Couple more short stories I'd like to share about last year that explain why I wanted to study hard over the past 10 months and hopefully be a good coach for these girls this year. Then it's time for the couch for me.

One of the "stars" from last year and another player, came up to my daughter and told her, "You're the worst player on the team. Why are you out here. You should quit." This was very early on in the season. Not sure they had even played a game yet. Side note: later on in the year, after I showed my girl how to box out and be a little physical under the bucket. To be a rock under there and don't let them shove you around. (My girl is well above average size for her age, by the way. Decent height and weight. but slow feet.) So I told her next time in practice, you go get that girl, and do just what we've been doing. Yeah, the "star" didn't like being boxed out of the play like that, then wined and complained. Proud Dad.

The other is what happened in a different practice one night. I was watching as the "coach" played in the scrimmage with them. One of the players was all set to grab the rebound. Standing there, arms out, decent form, eyes on the ball, the "coach" reaches over her back and rips the ball out of her hands, dribbles the length of the court for a layup.

It was at that point I decided, yep, I've seen enough of this garbage, where is the best youth basketball coaching website. I found this site, Jeff's blog, and one or two others. Then studied, studied, studied ...

One other thing before I go to bed.

This might help someone who is having trouble getting the kids to learn the 5-out motion offense.

My daughter actually game up with it. She just started saying "Pass-Cut-Fill".

So in this last practice I had them saying it the entire time they were doing the 5v0 drill.

I think it's helping those 1st year girls I have.

Well game day this morning about to leave.

Hoping for a better outcome. In fact I'm sure of it. This team is more on our level. That first team we played had 5 or 6 girls that should be on the select teams.

We have been trying the 5-out offense. But the girls see the 5v0 drill as a game. They don't see it as something there are supposed to do in the game.

They go right back to standing there yelling towards the girl with the ball.

How to get them to understand that?

Play 4v4 or 5v5 half court in practice. You can give them rules to help get them moving. Some examples include:
- no dribble
- lay ups only until you make 5 passes
- lay ups only until you get two ball reversals
- 1 pt for every ball reversals (plus normal scoring)
- make it take it

Have them check the ball or play half court 3v3 rules (where you take the ball outside 3pt line after def rebounds and steals). Get out your whistle and freeze them when they don't run the offense. This is the best way to get them running the offense... just play half court and coach them to get them doing it correctly.

We'll try that, thanks Jeff.

How about time?

How long per practice do you spend on that?

How many practices does it take to get them at least somewhat understanding it?

One of the girls in practice this week, while setting up for the 5v0 drill, said "oh, I like this game. It's fun." I used that to say, "Yes it is fun. But it's not just a game, this is how we want you to set up and run our offense."

So had our 2nd game yesterday.

I may have overreacted to our first game. That team we played last week? Well, they won again by 50 points. That's not what this city rec league is about. Unfortunately I think we just have a team in the league this year with 5 or 6 girls who really should be in the select league. And that kind of stinks, because we only have 4 teams and are going to have to play them two more times.

On to our game. Much, much better. We lost, but a much more competitive game. It was close all the way thou. Some shots didn't fall for us late, while the other team made theirs. I think the score was 20-12, not sure thou.

They still don't run our 5-out offense. Defense needs to be tightened up of course. But feeling much better today.

Actually had the same story Jeff talked about a few posts back. One of my girls asked "Did we win?" :)

One other thing that's bothering me on the defensive side.

I still have a few girls who want to stand in front of their girl on defense, out away from the basket, where these girls can't shoot from of course.

I tell them, and tell them, and tell them, "Back to the basket and between your girl and the basket." We demonstrate to them what's going to happen when they do that. Backdoor cut and a basket for the other team. We talk about "our home" (the lane) "protecting our home". "Try to keep your girl away from our home."

We talk about not guarding your girl way out there at half court. Eventually yeah maybe we'll let them pressure the ball out there. We do have a few who can do that now already. And I don't correct those girls.

We talk about sprinting back on D, starting in our home, then spread out and find your girl.

We usually run the shell drill, they seem to get it during that drill. But then it's right back to standing in front of their girl.

