremainmoreontheperimeter,04becomesthethird(after02andthen01)viableshootingthreatasaresultofthisoffensiveaction.Uponreadingthedefenders’reactions,04couldfrontpivotofftheinside(right)footandimmediatelylookforapassfrom05.If04receivesthepassfrom05,heshouldpivotoffhisinsideheel(right,inthiscase)andmakeafrontpivottoquicklyandfluidlysquareuptothebasketandlookforhisshotorlooktopasstheballtoanotheropenteammate.Diagram6-17illustratestheactionas

wellastheall-importantfootworkofboth01and04.

Diagram6-17

Screen-the-ScreenerScreens

Aspreviouslydiscussed,amuchmoretypicalvariationfortheflexoffensewouldbefor01tofirstreversetheballto05andthengodowntosetadownscreenfor04(beforethendriftingouttotheweaksidedeepcornerarea).Thisoffensiveactionappliestheoffensiveconceptofscreeningthescreenerthatisdifficulttodefend.

Becausemanystrongdefensiveteamsteachteamdefensesothatanyindividualdefenderiscoachedtohelpouttheirteammateswhentheirspecificmanscreensoneoftheirteammates,thedefenderonthescreenercanbeeasilyscreened(screen-the-screenerconcept).Thisoffensiveactioncanthenmakethescreenertheprimaryoratleastthesecondarypassreceiverandscoringthreat.

Screen-the-screeneractioncanbeveryeffective,butonlywhentheoriginalscreeneristaughtthenecessaryfootworktogetopenandtobeabletoquicklyshootoffthepassaftersettingtheinitialscreen.Fundamentallysoundfootworkisnecessaryfortheinitialscreenertosealhisoriginaldefenderortheswitching

defender,whoisnowattemptingtoguardhim.Inthisaction,asshowninDiagram6-18,01reversestheballto05,triggering04tosettheflexbackscreenfor02.Thismoveisfollowedimmediatelyby01thengoingdownintothefreethrowlanetosetadownscreenfor04touseinthisscreen-the-screeneraction.

Diagram6-19illustrates04’sfootworkafterhehassettheflexbackscreenfor02touse.04setsuptoreceive01’sdownscreen.Aftersettingthebackscreen,04shouldmakeafrontpivotoffhistop(right,inthiscase)andbreakupthelaneline.Asheisdoingso,heisgettinghisfeetandhandsreadytocatchandshoot(off05’spass).04isgettinghistimingdownsothathecanpivotoffhisinsideheel(rightheel,inthisinstance)tobeabletoeasilysquareuptothebasketforthemediumrangeshot.04’sfootworkisthekeytohimbeingabletoquicklygettheshotoffbeforeX4canrecoverfromhelpingoutonthebackscreenandthengettingdownscreenedhimself.

Diagram6-18

Diagram6-19

VeerOptionFromtheFlexScreen

Diagram6-20showstheactiondescribedastheveeractionthatcomplementstheflexaction.Thisactionisveryeffectiveincounterattackingadefensethatisveryconcernedwiththebackscreencutter(03)andforgettingthebackscreener(05).Thisoptionisgreatfortheoffensetoutilize,particularlywhen05isagoodscoringthreatinsideorwhentheoffensewantstoattackandisolateX5ontheinterior.Thisactionismuchmoreeffectivewhen03cutsoff05’sseeminglynormalflexbackscreenonthelowside,giving05thespacingandfreedomtoduckintothelaneonthehighsideofhisbackscreen.ThiscutmostlikelywillinfluenceX5intoactuallybeinglowerthan05sothatX5canhedge,switchoratleasthelpoutonthecutting03.When05thenducksintothefreethrowlane,thisactionshouldhavegivenhimpositionadvantageoverX5thatmustbecapitalizedonbytheoffense.

Diagram6-20

Areversepivotwiththepivotfootbeingthefootclosesttohisdefender(presumablytheleftfoot,inthisinstance)intothelanebytheinitialbackscreener(05)isdevastatingtoadefensethatdoesnothonororrespectthebackscreenerbecominganinsidescorer.Triggeringthisfundamentallysoundoffensiveaction,theoriginalballsideguard(02)reversestheballtotheweaksideguard(01).As03scrapesoff05’sbackscreen,02shouldthenmakeashallowflarecuttoallowforproperspacing.02’scutdecreasesthedefensivecongestiontofurtherisolateX5oratleasttoprovidehimselfwithanevenbetterpassingangletotheveercutting05,if01cannotdelivertheballto05(andmustpasstheballbackto02.02’scutalsoallows01theproperspacingtocenteruptheballviadribbleif01chooses,sothathecouldimprovehisownpassingangleto05somewherenearthemiddleofthefreethrowlane.

Whentheoriginalballsideguard(02)reversestheballtotheweaksideguard(01),theinitialflexbackscreen(by05for03)istriggered.Regardlessofwhetherthebaselinecutter(03)scrapesoff05’sbackscreenonthehigh(right)orthelow(left)shoulder,X5shouldprobablystepovertohelpon03’sbackscreencuttothebasket.05(withtheproperfootwork)shouldhaveapositionadvantageonX5ortheswitchingdefender(X3).

05’sfirststepsmustnotonlybeintothemiddleofthefreethrowlane,butalsohigherupthelane,whichdoesnotjustmeanupthelanelinebutalsointhemiddleofthelane.05’slocationcentershimupandgetshimclosertoboth01and02aswellasgivinghispassingteammatesmoreopenareatolobtheballto05ifhispostdefender(X5)wantstothree-quarterorfullyfront05inthelaneto

denyhimtheball.

05’sideallocationinthelaneiscrucialtohimreceivingthepassinhighscoringareasandthefundamentallysoundproperfootworkiswhatcanplacehiminthatlocation.Becauseoftheproperfootworkandpivotingof05,thepositionadvantagehelpshimreceivethebasketballbybeingabletosealoffhisdefenderinhighpercentagescoringlocations.After03hascutoffthebackscreen,05shouldstepintothecenterofthelanefirstwithhistopfoot(rightfoot,inthisscenario).Hisfootworkissimilartoverycontrolledpaceofadefensiveslide,firstwithhistopfoot,thenhislowerfoot,andthenfollowedbyhistopfootagain.Bythen,heshouldreceivethebasketballintheideallocationorbereadytothensealhisfrontingdefenderoffandthenlookforthelobpass.Afterreceivingthebasketball,05’soffensivepostmoves(discussedinChapter4)consistofothervariousformsofpivotingandfootwork,allowinghimtobeahighscoringthreatontheinterior.

If02electstofullyreversetheballto01,heshouldmakeashallowflarecutandbereadytoreceivethereturnpassfrom01.01shouldreceivethereversalpassfrom02andimmediatelybeinpassing,driving,andshootingpositions,orinotherwords,triple-threatposition.Ifthatreturnpassismadeby01backto02afterhisshallowcut,02shouldimmediatelybeinthetriple-threatpositiontoattackX2.Tobeintheall-importanttriple-threatposition,02shouldpivotofftheinside(left)heelsothathecaninstantlysquareuptothebasket.Heshouldlookfirsttomaketheinsidepassto04off04’sveercut.02’snextoptionisaquickperimetershotortheshotfakeanddrivetothebasket.

