Episode 4 of the Dynamic Coaching Tools Podcast features Coach Greg White, the Head Coach of West High School (Northwest Arkansas). Coach White is also a speaker for USA Basketball, at their Coaches Academy. His topics include building a program, as well as offensive systems. Coach White also has a website, www.3fromthecorner.com
Coach White spent time talking to us about his ball screen offensive system, the foundations of building a program, establishing a culture, and the impact of AAU basketball on the future of our game. There were countless takeaways from our conversation, but here are a few of them.
3 C’s of a Program
- Community
- Classroom
- Court
Foundations of Building a Program
- CULTURE = Blueprint
- IMPACT = Thumb Print
- Must DEFINE SUCCESS
Program > Team > Player
You can reach Coach White via Twitter:
You can also find great resources at his website:
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CONFIRMED CONVICTION
It is an unprecedented time in the world. The global pandemic of 2020 has led coaches to jump into clinics, zoom calls, books, and social media. With the infinite number of resources, there is a strong chance that coaches are flooded with ideas, in a year that we will all see a smaller window to prepare our teams. This issue brings us back to a quote from Bob Richey, the head coach at Furman, who said, “coaches today need to have more conviction.” These seven words from Coach Richey have never been more true. As coaches are flooded with information, it is important that we have a clear understanding of our convictions. This will help coaches filter the information, to get to what is relevant to their programs, and it can help identify the areas for growth. So, what is CONVICTION:
Conviction
A firmly held belief or opinionHaving a firmly held belief or opinion is something that coaches do very well. In a lot of cases, this becomes apparent as coaches debate different points. There is a balance that is required between being open-minded and having conviction. There is a simple way that coaches can effectively jump into the conversations about our beliefs. Ask the question, “can you prove it?”
“There is a simple way that coaches can effectively jump into the conversations about our beliefs. Ask the question, “can you prove it?”
Asking coaches to prove their convictions will make these discussions more productive. It will lead to challenging our beliefs with unbiased information, which will ultimately change or confirm our convictions. Regardless of the outcome, we will know that we are improving as a coach, as we gain the necessary knowledge to create CONFIRMED CONVICTIONS. To confirm is to establish the truth or correctness of something previously believed, suspected, or feared to be the case. Convictions are an opinion, but CONFIRMED CONVICTIONS are the truth. This should be the goal of all coaches.
DEALING WITH KNOW-IT-ALLS
What do you do if you are in a situation where a coach stubbornly refuses to acknowledge the proof you are providing, or will not prove their own convictions? The answer is simple to say, but hard to do, and that is to just walk away. The moment that you get into one of these situations, you are dealing with someone who is either a KNOW-IT-ALL or a person who is not interested in other people’s opinions. Any coach who is a know-it-all is not interested in learning, growing, and improving. As coaches, we strive to be what Kevin Eastman refers to as a LEARN-IT-ALL, who never stops learning, evolving, improving, and growing. Here is an example of a conversation with a coach who is not interested in CONFIRMING CONVICTIONS.
I’m cool with it: Got to her spot with three dribbles. She probably makes that a high percentage of the time. https://t.co/PxA71We9j3
— Chireno High School (@CoachLoverson) July 26, 2020
Following this clip, we provided the coach with the following information.
Added Context:
WNBA teams shot 34% from mid range shots, outside the lane.This player shot 27% on jump shots off the dribble last year.
Follow up questions:
How often do you think she works on shooting from here?Does the defense want her to take this shot? pic.twitter.com/ot5prhmaPE
— Doug Brotherton (@CoachBrotherton) July 26, 2020
The response was to ignore the proof and provide more opinions.
Smooth&comfortable shooting it: She works on that shot daily: She is a pro. I’m sure she plays overseas. Hoops is her life. The defense didn’t have a choice. Came to the ball. Ball faked defender off balance now defender is chasing. Plenty of space missed the shot. https://t.co/makXlKSpmD
— Chireno High School (@CoachLoverson) July 26, 2020
I do not believe that this coach automatically falls into the KNOW-IT-ALL category, but it was very apparent that the coach was not interested in moving past an opinion and into unbiased proof on the topic.
