BE THE PLAYER WHO....

When you are on offense, be the player who:

•  uses plenty of good fakes
  

 plays under control and with patience

 makes smart decisions with the ball

 always takes good high percentage shots

 looks to engage two defenders before passing (creating a 4-on-3 advantage)

 makes perfect passes

Defenders hate to play against players like that because they are “hard to guard” and it’s tough to force them into making poor decisions.

When you are on defense, be the player who:

 is always moving and anticipating which makes the offense nervous

 stays in the ball handlers “bubble” constantly pressuring them

 avoids “reaching in” for the steal

 seeks to force the offensive player into making a poor decision

 is always ready to give “help”

 plays defense with an “us vs. them” mentality instead of a “me vs. my man” mentality

 cuts off the easy drive to the basket

 contests every shot and boxes out on every shot

Above all else, be the player who hates to lose more than she loves to win.

4:13

WHY ARE WE STRUGGLING AT THE LINE?

Because we have struggled at the line over the past few games, I thought it might be a good idea to cover some free throws stuff.

Players usually struggle from the free throw line for three reasons:

1. Skill

2. Approach

3. Attention

 

Beyond the actual skill of shooting, many players miss because of their approach.  The approach encompasses three things: (1) practice approach; (2) mental approach; and (3) physical approach.

 

Practice Approach: Shooting free throws in practice is different than in a game, even though they are the exact same skill.  The difference, of course, is mental.  I try to make you tired before shooting free throws or attach a consequence to a missed free throw (running), but these approaches are ineffective in terms of helping you make a free throw in the game because neither approach attacks the true issue.  Players may miss because they are fatigued, but is the miss because they are too tired to shoot the free throw correctly or because the fatigue affects their approach to the free throw?

Mental Approach: Players who are good shooters embrace free throws; players who are poor shooters or struggle fear free throws.  Players tend to concentrate on the wrong thought when they shoot a free throw: “I hope I don’t miss.”  You have to learn to embrace your chance to add to the score (without having a defender in your grill!)

Physical Approach: You should have a routine when you go to the line.  A ‘routine’ is a positive physical approach, which can enhance your free throw performance.  Some spin the ball, some take a few dribbles, that girl from Grace does some crazy leg shake thing.  The routine is meant to make your actions consistent.  Have you ever seen a player stare at the basket too long?  Or freeze in the middle of their shooting rhythm?  Or start their shot from the left side of their body or bend their knees to different depths each time?  

To shoot a high percentage at the free throw line, you need to eliminate things that can go wrong. Find a routine and stick with it.  Some of you have already formed a routine.  And you need to remember that the last action of your routine, the last dribble or spinning the ball (like Olivia does) should be with your shooting hand so your shooting hand stays on the same side of your body.  Then bring your off-hand to the ball, rather than bringing your shooting hand to the ball across your body.  Also try and take a deep breath through your nose to relax and slow your heart rate.  By correcting these minor physical mistakes, you can eliminate many of the things that can go wrong with your shot, which gives you a better chance to make the shot.

 

One more important thing to remember about shooting free throws.  You need to be able to direct your  attention appropriately.  In games, free throws often occur after an emotional experience – hard foul, a missed shot, etc.  As players approach the free throw line, they need their attention focused properly.  If you think about the missed shot, the hard foul, the next play, the last time you missed a free throw or anything else, it contributes to sub-optimal shooting performance.  Coaches, parents and players often make the situation worse by yelling at the player to bend her knees or focus or follow-through, so her attention shifts from her target to her knees or her follow-through.  Although well intended, she ends up trying to think her way through her shot rather than allowing her body to work.

 

To improve your shooting, you need to quiet your mind.  One way is to create a positive trigger word and concentrate on the word.  The goal is to stop the internal dialogue and focus your concentration on the target and allowing your body to move without over-thinking the process.

Too much thinking about the technique gets in the way of perfect execution.  Quiet your mind and allow your technique to take over.  At our last practice, Olivia hit five free throws in a row…WITH HER EYES CLOSED!!!  She was focused on repeating her routine and technique.  

 

4:13

ON FRIENDS

I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.

Maya Angelou

Writer

WHAT CAUSES MISTAKES?

