Vault: Footwork

Closeouts vs. Contesting

A good coaching friend is hunting for a “sticky” term to offer up to his players for how they should contest shots. How would you answer his query? Searching for a “sticky” adjective to #teach our players how they should contest shots…? @PGCbasketball @CoachBobWalsh @coachwoodley @DrewHanlen @CoachBobStarkey @BCCoachStevens @SefuBernard @CoachJimBoone @kawhileonard @UVAMensHoops — Sam Ferry …

Verticality, Protecting The Rim & Shot Blocking

At all levels of play, the principle verticality is difficult to officiate. It’s just as challenging to coach. Yet, just because it’s difficult does not mean it’s something that we should avoid teaching—especially since the ability to defend at the rim without fouling is the difference between winning and losing. So, what is the “rule of verticality” …

Ettore Messina: 5 Must-Have Skills For Post Players

I’m going through some of my basketball clinic notes and came across this ‘checklist’ from Ettore Messina on post player development… Here are the five (5) questions any coach or young post player must be able to answer ‘Yes!’ to in order to be able to be a contributor on their basketball team. Can the …

Rebounding And Boxing Out Are Very Different Things

There are a lot of basketball coaches — especially those working with youth basketball players — that get upset at their team when their players don’t secure the rebound. To an extent, that’s understandable. A good coach knows the value of possessions and that offensive and defensive rebounding will have a huge impact on the …

Start In Stance. Move In Stance. Finish In Stance.

Here’s a video that I picked up from Swedish coach and friend David Leman’s blog: Leman Coaching. (BTW – If you can translate Swedish, let me know. I know he’s got more nuggets on his site, but I just can’t understand them!) In the video, Lithuanian coach, Evaldas Kandratavicius, takes a young basketball player through …

Coaching Clinic Notes: European Basketball Coach Jasmin Repesa

I attended a fantastic basketball clinic that featured renowned European coach Jasmin Repeša. Coach Repeša has risen through the ranks of international basketball, first as a player and now as a coach. Aside from being the Croatian National team coach, Repeša has also recently worked with Euroleague contender Lottomatica Roma and previously won two Turkish …

Footwork: Artful & Efficient

This is a must see video. The NYTimes.com absolutely crushes it (pun only slightly intended!) with the feature which explains why Roger Federer’s footwork is the basis for a nearly flawless game. This is not about tennis.  This applies to all sports. This is an insightful illustration/description of fundamental movement skills and basic physical literacy that *any* athlete must obtain to …

Body Control: Dynamic Jumps Stops

When working on the various type of lay-ups and finishing moves, I spend a quite a bit of time teaching basketball players how to utilize two foot take-offs as an important part of their offensive footwork toolbox. (PGC Basketball calls two-foot finishing moves “dynamic jump stops”. That is, ending your forward movement by landing with both feet hitting …