Within the overall
game of basketball there are many games that I call “Sub Games”. The
Sub Games are much like “battles” are to overall success in
warfare. The team that wins many of the Sub Games puts itself into a
better position to win the overall game.
Sub Games are highly
indicative of which team is imposing its’ will on the opponent and/or dictating
the tempo of the game.
Here is list of the
“Sub Games” that are vitally important and often impact the outcome
of the game.
Sub Games:
I. Effort Game:-Diving for loose balls
-Taking charges
-Running down long Rebounds
II. Rebound Game:
-Getting more
overall rebounds
-Number of second
chance points based on offensive rebounding
III. Free Throw Game:
-Total number of Free
Throw attempted
-Number of points
scored from Ft line
-1st team to get to
1+1 and/or double bonus.
IV. Paint game:
-Number of points
scored in the paint
-Number of times the
ball is passed into the post (post feeds).
-Number of times the
dribbler gets into the lane (paint touches)
V. Assist/Turnover
Game
VI. Transition game:
-Offensively points
scored
-Defensively points
allowed
VII. Defensively:
– Shot Clock – points allowed and
% of “stops” late in the shot clock.
– Ball Screen – points
allowed and % of “stops”.
-Close outs – points
allowed and % of shots missed because of your close outs.
When you break the
game down into 4-minute segments (mini games), you can statically see if there
is a correlation between the Sub Games and whether you are actually winning or
losing the game. You also have some tangible information that will support your
thoughts if adjustments need to be made.
When you take the time
to educate your team on the value and the importance of winning the Sub Games,
you will likely see the results in the win/loss column moving forward.
by Coach Jermaine Johnson Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach Troy University
Coming from North Memphis the game took me to an entire New World. Basketball represents how our society should operate. The team concept is highlighted more than any other sport. This should be the basis for life; working together for common goals that will place us all higher on the ladder of success and immediate gratification, tend to be our guide, basketball can be a means to an end which helps to correct these behavioral attitudes.
My approach to the game is based upon the three D’s the game has taught me: Desire, Dedication, and Discipline. If these behaviors are planted in the hearts and minds of all people, they will grow into attitudes that will carry over into the game of life. It all began with desire. Desire, to me is defined as demonstrated enthusiasm. It is the root for all successful achievements. The attitude of desire has been a high priority for my maturation and development. This attitude has been the motivation in chasing education, teams and athletics as a career. From my youth, I felt God and destiny have intended for me to coach. The importance of coaches in my life were tremendous factors in shaping my life. I want to give these values back to others.
To be successful, a man must be dedicated to achieving a goal, whether it be winning an athletic championship or getting rejected from trying to move up in the profession. Dedication is simply an undying loyalty to your task. Two synonyms come to mind when speaking of dedication. One is love. You must love what you are doing. More importantly, you must love others. Love not expressed is hardly love at all. I dedicated myself to my work, student athletes, co-workers, and community. The other word is Sacrifice. If a man is properly dedicated, no reasonable sacrifice is too much to ask if it achieves the ultimate goal of victory.
Most important is the attitude of Discipline. Any successful person must learn to discipline himself before he can learn to discipline others, he must learn to accept discipline himself, he must learn to accept discipline from others. The game of basketball has shown me that I’m really a trampoline. We fall down but we can bounce right back up with a rewired mind and a insatiable hunger to get better. As a Christian, I feel God has called me into this work to meet the challenge of influencing lives, with this motivation, I can create an atmosphere of love, work, passion, development, promotion, and excitement that will attain holistic success in winning and in life to produce living trophies.
Basketball has taught me how to persevere Good and Bad Situations that happen in life as well as basketball. Making a team and individual champions for life and knowing that our goals are higher than 10 feet. It has given me the opportunities to have friends from all over the world. Being able to see the big picture taking boys to men.
There are so many things that impact winning in the game of
basketball. The sum of all the little things can equate to more overall wins.
This can be found in deliberate and planned drills in practice. These ten
things should be incorporated in every practice. By no means am I saying these
are the only things involved in a daily practice. Half-court offense/defense,
press offense/defense, and zone offense/defense are also areas that your team
should work on, but I believe these ten things should be a focal point (in no
particular order).
1-on-1
Playing 1-on-1 everyday can help improve your team in many ways. Offensively, it teaches your players to score with limited dribbles, which can be effective late in the shot clock. Having a player than can go get a bucket is such an asset to any program. Defensively, it forces you to guard your man and not rely on help-side defense. We all talk in scouting reports about GYY (Guard Your Yard). This is a great way to improve that on a daily basis. Now personally I would play 1-on-1 every day in practice leading up to the first game. Once games start, to prevent injuries, I would limit this to 1-2 times per week.
2. Transition Defense
Transition defense is one of the most important areas of emphasis in basketball. If you can limit a team’s fast break points and force them to play 5-on-5 in the half court, it will decrease their scoring. There are several ways to work on transition defense: 2-on-1s, 3-on-2s, 4-on-3s, 5-on-4s. Any disadvantage fast break drill will put an emphasis on your transition defense.
