Apr

6

When I coach basketball, what I emphasize is defense and boxing out. Here's why…..

Everyone wants to be LeBron or Kobe and do all the acrobatic scoring. The reality is that most of the kids will never be able to do all the fancy moves that those men do. Nor will most of the kids be prolific scorers. So take the road less traveled and do what no one else is really doing.

Do the dirty work. Not every kid can be a prolific scorer, but every kid can be taught to play tenacious defense. Since the vast majority of kids are unwilling to do the non-glamor work, it pays to be "blue collar worker" on the floor.

Every kid can be taught to be the vicious and feared rebounder on the floor…..no matter what their height. Watching youth games today, it very apparent to me that kids are NOT being taught how to box out for rebounds. Proper rebounding, done right, is a team effort so that THE TEAM can get the rebound. If I do my job right, and my team mates do their job right, and rebound caroms my way, I'll get the rebound. If I do my job right and my team mates do their job right and the rebound caroms away from me, MY TEAM MATE will get the rebound.

And contrary to popular opinion, basketball IS a contact sport. And the contact happens during the rebounding process. When done right, rebounding should be painful for your opponent, and over time, create fear in his mind. When that ball is shot, rather than him looking to get into position, he will be looking for you to avoid getting your hips shoved into his groin/thighs, or avoid getting your elbow shoved into his rib cage. He needs to know that challenging you for a rebound is going to hurt. Even guards play a key (and painful….for the other team) role in rebounding….remember, not all rebounds fall under the basket for the big men to grab. Lots of them bounce off the rim hard and end up away from the basket where the guards can grab them.

Most every kid can be taught be aggressive and dive into every scrum and tenaciously attack every loose ball. Whenever one of my kids bleeds, I make a big deal out it by praising them and thanking them.

I also teach my kids that unless I tell them otherwise, they get 4 free fouls a game……so use them wisely. No stupid fouls. If you are gonna foul someone, make it count. Never trip them or tackle them, never upend someone on a break away. But use your elbows and use your hips.

This is the path that will lead kids to a position on their high school, probably lots of playing time and maybe even a role as a starter.

Coaches love players who are willing to leave a little "red DNA" on the floor.


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4 Comments so far

  1. Sam on April 7, 2011 10:33 am

    A longtime friend who’s an college basketball enthusiast tells me that when he listens to a radio broadcast of a game between unfamiliar teams, he can picture the teams playing just by whether the announcer speaks of “well coached” “team players” who are “good from the free throw line,” or of “natural athletes” with “good foot speed” and “acrobatic” moves.

  2. Methods for Coaching Procrastinators, from Coach Bill « on April 7, 2011 1:03 pm

    […] But whatever you teach the kid, keep him away from playing basketball.  Since the introduction of the shot clock, basketball became a anathema to diligent procrastinators. (The NBA had problems attracting fans before the shot clock’s introduction.) […]

  3. Steve on April 7, 2011 2:20 pm

    A few points:

    Offense gets headlines, Defense gets championships.
    Defense can show up for every game, offense can be anemic.

    lesser known players in the NBS with long careers. All had exceptional defensive reputations.

    Nate Thurmond
    Dikembe Mutombo
    Mugsy Bogues
    Dennis Rodman
    Greg Kite
    Kurt Rambis
    Ben Wallace
    Bruce Bowen
    Charles Oakley
    Mookie Blaylock
    Chris Dudley

    Nuff said.

  4. Sam on April 13, 2011 9:49 am

    The Sage of Westport on basketball coaching:

    http://nymag.com/news/business/wallstreet/ray-dalio-2011-4/

    … Dalio is confident that for those willing to buy in, full acclimation is only a matter of time. “With their increased usage, not only will they be understood, but they will evolve from ‘Ray’s principles’ to ‘my principles,’ and ‘Ray’ will fade out of the picture in much the same way as memories of one’s ski instructor or basketball coach fade and people pay attention only to what works.” …

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