Coaches,

I have a question that I want your opinion on. We don't have defined offense but use 3-2 or 1-3-1 sets with motion concepts. I say concepts becuase there are very few rules I have them follow and allow for alot of freedom. Once thing they've done very well is use back door cuts that often opens up a forward for a baseline layup. My questions is when taking baseline layup, how important is it to try and use the backboard? My parents constantly yell USE THE BACKBOARD and I'm not sure I totally agree with this. I find often the angle is tougher using the backboard and a rotating defender tends to take the angle needed to effectively use the backboard away. Is this situational? Should we be making an effort to find a way to use the backboard everytime? Unfortunatley, at 11 they're not at the point they can just drop the ball in the rim.

Please let me know how you would approach this.

I don't know if players make lay ups inspite of the way I handle it... but I mostly let kids figure it out on their own by running lots of lay up and finishing drills from different angles and distances. Also add help defense and competition. If someone really struggles and does not adapt after very high number of reps, I might break things down and give the specific instruction to use the backboard or something. But generally kids figure it out on their own.

As long as they make it consistently, I don't care how they shoot it.

I'm definitely a "use the backboard" coach when it comes to layups. I realize the players won't always be in a position to do that though. The baseline drive or cut is a tough one. I'm not a big fan of baseline drives, simply because a lot of times kids get trapped under the basket or end up taking a non athletic shot. Every once in a while one of our kids is quick enough to go opposite side for a reverse lay-up, but they use the backboard.

You could break down how the forward can get a good athletic shot off a back cut in practice. In other words, give them some options for getting a better angle for an athletic shot. Maybe the cut is at a different angle, quicker, etc. I wouldn't get too twisted up about it, parents will always yell something the kids should or shouldn't be doing.

EDIT: After thinking about it a bit, I'd be thrilled with the fact the back-cuts are working so well. As coaches, we always want the full progression from back-cut to made basket, but the fact your kids are getting that concept at age 11 is fantastic.

I like using the backboard too..... I think it makes the shot easier... but, I am not on the floor trying to make that shot. Hopefully we have taught the player well enough that he will use the proper technique. I see some teams use a jumpstop style lay up...... to each his own.

AND, you have to love the back door stuff.....we got a lot of that at the varsity level... but at 11, thats great. The only thing better than a back door is a dunk... or maybe a back door dunk... but I don't think you will be seeing any of that any time soon at 11! :-)

You are teaching them well.

Hi Coaches,

Great question!

I think it comes down to angles; if the players cut starts behind the line of the backboard and then when reaching the scoring position the player has to suddenly move into a position to use the backboard this might not be practical.

Maybe this comes down repetitions focusing on technique and then changing to scoring with pressure (defense).

Is a reverse lay-up an option?

There is not getting away from the fact though that young players will perform better on average when using the backboard.

Regards

Functional Basketball Coaching
Website: www.functionalbasketballcoaching.com
Twitter: @funbballcoach

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