Ifthedrivetothebasketistheoffensivechoice02electstomake,thatoffensivechoicewillalsorequiresomefundamentalfootwork.When02receivesthepassfrom01,properfootworkisalsonecessaryfor02toimmediatelybeintriple-threatposition.Thetoppriorityfor02istocatchthereversalpassfrom01andlooktopasstheballinsidetotheveer-cutting05ortocreatewiththebasketball.

Diagram6-21showsthebumpoptionoftheflexbackscreencut.Thisactionisusedtoattackdefensesthatwanttoswitchtheflexbackscreencut.Thebumpoptioneffectivelyallowstheoffensetoretaintheoriginalbackscreener(04,inthisscenario)asthepostplayerandthebackscreencutter(01)asaperimeterplayerversusplacingthiscutterinside.

Diagram6-21

Forexample,whenconsideringthepresumedflexactionusedwhere01uppassestheballto03,whothenfullyreversestheballto05,whichwouldtheoffenseprefer:X4switchingtopickup01onhisflexbackscreencut,or04postingupX4inside?Orwouldtheoffensepreferfor01tostayontheperimeter?If04staysinsideand01staysontheperimeter,bothplayersmostlikelywillmaximizetheiroffensiveskillsandtalentsinthetraditionalmanner—designatedperimeterplayersplayingontheoffensiveperimeteranddesignatedpostplayersplayingoffensivelyontheinterior.

When01isjustabouttomakeshoulder-to-shouldercontactwithhisbackscreeningteammate(04),01simplyreadshowX4isplaying04.01willeasilybeabletoreadifX4isonthelowsideof04oronthehighsideof04.If01electsfor04tostayinside,then01bumps04intothelanebybumpingorpushingeithershoulderof04,causinghimtoreversepivotbyusingthefootoftheshoulderthatwasbumpedasthefreeswingingfoot(andtheoppositefootasthepivotfoot).If01bumpsthetop(right,inthiscase)shoulderof04,heistelling04thathisdefenderisonthelowsideofhimandfor04toreversepivotbyswinginghistop(right,inthiscase)footaroundoffhisleftpivotfoottosealoffhisdefender.Aftertheseal,04ducksintothelaneandchasestheball.Thisterminologygives04thefreedomtocuttowardthebasketballthatisontheperimeterinthehandsofeither04or02.If01bumpsthelowershoulder,04shouldreversepivotoffhisrightpivotfootandlooktosealoffhisdefenderandswinghislow(left)footaroundtosealoffhismanandbybeingonthelowside

ofhisfrontingdefender(X4).Regardlessofwhatdirection04goesintothelane,ifhereceivestheballfromanyperimeterteammate(05or03),hemustusethevarioustypesoffootworkpreviouslydiscussedtobecomeaneffectivescoringpostplayer.

Thebumpactionalsoofficiallyswitches01’scuttingassignmentswith04’sflarescreeningassignments.04chasestheballacrossthelaneinanymannerandpathhechoosestoreceivetheballinthelane.01eithercutsupthelanelinetoreceive03’sdownscreen(themoretraditionalbumpaction)ortosetaflarescreenfor03touse(inthepreferredmanner).Eitheroptionplaces01atthenewweaksidehighelbowareaaseitherapotentialjumpshooteroff05’spassorasaballreversalmanfor05sothathecouldthenhit03ontheperimeterorpossibly02(or04)ontheinterior.

01hasthesamemindsetandthesamefootworktechniquesforeitheroption—thatis,tobeapotentialjumpshooteroraninteriororperimeterpasser.Anyperimeterplayershouldhavethesesametechniqueswhenhehastheopportunitytopossiblyreceiveapassfromateammatebyhavinghishandsreadytoreceivetheballandbeingundercontrolenoughtopivotoffhisinsideheel(right,inthiscase)ashecatchesthe05passtobecomeanimmediateshooter.04’sfootworkastheoriginalbackscreenerissimplytoreversepivot(withthepivotfootbeingthecontactfoot)whenheisbumpedby01tosealoffhisdefenderandalsohavehisfeetandhandsreadytocatchandscoreinthepaint.Afterthenreceivingtheinsidepass,04shouldthenutilizethesameproperfootworkinbeinganeffectivescorerinthepaint.

UCLARub-OffScreens

Diagram6-22showstheactionoftheUCLArub-offscreenatthehigh-postelbowarea.After01passestheballto02attherightwingnearthefreethrowlineextended,theballsidehighpost(04)stepsuptosetastationarybackscreenattheballsidehigh-postelbowarea.Afterthepass,01shouldV-cuttosethisdefenderupthescreen,requiringtheproperfootworkpreviouslydiscussed.01scrapesoffthescreenoneithertheoffsideortheballsideofthebackscreen.If01doesnotgetthepassfrom02,hepostsupontheballsideblock.If01receivesthepass,heshouldutilizetheproperoffensivepostplayerfootworkalso

previouslydiscussed.

Diagram6-22

01mustreadhisdefenderandtaketheappropriatepath(offsideorballside)tohislow-postdestination.IfX1doesnotjumptotheball,01couldV-cuttowardthemiddlebeforethenrubbingofftheoutside(left,inthiscase)shoulderof04tolookforaquickreturnpassfrom02.IfX1jumpstotheball,01couldthenV-cuttowardtheballbeforethenrubbingofftheinside(right)shoulderof04ashecutstothebasket.Alobpassfrom02to01mightbeinorderonthistypeofcutby01.01V-cutswitheithertheleftortherightfootbeforethensteppingtowardthehigh-postscreenerwiththeoppositefoot.

Threepossibleactions04couldtakeaftersettingthebackscreenrub-offare:

•Hecouldpopouttothetopofthekeytolookforareversalpass.

•Hecouldfrontpivottoward02andlookforthehigh-postpass.

•Hecouldstepouttosetaninsideballscreenon02’sballdefender.

Aftersettingthescreen,04couldhavenumerousoffensiveoptions,allofwhichcouldbeverysuccessfulaslongasthenecessaryproperfootworkisperformedandexecuted.

04couldactuallysettheUCLAscreenwithhisbacksidefacing01’sdefender.Thescreencouldbeset(for01)withthescreener(04)eitherfirstfrontorreversepivotingandfacingthebasketassoonas01makesthepassto02onthewingarea.Oneadvantagetosettingthescreeninthismanneristhescreener(04)isfacingthebasketandhisdefender,andalsoheisabletoseetheballandthepasser.Ifhisdefender(X4)misplaystheoffensiveaction,04couldslipthescreenandsteptowardthebasketveryeffortlesslyandquicklyforaquickscoreon02’spass.Anotheradvantageofthescreenbeingsetthiswayisthescreenercannotseetheactualdefenderheisscreening(X1),whichcouldhelpreducethetemptationof04movingtosetanillegalbackscreenonX1tofree01upoffthebat.

