A Coach's Diary

Find original article from USA Basketball here . Date:   Jan 3, 2018 Talent and teamwork are the keys to success, but sometimes your players need an extra push. With that in mind, here is this week’s question for the USA Basketball Coaches Network: Whether it's a drill, a speech, or some other type of incentive, what is your favorite motivational tactic? Dori Oldaker, head coach, Mt. Lebanon High School (Pa.) I believe in the saying, “Team will always beat Talent, when Talent doesn’t work hard!” I truly believe in team chemistry and team bonding opportunities. Almost yearly, our team is given a chosen book (selected by the head coach, me) and we will have book studies as a team. We will discuss and learn as much as we can from these motivational books. These discussions lead to great conversations and teachable moments. Our staff treats our team like a family. We call it our “Basketball Family!” Families sacrifice for each other and r...

I was watching some of the Team USA Select basketball practice, and came upon three different non-contact drills that I will implement to our practices this next school year.   The first drill is where they are working on the habit pass.  The habit pass is when a ball-handler drives baseline, the guard on the backside needs to float to the corner to create a passing outlet for him.  Here they drive baseline, and the guard floats to the corner for the habit pass.  After the ball-handler makes the pass, he cuts to the three-point line and receives a pass from the coach for a catch and shoot opportunity. You can remix the drill several ways by allowing both ball-handlers to catch and drive for a lay-up, pull-up, floater, or whatever finishing move you would like. Below is a simple ball-screen drill that I saw.  One change I will make is that I will not have coaches setting the ball screen, but have other players setting the screen. Finally, her...

Kyrie is one of the best 1 on 1 players in the NBA, as shown by the recent championship run of the Cleveland Cavaliers. The couple of things that I noticed about his game out of the triple threat, was how effective his first step is and how he attacks the defenders body, initiating contact.  While other players' first step was often to the side, Kyrie's first step was always toward the basket.   His second dribble was into the defenders body, and each subsequent dribble was trying to get in front of the defender and cut him off.  He even uses his off hand to shield off the defender, allowing him to beat him to the basket. If the defender beat him to the spot, he has several counters which makes him even tougher to guard.  I tell my players all the time how important it is to have good counter moves, including the behind the back dribble and the spin move.