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Archives by Tag 'Issue #48'

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.

Filed in Basketball Newsletter • Tags: All Access Basketball Practice, All Access Kansas Basketball Practice, Ball Screens, BasketballCoach Newsletter, Bill Self, Defense, Issue #48, Kansas Men's Baskebtall, Screening

Team Defense: Two Command Drills to Boost Practice Productivity

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

In the latest team concepts feature, Hall of Fame basketball coach Bob Hurley reveals two of his most effective defensive drills. Used frequently by the St. Anthony’s (NJ) basketball program, the following drills prepare players for a variety of game-like scenarios on the defensive end — including odd-man situations, charges, and giving a foul. These drills are a must for any basketball program.

Command Drill

In the “Command Drill”, start by having players get a ball and a partner. Give the players four commands in their stance.

Contest – This means the offense must bring the ball down and eventually take a jump shot and the defense must contest that shot. Players must get their hands up and aggressively contest the shot.

Charge – Set your man up and draw a charge.

Five Seconds – The dribbler will make a backup dribble and the defender must stay on his man tight while the five-second count is still on.

Give a Foul – Practice giving a foul.

Watch below as Coach Hurley runs through each command in the drill with a group of players.

5-on-5 Command Drill

The 5-on-5 Command Drill is similar to before, but a little bit different. Get a two-guard front, two forwards, and a center and go 5-on-5. The offense will look to pass the ball around but now the coach is going to implement 5-on-5 commands.

Drive – The on-ball defender must hit the closest line and everyone else plays 5-on-4. The defense must help each other and play out the scenario live. Stop the ball immediately. Look to push the ball sideline and baseline. This command really works on getting a defense prepared for those odd-man scenarios in a game.

Switch – The defense switches to offense in this case. Communication and rotation is critical to success here.

The previous clips can be seen on Championship Productions’ DVD “Bob Hurley’s Practice Planning & Program Development.” To check out more videos featuring Bob Hurley, simply head over to our basketball library.

Filed in Basketball Newsletter • Tags: BasketballCoach Newsletter, Bob Hurley, Command Drill, Defensive Drills, Issue #48, Program Development

Preseason Conditioning: 11 Easy-to-Implement Drills to Improve Player Speed

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

The 2012-2013 basketball season is fast approaching, which means it’s perfect time for players to get working on improving their speed, quickness, and agility.

In this week’s player development feature, follow along with renowned strength and conditioning expert Alan Stein as he leads you through nearly a dozen speed and quickness drills that are easy to implement, specifically geared toward basketball players, and extremely effective.

Overview and Tips

Speed is moving from point A to B as fast as possible, such as the full length of a basketball court. But it’s not just about a full sprint. It’s important to be able to back pedal and side sprint at full speed as well. The goal of these drills is to improve player speed. It’s not to focus on running mechanics and technique. Therefore, put more focus on effort and practice running as fast as you can.

Tips: Make sure your ankles, knees, hips, and shoulders are facing the direction you are sprinting. Also, keep your arms at 90 degrees and generate movement from the shoulder, not the elbow. Have a slight forward lean when you have reached full speed and look straight ahead. Ensure plenty of recovery time between reps.

Speed Drills: Part I

Drill 1: Speed Progression: Slow to Medium to Fast Progression - Start by running to the first set of cones slow, then medium to the next set, and then fast to the last cone. Have the cones set 10 yards apart down the length of the court.

Drill 2: Speed Progression: Change Tempo – Basketball features a lot of change in tempo. Therefore in this drill, work on going slow to fast to slow to fast.

Drill 3 and Drill 4: Slow to Medium to Fast: Backpedal – These are basically the same two drills as before but now you will be going backwards. Keep the chest over the knees and over the feet going back.

Speed Drills: Part II

Drill 5: Sprint to Backpedal – It’s key that you are able to change direction at full speed. Start in a sprint and then when you get to first set of cones, turn into a backpedal before peeling off.

Drill 6: Backpedal to Sprint – Now it’s just the reverse of the previous drill

Drill 7: Sprint to Backpedal X 2 – Now things get harder by making this transition every time we reach a set of cones. So the rep will be sprint to backpedal to sprint to backpedal.

Drill 8: Sprint to Right Shoulder Look Back – It’s important that players are always able to make a side run at full speed. Have your shoulders square in one direction while running a different way. The drill goes from a forward sprint to looking back over the right shoulder.

Drill 9: Sprint to Left Shoulder Look Back – This drill is the same as before, but now you are looking over the left soulder.

Drill 10: Right to Left to Right to Left – Every time you hit a set of cones, look over a different shoulder.

Drill 11: Sprint to Deceleration X 3 – Sprint and as you reach a new cone, decelerate until you come to a full stop. Do that at each cone series. Keep your hips nice and low.

The previous drills can be seen on Championship Productions’ DVD “130 Pro Power Speed, Quickness, and Reaction Drills.” To browse our entire Strength and Conditioning catalog, click here.