Diagram6-23showsthefootworkusedbythescreenerintheUCLArub-offscreenaction.Nopivotismadebythescreenerunless04decidestosettheUCLAscreenwithabuttscreen—thescreenwiththescreener’sbutttowardthecutter(01).Ifthatisthecase,04wouldhavetomakea180-degreefrontpivotwiththeinsidefootbeingtheactualpivotfoottosetthebuttscreen.Thispivotplaces04justinsidethe(new)ballsideelbowarea.After04’sscreenissetandusedby01,04couldthenmakea90-degreefrontpivotoffthesamerightfoot(thatisnowontheoutside)toface02andtheballatthewingandbecomeatruehigh-postoffensiveplayer.

Diagram6-23

Whetheritis02makingthepasstoanopenteammate(01,03,or05),whetheritis03or05catchingtheballonthemove,01afterpostinguponthelow-postblock,orwhetheritis04catchingtheballinthenewballsidehigh-postareaorafterpoppingoutontheperimeter,allpassreceiversarepotentialshootersimmediatelyoffthepassfrom02.Theyshouldproperlyexecutethefootworkandtechniquesofcatchingtheballandshootingoffthepassthathavebeenpreviouslydiscussed.If01receivestheinsidepassfrom02afterpostingup,01shouldalsousetheproperoffensivepostplayfootworkalreadydiscussed.

Diagram6-24showstheactioncalledtheUCLAbumpatthehigh-postelbowarea.Thisoptionisbasedonanoffensivereadby01,whoseeshowX1andX4areattemptingtodefendtheoffensiveaction.IfX4spendsmoreattentionandenergyonhelpinghisdefensiveteammate(X1)onhisoriginalmananddoesnothonorandrespect04’s,then01couldelecttoswitchassignmentswiththeoriginalscreener(04),whichmeans01actuallybumps04onhisoriginallyplannedUCLAcut,whichdictatesthat04wouldbecomethenewflashcutter(tothenewballsidelow-postarea).After01bumps04downtothelowpost,01thenreplaceshimselfatthetopofthekeyandremainsasaperimeterplayer.Thischangeofactionbetween04and01isparticularlyeffectivewhentheirtwodefenders(X4andX1,respectively)trytoanticipatetheplayandmakeadefensiveswitchonthe(predicted)UCLArub-offscreen.Thisoptioncanbeusedifthecoachingstaffwouldratherkeep04insideand01outsidebecauseoftheirindividualoffensiveskillsortooutschemeand/oroffensivelycountertheopponent’sdefensiveadjustment.Itisasimpleandeffectivemovethatonlyinvolvestwooffensiveplayers(04and01),whilethethreeremainingoffensiveplayersallmaintainthesamelocations/positionsaswellastheexactresponsibilitiesandassignmentsoftheoriginalUCLArub-offaction.

Diagram6-25showsthefootworkusedbytheoriginaldesignatedscreener(04)intheUCLAbumpaction.Theinsidefoot(rightfoot,inthiscase)shouldbethepivotfootandareversepivot(towardthebasket)shouldbeused,withtheleftfootswingingtowardthebasket.Thisstepisfor04tosealoffhisdefender(X4)andcreateapositionadvantageoverhisdefender.Hethenshouldpositionhimselfdowninthemid-postareainthenewballside,whichallows04toalwayskeephiseyesontheballandthepasser(02)ashemaintainshispositionadvantageoverX4.

After02receivesthepassfrom01,02thenbecomesapotentialpasserand/ordriver/shooter,whileitmakes04apotentiallow-postplayer,andleaves01asapotentialpasserandshooterontheperimeter.Allthreeoffensiveplayershavetobe

Diagram6-24

Diagram6-25

abletoexecutetheirownindividualproperfootworktomakethisteamoffensiveactionsuccessful.Theyallhavevariouspivotsoffaspecificpivotfootthatmust

beperformedcorrectlyiftheactionistoproducepointsfortheoffensiveteam.

Amajorpointofemphasiscanbetohave01usetheproperfootworktofirstfakeaninsidecutoff04’spresumedscreenbeforebumping04andpoppingbackouttothetopofthekey.ThisinsidecutcouldandshouldhaveX4cheatovertoshade04ontheinsidesothathecouldpossiblyhelpX1hedgeorswitchon01’spresumedcut.InfluencingX4towardtheinsidewillgive04anevengreateropportunitytodrop-stepandsealoffX4asheslidesdowntothenewballsidemid-postarea.

StaggerScreens

Diagram6-26showsoneofthevariousformsofstaggerscreenactionsetbytwooff-the-ballplayers(05and01)forateammate(03).Asyetanotheroption,thefirstscreener(05)couldsliphisscreenorbreakoff01’sscreenintheformofscreen-the-screeneroffensivephilosophy.Slippingthescreenisoffensiveactionthatisparticularlyeffectivewhentheopposition’sdefensiveplayersguardthescreenerswithahardhedgeorsagofftohelpoutontheinitialcutter(03).

Diagram6-27showsthefootworkofthestaggerscreenaction.Thestaggerscreenerfarthestfromtheball(05)shouldbethefirstplayertoscreentheoriginalcutter(03).Sinceheisthefirstscreener,05shouldreversepivotofftheinsidepivotfootafter03scrapesoffhisoutsideshoulder.Theshoulderof05andthemomentthatthecutter(03)scrapesoffdeterminesthepivotfootthat05usesforhispivotandwhenheactuallymakeshispivotbacktowardthebasketball.With02havingthebasketball,03istheprimarypassreceiverfor02tolookfor,whilethefirstscreenerofthestaggerscreenaction(05)isaviablesecondarypassreceiver/potentialscorerfor02toalsolookfor.Havingmorethanonepassreceiver/potentialscorerinwhateveroffensiveactionisbeingexecutedgivestheoffensemorescoringthreats.

Diagram6-26

Diagram6-27

Aftersettinghispartofthestaggerscreen,thereversepivotby05giveshimanopportunitytoimmediatelyseethenewpasserandthebasketball.Thereversepivotby05alsoallowshimagoodopportunitytopossiblysealoffhisdefender(X5).05shouldsethisscreen,thenreversepivotofftherightfootandactuallyuse01asabrushscreenertogetopensomewhereinthefreethrowlanearea.Thepasser(02)aswellasthepotentialpassreceivers/shooters(03and05)mustexecutetheirindividualpivotsandproperfootworkjusttogetopen,andthenafterreceivingthebasketball,theymustexecutetheirindividualpivotsand

footworktobeeffectivescorers.

03alsowouldhavetousetheproperpivotandfootworktomaketheV-cuttosetX3upbeforereceivingthestaggerscreen.Afterreceivingthepass,03wouldthenhavetoexecutethecorrectfootworkasashooteroffthepass.

Asstatedpreviouslyforallpassreceivers,05wouldfirsthavetoexecutetheproperpivotingandfootworktogetopenbeforehavingtoutilizehisoffensivepostplayfootworktobeaneffectivescorerinside.02wouldalsohavetobereadytousethecorrecttechniquestoeffectivelypivotandpasstohisopenteammate.