First and foremost is effort.  Any effort will produce some mistakes.

Fatigue is a key factor in making mistakes.  Mental and physical fatigue will cause physical errors.

Expectations of yourself.  Placing unrealistic expectations on yourself creates pressure filled situations of play for which you may not be adequately prepared.

Relaxing when you should be exerting effort also leads to mistakes. Staying relaxed under pressure the key to good performance, but relaxing your effort is not. 

Fear of failure results in mistakes.  To improve and grow as a player you must take risks, but make them risks of effort (calculated risks).  Fear is one of the great motivators in life, however failing to try out of fear is a sure-fire method for committing mistakes.  

Finally, recognize as a player, that there are external factors that will produce mistakes that you have no control over.  These might involve poor timing or positioning, interacting with players that you aren’t used to playing with, a slippery court, etc.

Tips For Overcoming Your Mistakes

• "NEXT PLAY" - Whenever something happens positive or negative, it is more important to concentrate on executing the next task at hand.  Great players do not live on past performances, they compete every day, every play.
  

• Leave the Brick Behind – Mistakes are like bricks.  You can carry them but after a while they get pretty heavy and limit where you go.  Instead let each brick go.  Place it behind you never to trip over it again.  During a game, if you make a mistake.  Think of it as a brick and simply turn around and put it behind you.
  

• Don't Panic - When you make a mistake, never panic.  When you experience that bad start right out of the gate, make a couple of turnovers or miss a couple of shots in a row, focus instead on "winning the next two minutes".  Break your execution down into smaller segments of time.  If the game is down to one or two possessions, then concentrate on winning possession by possession.  
  

• See the Big Picture - Great players never let a mistake, or mistakes define who they are. Do not let a moment in time, one experience define who you are as a player.
  

• Mistakes are Temporary, Local, and Correctable - If you find yourself feeling like your errors are ongoing, unchangeable, and irreversible than you need a change of attitude.  Big time players only see their errors as temporary.  If you have had a poor first half performance that is only temporary.  The second half is still to be played.  Your performance is always correctable no matter how many errors you make -- if you try.
  

• Use Your Mistakes As Challenges - Look at performance errors and adversity as challenges.  When you make a mistake, challenge yourself to perform better the next time down the court.
  

• Concentrate on the Things You Can Control - Many of the mistakes and adversity you will face on the court are due to factors out of your control.  What you can control is your reaction to, concentration, your confidence in yourself, and attitude when facing these circumstances.
  

• Turn Your Wounds Into Wisdom - Great players learn from their mistakes and don't continue to commit them over and over again.  Your errors of the past are the wisdom and success of the future. 
  

• Persist, persist, and persist more - Successful players have recognized and accepted that mistakes are part of the game.  What makes them different is that they persist even during their poorest performances.  Quitting on yourself when you have made a mistake is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. The tougher you get when you have made a mistake, the better your chances of surviving, and growing into a highly successful player over the course of a game and the season.  Believe in yourself, concentrate on the process of playing each play, and leave that brick behind. 

4:13

LEARN TO RECOGNIZE THE OBVIOUS

One of the most telling statistics in basketball is FTA (free throws attempted).  Good teams are aggressive, stretch the defense, and are hard to guard.  According to the statistics, the more you get to the line, the better chance you have to win. 

How can we easily score more points?  Shoot more free throws than our opponents.

There are two ways to shoot more free throws than our opponent.  The first is obvious…foul less than they do! 

You have to have a "no foul" mentality.  Most of our fouls are from reaching, grabbing or just being too aggressive rather than playing good position.  Simply by playing smarter, reducing the use of hands, you will foul much less.  Every foul you commit hurts your team and helps your opponent.

The second way is by putting more pressure on the defense by getting the ball to the basket.  By driving to the basket, getting the ball to the post, and taking shots closer to the basket, you will get fouled more often and shoot more free throws.

If we work to get just five more free throws a game and we limit our opponent to five less per game; the math is obvious.  I’ll take the five extra points for us, and five less for them any day. 

I challenge each of you to take a good look at the free throw situation and make some changes for our next few games.   Getting to the line more often (and finishing) is a major key to winning.

