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Archives by Tag 'All Access Basketball Practice'

Behind the Scenes Oklahoma Basketball: Film Study and Fast Break Shootout

By adam.warner - Last updated: Wednesday, January 23, 2013

In the latest edition of All Access, we take you to Norman, Oklahoma for a behind-the-scenes look inside an Oklahoma women’s basketball practice. Watch as head coach Sherri Coale leads her players through a pre-practice film study session before the team hits the hardwood. After reviewing practice footage, follow along as the squad runs through a favorite transition drill called “Fast Break Shootout.”

Film Study

We begin in the film room as Coach Coale talks to her players about how it’s important to be able to switch gears from school to basketball. The conversation quickly evolves to areas of focus and why it’s important to understand that the breakdown of drills in practice impacts how the team plays. Asks Coach Coale, “Where is your focus?”

The film study hones in on a recent practice and places an emphasis on particular player habits, both good and bad. During a defensive drill that works on player movements based on ball positioning, the team is reminded about intensity, showing good hand targets, and maintaining good vision.

Eventually, the film session moves into fast break action, highlighting positive and negative aspects of the segment such as player indecisiveness, backwards passing, aggressiveness, and how to properly run the floor. Says Coach Coale, “Don’t throw common sense away when we are teaching something specific.”

Fast Break Shootout

In this 5-on-0 fast break drill, each player will shoot a layup. Drill participants must make each basket to get out of the drill. The drill begins as players pass the ball quickly down the court before one participant shoots a layup. The unit will cross on the baseline and then come back the other way. This will continue back and forth at least five times. Players should be getting in their lanes, running wide, and pushing the ball ahead.

Tips: Don’t get stuck on the order of shooting. Make it realistic. Also, as discussed earlier, don’t pass backwards, and go as fast as you can go from one end to the other. Look to inbound the ball each time and practice good habits.

The previous clips can be seen on Championship Productions’ DVD “All Access Oklahoma Women’s Basketball Practice with Sherri Coale.” Be sure to check out the latest videos in our All Access lineup.

Filed in Basketball Newsletter • Tags: All Access Basketball Practice, BasketballCoach Newsletter, Issue #54, Oklahoma Women's Basketball, Sherri Coale

All-Access Kentucky Basketball: Charges, Stunts, and Lunges

By adam.warner - Last updated: Wednesday, January 9, 2013

In the latest edition of All-Access, we return to Lexington, Kentucky for an exclusive look inside a University of Kentucky men’s basketball practice. Follow along as head coach John Calipari walks through a number of team defensive drills focusing on charges, stunts, and lunges.

Charges and Loose Balls

First, we’re going to teach players how to dive and take charges. According to Coach Calipari, if players think that if they dive they will get hurt, they will never dive for a ball. Therefore at Kentucky, the coaching staff teaches players to grab the ball like a football player and roll to your back. They now understand that it doesn’t hurt to dive. Plus, the fans go crazy when you do this in games.

It’s essential that players know how to dive and take a charge. In terms of stance, you need to get down and get back. You should be landing on your back and butt with your hands up. If you put your hands down, it’s easier to injure your wrists.

The drill starts with a coach driving to the basket and a player stepping up and taking a charge in the lane. Then this player gets up and dives for a loose ball on his back. You should not hit any elbows. Also, don’t get your hands underneath you. There’s where you can get injured. That’s also why it’s important to practice this stuff.

Stunts

With this drill, players head down to the corner and are guarding an offensive guy. A coach will drive and as he drives, the defensive player must time his stunt. As the player stunts, the coach throws that pass and the player will look to intercept it. It’s important for players to time this. Also, you need to have an act and let the opponent think you are coming. Stab at him and then go. Do this drill on both sides of the court.

Lunges

Coach Calipari’s teams will do this lunge drill from the beginning of practice until March or April. It’s vital to teach our players how to guard the basketball. The other stuff is easy because it’s team-oriented. But guarding the ball is about you. When a player drives, look to lunge out whichever way he goes. Follow along below as Kentucky works through sets of single, double, and triple lunges.

The previous clips can be seen on Championship Productions’ DVD “All Access Kentucky Basketball Practice 2010-2011” with John Calipari. To check out more college teams in our All Access lineup, visit our basketball DVD library.

