Written by Coach's Climb For many coaches, careers can start out of convenience. Almost in a very (George) Costanzian type of approach towards job employment - we like basketball, therefore we should coach basketball. What you come to find out the longer you stick around; it is less about how to simply stay involved, rather, … Continue reading Leave A Legacy
Qualifying Captains
Each year comes the customary process to identifying team captains for respective programs. Depending on philosophy, coaches vary on the responsibilities players will assume beyond the obligatory handshake at halfcourt prior to the game. I have had strong leaders deserved of this recognition and works-in-progress that struggled in this role. I tweeted this question earlier … Continue reading Qualifying Captains
Packline Passing Game
It is a 3v3 closeout drill that embeds our defensive principles with an offensive incentive to move the ball to score. We are looking to start with a simple 3-man closeout and off-ball positioning. Once the ball is passed around the horn, ball goes live. It looks a little something like this... Keep in mind … Continue reading Packline Passing Game
Shooting Form
Somewhere along the way, someone taught Shawn Marion how to shoot. It ended up looking like this. Not exactly the poster-child for shooting mechanics, but very fun to replicate in a game of H.O.R.S.E. Nothing taken away from"The Matrix," he was a highly decorated pro. Marion played 16 seasons amassed over 17,000 points, won a … Continue reading Shooting Form
Secondary Break
Is Pace-n-Space taking over the Secondary Break? In college I can specifically remember doing dummy progressions of our secondary break options. We would put 5-10 minutes on the clock going 5v0 running break after break - "Bulls, Carolina, Celtics, Chicago" ... I could still run these actions. The game is continually evolving to a faster … Continue reading Secondary Break
Program Organization and Preparation
One of my biggest challenges working at the high school level is not having an office or inconsistency in a daily schedule revolving around basketball. At the grassroots level, your organization is predicated on the individual balance of responsibilities. Most coaches are working full-time jobs, whether it be in the building as a teacher or … Continue reading Program Organization and Preparation
PGC Camp & Teaching Methods
I had the opportunity to participate at PGC Camp earlier this summer and one of the things that I took away the most was the structure of the learning environment. If you are unfamiliar with these camps, they tend to be more intensified than other traditional overnight basketball camps with off the court classroom training sessions … Continue reading PGC Camp & Teaching Methods
Sight of Hands
Offense sometimes try to incorporate false action as an attempt to decoy defenders to create space for driving opportunities. So, defenses opt to use more of an optical illusion in effort to visually shrink the floor discouraging penetration. The art of deception plays a role in effectiveness on both ends of the floor. When in … Continue reading Sight of Hands
Preseason Strength & Conditioning
My strength and conditioning plans have varied throughout the 3 years I have been a head coach. Each year we have incrementally increased it by 2 weeks, starting at a 6 week program to this years 10 week program. This hasn't been done out of punishment or scientific method. Our high school season does not … Continue reading Preseason Strength & Conditioning
Conscious Coaching
Between stimulus and response there is space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom. - Viktor Frankl Reading a book now, called Conscious Coaching. Only about a quarter of the way through it, but a lot discussed early on is toward the focus … Continue reading Conscious Coaching
Coach's Climb 