PinScreens

Diagram6-28illustratesoneexampleofapinscreensetby04ontheballsidelowpostfor03cuttingacrossfromtheoppositesideofthecourt.Thistypeofoff-the-ballscreeniscalledthepinscreen,withthenamebeingaveryaccuratedescriptionofthescreenanditspurpose.Thescreen(by04)issetonadefender(X3)guardingtheoffensiveplayer(03),whoiscuttingtowardtheballandawayfromthebasketontheperimeter.ThescreenactuallypinsthedefenderX3intoallowthecutteranopenshotontheperimeter.

Afterthepinscreenisset,thescreener(04,inthiscase)shouldreversepivotandbecomethesecondpotentialoffensivescoringthreatbypostinguphisdefender.

Diagram6-28

Thatdefendermaybehisoriginalman(X4),oritmaybeanewdefender(X3)ifthedefensehaschosentoswitchonthepinscreen.Theoriginalcutter(03)shouldusethepinscreentoreceiveapassfrom01andbecomeapotentialscorerimmediatelyoffthepassoroffhisdribbledriveaction.03(or01)couldalsobeapotentialpassertotheoriginalpinscreener(04)after04hassealedoffhisdefenderontheblock.

Diagram6-29showsthefootworkofthecutter(03)whoisreceivingthepinscreen.03iscuttingtowardtheballoffthepinscreensetby04,buthealsocouldactuallyhavetomoveawayfromthebasketonhiscutoffthescreen.As03scrapesoffthelowestshoulder(right)of04,03shouldalreadybegettinghisfeetandhandsreadytoreceivethepassandcreateimmediateactionoffthepass.Ashecomesoffthepinscreen,03shouldhavehishandsalreadyinposition,hisshouldersalreadyturninginwardtowardthepasser(01),andhavehisstepsandfootworkdownandundercontrolsothathecanpivotoffhisinsideheel(right)todoa180-degreefrontpivot.Thispivotwillthenallowhimtoimmediatelysquareuptothebasketwhenheactuallyreceivesthepass.Uponcatchingthepassfrom01,03shouldsquareuptothebasketintriple-threatposition,toeithershoot,drive,orpassthebasketballtoanopenteammate(suchas04).

Diagram6-29

Thesecondpotentialscorerinthisparticularpinscreenactionisfortheoriginalpinscreener(04).Initially,04pinscreenedteammate03’sdefender(X3),andthisscreenisaverydifficulttypeofscreenforX3togetaround,particularlyif03hasusedgoodfakesandV-cutstosetX3up.Manydefensiveteamswillhavetaughtdefenderstohelpoutonthistypeofscreen,whichmeansthatX4mighthavetohedgeout,switch,orfakeaswitchandattempttohelpouthisdefensiveteammatewhoisintrouble(X3).AnydefensivemovementbyX4tohelphisteammate(X3)defendthecuttercaneasilyputX4inapoorlocationtoadequatelydefendhisownman.IfX4helpsonthelow(baseline)sideofthepinscreen,hecouldeasilygetcaughtonthelowsideof04when04slipsthepinscreentothenposthisowndefenderupinaveryopportunescoringlocation:themid-postblockarea.IfX4helpsoutonthehighsideof04’sscreen,X4shouldgetstuckonthehighsideof04,whichcanagainbeaverydangerouspredicamentforX4.IfX4simplyswitchesthepinscreenactionwithX3,04shouldevenmoreeasilybeabletobeginapositionadvantageonhisnewdefender(X3).Whoeverisstuckwiththechoreofdefending04,properpivotingandfootworkwillallow04tomaintainthatpositionadvantagetoreceivetheball.Asstatedcountlesstimes,properfootworkandpivotingtechniqueswillprovide04withagreatdealofscoringopportunitiesafterreceivingtheinsidepassfromanoffensiveteammate.

01or03bothbecomeperimeterplayersthatareobviouspotentialpassers.Bothoftheseplayersalsoneedtoexecutethepivotingfootworkofpassersdiscussedearliertobeabletosuccessfullydelivertheballtoaninterioroffensiveteammate,particularly04inthisscenario.

Afterpinscreeningforhisteammate,04shouldimmediatelyreversepivotoffhiscontactfoot,whichisthefootclosesttohisdefender(X4)byswinginghisoppositefreefootaroundtosealhisdefenderoffandtothenpostupwiththenewpositionadvantagehehasgainedonhisman(Diagram6-30).Thereversepivotallowsthepinscreenerimmediatevisionoftheballandpasseraswellasthepositionadvantageoverthespecificdefenderthatisattemptingtoguardhim.IfX4isplayingonthehighsideofthepinscreen,thetechniqueofreversepivotingandusingthetopfoot(inthiscase,itistheleftfoot)asthepivotfoot(andmakingthelowerfootortherightfootthefreefoot)allows04tohavemoreroominthelowpost.04nowhasmoreroomtooperateandmoreroomtobetterreceivethepassaswellasmuchbetterdrop-steppingandshootinganglestothe

basket.01couldpasstheballdirectlyto03(thepinscreencutter)fortheperimetershot,ordirectlyto04(theactualpinscreener)postingupafterhehassetthepinscreen.

03couldcatchthepassfrom01andlooktoshootimmediatelyoffthecatch.Butifadefenderrushesouttotakeaway03’sperimetershot,03couldthenshotfakeandmaketheinsidepassto04postingupinsideonthelow-postblock.

Diagram6-30

Anyoftheseoffensivescenarioscanbeveryproficientinscoringpointsfortheoffensiveteam.Asmentionedtimeandagaininthisbook,theproperfootworkandpivotingtechniquesandskillswouldberequiredfor01(afterkillinghisdribbleandlookingtomaketheassisttoanopenteammate),forthepinscreencutter(03)tofirstgetopenandthentobeabletoquicklyshootoffthepass,for03toinsteadbecomeadriverorinsidepasser(to04),orforthepinscreener(04)toeitherbetheprimaryoratleastthesecondarypassreceivingandscoringthreat.Footworkisofutmostimportanceinalloftheseoffensiveactions.

TeachingMethods

Theimportanceofthetechniquesofproperfootworkandofpivotingismentionedoverandoveragainforonebasicreason:footworkandpivotingskillsareabsolutelyessentialinhavingoffensivesuccessbothontheperimeterareaaswellasinthepostarea.Theseskillsarerequiredforplayerswantingtopasstheball,takeshots,orattackthebasket.Talkingaboutitisonething,andcoaches(andplayers)committingtomakingsureeveryplayerhasthesenecessaryskillsisanother.Theseskillsmustbefirsttaughtbycoachingstaffsatalllevelsandthenpracticedrepeatedly,inmanydifferenttypesofdrillsandsituations.Playersmustnotonlybeobservedbycoachingstaffswithakeeneyetodetail,butalsocritiquedinaseriousbutpositivemanner.Thetechniquesmustbedrilledconstantlywithmanyrepetitionsandindifferentformsofdrills.Theeventualfinalphaseofdrillsmustbeperformedinasclosetogameconditionsaspossible.Thatmeansthedrillsmustincludecompetition(eitheragainstotherindividualsorothergroups)andthedrillsmustrequireallplayerstoalwaysexecutethedrillsatgamespeeds.Everydrillmustintegratemaximumgame-realisticconditionsforbothplayersandcoachestogettheirmoney’sworth.