Do you think it's because they don't think they can let their girl catch a pass at all? I've thought of explaining that part to them. That it's okay to let your girl catch a pass way out away from the basket.

For your question about how much time we spend on 5v5 half court and your question about defense...

I think my advice is the same. You need to know in your mind what your objectives are. What should the offense and defense look like in the short term?

Then you have to figure out how to get them there. That might mean 5 straight practices of 5v5 half court the entire time. Or it might mean 5 minutes per practice.

Every drill has an objective and purpose -- trying to make improvements in certain area(s). Often times we have to adjust drills or improvise on the fly to get players doing what we want.

Then there is always a next step. Sometimes we get to the next step very quick and other times it takes all season long. Sometimes we take steps backwards and realize players forgot how to do something pivot and protect... so we might revisit that concept again.

Here's another way to think about things...

In reality, the first thing you should do is play 1v1, 3v3, and then normal games before you do any drills, coaching, or development, Then you determine what players need to work on... instead of you just doing drills because you think they need to work on certain things.

Maybe the players are already great at moving their feet and I don't need to even address that. Or maybe they are great at pivoting. Why spend time on it if they already know how to do it?

I realize that adjusting on the fly takes some experience. But ultimately I think good coaches see a team play. Then they run drills to help them improve in the appropriate areas. Then as they play more games, you constantly adjust your practices and drills so they teams and players keep improving.

I don't know if this helps any. But those are the thoughts that come to mind when I read those questions.

Right now we probably spend 20 minutes in each practice playing have court 5v5 really focusing on defense and motion offense. That is what seems right for our team. Might not be right for your team.

Last thing. Later in my coaching career I became more objective based. In other words, I would just give players objectives. Then we all work together to meet those objectives and I teach as needed (usually got creative) to figure out how to meet those objectives. For example, on defense we drew lines and said we wanted to keep the ball out of the extended lane area. Step one is not let the player with the ball dribble by you. That is a lower level objective. Somtimes that is all I need to say and players figure it out. Other times we have to get detailed and show them a good stance, help them move feet more efficient. But whenever possible I try to keep it simple by giving objectives.

If a player was doing something that didn't make sense like stick right on their players when defending one pass away... I might ask "what is our defensive goal?"/ Keep the ball out of the paint. So why are you standing there? Wait for response. Can the player you are standing next to get the ball into the lane? Where could you go to help make sure the ball doesn't get into the lane?

Also, I teach players to always pressure the ball once it crosses half court. I think ball pressure is important and being great at rotating to the ball is important. I always want someone up ion the ball every second finding out what the player they are guarding had for breakfast, lunch, and dinner!!! How will they ever shoot if you can do that?

"I don't know if this helps any. But those are the thoughts that come to mind when I read those questions."

No, that helps tremendously. Completely understand what you said. Thanks. Will keep trying.

We do let the girls pressure out at half court who can. We have only 3 or 4 of them. Most simply don't have the foot speed yet. Like my daughter. She will get beat every time. So with her, we've talked about it a lot. How she can give the girl enough room out beyond the 3-point line so she has enough time to stop her when she tries to get to the basket.

I told her the way she can help her team is to play great help D in the paint. Which she does better than anyone on our team.

Once again, last reply, really....my comment, you are in a four team league, with one team that totally dominates the others by an average of 50 points. I can see why your league was desperate to get any team in so it could become at least competitive. However, with that being said how competitive can one be knowing they are playing for second, third or fourth place. Not to dampen your spirits, but you are NOT going to beat this team even if you play them 10 times so my recommendation is the following: Set goals for the next time you play this good team. Let the girls (with your guidance), set their own goals. Individual defense goal, to completely shut my check down. Team goals, allow only so many easy baskets, goal control your own backboards. Goal get at least 2 steals, goal: limit your turnovers. Giving your team something to shoot for in the wake of a horrible defeat lessens the pain of the loss. If they accomplish only 50% of the goals, insure you point those out, do not dwell on the score instead, give lots of warm fuzies to those that accomplished all their goals. trust me....it will help...Coach Mac