Fine tune your player's communication skills on the court, while sharpening their individual fundamentals.

Coach Oliver Purnell starts with a progressive series of warm-up drills that are the perfect jump-start to any practice that focus on team passing and players' ability to finish on the break. Once players are warmed up, Purnell demonstrates his communication series. This series of full-court drills will not only improve team fundamentals and conditioning, it will also improve players' listening ability as they are forced to recognize the command given by the coach and react quickly.

Moving to the defensive side of the ball, Purnell explains his three transition defense priorities, and applies these priorities with the Bulls Drill, The 5-on-5 Transition Drill and the Box Drill. These challenging drills force the defense to sprint back and communicate, as well as defend.

Switching to offense, Purnell introduces his 4-out 1-in motion offense that works well against zone and man-to-man pressure. This offense utilizes spacing as perimeter players are in constant motion taking advantage of either down or flare screens, or making quick cuts to the basket. Purnell shows two sets where the post player works back and forth across the lane or remains stationary as the ball is passed around the perimeter. In both alignments, the post player is allowed to set ball screens for pick and roll or pick and pop action. Purnell concludes his offensive portion by demonstrating the secondary break and how ball screens and back screens can be used effectively in both strong and weak-side action.

The importance of communication is stressed on both the offensive and defensive ends of the floor. Coach Purnell explains how effective communication throughout your program eliminates negativity and helps players to understand their roles and responsibilities.

72 minutes. 2009.

Produced at the Spring 2009 Myrtle Beach, SC Clinic.