Oneofthebestmethodstoteachbasketballskillsandtechniquesisthewhole-part-wholeteachingmethod.Thiseffectiveteachingmethodcanbedescribedinthefollowingmanner.Aparticularbasketballskillortechniqueshouldbeinitiallyintroducedtotheteamandtheneachplayer’sresponsibilitiesaredemonstratedtoeveryplayeronthesquad.Then,coachesshouldhaveeveryplayerwalkthroughthetechniqueunderthescrutinyofthecoachingstaff.Playerslearnbestbydoing.Playerscanaskquestions,andcoachescanthenanswerthembeforemovingontothenextphase.

Afterthewalk-throughoftheentireconcept,thosesamemovementsoftheplayersarespeduptoaquickerpace.Then,moregame-realisticbreakdowndrillsareincorporatedtoworkonthoseveryspecifictechniques.Whenproficiencyisshownbyplayers,thesamedrillsshouldbeexecutedatanevenquickerpaceuntilgamespeedisreached.Afterwards,theindividualplayerscanbebroughtbacktogethertorunthroughtheskillsinateamsetting.Thedegreeofdifficultythatthepracticedefensiveteamplacesonthepracticingoffensiveteamshouldincreaseastheoffensiveteamimprovesandtheirconfidencelevelincreases.

Forinstance,theactualbreakdowndrillscouldfirstincludeadribbler/passer

withtheball,anoffensivescreener,anoffensivecutterortheoffensivepostplayer,andadummydefenderontheballhandlerandthepassreceiver.Coachesshouldstresstothedummydefendernottoexertalargeamountofdefensiveenergyatthebeginningoftheseriesofbreakdowndrills.Astheoffensiveplayersimproveandprogressintheirexecutionofthatparticularoffensiveskill,thedefensiveplayersshouldstepuptheireffortstoprovideforamorechallengingscenario(andmoregamerealism).Inthisscenario,alaterbreakdowndrillwouldbetoaddadummydefenderontheactualscreener(tomakethescenariomorerealisticandmorechallengingtoeveryoffensiveplayerinvolvedinthedrill).

Someofthesebreakdowndrillscouldenduphavingaminimumofatleastthreeoffensiveplayersandtwodefensiveplayers.Coachesshouldberemindedtorotateallplayersintothedrillandtouseboththeoffensiveaswellasthedefensivesideoftheballwhenutilizingthebreakdowndrillsforthevariousscreeningmethods.Breakdowndrillsareusedforashortperiodsoftimetomaximizetimeefficiencyandmentalalertnessaswellasproductivity.Coachingstaffscanalwayscomebackanddrillagainlaterinpracticetofurtherimproveplayers’skilllevels.

OneexampleofamassfootworkdrillisillustratedinDiagram6-31.Thisdrillincorporatesthreefour-mangroups(anentire12-playerteam)withdefendersontheperimeterballhandlers.Coachescanplacelimitationsonhowmanydribblestheoffensepracticeplayercanuseandcanlimitwhattheoffensivepostplayercandowantshereceivesthepass.

Afteraperiodof55seconds,allfourplayersinagrouphaveafive-secondperiodtoquicklyandimmediatelyrotatetothenextpositioninthatdrill.Inamatterofjustfourminutes,allfourspotscanbecovered,meaningeachplayercanworkonthefourdifferentphasesofthedrill.

Diagram6-31

Laterinthesamepractice,thismassdrillcanberepeatedtwoormoretimeswitheachfour-mangrouphavingtostartinadifferentlocation.In12minutesofpractice,eachplayerwillbeabletoworkonoffensivefootworkbothasaperimeterpasser/feederandasanoffensivepostplayerreceivesthepassandattacksthebasketwithvariousoffensivepostmoves.Theskillsandtechniqueswillbecomesecondnature,andalloffensiveplayerswillhaveagreatchanceofbecomingveryproficientinbothperimeterandinterioroffensiveskills—makingeachplayerawell-roundedoffensivebasketballplayer.

Summary

Asvitalofaconceptasscreeningistooveralloffensiveschemes,theartofpivotingisthemostsignificantpartofthescreeningskill.Asstatedtimeandagain,properfootworkandpropertechniques,ingeneral,allowplayerstohaveamuchgreateropportunityofsucceedingasindividualbasketballplayers.Usingthewhole-part-wholeteachingmethod,allplayerswillbecomeasproficientinthevariousoffensiveskillsandtechniquesastheypossiblycan.Andremember:“Yourteamisonlyasgoodasitsweakestlink.”

ImportantPivotsoftheDefender

“Offensewinsgames,butdefensewinschampionships.”—Anonymous

Anotheroldbasketballadagethatmanycoachesadheretois:“Offenseswingames,butdefensewinschampionships.”Withoutadoubt,defenseisextremelyimportantintheoverallsuccessofabasketballteam.Toperformwellasateamdefensively,everyindividualplayeronthedefensiveteammustbeabletodefendwellaswellasperformthemanyotherdefensivetechniquesthatarenecessaryforoveralldefensivesuccess.

On-the-BallDefensivePivots

Agoodteamdefensemusthaveseveralverygoodon-the-balldefenders.Foradefensiveplayertobeagoodballdefender,thatdefendermustbeabletoconstantlypressuretheopponent’sdribbler/passer.Whentheopposition’sballhandlerchangesdirection,theon-the-balldefendermustbeabletoimmediatelychangedirectionandinstantlymaintainthathighdegreeofdefensivepressureonthedribbler.

Mostoffensiveballhandlershavebeentaughttoattacktheleadfootoftheballdefender.Diagram7-1illustratestheleadorthefrontfootoftheballdefendertobetherightfoot.Ifthedribblerattackstheleadfoot,thedribblerisattackingthedefender’srightfootortherightsideofthedefender.

Diagram7-1illustratestheoffensiveplayer(whohashisrightfootashispivotfootandhisleftfootashisfreefoot)attackingthedefender’slead(right)footwithwhatoffensessometimescallablastmove—astraight-aheaddrivewiththeoffensiveplayer’sfreefoot(left)steppingstraightforwardtowardthebasketandthatdefender.Noticethateventhoughthisdiscussionconcernsthefootworkoftheballdefender,itcannotbehelpedtoalsomentionthefootworkoftheopposition’soffensiveballhandler.Youcannotgetawayfromthefootworktechniquesandconcepts,bothdefensivelyaswellasoffensively.

Diagram7-1

Diagram7-2demonstrateshowtheoffensiveballhandlercouldhavealsoattackedtheballdefender’ssameleadfootwithafrontcrossovermove(iftheoffensiveplayer’srightfootwerethefreefoot.)

Diagram7-2

Diagrams7-3and7-4showthatthefirststeptheballdefendershouldmakeistodrop-steptowardthedirectionofthedribbler’sinitialattackingmove.Thisdefensivereactionarymoveiswiththeballdefender’sleadfoot,whichisthedefender’srightfoot,makinga90-to135-degreereversepivot.Thispivotisdonebyswingingthelead(right)footbackandusingthetrailfoot(leftfoot,inthisexample)asthepivotfoot.Theinitialfootworkbythedefenderissupplementedbythedefenderswingingtheleadarm(rightarm)backtoinitiatethemomentumofthedrop-stepoftheleadfoot.

