Offensive Sets & Competitive Drills to Take Your Continuity Offense to the Next Level

with Steve Schmidt, Mott Community College Head Coach;
NJCAA Men's Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame Inductee (2010);
Most wins by any men's college basketball coach in Michigan history (750+);
4x NJCAA National Champions (2003, 2007, 2008, 2012);
9x Michigan Community College Athletics Association (MCCAA) State Champions (1995,1996, 2000, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013)

In 1991, Schmidt took over a program that was in disarray, and has since driven it to unprecedented heights. That includes eight National Junior College Athletic Association Final Four appearances, seven national championship game berths and four national championships (in 2003, 2007, 2008 and 2012).

Practice Drills

One of the reasons his teams have been so consistently successful is the consistent focus on fundamentals by Coach Schmidt. His philosophy is to keep things simple, and he shares stories about how this has been productive for him and how he has adapted from having too many plays to having a set group of plays with multiple options and counters.

Underlying that is his belief in player development. Player skill ability is what determines the effectiveness of the plays and offenses. To highlight this, Coach Schmidt shares several drills that reinforce ball handling, passing, rebounding, and playing hard on defense. His HIT Drill (Heart, Intensity, and Toughness) is a drill that can be done in the half court and full court. Players play 1 on 1 in a lane on the court going as hard as they can. Coach Schmidt also emphasizes how this creates team chemistry and bonding as players encourage and cheer on their teammates in this demanding drill.

An emphasis on rebounding is also shown with the Three and Out drill, which can also be run in the full or half court. Players compete inside the paint to grab rebounds and get tough putbacks. The HIT and Three and Out drills will add toughness to your team immediately!   

Continuity Offenses and Quick Hitters

Coach Schmidt’s offensive philosophy is ‘less is more.’ His continuity plays are simple but have a proven track record as his win totals and national championships confirm. Schmidt shows three offenses that are effective against zone and man to man defense. He believes that it is better to not overload players and to give them opportunities to make plays. The offenses are called:

• Three Man
• Fist
• Continuity 

Continuity and Three Man are very similar but with minor tweaks that take advantage of your best players. Continuity provides scoring opportunities along the baseline with a flex screen.

Next, Coach Schmidt goes over five quick hitters that have been very successful for him his entire career. Plays “11,” “22,” and “33” are all variations of the same play but can be used to take advantage of certain situations that arise. You’ll get looks at post ups and three-point opportunities great for crunch time. If you are looking to isolate your best player, “7” and Open will give you looks that get the ball into your best players’ hands when it matters most!

Coach Schmidt is a Michigan Coaching Hall of Fame inductee for a reason - his plays and philosophy will give your team what it needs to be successful! Keeping it simple, Schmidt’s guiding philosophy, will allow your players to make sound plays and learn to play basketball effectively and efficiently without having to memorize complex movements that slow them down.

61 minutes. 2022.