changing strategy during game

My (under 16) team is containing 10 players, I might even get an 11th player soon. On all the positions I've got a lot of options. I'm playing with 2 offensive systems. The first one is for the shorter guys and the big men who are fundamentally good, I'm playing pass & cut with five out. A very good and usefull play. We also play very aggresive in defense, with the most time full-court press, sometimes half-court m2m and we play with a 1-3-1 trap. We are playing very fast and that is working very good. For the big men I designed a play with two low posts and 1 high post and 2 cutting guards. But the problem is when we switch offenses it doesn't work that well compared to the practice. I alway start with the five out and very aggressive to get the first momentum in hand. I want to get in front first. But I want to control the speed of the game. I want to slow the game down to control the game and then push the tempo again to get a second run if neccesary. But I'm having trouble coaching to slow down the game. How do I switch offense so it will still work. Any tips?

Thanks!
Coach Kris (from Holland)

Kris,

I think you have to take a look at your team and ask yourself what works best with them. I think its easier to have 2 different game plans on defense rather than offense. I had a sophomore team (15-15 year olds) one group was a good m2m team and the others we played a 1-3-1... but offensively we were all on the same page.

IF you really want to do this - you are going to have to break down your practice into 2 segments offensively which might be tough to do. How about the one team takes what the D gives them and the other team needs to make a certain number of passes (the team that you want a slower paced game) What you allow each group in practice is what they will do in games. We did this a lot in certain points of the game... worked for us, but we worked on it every day in practice.

You also need a Point guard that will be your coach on the floor and he knows what you want and what is best for the two different groups on the floor.

I see what you mean. I am unfortunatly not able to practice every day, I only have 2,5 hours trainingtime a week. But the slower system we used last year and worked very well. This year, because I did a lot of research, we play a lot different, a lot faster. I do have got some big men who like to work 1-1 in the post and are very good at it. My intention was to use that in a slower pace game. But when we play it, we are too impatient, we are rushing. The tip to make a certain number of passes is good, but I don't want them to count passes, I want them to read the defense, when to wait, when to pass, when to go 1-1. Probably it's just practice, practice, practice, but if you've got another tip?

Thanks!
Kris

Kris

Practice will always be better than games. There are different pressures, different talent levels, more unknowns and your relationship with your players changes during games. You have to understand that in regard to your team's performance. You have to make it easy for them. Playing at different paces is very difficult.

Using a certain number of passes is a great way to slow down. If you are worried about them counting the number of passes, then you are worried about the wrong things. Number of passes is a tool. They will get the idea from the time it takes to execute a play with more passes. The number of passes is unimportant. Other tools you can use are number of ball reversals. I like to use the number of post touches myself. I don't think it is practice, practice, practice, practice. I think it is teach, teach, teach and then let them play and figure it out.

You play with a 24 second clock, don't you? It is hard to slow down under those circumstances. If you are successful playing up tempo, and you say you are, why would you even want to slow down?

Let me clarify what I was trying to say.... In PRACTICE we wanted X number of passes or ball reversals (yes, we used post touches also) but that was in practice. What we wanted to teach them was PATIENCE, waiting for the best shot. We never talked about that in games, as you both said, we don't want them counting passes in games.
You saw the video Kris, some shots came quicker than others... its all what the defense gives you. At one point we ran the last minute off the clock in the first quarter before our center got open for a three. That wasn't planned, we were looking for a shot before that time... but around the 15-20 second marker we decided to go for the last shot.. it just happened to work out for us.
YOU seem to be more comfortable with last years slower system and we all as coaches have to run what we are comfortable with.....this year you are looking to push it a little more and thats fine... your players have to get used to this... making good decisions while playing faster. As for me, I don't care what speed you want to play at, its all about getting a good shot and thats what you have to convince your players to do.
Don makes another good point - why switch if you are successful with the uptempo game? So, the next goal in practice is to get them to understand what you are trying to accomplish when you are running that set for the big men. In 2.5 hours of practice this might be tough, working on fundamentals, shooting etc. You might have to decide on one or the other and I would say, go with what works best.
Last suggestion for the set for the bigs..... in practice, when you scrimmage, one time down the floor play up tempo, the next time down the floor, run the set for the bigs and hopefully you will get them used to playing both styles.

Playing different paces might indeed be a little to much for these guys. I'm going to try to first switch the two sets during scrimmage, that was a good suggestion!

The level we play isn't yet playing with a shotclock. That's at a higher level, which is my goal ultimately, in a few years, to play. I like your point about why I would slow down the game. I think I'm afraid when we play better teams, we will play too fast for ourselve and make wrong choices because of the pace.

Because I'm a starting coach, this is my fifth year I'm coaching, and I'm still looking for a system that I'm comfortable with. I think I do have found one in the fast pace game. But my big men have some trouble with it. We are training them to catch up with fundamentals to also play outside, not just on the inside, and with extra conditioning for everyone so we can play the fast pace the whole game. But what I'm trying to say, I'm trying different styles each year, to look for a style which I'm comfortable with, but it should also fit the team, that might be the biggest challenge for every coach.