Diagram7-3

Diagram7-4

Aftertheleadfootdrop-steps,thepivot(left)footshouldbeusedtopushveryhardinthenewdirectionthedefenderwantstogo.Theleadfootdrop-stepsandstepsoutasthenewtrailfoot,whiletheleftfoot(inthisinstance)isactuallythe(reverse)pivotfootandthenewpush-offfoot.Thistechniqueiswhatiscalledthedropandswingstepandthepush-pushmethod.Ifthismethodisexecutedpreciselywitheveryminutetechniqueperformedproperly,theballdefenderwillincreasehisquicknessinhisdefensivemovementsandreactionstotheopposition’sdribblepenetrationtowardthebasket.

Mostlikely,theballhandlerwillchangedirectionofhisdribbleassoonasthe

defenderexecuteshisproperfootworkanddefensivetechniquestocutoffthedribbler.Thephrasethatcoachingstaffsshouldconstantlytelltheballdefendersis:“Physicallyyouarehere,whilementallyyouarethere.”Thattellstheballdefendertothenmentallyanticipatethedribblertochangedirectionsoncethedefenderhascutoffthedribbler’sinitialpath.Thishelpsmentallypreparethedefendertomakeanotherreversepivot,dropandswingstep,andusethepush-pushtechniquetocontinuedefendingandpressuringthedribbler.

BreakdownDrills

Threeveryvaluableandproductivebreakdowndrillsthatcoachingstaffsshouldusetoimprovetheman-to-man(aswellaszoneandzonepress)defensiveskillsandtechniquesarecalled:•Push-pushdrill

•Push-and-talkdrill

•Pridedrill

Inadditiontoseveralotherdefensivetechniquesandfundamentals,allthreeofthesedrillsstressandemphasizebasicdefensivefundamentalfootworkinvolvingthereversepivottechniqueandthesubsequentpushingoffofthenextleadfootthatisrequiredtoplaystrongdefensesuccessfully.

Thepush-pushdrill(Diagram7-5)isamassdefensivedrillstressingthefourbasicmovementsofindividualdefenders.Thebasicfootmovementsofaballdefenderconsistof:theadvance(towardstheoffense)step,thedrop-and-swingstep,thepush-offstep,andtheslide-step.

Intheadvancestep,thedefenderpushesoffhisbackfootandstridesforwardasteptowardtheballhandler.Thisdefensivefootworkoccurseitherwhentheopponent’sball

Diagram7-5

handlerretreatsfromhissteppingforwardinhisownoffensiverockersteporwhentheballdefenderelectstoputmorepressureontheopponent’soffensiveballhandler.

Inthedrop-and-swingstep,thedefenderpushesoffhisinitialleadfoottoeitherretreatortoreacttotheopponent’sattack.Thisdefensivedrop-stepistopreventtheattackerfromgainingagreateradvantagefromhisoffensiveforwardthrustoffhisrockersteporfromgainingafurtheradvantageaftertheattackerhasstartedhisdribbledrive.

Thepush-offstepfollowsthedefensivedrop-step,anditsnameaccuratelydescribesitsaction.Thenewleadfootafterthereversepivotanddrop-stepisthefootthatgeneratesthepowerforthedefendertopushoffinthedirectionthathemuststeertowardtocutoffoftheopposingdribbler’sdirection.Thepowerofthepush-offstepiswhatprovidesthequicknessoftheballdefenderinhisreactiontotheoffensiveballhandler.

Intheslide-step,thedefenderhasalreadydrop-steppedwithhisreversepivotandthenpushedoffofhisnewtrailfoot(theoriginalleadfoot)andslidesinthedirectionofthedribbler’snewpathtowardthebasket.Asalways,thedefenderwantstokeephisbodybetweenthedribblerandthebasket.

Thepush-pushgroupdefensivedrillcanandshouldbeutilizedtoeducateandteachalldefendershowtoproperlyusethefootworktechniquesandalsohowtorepetitionthosetechniquesinatime-efficientandsomewhatgame-realisticmanner.

Twophasesareinvolvedinthisparticulardefensivebreakdowndrill.Thefirstphaseiswhenthecoachstandsinfrontofthegroupofdefenders.Thecoachsimulatesbeingtheopponentthathasabasketball.Thatcoachbeginsbysimplymakingfakesoffhisrockerstep.Thedefendersinthemassdrillusetheappropriatesteptodefendthemovementoftherockerstep.Thatcoachmustbemindfultousebothhisleftandhisrightfootasthefoottouseforhisrockerstep.

Thesecondphaseiswhenthecoachactuallybeginshisdribble.Thedefendersinthemassdrillmustquicklyreactandmovetostayinfrontoftheimaginarydribblerthatthedrillcoachisattemptingtosimulate.Eachdefensivepracticeplayerworksonthepropertechniques,includingusingtheappropriatefootworkandpivoting.Quicknessandeffortarealsoimportantpointsofemphasisthatthecoachingstaffconstantlyobservesandevaluates.

Thepush-and-talkdrill(Diagram7-6)depictsadefenderhavingtosometimesusetheadvancestep,followedbythedrop-and-swingstep,thenthepush-offstepwiththesubsequentslide.Thesestepsaretobeexecutedwhilerunningthroughamazeofobstaclesandsixdistinctchangesofdirections.ThediagramshowsX1runningtheadvancesteptothemid-courtnearpointA.X1thenusesthedrop-and-swingstep,thepush-offstepandfinallytheslide-steptoendupatthefreethrowline.X1slide-stepsandpushesasquicklyandashardashecanuntilhereachespointD.Then,X1changesdirectionbyusinganotherdrop-and-swingstep(withtheleftfootbeingthepivotfoot),followedbyapush-offstep(withtheleftfoot)andseveralmoreslide-stepsacrossthecourttopointE.AfterreachingpointE,hethenmakesanotherdrop-and-swingstep(thistimewiththerightfootbeingthepivotfoot),apush-offstep(withtherightfoot)andslide-stepbacktothecenterofthefreethrowlanebeforethenpushingoffbacktotheoriginalbaseline.

Followingisthemazepartandthemoregame-realisticpartofthedrill.X2beginshisslidewhenX1reachesthefreethrowlineforthesecondtime.X3beginshisslideswhenX2reachesthefreethrowlinehissecondtime.X4andX5repeattheprocess.Soitiseasytoseethatfivedefendersaredoingslide-stepsatthesametime.Thisforcesalldefenderstostillexecutetheproperfootworkandtechniques,whilekeepingtheirheadupandtheireyesopen,anditalsoforceseachdefendertocommunicateandtoavoidcollisionswithteammates.