4:13

FIVE

To effectively attack any zone, all five players should try to stay in scoring position so they remain ‘dangerous’ and must be guarded by the zone.  

A pass to a player outside of scoring position gives the zone a chance to reset (and rest).  If only three players are dangerous, the zone can still guard all three with the remaining defenders.

By engaging two defenders (with the ball) and by having all four other players always in a position to threaten the zone (with equilateral triangles), the defense must scramble to cover each pass.  Quick ball movement, then, is not so important as movement of the ball to the most dangerous spots. 

4:13

TAKE IT AWAY!

Good players understand the importance and value of both ‘squaring-up’ and being ‘on-balance’ on offense, in order to give yourself as many options as possible.

It makes your defender “freeze” and step back trying to anticipate which option (driving left or right, jump shot, pass) you are going to choose.  Quick reminder... ALL options are possible if you are ‘on-balance’ and ‘squared-up.’

With that in mind, how do you think you should defend your man?

Knowing that being able to ‘square-up’ gives the offensive player multiple options, your goal as a defender should be to try to limit their options and thus take away the ‘square-up’ as often as you can.  

How do you do this?

First, always try to deny your opponent the ball as aggressively as you can.  By denying the passing lane to your opponent, they are often forced to receive a pass without getting ‘squared-up’ as they receive it, and further from the hoop than they probably want to be.  This allows you to defend more aggressively and not be put on the “defensive” (I know…bad pun!).

Once your opponent has the ball, try to immediately turn her in the direction she doesn’t want to go.  You should always notice (early in the game) which hand your opponent prefers to dribble with, and unless you are trying to force her in that direction and into help-defense, always force her to her weak side.  For 90% of players, that will be to her left. 

By taking away the lane your opponent is trying to pass or dribble to, you can force her to turn one direction or the other, or even better, to turn her back to you completely to prevent you from stripping her of the ball.  By turning or forcing your opponent one direction or another, and then turning them again and again, you take away her chance to ‘square-up.’

Good basketball players know that getting ‘squared-up’ is the key to successful playmaking.  Since you know this, it should be your mission on defense to take that option away from your opponent.

4:13

HOW WILL YOU BE REMEMBERED?

At a Touchdown Club meeting many years before his death, Coach Paul "Bear" Bryant told the following story, which was typical of the way he operated….

"I had just been named the new head coach at Alabama and was off in my old car down in South Alabama recruiting a prospect who was supposed to have been a pretty good player and I was havin' trouble finding the place. 

Getting hungry I spied an old cinder block building with a small sign out front that simply said "Restaurant." 

I pull up, go in and every head in the place turns to stare at me. Seems I'm the only white 'fella' in the place. But the food smelled good so I skip a table and go up to a cement bar and sit.  A big ole man in a tee shirt and cap comes over and says, "What do you need?"  I told him I needed lunch and what did they have today? 

He says, "You probably won't like it here, today we're having chitlins, collared greens and black eyed peas with cornbread.  I'll bet you don't even know what chitlins are, do you?" 

I looked him square in the eye and said, "I'm from Arkansas , I've probably eaten a mile of them.  Sounds like I'm in the right place."  They all smiled as he left to serve me up a big plate. 

When he comes back he says, "You ain't from around here then?" 

And I explain I'm the new football coach up in Tuscaloosa at the University and I'm here to find whatever that boy's name was and he says, yeah I've heard of him, he's supposed to be pretty good.  And he gives me directions to the school so I can meet him and his coach.  As I'm paying up to leave, I remember my manners and leave a tip, not too big to be flashy, but a good one and he told me lunch was on him, but I told him for a lunch that good, I felt I should pay. 

The big man asked me if I had a photograph or something he could hang up to show I'd been there.  I was so new that I didn't have any yet.  It really wasn't that big a thing back then to be asked for, but I took a napkin and wrote his name and address on it and told him I'd get him one. 

I met the kid I was lookin' for later that afternoon and I don't remember his name, but do remember I didn't think much of him when I met him.  I had wasted a day, or so I thought. 

When I got back to Tuscaloosa late that night, I took that napkin from my shirt pocket and put it under my keys so I wouldn't forget it.  Heck, back then I was excited that anybody would want a picture of me.  And the next day we found a picture and I wrote on it, Thanks for the best lunch I've ever had, Paul Bear Bryant. 