3. Transition Offense
Opposite of transition defense, any time you can create a fast break where offensively your team has the numbers advantage, scoring goes up. Working on this consistently in practice will improve decision making in these numbered breaks.
4. Ball Screen D
The game has evolved and every team in the country incorporates ball screens. There are several different ball screen actions, which make it even harder to defend. You have empty side ball screens, side ball screen with a shake, spread with a shake, spread with a double fill behind, flat, middle ball screen pop, middle ball screen roll/replace, outside ball screen, horns, stagger ball screen, and many more. This must be a staple and constant for your defense.
5. Special Situations
So many games come down to the final 2:00. Practicing one special situation a day will help prepare your team for when it happens in a game. It will also help you as a coach, because it forces you to have a plan. It also gives you a chance to experiment with last second plays during practice and see which best fits your team.
6. Post Feeds
All coaches talk about feeding the post, but do you actually work on it? So much goes into a post feed. The passer must get the correct angle (whether that’s on the catch or by utilizing the dribble), while the post player must get the correct position. There are two people involved in a post feed and both must be on the same page.
7. Toughness Drill
I always like ending practice with a toughness drill. Similar to playing 1-on-1, I would limit the physicality of this once games begin. Toughness drills could be taking a charge, getting a certain number of defensive stops in a row, running, rebounding, etc. This helps build a collective toughness for your team.
8. Skill (Passing/Catching)
This may seem basic, but so much of the game is passing and catching at full speed with a defender. This must be emphasized every day. A catch is defined as 2 hands, 2 feet and 2 eyes. This ensures the receiver secures the ball. Being a great passing team also improves your shooting. Players learn to deliver the ball on time and on target.
9. 100 Shots Up For Each Player
This can involve shooting drills that mimic your offensive sets or grabbing a few players before or after practice.
10. Form Shooting
This should be at the beginning of every
practice. It does not take more than 4-5 minutes but instills so much
confidence in players. It also helps improve shooting form, which will increase
shooting percentages.
Championship teams have balance on offense. Points must be spread around to several players, not just one or two players. The balance in the offense also comes from ball movement and player movement, as well as a balance of inside and outside productivity. There needs to be a balance in the productivity of the starters, as well as the nonstarters.
Championship teams play tough defense. Tough defense is played from both an individual, and more importantly from a team standpoint. Close out defense enables a team to be in rotations instead of scramble situations. Proper one-on-one defense does not allow for dribble penetration, (which can and does lead to short 2 on 1’s) or pass penetration (which leads to the team digging the ball out of the post or doubling it). Communication and making multiple efforts on defense are key to winning games.
Championship teams rebound. The team that owns the glass on the defensive or offensive end of the court, or better yet both ends, will usually wins the majority of their games. Rebounding is a tone setter, and it sends the message that the possession of the ball is so important! Having control of the ball increases the number of possessions that a team has, and the team that has more ball possessions increases their number of opportunities they have to score.
Championship teams get productivity from their bench. The productivity of the bench players effects the team in a positive way. This productivity comes in all forms and it must be positive. The minutes that the bench players clock in a game is a direct reflection of how productive their contribution is to the success of the team.
Championship teams make their free throws. First and foremost, championship teams know how to get to the free throw line, and then they make a high percentage of their shots. Free throws put a tremendous amount of pressure on the defense. By attacking the rim, the defense has to make adjustments, and this can often get the defense into foul trouble. If the defense doesn’t make the adjustments, it becomes very easy for the offense to score while not be effectively defended. Championship teams try to get to one & one and the double bonus first in each half. Finally, the close games come down to a “Free Throw Shooting Contest”!
Championship teams make tough shots late in the shot clock. Tough shots that are made as the shot clock in running down are demoralizing to the defense. These types of plays are energy boosters for the offense.
Championship teams know how to close out games: Championship teams have confidence in themselves, and believe that they will win. They never panic and they play with a sense of poise. Having experience in these types of situations gives championship teams the confidence they need to win.
Championship teams know how to withstand scoring runs. The game of basketball is a games-of-runs. The team that does not handle this type of adversity will find themselves in a deep hole. Scoring runs can be momentum shifters. Coach and player composure is so important when dealing with a run. Believe it or not, an offensive run can be a negative thing, because when the shots are falling, the flow of the offense can suffer. Players will start to look for “their shot”, take bad shots, take quick shots, and stop doing the things that enabled them to get on the run in the first place.
Championship teams make fewer mistakes than their opponents. It is a plain and simple fact that championship teams make fewer mistakes than their opponents. They do not beat themselves, and mistakes that are either forced by their opponent or not, are not acceptable. The elimination of physical and mental mistakes increases the team’s chances of winning.