Diagram7-7isthezigzagpridedrill.Inthisdrill,thedefendersmustkeeptheoffensiveballhandlerscontainedandundercontrolinamoredifficultsetting:thefullcourt.X1defends01.X2defends02.X3defends03,andsoforth.Allthreepairofpracticeplayersmuststaywithinthedribblingalleysandtheconfinesshown.01triestobeatX1offthedribble,asdotheothertwopairsofpracticeplayers.X1mustturn01atleastthreetimesupthecourt.X1doesthisbyusingtheappropriatedefensivefootworkandtechniquespreviouslydiscussed.X1mustgetinfrontof01anddraw

Diagram7-6

Diagram7-7

thechargeif01doesnotchangedirections.X1cannotgetlazyandreachforthebasketball,butinstead,hemustmovehisfeetandstaybalanced.X1mustneverallow01tobeathimonthedribbleandsqueezebyhimononeoftheedgesofhisdribblealley.Coachescanmakethisdrillevenmoredifficultforthedefenderbyrequiringthedefendertolockhishandsbehindhisbacktopreventthebadhabitofreachingfortheballandthereforebecomingoffbalance,lazy,andnotwillingtomovethefeetandcommittinglazyreachingfouls.ThismodificationwouldrequireX1tousehisfootworktobecomequickerandmoreofadefensivehustler.

Topreventboredomofplayersand,moreimportantly,toprovideforamoregame-realisticdefensivedrill,thestartpointsandfinishpointsofthepridedrillcanandshouldconstantlybechanged.Variousoffensivescenariosfortheballhandlertostarthisdribblingcouldincludeanyofthefollowing:•Receivingaskippassthattheballdefenderfirstmustcloseoutonthenewballhandler•Receivingahypotheticalscreenofftheballandthenbeingallowedtoreceive

thepass•Receivingaballscreenthattheninitiateshisdribble

•Facingadefenderwhostartsasanoff-the-balldefenderthatexecutesadefensivehelp-and-recoversituation•Anyothersituationsthatacreativecoachcandreamup

Variousoffensivescenariosthatcouldandshouldbeutilizedfortheballdefendertoworkonandimprovespecificdefensivetechniques(attheconclusionofthedribbleandtheendofthedribblealley)couldincludeanyofthefollowing:•Guardinganoffensiveballhandlerwithakilleddribbler

•Takingadefensivecharge

•Divingforalooseball

•Boxingoutanoffensiveballhandlerwhotakesajumpshotoffthedribble

•Jumpingtotheballafterakilleddribble

•Denyinggive-and-gocutstothebasket

•Otherscenariosthatanimaginativecoachcouldthinkof

FootworkUsedinTraps

Ifacoachhasaphilosophyofutilizingvariousformsofdouble-teamtrapsanywhereonthecourt,whetheritisinthefull-courtpressphaseorthehalf-courttrapdefensivephase,thetechniqueofpivotingisanimportantpartofthetrappingprocess.Everydefenderinvolvedintheinitialtrapshouldreleasefromthetrapandreacttothelocationoftheescapepass.Sometrappersshouldimmediatelyshifttospecificlocationsofftheball,whileothertrappersfollowthepasstotrapagain.

Alltrappersshouldusethepropertechniqueofpivotingaftertheescapepassismade.Thesimplestwaytoexplainthetechniqueisforthecoachingstafftotell

eachtrappertoreversepivotofftheoutsidefoot,thereforeswingingtheinsidefootawayfromthepassertowardthelocationoftheescapepass.Eachtrappershouldhaveitstressedtohimtopivotquicklyaftertheescapepassandnottolookattheflightoftheballbeforereactingtothelandingspot,buttoanticipatewheretheescapepasswilllandandimmediatelypursuetheflightoftheballbytryingtobeatthepasstoitslocation.Withoutproperfootwork,thisdifficultdefensivegoalwouldbeimpossibletoachieveorevencomeclosetoachieving.

Diagram7-8showstwodefensivetrappers(X1andX2)trappingtheopponent’soffensiveguard(01).When01escapepassesto02inthedeepcorner,X4closesouttogetreadytobuildanewtrap.X2releasesoutoftheinitialtraptore-trapwithX4.X2triestobeattheballtoitspotentialnewlocation.X1releasesoutofthetrapandrotatestoanewpositionofftheballtobecomeadifferenttypeofteamdefenderinthedefensivetrappackage.

Diagram7-9showsthefootworkofthetwotrappers(X1andX2).X1reversepivots(awayfromtheactualopposition’sballhandler)offoftheright(outside)foot,whileX2alsoreversepivots(awayfromthesameballhandler)offtheleft(outside)foottogore-traptheballwithX4inthedeepcorner.

Diagram7-8

Diagram7-9

DefensiveReboundingFootwork

Stillanothertimethattheuseofpivotsisaneededingredientinateam’sdefensivesystemisthedefensivereboundingpartofthegame.ThisfootworkwasdetailedinChapter5.However,forcompletenesssake,itismentionedagain.Thispartofateam’sdefenseshouldbeutilizedeverytimetheopponentsshootandmisstheirshot,regardlessofwhethertheteamisinaman-to-mandefenseorinanytypeofzoneortrappingstyleofdefense.

Diagram7-10showsanexampleofseveraloff-the-balldefendersmakingsuccessfuldefensivebox-outsbeforethedefensivereboundissecured.Onlytheon-the-balldefender(X1),whoisguardingtheshooter(01),shouldmakethefrontpivotbeforegoingafterthedefensiverebound.Thefouroff-the-balldefendersarethedefenderswhoshouldallmakethereversepivotstoproperlyexecutetheall-importantdefensivebox-outsthatarenecessarytosecurethedefensiverebound.Specifically,X2andX3arethetwodefenderswhoareonepassaway;withX4beingaballsidepostdefender,andX5beingtheonlyhelpsidedefendersaggingoffinthelane.

Diagram7-10

Grabbingthedefensivereboundconcludestheendoftheopposition’spossession,anditbeginsthepossessionoftheballforthatoriginaldefensivereboundingteam.Thismovehaltsthescoringchancesoftheoppositionandbeginsthescoringopportunitiesoftheinitialdefensiveteam.

Afterthedefensehassuccessfullyboxedouttheoffensiveopponentsandhasgrabbedthedefensiverebound,thatdefensivereboundermustthenmakeanoutletpasstoateammatetobeginthefastbreak.Ifthefastbreakstyleisnotutilizedbythatteam,theoutletpassmuststillbeusedtogettheballintoaguard’shandstobringtheballdownthecourtslowlyandcarefully.Tomaketheoutletpasssuccessfully,thedefensivereboundermustmakeafrontpivot,Thedefensiverebounder’sfrontpivotactuallyisinitiallyturningawayfromtheopposition’spressureontheballsincethedefensiverebounderatthebeginning,hashisbackturnedtowardtheopponent.Thisfrontpivotmustbemadeforthereboundertosighttheoutletpassreceiverandthelocationofthelocationofpassreceiverdefendersbeforetheoutletpasscanactuallybemade.

Diagram7-11showsadefensivereboundergainingpossessionofthereboundon

theopponent’srightsideofthecourt.Thedefensiverebounder(X2)hassuccessfullyboxedouthisman(ashavetheotherfourdefenders)andobtainedtherebound.X2shouldchintheball(asoffensivepostplayersaretaughttodowhencatchingtheinsidepass)andtofrontpivotawayfromtheopposition’sballpressure.Thisfrontpivotshouldbeexecutedofftheoutsidefoot(inthiscase,therightfoot)andtheinsidefoot(left)shouldthenturnawayfrompotentialopposingdefenders(02and05).Thisfrontpivotisalsomadetofacetheoutletreceiver(X1)beforemakingthepasstohim.