Now let's go a whole buncha' years down the road.  Now we have black players at Alabama and I'm back down in that part of the country scouting an offensive lineman we sure needed.  Y'all remember, (and I forget the name, but it's not important to the story), well anyway, he's got two friends going to Auburn and he tells me he's got his heart set on Auburn too, so I leave empty handed and go on see some others while I'm down there. 

Two days later, I'm in my office in Tuscaloosa and the phone rings and it's this kid who just turned me down, and he says, "Coach, do you still want me at Alabama ?"  And I said, "Yes I sure do."  And he says, OK he'll come.  And I say, "Well son, what changed your mind?"  And he said, "When my grandpa found out that I had a chance to play for you and said no, he pitched a fit and told me I wasn't going nowhere but Alabama, and wasn't playing for nobody but you.  He thinks a lot of you and has ever since y'all met." 

Well, I didn't know his granddad from Adam's housecat so I asked him who his granddaddy was and he said, "You probably don't remember him, but you ate in his restaurant your first year at Alabama and you sent him a picture that he's had hung in that place ever since.  That picture's his pride and joy and he still tells everybody about the day that Bear Bryant came in and had chitlins with him.  My grandpa said that when you left there, he never expected you to remember him or to send him that picture, but you kept your word to him and to Grandpa, that's everything.  He said you could teach me more than football and I had to play for a man like you, so I guess I'm going to." 

I was floored.  But I learned that the lessons my mama taught me were always right.  It don't cost nuthin' to be nice.  It don't cost nuthin' to do the right thing most of the time, and it costs a lot to lose your good name by breakin' your word to someone.  When I went back to sign that boy, I looked up his Grandpa and he's still running that place, but it looks a lot better now; and he didn't have chitlins that day, but he had some ribs that woulda' made Dreamland proud and I made sure I posed for a lot of pictures; and don't think I didn't leave some new ones for him too, along with a signed football. 

I made it clear to all my assistants to keep this story and these lessons in mind when they're out on the road.  And if you remember anything else from me, remember this - It really doesn't cost anything to be nice, and the rewards can be unimaginable."

Coach Bryant was in the presence of these few gentlemen for only minutes, and he defined himself for life, to these gentlemen, as a nice man. 

Regardless of our profession, we define ourselves by how we treat others, and how we behave in the presence of others, and most of the time, we have only minutes or seconds to leave a lasting impression - we can be rude, crude, arrogant, cantankerous, or we can be nice.  Nice is always a better choice.

4:13

SURE passes, not MAYBE passes.

'Poetry in motion' is the best description for watching a player deliever a fancy 'no look' pass for an easy score.  Athletes with that kind of ability (Chris Paul or Steve Nash) are extremely rare.  Only the best ball handlers are able to deliver these type of passes right to the target everytime with consistency.

For the rest of us mere mortals, it takes timing and communication.  You see, every pass is a transaction.  It requires the passer and the receiver to have a "connection."  The passing transaction requires stealthy non-verbal communication.  A knowing glance, nod, or body gesture between the passer and the receiver ensures that the pass transaction is successful.  

Occasionally, a verbal command to the receiver is effective, but may also lead to "telegraphing". All too often, however, players with the ball simply (and blindly) pass to an area that a seemingly open teammate occupies without making sure that a transaction is occurring.  What results are silly turnovers, last minute "check" passes that float into 50/50 ball land, or passes, that even if completed, place the receiver in a vulnerable position against aggressively closing defense.  

A "sure" pass is made quickly, decisively, crisply, and in synch with the receiver. 

4:13

IT'S ABOUT THE TEAM ATTITUDE

As a coach at UCLA, John Wooden put together a 23-point list called the "Bruin Attitude."  Here are a few of Coach Wooden's rules that would apply to every team he ever coached:

-- Huddle up as a team on free throws

-- Run to the bench when substituted for

-- Run to timeouts

-- Run to the locker room

-- Never quit on a play

-- No poor body language

-- Root for your teammates while on bench

-- Attitude of gratitude – say “thank you”

-- Look people in the eye when communicating

-- Be humble in victory, gracious in defeat

-- Keep the locker room clean

What may be most interesting is what Coach Wooden called his list.  “It's not the "Bruin Rules," but the "Bruin Attitude."  It's part of the culture.  It's how we do things here.”

