Developing a playing style in youth basketball Set

Developing a playing style in youth basketball Set Plays vs. “Creative Motion”

Set Plays vs. “Creative Motion” Set Plays Offensive plays with predetermined movements & actions which are designed to create a scoring opportunity for a specific player “Creative Motion” An offensive concept based on basic principles which gives all players freedom to read & react to the defense AND their teammates.

Set Play Advantages Easier to teach Potentially less practice time required Players strengths/weaknesses can be more easily emphasized/minimized Coach can more easily dictate the offensive actions & direct possessions to go through specific players • Ability to dicate offensive at the end of games or critical situations • Can help teach players the concept of roles on offense • Prepares players for the predominate style of play at higher levels • •

Set Play Disadvantages • Players only learn predetermined movements and not how to “read” the game • Players become robotic and struggle when these movements are taken away or don’t create scoring chances • Set play skills don’t nessecarily transfer into the next season or with a new coach/team • Players who are considered “role” players or offensively not important can easily get discouraged • Danger of stunting each players individuality • Players may be afraid to “try something” • Potentailly easier for opponents to scout • Oppenent knows exactly what will happen, who will get the ball, and who each play is designed for

“Creative Motion” Advantages • Players gain a broader understanding of basic basketball concepts • spacing, movment, timing, etc… Creativity & decision making is promoted Players learn how to “read” situations & ”react” accordingly Players are pushed to find solutions on their own & with teammates Players derive more joy and have a greater sense of empowerment in the game and teams overall success… all players feel important in the outcome • Creative Motion skills & concepts will transfer to all other styles of basketball • Harder for opponents to scout • • • In theory the offense is “unscripted” and no two possessions are alike

“Creative Motion” Disadvantages • • More difficult to teach Potentially more practice time is needed More mistakes will be made, requiring more patience from coach/players Differentiating learning curves for each player • Some players will understand the concepts quicker than others • Possible short term failures while players learn the offensive reads • Harder to get shots or ball touches for specific players • Offense can get chaotic if the players make the wrong reads or they try to do too much, which can lead to frustration

So which is the better? • Advantages & Disadvantages to both • What are your goals as a coach? • What are the goals of your players/team/club?

My Opinion • The younger the group of players you are coaching, the more your offensive style should lean towards creative motion based concepts. • U 14 & younger -> skill development + mostly creative motion concepts • U 16 & older -> skill development + the combination creative motion concepts with some set play ideas • Effective set play offense requires basic motion concepts • Skills Development should be the main priority in all youth basketball teams/programs!!!

The role of skills development • Regardless of style of play, the development of player skills should be the main priority. • If your players can’t dribble, pass, shoot, defend, pivot, etc… then it doesn’t matter what you play. • The better your players can execute basic basketball skills, the better any system will be! • When players feel they are improving, then they will derive more joy from the game & be more motivated to practice

Age Based Skills/Tactic Outline • U 12 & Younger: • Main focus should be on instilling a joy of basketball. The athletes should start to develop their love for the game and coming to practice. • Development of basic basketball skills, motor skills (running, jumping, stopping, coordination, catching…) • U 14: • Continuation of basketball & motor skills development • Introduction of basic concepts of spacing, player movement, & transition • Pass & cut game • Drive & kick game • Development of 1 on 1 skills • Creating & keeping advantages • U 16: • Continuation of individual skills development • Add 2 man game actions • DHOs, Pn. R, Pindowns, Post Game • U 18: • Continuation of individual skills development • Add 3 man game actions • Introduction of basic “set play entries/actions” to initiate your offensive attack • By this time the players should understand multiple “actions” and be able to build on them to create advantages

Effectively Planning & Running Practice “Failure to prepare is preparing to fail” - John Wooden

Create A Season Overview • How long is our season? • When do our games start and how frequently do we play? • How many weeks/practices do we have until our first game? • Once games start, do we play once a week? Twice? • How many practices a week do we have? • 2 times? 3 times? More? • How long are our practices? • What are the most important skills/tactics to teach my team this season? • Individual skills? Team tactics?

