NABC On the Court Open Practice with Nate Oats: Skill Development & Advantage Drills

with Nate Oats,
University of Alabama Head Men's Basketball Coach;
2024 Final Four;
2x SEC Regular Season Champions (2021, 2023);
2x SEC Tournament Champions (2021, 2023);
2021 SEC Coach of the Year;
University of Buffalo Head Coach from 2015 to 2019;
2x MAC Regular Season Champions (2018, 2019);
3x MAC Tournament Champions (2016, 2018, 2019);
2x MAC Coach of the Year (2018, 2019);
2x NABC District Coach of the Year (2018, 2019);
Buffalo Assistant Coach from 2013 to 2015;
Romulus HS (MI) Head Coach from 2002 to 2013;
2013 State Class A Championship (MI);
3x Michigan State HS Coach of the Year (2005, 2008, 2009);
Wisconsin-Whitewater Assistant Coach from 2000 to 2002;
Played college basketball for Maranatha Baptist

In his first season with the program, Nate Oats quickly transformed the Alabama Crimson Tide into an offensive power. In this on-court practice inside look, you will get a chance to see Coach Oats' up-tempo 5-out offense in action.

The Crimson Tide demonstrate breakdown drills for skill development and defense in addition to multiple scrimmage formats. Through every segment of practice is a prevailing emphasis on competition that will help to elevate the energy in your gym.

Skill Development

Alabama's offensive system draws from the latest concepts in the NBA. Players must all have expanded skill sets that allow them to play more positionless than in traditional offenses. You will see how the Crimson Tide develop these skills through multiple segments in this practice.

Players warm-up while expanding their ability to attack the rim in the "Half-Court Dribble Series". You will see players work on multiple change of direction moves and finishes versus contact. The "Pick & Roll Factory" drill is a fantastic way to develop both sides of the ball with your ball screen concepts. Two shooting drills will cycle small groups of players through a high volume of repetitions to help you efficiently expand their range.

In the "Positional Breakdown" segment, you will watch guards catch and rip the ball into hard drives at the basket. The posts refine multiple scoring methods in the offense, including power finishes from the dunker spot, making scoring moves from the high post, and attacking off catches from ball screens.

Advantage Drills

Playing up-tempo will result in numerous advantage and disadvantage situations in a game. Mastering your execution in these scenarios is crucial for high performance at high speeds. You will see how the Crimson Tide develop their decision making through three transition drills. The "Cardinal" drill isolates the 2-on-1 advantage for finishing at the rim. This expands into full court drills that build up to 3-on-2 advantages. Players will love raising the stakes by adding a competitive element like Alabama does in these drills.

Scrimmage Formats

Coach Oats believes in teaching through 5-on-5 play. Mixed in throughout practice are a variety of scrimmage segments with unique emphases to teach specific aspects of the game. Through these segments, you will see the speed and the spacing that the Alabama offense thrives on.

In the "Perfect Stops" drill, your defense is challenged to stop the opponent from scoring for the entire shot clock. This might require your defense to get multiple stops before the possession is over! The "War" drill incorporates a focus on rebounding and attacking with the fast break. The "Strike Drill" is another interesting scrimmage format that rewards the offense more points for scoring early in the shot clock. This is perfect for helping your players to understand good shot selection early in the possession.

This practice video will show you how Coach Oats is rapidly developing his program into a championship contender.

70 minutes. 2021.