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A Little Known Secret to Improve Team Passing and Dramatically Reduce Turnovers
- By Jeff Haefner
Oddly enough, I've found that very few basketball coaches use this extremely effective tactic. In fact, I didn't use this tactic for many years myself, until I had one of those "LIGHT BULB" moments.
Here's how it works...
I actually had the "light bulb" moment a year or so after listening to Bo Ryan, one of the best college coaches in basketball. So, ultimately, I have to give him credit for the concept. His idea was right on, but it just didn't hit home with me for several years.
In order to cut down on those bad passes and turnovers, you need to get your players on the same page, right?
Do you ever have players cut to the basket just when the ball is passed to them? And the ball flies out of bounds?
If you're like most coaches, you probably just grit your teeth and think to yourself, "Oh well, that's just one of those things, and there's not much you can do about it!"
Well, now you can do something about it...
You simply establish some team rules and drill the following concepts in ALL your practices:
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Rule 1 - If you want the ball, give a hand target. If you are going to change direction, drop the hand target and give a new target.
Rule 2 - No hand target, no pass!!
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It's as simple as that. This is a subtle way to establish non-verbal cues with your basketball team.
If you drill these rules long enough, you'll find that players make more accurate passes and reduce turnovers.
To take thing a step further, I also suggest emphasizing a couple of other related passing concepts:
- Your hand targets should be away from the body.
- Always pass away from the defense.
- Use pass fakes, and make them believable!
- Always catch the ball with two hands.
- Every time you catch the ball in the front court, chin the ball and get in triple threat position.
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Comments
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Johnny Robinson says:
8/13/2007 at 6:11:17 PM
Very interesting tactics. I Plan to use it in the training for the women team that I coach here in the Netherlands.
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Ricardo Xufre says:
8/13/2007 at 10:38:39 PM
Nice idea/detail. i will also use that with my girls team here in Portugal. Timming of pass still is one of the most difficult things to teach but its so very important for sucess.
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bryony says:
8/14/2007 at 3:24:49 AM
im only in high school coaching a team for school.....i found your skills very helpfull as i dont no much about basketball
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Miquel Ballester Ferrer says:
8/14/2007 at 7:24:39 AM
Very interesting tactics.
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zach says:
8/14/2007 at 8:25:15 AM
this is something that i over looked because i thought it would take care of it self. This tool i will start working on the first week of practice,but today i will talk with the players about it.
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Ariel Rabe says:
8/15/2007 at 1:42:50 AM
Everything is important. Communication in whatever way unique and subtle is a must indeed. Thank you very much.
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Jason NO FEAR says:
8/15/2007 at 8:10:16 AM
I been using this tactic for quite some time coaching my son's teams. I call it "Lead the passer". Up high and down low away from the defender.
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evansomondi says:
8/20/2007 at 6:07:05 AM
i am a b-ball fun and player from kenya,thanks for the great tips esp about reducing turn overs anyway wish you could send me visual tips on ball handling,dribbling and shooting.i play center or big man as we call it back here.
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gary townsend says:
8/30/2007 at 4:39:54 PM
keep sending the drill rationales w/ each new drill; these coach "hints" (eg., show hands target or do not pass ball) are cryptic & the kids can immediately adopt it practise.
our website is, www.communitycoaches-nochildleftbehind.us.
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Mo says:
9/13/2007 at 6:22:42 AM
I will definitely use these tips on friday's (sept 14) practice ! Thanks Jeff !
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Robert Villaranda says:
9/13/2007 at 9:21:36 PM
That's really a simple but very effective strategy, most players and coaches tend to forget about this simple things
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mashallah says:
9/16/2007 at 2:56:54 AM
WOW;Exceptionally wonderful Tactics!
I'm a coach from IRAN.
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david Gibraltar says:
9/20/2007 at 7:55:22 AM
great drill to improve passing skills are know part of my master plan for all seasons
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Raymond stennett says:
10/21/2007 at 6:45:55 AM
THE ARTICLE WAS VERY INTERESTING WITH SOME GOOD POINTS. I SHALL BE USING IN THEM IN MY NEXT PRACTICE SESSION.
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Lisa Black says:
12/5/2007 at 11:19:31 AM
The target hand is something I've focused on with my teams for the past 20+ years, and it works! I've used it with girls and boys of all ages and skill levels. Not only does it become habit, it focuses on teamwork quite a bit as well!
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