4:13

9 DEFENSIVE TRUTHS

1.  In team defense, it’s not me vs. my man; it’s our team vs. their team. 

2.  In team defense, the ball is the number 1 priority. Therefore, seeing the ball by all defenders at all times is essential to successful team defense. 

3.  Offense is a variable - defense is a constant. 

4.  There is never a time to rest or relax on defense.  A successful defensive player must continually perform one defensive responsibility after another, according to where the ball is and what the player she is guarding does. 

5.  When your man moves or the ball moves, you move.  All five defensive players must readjust their defensive positions as the ball is moved. 

6.  The closer your man is to the ball, the closer you must be to your man. 

7.  Ball side defense is what makes a defense tough.  Help side defense is what makes it successful. 

8.  Good defensive teams make mistakes, but the great defensive teams cover up their mistakes with hustle.

9.  Great defensive teams make things happen, below average defensive teams let things happen, poor defensive teams wonder what happened. 

4:13

PLAYING WITH PASSION

Out of all the players I enjoy watching, I think Diana Taurasi is by far my favorite.  She plays with tremendous passion & enthusiasm.  When she is on the court – SHE OWNS IT!  She takes ownership of her team and of the game.  I dug through some of our old newsletters for a few DT stories/quotes.

 When she was sixteen years old, future University of Connecticut Huskies star Diana Taurasi attended a basketball camp in Santa Barbara.  One day the players were visited by His Airness, Michael Jordan.  When Taurasi got to the head of the autograph line, Jordan recognized her.  "Hey, I hear you're pretty good," he said.  Taurasi nodded, prompting Jordan to ask, "Well, how good are you?"  Taurasi's reply? "Let's get a ball."

 Future University of Connecticut Huskies star Diana Taurasi once played on a team (for Don Antonio Lugo High School) with future University of Montana center Crystal Baird.  Says Baird, "My first varsity game, I'm running down the court, being stupid, not paying attention, and Diana launches a pass that hits me right on the side of the face.  She does it deliberately.  As we're going back upcourt, she says to me, 'Next time, you better be looking for it.’”

 In 2004, the University of Connecticut Huskies won a hard-fought game against the Tennessee Lady Vols in Knoxville, Tennessee.  Though Huskies star Diana Taurasi was booed by more than twenty thousand rival fans every time she touched the ball, she led the team to an 81-67 victory.  She also got the last laugh when she was asked about the booing after the game.  "Booing?" she said.  "I thought they were mooing!"

4:13

JUMP STOP LANDING MECHANICS

ACL Risk Evaluation

There is evidence to suggest that faulty muscle recruitment patterns may contribute to non-contact ACL injuries.  Mainly an over utilization of the quadriceps and an under utilization of glutes and hamstrings may help set up the right environment for ACL tears.  Alignment at the hip, knee and ankle may also play a key role.

Evaluating Risks

How do you know if you have poor alignment or a faulty recruitment pattern?  You can always get a thorough assessment from your sport physiotherapist, but here are two tests you can try at home:

• Stand facing a full length mirror and jump straight in the air.  Absorb the landing with your legs such that you finish in a half squat position.  Are your knees pointing inward?  If yes, you need to work on your dynamic alignment.

• Now, stand sideways to that full length mirror.  Jump up in the air and absorb the landing with your legs such that you finish in a half squat position.  Are your heels off the floor or is your weight shifted toward the balls of your feet after you have landed?  If yes, you may be exhibiting some quadriceps dominance.

Understanding Proper Mechanics

Now that you used the evaluations outlined above to evaluate your movement patterns, I want to make sure that you have a clear picture of proper alignment and mechanics.  What we’re looking for in athletes is that their hips, knees, and ankles stay in alignment during both jumping and landing.  We are also looking to see if the athlete lands on the forefoot (ball of the foot) and then quickly transitions to full foot contact.  

Landing without the transition to full foot contact increases the force on the quadriceps and suggests that the athlete is not effectively recruiting her glute muscles. 

Article with diagrams.

