How To Prevent Slow Starts To Games
The following is a nightmare for a basketball coach...
Your team is prepared, well conditioned and comes into the game with a specific game plan. You give a passionate pre-game speech and your players want to bust down the walls just to get on to the court. You have done everything in your power to get them ready to go. Once the ball is tipped, however, things are out of your control. Your team starts slow and gets buried in a hole that you just can′t climb out of.
If this happens once it can be used as a teaching point on the importance of starting strong. But what if it happens again and again? A slow start to a game can make or break your team′s success. How do you get your team to overcome sluggish starts to games? The following are three great tips to help your team break out of a funk and start with more energy and focus.
1. Begin In A Full Court Press
One reason for slow starts is that your players try to ease themselves into the action. They need to get their blood flowing and legs underneath them. You can help accelerate this process by starting off each game in a full court press. This allows your team to set the tempo. You can also catch your opponent off guard and take advantage if they are prone to a sluggish start.
2. Change Your Pregame Routine
What is your pregame warm up routine? If you run simple lay-up lines followed by an easy shooting drill, your players might be starting off the game slow because they are not ready for game speed. Mix in some running and defensive drills to step up the intensity.
On the other hand, if your team always runs lines and works non-stop during pregame, you might consider slowing things down. By overworking your players prior to the game your team could be worn out and start slow.
3. Switch Up Your Starting Line Up
Most coaches can determine their best five players. But great coaches can determine the best five players to start a game. If your team always starts sluggish in the first quarter, you should consider switching up your starting line-up. Perhaps you have a small forward who isn′t particularly skilled, always gives 110%. Start her one game to see if she gives your team a jolt of energy.
Please share your ideas below on how to overcome sluggish starts...
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