The key is to be flexible..... I loved the open post offense but there were a few years that we couldn't handle the ball worth squat, so I told them to take their shot as soon as they found it. Better a shot (even a bad one sometimes) than throwing the ball in the stands.

I think the mark of a good coach is to get the best possible play from them... get them ready every game ... and give them something that they can handle... Don't force the square peg in the round hole.... it doesn' work.

Do what your kids do best Kris, whatever that may be.

I totally agree with that. Get the most out of your team. Indeed you sometimes can't play the game you like, because you don't have the players for it.

And make sure they have FUN..... we used to tell them... PLAY HARD, PLAY SMART and HAVE FUN.

Kris

For me, there is a larger issue. Your closing troubles me, players are "chess pieces" and coaches are "chess masters."

I think that attitude portends more trouble in the future. Coaches have to form partnerships with their players, not command them. You being comfortable with what the players do is secondary to the players being comfortable.

Maybe their problems stem from confusion from what I perceive as your need to be in control.

For players and teams to improve and grow they have to be allowed to fail, fall, figure out and find a comfort zone by some experimentation. Looking at yourself as a "chess master" might get in the way of that.

I believe I am an excellent teacher. More importantly, most of the people (including players) think so too. But, I have never been with a team where I did not feel that the players taught me more than I taught them. I just give them a push and they carry me down the hill.

It took me a while to learn that. What I believe about coaching is this. go to the beach and grab 2 handfuls of sand (I don't know if they have beaches where you are. If not go somewhere where they have very fine sand). Squeeze on handful very tightly and just hold the other one. See which hand has more sand when you are done. One of the best comments I have ever heard about coaching was by Mike Brey, Head Coach of University of Notre Dame. He said "The longer I coach, the less I coach." I think that is a great attitude.

Kris, I don't know you and I apologize if I am out of line, but after all these years I have learned to read into small comments and statements that, to me, seem prophetic. In the real word, just keep coaching and as long as you enjoy your work and your team, you will find your way.

The longer I coached the more I TAUGHT the game..... and our system.... once they are on the floor, its all them. Yes, we can make some moves and adjustments to take advantage of a weakness.... but in the end, its on them.

Maybe Kris was referring to Xs & 0s? Game plans etc. ?? Young coaches think they are evaluated on Ws and Ls.... the more you coach the more you realize there is a lot more to the game / team than that. Kris is a young coach just getting his feet wet and trying to form his own philosophy..... at least thats what I think Don...... who knows since its hard to read someones intent via posts.

I was no where near as good as he was at that age.... I learned everything the hard way, clinics, talking to other coaches, watching games etc. We know that he is willing to listen and learn because he is on this site asking all these questions and bringing up all the scenarios.

Maybe I have gotten soft since I retired. :-)

I agree that he is a listener. That's why I threw it out.

The reason for my closing is simple. Basketball is such a complex game, that's the only reason for my closing. I agree with both of you that in this age we don't need to win. We are preparing them for their basketballfuture. A couple of things about me. I am 21 years old, so indeed very young. Besides basketball I spend a lot of time in working with children. When I'm done with school, I am going to be a teacher in school (primary school, young kids). In coaching I am trying to be a better teacher, not only of the game, but also in life. I do appreciate your comment on my closing. The kids love me, they really look up to me, and with most of the kids I have got a better connection than they have with their parents. But when I think about teaching the game, on the court, I can improve a lot. I should let the game come to them more, I improved that the last years, but that's certainly a point of emphasis for me.

I'm trying to learn as much as possible, as soon as possible and try to implement the things I think are important for the philosophy I have. When I compare my philosophy with what it was 5 years ago, there is nothing left of it. But because the game keeps changing, my philosophy needs to change too. I think I'm on the right track in learning to coach, I do like this discussions very much!

Kris, you are 21 and have coached for 5 years... amazing. Yes you are young but it seems like you have the right attitude about life and the game. I like it that you are goal oriented - going into teaching and having a big impact on kids lives. They look up to you and love you because they know you care about them... and being a young male doesn't hurt either... what a great role model you must be..... and that is so important. You will effect their lives more than you can imagine...... that is a big responsibility.
Think about yourself growing up though..... as we got into the 10-14 year range our parents didn't know a lot.... amazing how smart they get as we got older haha So those kids will look up to you and go through a wall IF you treat them well.

Make sure your kids are fundamentally sound then teach them how to play. You are young so your philosophy will change as you get more experience.
Good luck and keep up the good work.

I am very aware of my impact on their lives, each and every day I am in touch with at least one of these guys and they are letting me know how much they like me. That's a huge satisfaction.

Thank you for the complements :)

If they like you, you must be doing something right.... but there will be times that they wont see eye to eye with you and thats where the teacher / coach comes into play. Like the one youngster you want to help.

Kris

You're 21 years old - I am not. You look back at what you were thinking 5 years ago and it is nothing like what you think like now. Wait 10 years. You'll be surprised what you look like.