Mountain, Maria, MSc, CSCS, CEP

“How to Reduce the Risk of ACL Tears in Athletes”

Revolution Sport Conditioning.

SIMPLIFYING THE PUMP FAKE

Here is a simple point that is very often missed that can simplify the pump fake and increase its effectiveness.  

It makes sense to start with discussing what players often do wrong when they use pump fakes so that the solution makes more sense.  Usually, when a player executes a pump fake, they do exactly that, they pump the ball - with far too much force - starting around the stomach area and stopping near the chin.

 

For less proficient players, I sometimes think that if they actually ended up shooting the ball it might stand a better chance of hitting a light than going through the basket.  They are using way too much force and not making the shot believable (I should clarify that I am talking about perimeter pump fakes intended to bring the defender up out of her stance, losing balance so that the ballhandler can drive past her to make a scoring move.  I am not speaking about pump fakes in the basket area).

Here's a simple solution…bring the ball up near the shooting shoulder (right shoulder for right handed shooters, left shoulder for left handed shooters) stop, and cock back both wrists.  That's it.  Cocking back the wrists shows the defender the ball and invites a response.  

In order to execute the move effectively, most players have to slow down their fake slightly, making it more believable.  It probably goes without saying, but the more believable any fake is, the higher the likelihood that it be effective at getting the defender off balance and setting up the scoring move that follows.

4:13

FEATURED ATHLETE

Heather Smith

Junior, Post

Heather doesn’t have a catchy nickname, but if she did it would probably be something like “FedEx.” 

Yeah, I know it sounds funny, but think about it.  FedEx “guarantees” delivery.  Watching Heather play, I can guarantee she boxes out on every shot.  I can guarantee that she always plays outstanding defense.  Guaranteed that she always knows the plays.  She’s always coachable - guaranteed.  She’s one of the few players that never take a second off during the game – guaranteed.  She has one of the toughest work ethics on the team - guaranteed.  Her quiet workman-like attitude is one of the reasons this team has been so successful.

2008-09 Stats:

11 games

19.9 MPG

6.1 PPG

6.1 RPG

.64 APG

1.5 SPG

34.1 FG%

UNDERSTANDING SPATIAL RELATIONSHIPS

Read where 12-year NBA veteran Tim Duncan recently played in his 1000th NBA game for the Spurs.

Timberwolves coach Kevin McHale contends that, among the NBA's current big men, Duncan is "by far the best.''  And much of his success, argues McHale, has to do with Duncan's basketball IQ.

"He's smart.  He doesn't run around.  No wasted energy. Things I'm trying to get our guys to do -- basketball's a game of read-and-react.  Especially with young guys, they want to 'run' the offense.  But the offense doesn't score -- the defensive read 'within' the offense does.  Things happen, Tim just stands there and goes (McHale very slowly looks left, very slowly looks right).  Then he moves into the open spot.

Believe it or not, that's how everybody used to play.  You didn't run on top of each other.  You gave everybody space.  He's different because, right now, for whatever reason -- either how the game is taught or how the young guys play in AAU or whatever -- it's, 'We're going to go as fast as we can, run around as fast as we possibly can.'

Tim just takes his time.  He let’s the defense make mistakes.''

DEFENSE: Contain vs. Bubble

Defensively, each of you are responsible for covering your man. Yet there are two types of coverage that you are required to use and you must be able to recognize when each should be used.

If your man hasn’t yet used her dribble, or she is dribbling, then you should CONTAIN her.  That means maintaining constant good position, both staying low and on-balance.  Being ready to pounce.  It means you are able to stop a dribbled in lay up.  It means you are ready to contest a shot if she chooses to try it.  It means you are ready to disrupt a pass if she chooses to try it.  You have her contained – but you can’t be so close that she can get by you with one explosive dribble move.

The other type of coverage is getting inside your man’s BUBBLE. This is where you are covering her so close that you are making her uncomfortable.  It’s so close that if she’s chewing gum that you can tell what flavor it is!  This type of coverage is a MUST if your man picks up her dribble or she’s in a trap zone (corner) or she’s trying to receive a pass.  Be careful though, playing bubble defense on a player that has not yet used her dribble could cost you if she’s able to put the ball on the floor.

4:13