As we said earlier, it is time to walk away.
In our upcoming PILOT PROGRAM, our eight month coaching development program, we will constantly search for CONFIRMED CONVICTIONS. A constant theme of the program will be to search for opportunities to ask coaches, “can you prove it?” In creating these CONFIRMED CONVICTIONS, we will help coaches develop an identity, confidence, and a program with elite buy-in. In conclusion, the next time you disagree with a coach, avoid the urge to debate your opinion, and start searching for unbiased proof on the topic.
Are you a Head Coach, within your first three years of taking over a varsity program? Be on the lookout for our PILOT PROGRAM, which launches on September 1st, and will be a wonderful resources to take your program to new heights!
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WNBA Finals Preview – Xs and Os
After two highly competitive five game series, we now have our WNBA Finals match-up. Game 1 tips off tonight and features the Seattle Storm against the Washington Mystics. Coaches should be tuning in, as both teams run some tremendous stuff offensively. Below is a breakdown of three sets to look for, which have been highly successful for both teams. Thank you to Ben Dull, from SplitThePost.com for providing all of the videos for this preview.
Storm – Flex Action (BLOB set)
This BLOB set involves Bird setting a flex screen for Stewart, then receiving a down screen.
Storm – “Horns Down”
The Storm have different Horns looks, but this ball screen that flows into a down screen is tough to guard in transition.
Storm – Empty side / Two Man Action
The Storm love to include Stewart in a “two man game,” on an empty side. They use DHOs, ball screens, and slips.
Mystics “Stagger Split Rip”
This set shows a double stagger, before a split, into a rip (rescreen) for the back cutter. Great counter to a traditional double stagger!
Mystics – “Zipper 15”
The Mystics use a zipper cut, to trigger this backscreen action with Toliver and Delle Donne. This is just one of the ways that the Mystics use a backscreen to get the basketball inside.
Mystics – “Drag Back STS”
This set uses a drag screen and throw back, to set up the screen-the-screener. Toliver shows a screen for Delle Donne, before she actually receives the screen for an open three.
Two actions that will be critical for both teams to figure out are the two-man game, with Stewart on the empty side. The Storm lead the WNBA in three point shooting, and that action puts the defense in a scramble situation. The Storm must be ready to guard the screening actions involving Toliver and Delle Donne. They use back screens, ball screens, and screen the screener actions to free up both players.
This blog will be re-posted on www.FastModelSports.com, with all set plays being diagrammed and available for download in the playbank. Look for this repost before Game 3.
Go follow @splitthepost and @DynamicCoaches on twitter.
You can also catch our most recent Dynamic Coaching Tools Podcast by clicking here.
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Top 10 Must Have Attributes For Point Guards
Every coach wants to have a floor general. A floor general is an extension of the coach.
Here are the 10 attributes every coach should want from their point guard.
1. LEAD BY EXAMPLE!
Sprint to the spots. Front of the line.
2. COMMUNICATE!
Vocal on both ends of the court. Guide teammates.
3. POSITIVE ENERGY!
High fives, fist bumps, and positive talk.
4. KYP!
Know your personnel. Know when and where to get your teammates the ball.
5. PLAY WITH POISE!
Know when to pass, attack, and pick up your dribble.
Spot ups, pin downs, flares, and curls.
7. MID-RANGE SKILLS!
Do not drive too deep. Have variety of floaters, runners, protected finishes around the rim.
8. WORK ON DEFENSE!
Pressure and contain ball handlers.
9. CHANGE OF HEIGHT & SPEED!
Keep the defense off balance. Allow time for plays to develop. Make help side move.
10. MAKE FREE THROWS!
Capitalize on the freebies. Show confidence. Allows team to set up defense.
If you have questions or want to learn more, reach out to Coach Eric Brotherton.