Filed in Basketball Newsletter • Tags: All Access Basketball Practice, Basketball Coach Newsletter, Defensive Drills, Issue #53, John Calipari, Kentucky Men's Basketball

2-3 Zone Defense: 4 Effective Drills to Prepare for Game Situations

By adam.warner - Last updated: Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Pick up four essential defensive drills that have become staples for Jim Boeheim and the Syracuse men’s basketball program. The following drills focus exclusively on the 2-3 zone and place a particular emphasis on the footwork, movements, and techniques of the top two guards in the alignment based on different offensive schemes.

2-3 Defensive Zone Drill No. 1

This is a great drill for the guards to learn how to play the wing players and not give them easy access to the high post. The drill will have three offensive players going against two defensive players. The ball comes all the way down the court and the players must get into their typical positions in this defense.

The emphasis here is square on the top two defenders making the right reads and adjustments based on the schemes of the offensive guys. The high post offensive player is often played by a coach and he’s just there to make it realistic. The ball does not get entered to the post player yet.

2-3 Defensive Zone Drill No. 2

Now every play is going to end with a shot. The defensive players must work on positioning and boxing out based on where the shot takes place. For instance, one player must bust it across the lane to the other side while his teammate must get to the middle. Positioning is very important and players must run to their spots.

2-3 Defensive Zone Drill No. 3

Next, the players must react and move based on the high post player receiving the ball. Eventually a shot will go up. This is basically combining the two drills above.

2-3 Defensive Zone Drill No. 4

Finally, the defenders work on how to defend a backscreen set at the foul line by the offense. Players must anticipate this and get over the top. To help, look to get a hand in on top. Coaches, be sure to place a major emphasis on footwork and technique.

The previous clips can be seen on Championship Productions’ DVD “All Access Syracuse Basketball Practice with Jim Boeheim.” To check out more videos in our All Access library, click here.

Filed in Basketball Newsletter • Tags: 2-3 Zone Defense, All Access Basketball Practice, BasketballCoach Newsletter, Drills, Issue #50, Jim Boeheim, Syracuse Men's Basketball, Zone Defense, Zone Defense Drills

All-Access Kansas Basketball Practice: Defending Screens

By adam.warner - Last updated: Wednesday, October 31, 2012

In this week’s edition of All-Access, we return to Lawrence, Kansas for a behind-the-scenes glimpse at a Kansas men’s basketball practice. Head coach Bill Self instructs his players about proper technique when defending certain screens, including ball, cross, and down screens. The team then splits up among baskets and works on defending each type of screen on both sides of the floor.

Defending Ball Screens

First, Coach Self gets into defending ball screens and reminds players to hedge the screen on the backside. Another key is to change your feet from driving to the outside to driving to the inside where the help is.

Meanwhile, it’s critical to hedge on the “same board” and make your opponent do one of three things: pick up the ball, change direction, or charge. To switch and play the ball screen correctly, go over the ball screen and under your teammate.

Watch below as the players simulate the action at different baskets. They go four times total, with two reps on each side.

Defending Cross Screens and Down Screens

Based on the way Kansas plays defensively, the team doesn’t switch often. However, when they do, this is how it works.

When it comes to guards and it’s a “like” screen, meaning a screen by a 1, 2, or 3 player, then players will switch on all ball screens and hand offs. If it’s a big and a little, the team won’t switch on anything until its under 10 seconds on the shot clock. In this case, the team will call out “solid” and will switch on all handoffs and ball screens. Bigs are different. Bigs switch on all screens.

Let’s say the offense passes the ball from the wing to down low. We are now playing low post defense. If the ball is beneath the free throw line extended, then look to try and get the low side.

All the while, the big man in the middle should look to get as big as he can on the cross screen. Don’t let the screener get his chest to your shoulder. By maintaining a huge presence, it creates space as the big in the center can push through. When the cross screen occurs, don’t let the offense go body to body. Create space to get through.

Watch below as the squad runs through cross and down screens at full speed.

The previous clips can be seen on Championship Productions’ DVD “All Access Kansas Basketball Practice with Bill Self.” Check out our entire collection of All Access videos by clicking here.