I was a head coach at a high level of U. S. college basketball before I was 30, after 6 years of being a high level assistant. Looking back on it, I probably was not ready to be a head coach. Allow me to give you some things so maybe you can avoid some of the pitfalls that I had.

First and foremost, basketball is not complex. Of all the sports that I know, it is the simplest. Coaches make it complex. All that is involved is one team trying to put a small ball in a big hole and another team trying to stop them. No matter how you dress it, that's all there is. It is a skill based game that gets muddled with multiple strategies and confusions but when it is all said and done, it comes down to players making plays, one at a time. Your job is not to get them to do what you want, but to find what they are good at, steer them toward those things and away from the things they are not good at. The higher level you go, the simpler it gets. NBA basketball, the best in the world, is so simple, you would be amazed. Show your players the way, then get out of the way.

Learning basketball is good, but, more importantly, learn to temper what you take in with your own personality and beliefs. The first 10 years of my career, I think I averaged attending 15 clinics per year. I probably say 150 coaches per year. That does not count the people I sought out on my own. Everyone spoke of the things that were successful for them. The problem was that some were 180 degrees from others. I would sit and listen and say to myself, "That should work." The next guy would get up say say the exact opposite, and I would say, "That should work." The result was I got so confused trying to use what others said was successful, I lost myself for a while.

Make better players, not better plays. No matter what plays you construct, they will only be as good as the players who run them. If you have good players and no plays, they will find a way - that is what makes them good. If you have good plays and no players, it won't matter.

It is not important if players like you. That is the single least important thing in coaching and the single biggest mistake young coaches make, feeling that it is important that players like them. The important thing is that they trust you. Once you gain their trust, they will try to listen to you and execute your wishes without question and hesitation. If they are not successful, they will try again and again until they are (repetition). If they don't trust you, even if the like you, even their successes won't matter.

I was really surprised, as I went through my career, by how little basketball coaching has to do with basketball. The essence of coaching is interpersonal communication and people management. Getting players to believe in and follow you is the major task of a coach. You don't even have to know anything about the game. Five players working together at the wrong thing will have more success than five players, working independently on different versions of the right things.

Most importantly, listen to your players. Whether they are pros or novices, regardless of age, listen to them, what they say to one another, what they say to you, and try to interpret their meaning (different people will say the same things, differently) because they will give you direction.

I have found these things to be true regardless of whether I am coaching Div I college players, NBA players or 12 year olds. There are many more things I have learned along the way. But you can figure them out by yourself.

Great advice Don - all of this is good stuff... and I believe that we all have to find our own way, what works for us. Like all those coaches telling you opposite things.... when I went to clinics I always felt that IF I could come away with one good thing from each coach, I would be better..... but if you add one thing ultimately you will have to get rid of another. Some of those coaches didn't tell you 100% of what you needed to know about a particular play or set....

Funny that you say this.... " I was really surprised, as I went through my career, by how little basketball coaching has to do with basketball. The essence of coaching is interpersonal communication and people management. Getting players to believe in and follow you is the major task of a coach. You don't even have to know anything about the game. Five players working together at the wrong thing will have more success than five players, working independently on different versions of the right things." I had lunch with an X player last week and he told me pretty much the same thing... that one of my biggest strengths was being able to deal with a lot of different personalities.

And yes, they don't necessarily need to like you, but they do need to know you care about them as people, if they don't think you care they wont work for you. Even down to the last player, they need to know you care... on and off the floor. JMO

When I was thinking back about this..... I found -

"It's ok to let your players get to know you."
Pat Summit

A good friend of mine Creighton B. always says... IF your Jimmy and Joes are better than my Xs and 0s, you will win. Talent has a lot more to do with winning than the coach. It's up to the coach to develop his talent.

Hope all is going well.... you never told us how things are going with your star player.

That's all very good stuff.

First my reaction on you points Don, I agree with you, I have no clue what my philosophy will be 10 years from now. But I do want to have the best philosophy possible.

I had the same problems the past years. I read a lot of books, attend as many clinics on- and offline as I can and talked to as much coaches as possible. I still do that. But at the last year I had no clue how to adept all these things in my play, in my philosophy. So I sat down for myself and just wrote down from the start of the game. What is basketball? A simple question with a lot of different answers. I just took a big piece of paper and draw a circle in the middle with the word basketball and draw a line to a circle defense, offense and transition. On and on to eventually come out to the most simple things in basketball as detailed as possible. That cleared my mind a lot. Because now everything I learn about coaching I can link to one of my circles and give it a place in my philosophy. What Coach Sar said was also true. If you try to add something to your philosophy, you have to get rid of something else.

Because of the way of breaking down basketball I also find myself focusing more on fundamentals instead of tactics. And that was a very good swing in my philosophy.

I think players liking me is very important. Coaching is more to me than winning or making the players better basketballplayers. I get a huge satisfaction from the kids and a big part of that is because they like me. That gives me a lot of energy and enthousiasm to coach the game. Everybody says to me, that enthousiasm reflects on my team. So it is a positive circle i believe.