Planning Your Basketball Preseason Part 1 - Play!
If you're like me, you are excitedly thinking about the upcoming basketball season. It's hard to believe we are only a few months away.
But before we get to our actual seasons, we have the fall - the preseason.
In the coming weeks, we'll tackle how you can maximize this period.
All of us have different constraints in the fall. Some states don't allow coaching of any kind. Others of us coach at schools where most of our players are in a fall sport. Some have issues getting gym time around fall sports.
That said, there is SOMETHING you can do to help your program. So let's start examining the elements of a successful preseason!
3 Reasons Play Must Be At The Core Of Your Preseason
We recently covered some ways to spice up your open gyms. I would recommend going back through that list and seeing which apply to your situation.
Here are a few things to keep in mind that should apply to every situation:
- The value of playing to develop chemistry and apply their training - most kids today only play when someone else organizes it. Very few kids go to the park and play on their own. Or they spend all their time doing drills and never apply them against live opponents.
- The value of competing and valuing winning - this is crucial. Open gyms are often sloppy. Make sure yours aren't. Stress to your players the value of competing and playing the right way.
- The value of conditioning through play - a later installment of this series will talk about conditioning. Getting into top shape should be a preseason priority.
Thus, we need to provide opportunities to play. Players need game reps. Open gyms are a way to get them.
There are numerous benefits to playing. Of course, playing gives your players reps where they can apply the skills they've been working on.
A second key benefit is starting to develop chemistry with their teammates. Of course, you won't have all your athletes present for open gym (if you do, you're very lucky!). However, the ones who are there can develop synergy with their teammates that will benefit them when the season starts.
One common issue with this is a lack of numbers (perhaps due to kids playing a fall sport). If that's a situation you're in, try scheduling open gyms with other schools. If that won't work, encourage your players to play 3v3.
Bottom line - don't let numbers be an excuse to not play.
Conversely, a few coaches have the issue of having a ton of kids who come to open gyms. This sounds good, unless some of those kids only come to goof around.
In most cases, you can't limit open gyms. If that's the situation you're in, consider moving your open gyms to before school. You'll quickly learn who's serious about getting better (it also solves most gym availability issues).
Bottom line - don't let numbers be a reason your open gyms suffer.
Competing is a skill. It's been devalued in today's world when kids might play 5 games in a weekend at a youth sports tournament. You want your players to compete at everything. Stress to them that your expectation (and more importantly, theirs) should be maximum effort at all times.
Remind them they are always building habits - good or bad. They need to choose good ones. If your state allows you to set conditions for open gym, set conditions that encourage good habits.
If your state does not allow this, talk with your leaders about the importance of competing in open gyms. Task them with upholding the standard of competition. This can be an effective way of empowering them to lead (more on that to come).
There are multiple ways to do that. Of course, running is one. But playing is another. The game is the best conditioner out there.
Remind your players that if they come and play at a high level of intensity, that will take care of most of the conditioning needs.
They'll be happier because they are playing more and running less. You'll be happier because they are playing harder!
Teddy Roosevelt's Advice For Coaches
Teddy Roosevelt once said, "Do the best you can, with what you can, where you are." I doubt coaches were his intended audience, but it's great advice!
Many of us focus on what we CAN'T do during the fall. Don't be one of those coaches.
Instead, focus on what you can do.
One thing you can do is get your players playing. Somehow, someway, you can create playing opportunities that will help them improve. Find that way and start building to a great season.
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