Championship teams impose their WILL on their opponents. Imposing your will on your opponent is controls the momentum of the game. A great example of imposing will is when a team dictates the tempo of the game, deciding when to run and when to slow down the pace. Another example of imposing a team’s will is on the defensive end is being “legally physical” when a player cuts through the lane.
Championship teams get easy baskets. Championship teams convert scoring opportunities into made baskets at a high level in transition. They run the floor for rim-runs by their post players, or get deep, early post-ups. They create offense from their defense by getting “live ball” turnovers. They also get points on the offensive glass by offensive rebounding. Championship teams are good at ball reversal and attacking the offense.
Championship team’s best players have to show up. The best players must show up and play like the BEST PLAYERS! They have to make their teammates better. They have to rely on, and believe in their teammates. It takes the whole team to win championships!
Written by Kevin Sutton – Assistant Coach at the University of Rhode Island
Genuine relationship building takes time. More than ever before, coaches have to make a conscience decision to develop genuine relationship with their players. The ability to communicate with your players is an invaluable skill. These relationships allow coaches to earn the respect and trust of their players. Once these genuine relationships have been built, teaching can take place. After proper teaching takes place, then improvement will surely follow.
Today’s student-athletes use a variety of methods to communicate through social media platforms, however, that does not necessarily make an individual a great communicator. I am a firm believer that coaches must reach their players where the players are most comfortable to truly develop a genuine relationship. This communication can be on an emotional, spiritual, academic, or social levels. It is also important to choose a location where the student-athletes are most comfortable, such as their dorms, the coach’s home, training table, or team meal.
In high school, I struggled learning Geometry. One day my geometry teacher attended one of basketball games and it had a huge impact on me because she saw how much basketball meant to me. The next day in class, she told me that I knew more about geometry than most of the students in my class. I was sure she had lost her mind. She then gave me a piece of paper with the dimensions of the basketball court on it. She started to ask me geometry questions using lines and angles of the basketball court, and I answered all the questions correctly! She met me on my level and created a teachable moment that I will never forget.
Here are some ideas that I have discussed with other coaches, and have personally used during my coaching career to develop “genuine relationships” with my players. I am confident that if you try to implement some of these ideas, you will be moving in the right direction towards developing “genuine relationship” with your players. Theodore Roosevelt said it best when he said, “They don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care”
Get to know their 5 H’s (History, Hopes, Heartaches, Hero and Honey)
Work them out and help them to improve their skills.
Invite them into your home for a meal.
Watch film with them one-on-one.
Go to their homes to reconnect with their circle of influence.
Discuss current events to capture their attention, especially if the event touches them personally.
Choose books that you can share with them to read and discuss with them when they finish reading the book.
Create a group chat via social media. Throw out a topic and encourage the players to speak on the topic freely and openly.
Be observant of what your players do, what they say, what they wear, what they listen to and try to connect.
Be a great listener and allow your players the opportunity to express themselves.
Becoming a better communicator and INVESTING in developing genuine relationships with your players will help lead your team to incredible success. We all want our players to “buy in”, however to obtain this you must get them to “believe in” first. Believe in you, your genuine interest in them, their success, and what is important to them. “Believe in” is earned through trust, and trust takes time and effort.
A good teacher can teach students anything. A great teacher helps students discover it within themselves. I think this philosophy exemplifies the definition of a mentor.
Throughout my coaching career of 30+ years, I often reflect and take inventory of the people who have served as mentors to me. Each poured into me as a person, and as a coach, helping me to grow. They created a balanced learning environment by allowing me to learn from them, while also respecting my need to grow individually. Throughout the mentoring, they supported some of my ideas and vehemently disagreed with others. Regardless, their investment they poured into me was greatly appreciated.
Serving as a mentor is truly an honor! The role comes with great responsibility, and therefor should be taken seriously. Mentors “pour” into the lives of their protégés to help them reach their goals, chase their dreams, and most importantly, discover within themselves the talents and self-confidence to be successful.
Through the years, I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to speak at numerous coaching clinics or academies. One such great event was the USA Basketball Coaching Academy in Portland, Oregon. A young, female coach who heard me speak at the academy, emailed to ask if I would serve as a mentor to her as she successfully navigates her coaching career. I told her I would be honored to.
I really believe that it is important to share your experience and knowledge with others who you feel are passionate about and greatly respect the game. It has been a privilege to have served as a mentor and spoken at clinics on this topic.
To me, a mentor is a person who is secure and confident – willing to share, educate and guide. Mentors are often training their successors. Great leaders leave situations better than they found them by training their team to learn from the mistakes they have made.
Stone FreemanPublished on Dec 11, 2018SUBSCRIBE 2University of Rhode Island assistant men’s basketball coach Kevin Sutton has launched his own website highlighting knowledge and drills he’s learned over his 34 years as a basketball coach. But it’s deeper than that for Sutton. He wants to provide a platform for coaches across the country and their living trophies.