Periodisation & Practice Planning Macrocycle / Periods • Pre Season (6 -8 Weeks) • Competition Phase 1 (3 -4 Months) • Competition Phase 2 (3 -4 Months) • Off Season (8 -12 Weeks) Mesocycle (Season Sections) • 3 -10 Weeks Mikrocycle (Weekly) • 1 Week Practice Session • 60 -120 minutes Practice Sections • 5 -45 minutes

Macrocycles • Preseason (6 -8 Weeks) • Competition Phase 1 (3 -4 Months) • Competition Phase 2 (3 -4 Months) • Off Season (8 -12 Weeks) Pre Season AUG SEPT Competition Phase 1 OCT NOV DEC JAN Competition Phase 2 Off Season FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY • What is our main focus, priorities, goals in each macrocycle?

Mesocylces Macrocycle = Competion Phase 1 (Oct – Jan) 4 Mesocycles October November December January 1 2 3 4 4 Weeks: • 12 Practices • 3 Games

Microcycles Mesocycle = October 4 Microcycles • • Week 1 = 3 practices Week 2 = 3 practices & 1 game Week 3 = 3 practices & 1 game Week 4 = 3 practices & 1 game Week 2 Monday Practcie 1 Tuesday Wednesday Practice 2 Thursday Friday Saturday Practice 3 Game Sunday

Practice Sessions Macrocycle = Competition Phase 1 Mesocycle = October Microcycle = Week 2 Practice Session 2

Practice Plan: u 16 boys Date: Oct. 5, 2020 Emphasis of the Day: Players in attendance: 12 Practice Nr. : 15 Offense -> Dribble Penetration Practice Time: 90 min Defense -> Help on drives Time Drill Emphasis/Teaching Point 5 Huddle 15 Skills Work 5 Dynamic Warm-Up 5 Daily Dozen Lay-ups Dynamic 1 st Step, Square Shoulders 10 2 -0 Drive, Kick, Drive Series - baseline drive - middle drive Move on 2 nd dribble, Crisp Passing 10 HC 2 -2 Drive & Kick Drive to score 1 st -> head up & read help Correct read = 1 pt, All baskets = 1 pt 5 2 & 2 FTs + Water 10 3 -3 Cut Throat w/1 transition Focus on defensive communication & jumping to ball 5 Drift & Lift Shooting Comp Good passing, game speed shots 15 5 -5 Games Game 1: Baseline Drive Start (def at disadvantage) 5 Pressure FTs & Huddle 3 stations -> ball handling, shooting, passing Game 2: Normal Scrimmage

3 questions to help plan your practices • What do we need/want to accomplish today? • 1 -2 main points of emphasis! • How many players will be in practice? • What equipment do I have/need today? • Baskets? Basketballs? Cones? Etc?

Tips for practice planning • Write down & keep track of all practices! • Possibilites include: • Using a notebook • Using a self-, or pre-made practice worksheet Things to write down: • • That practices point of emphasis Each drill and how long they should last Teaching points Any announcements or information on the team • Keep the written plan with you during the practice & refer back to it when needed • Helps you to track the different drills you did & what you worked on that day so you can better plan the next practices.

Tips for practice planning • Practices should flow like a book! • There should be a beginning, middle, & end • Drills should be simple & have some connection to the main focus(es) • Drills should have names! • This helps players to quickly get into drills that have been done in the past • Ex. -> Daily Dozen • The majority of drills should be in the 5 -10 minute range

• Use practice time efficiently • Create a 15 minute rule • Players should arrive at least 15 minutes before the start of practice • Talk to players (idividually or as a group), let them stretch individually, let them know which drills the practice will start with, etc… • Do your drills flow logically or build upon each other? • Do you spend more time talking & explaining drills than the players do executing them? • Are the drills too complicated for the players? K. I. S. S • Use the “plus 1” method when planning your drills/practices • Ex. : 1 -0 lay-ups -> 2 -0 drive & kick -> 2 -1 drive & kick • Do your drills allow for the maximum amount player involvement? • Are players consistenly engaged and invloved in drills or standing in lines waiting? • Can you improve your drills by including more basketballs or the number of players involved? • Do your drills allow for a maximum amount of repitions? • Do the drills connect to the practices point of emphasis? • Are you doing a drill just to do a drill or does it have a purpose?

Online Coaching Resourses • basketballforcoaches. com • coachesclipboard. net • coachingtoolbox. net • coachtube. com/courses/basketball • team. fastmodelsports. com • coach. basketball. net. au