Am brand new to the coaching profession after recently retiring. I will begin coaching a local Middle School team in October 2013. I will have to have an open tryout before the season starts. Thought I would use such drills as the Pivot 21, 3-3 Dribble keep away, some Steve Nash passing drills and some Bob Bigelow dribbling exercises to assess skill levels and talent of perspective players at that time. Does that sound reasonable vs. open play or scrimmage? Would you suggest some other drills to use at that time. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. Plan to purchase the Bob Bigelow DVD in the near future.
Sincerely, Neal

Sounds like you have some good drills. I like the Mikan drill for tryouts, regular, reverse and two-ball if you can. I'd also have a shooting drill of some sort.

If it were me I'd treat it like the first day of practice and see how it goes. We do lots of skill work and mix in competitive development so it would be good for assessment. Plus we're getting a head start on our season by getting practice started right away.

With that said I hope you don't have to cut at the middle school level. I was awful in middle school and would have been cut for sure. Last year I had a kid on my freshman team that started and was a key player for our undefeated season. But in 8th grade he was on the C squad. You just never know at that age.

Rob C: Thanks for the suggestion. Could you forward the Mikan and the other drills to my email so I can look them over to see if I can use them.
Thanks, Neal

Hi Jeff, From what I know of the Fresno School District, there is a no cut policy. I have heard from the athletic director at my school that they had two teams of 10 players that competed at a JV and varsity levels. This is supposed to be an open tryout so if all those players took part as well as others who did not play last year. I would presume there would be a full gym on tryout day.

However, I will keep the first practice idea in my if the numbers are manageable. Thanks for the suggestion.

Neal

I agree with Jeff.... I got cut as a freshman because I was 4'11 ..............I had several kids come through my program that either didn't make their 8th grade team or didn't play at all that went on to become an All Conference Player by the time they got to the Varsity level..... Great coaching will do it every time. LOL

I remember cutting this one kid when I was the sophomore coach, the following year I walked by the Varsity practice and saw this 6'7 kid on the floor. I asked the head coach where he came from.... he said that I cut him last year..... I said NO WAY.... I would never cut a kid that big.... said he grew 8 inches over the summer... amazing.

IF you have the gym space and time, keep as many kids as you can

Not sure I have your e-mail, so I'll post a link here to the Mikan drill. It's a good way to see how a player performs with both hands. You can track how many they can do in 30 seconds.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMegqIaYunI

For shooting, I like this one because it combines passing, dribbling, sprinting, listening to instructions, and shooting.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEttDju1nzA

I also like some type of 3 on 2, 2 on 1 drill.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpXqZTiUKyc

I do my 3 on 2 a bit different. A coach is at FT line, 5 on baseline facing coach. Coach calls out two jersey numbers (they are on defense) and immediately throws the ball to one of the other 3 players. All five sprint towards other baseline, the two on D have to get down quickly, one in high hole, one in low hole. The other 3 are on a fast break trying to score. The last person to pass and the last person to shoot are on D coming back the other way. Might be tough in a tryout unless you make the kids wear numbers of some sort.

Looks like you have a plan. I would leave a little time for some athleticism type drills, be they sprints or cone quickness and change of direction with a timer. Also, make sure that it is not all drills and there is some time at the end for 3 v 3 and then 5 v 5 scrimmaging.