Diagram7-11

ItmustbekeptinmindthatthepassreceivercatchingX2’soutletpass(X1)mustmeetthepassbeforecatchingtheball.UponreceivingtheoutletpassfromX2,X1

shouldalsomakeafrontpivottowardthesideline(awayfrompotentialdefenderslocatedinthemiddle).Thismoveshouldbedonebyfrontpivoting(awayfromtheopposition’sballpressure)offtheoutsidefoot(rightfoot,inthiscase)andswingingtheinside(left)foottowardthesideline,whilealsochinningtheball.

Diagram7-12showsadefensiverebounder(X2),whohasmadethedefensivebox-outandgrabbedthedefensiverebound.Theoutletpassismadetotheguard

(X1),whoalsofrontpivotsofftheoutsidepivotfoot(left)andswingstheinsidefreefoot(right)towardtheoutside(awayfromcrowdofdefenderslocatedinthecenterofthecourt).X1canthenseehisbasketattheotherendofthecourt.Hecanalsoquicklyandeasilyspotanyteammatesaheadofhim(X3,inthisexample).

Diagram7-12

Summary

Asimportantofaconceptasdefendingtheballistotheoveralldefensiveschemesandasimportantasdefensivebox-outsandactualoutletpassesfromthedefensivereboundare,theartofpivotingismostimportanttoallthreepartsoftheteamdefense.

Conclusion:TheOverallImportanceofthePivot

Ifabasketballplayerorcoachtrulyexaminedthemanydifferenttechniques,concepts,andskillsthatarerequiredforaplayerandfortheteamtobesuccessful,heshouldrealizetheextremeoverallvalueandimportanceofthepivotandfootworkinbasketball.

Offensiveplayers,suchaspostplayerswiththeball,mustnotonlyknowthevarioustypesoffootwork,butbeabletoexecutethoseskills.Offensivepostplayersmustalsohow,when,andwheretousethevariouskindsoffootworktoactuallygetopensotheycanbecomescorers(oreventuallypassers)fortheiroffensiveteam.

Tocounteroffensiveplayerswithandwithouttheball,defensivepostplayersmustalsoacquiretheknowledgeandskillsofbeingabletoexecutetheirdesiredfootwork.

Offensiveanddefensiveperimeterplayersalsohavevarioustypesoffootworkmandatoryfortheiroverallsuccess.Thisfootworkforoffensiveperimeterscomesfrombeingcutters,screeners,passers,dribblers,andshooters,whiledefensiveperimeterplayersmusthavethenecessaryfootworktocountertheiroffensiveopponents’executionsofthevariousoffensiveconceptsandtechniques.

Rebounding,bothontheoffensiveendaswellasthedefensiveendofthecourt,mandatesspecifictypesofpivotsandfootworkforplayersonbothsidesoftheball.

Thesecountlesstypesoffootwork,alongwiththemanyformsofpivoting,arerequirementsforindividualplayerstobesuccessfulinthemanydifferentphasesofthegame.Whenallplayersareproficientineachofthesephasesofthegame,theirdefensiveandoffensiveperformanceswillbesuccessful.Whenateamis

successfulinboththeiroffensiveanddefensiveexecutions,theirteamwillbesuccessfulandwinmanygames.

Coachesmustfirstbestudentsofthegameandlearnthedifferenttypesoffootworkandpivots—theirstrengths,weaknesses,andwhen,where,andwhytousethem.Coachingstaffsmustthensellthevalueandimportanceoffootworktoeveryteammember.Coachesmustbeabletoexplain,teach,practice,drill,andcorrecteveryplayerineveryoneofthephasesofthegame.Acoachcannotteachwhathedoesnotknow.Playersmustacceptthephilosophiesandtheteachingsoftheircoachingstafftocontinuallyimproveandbecomesuccessfulintheirexecutionsofthemanytypesoftechniques,bothoffensivelyaswellasdefensively.

AbouttheAuthorJohnKimblebeganhisbasketballcoachingcareerasanassistantbasketballcoachatLexington(IL)HighSchool.Hewastheheadfreshmancoach,theheadfreshman-sophomorecoach,andtheassistantvarsitybasketballcoach.Duringthatseason,eachsquadlostonlytwogamesandallthreesquadsamassedanoverall61-6record,withthevarsitylosinginovertimeinthestatetournament’sEliteEightround.

Thefollowingyear,KimbletooktheheadbasketballcoachingpositionatDeland-Weldon(IL)HighSchool,wherethevarsityaccumulatedafive-yearrecordof91-43thatincludedtworegionalchampionships,tworegionalrunners-up,andonesectionaltournamentrunner-up.Fromthere,hemovedtoDunlap(IL)HighSchool.Hisfive-yearrecordatDunlapamountedtoanoverall90-45recordthatincludedtworegionalrunners-up,oneregionalchampionship,onesectionalandonesuper-sectionalchampionship,andafinalsecondplacefinishintheIllinoisClassAStateTournament.

KimblethenmovedtoFlorida,wherehebecameanassistantbasketballcoachatCentralFloridaCommunityCollegeinOcala,Florida.Thenextyear,hebecametheoffensivecoordinatorinchargeoftheteam’soveralloffense.Forthenexttwoyears,heretainedthatoffensivecoordinatorresponsibilitywhilealsobecomingtheassociateheadbasketballcoach,withatwo-yearrecordof44-22.Thefour-yearoverallrecordwhileatCFCCwas73-58.

KimblethenbecametheheadbasketballcoachatCrestview(FL)HighSchoolforthefollowing10years.Excludingtheinitialyear,theoverallrecordaveragedalmost18winseachyearforthenextnineyears.

Kimblehasworkedcloseto100weeksofbasketballcampsandhasspokenatseveralcoachingclinicsandcamps.Healsohashadover70articlespublishedinthefollowingpublications:TheBasketballBulletinoftheNationalAssociationofBasketballCoaches,TheScholasticCoachandAthleticJournal,CoachandAD,WinningHoops,andBasketballSense,aswellascontributingarticlessubmittedandalldiagramsdrawnforNABC’sCoachingBasketballintwoseparateeditions.

KimblehasauthoredfourotherbookspublishedbyCoachesChoice:TheBasketballCoaches’CompleteGuidetoZoneOffenses,TheBasketballCoaches’CompleteGuidetotheMultipleMatch-UpZoneDefense,CoachingBasketball’sMultiple2-1-2Full-CourtZonePress,andCoachingBasketball’s“SpeedGame”WithPrimaryandSecondaryFastBreaks.HehasalsomadefourdifferentseriesofDVDsonvarioustopicsofthegame.

After25yearsofcoachingbasketballandseveralyearsofcoachingbaseballandfootball,KimbleiscurrentlyteachingmathclassesatCrestview(FL)HighSchool,stillstudyingthegame,andstillwritingvariousbasketballarticlesandbooks.