The Breakthrough Basketball Newsletter for Coaches -- Issue #19: January 22, 2009

Martin,

The keys to breaking a zone press press are:

- Maintain proper spacing, with a player behind the ball.
- Make the easy pass, don't wait to hit the open player.
- Reverse the ball and then look ahead.
- Stay out of danger (trapping) areas.

You can see the basic spacing strategy here:
http://www.breakthroughbasketball.com/plays/pressbreakerspacing.html

The link shows full court diagrams but the concepts stay the same in half court.

If you're facing a 1/4 court trapping defense, then the concepts still stay the same. Spacing, staying out of danger areas, and good offensive principles are the key. Of course there are some set plays that work well, but that only helps for a few plays. In the long run, good offensive principles are what's best.

Also, I don't like spending much time adjusting to ONE team. It's better to spend time developing players, instead of spending a bunch of time trying to beat just one defense. That's why I like teaching good offensive fundamentals, motion, spacing, etc. These concepts help them no matter who they face now or in the future.

Here are a few links to press break drills:
http://www.breakthroughbasketball.com/drills/backupdribbledrill.html
http://www.breakthroughbasketball.com/drills/basicspacingdrill.html
http://www.breakthroughbasketball.com/drills/full-court-press-breaker-drill.html

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Need some help breaking a 3-1-1 half court press. Had practice and a scrimmage with another team and they were killing my boys on a half court 3-1-1 defense. I had 2 wings, guard and 2 forwards at the low blocks. I tried to get my guard to penetrate left or right than lob the ball, but it was getting pick off. Any suggestions to break that.

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I am a AAU Girls basketball coach & this summer I would like to put the Diamond &2 defense into our defenses sets , can you let me know more about this def. & also is this def. better than playing man 2 man defense.

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Thanks for the new tips! It's great and it will help a lot for he improvement of my team..

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Hi Martin,

Here are some pages you may want to take a look at: http://www.breakthroughbasketball.com/qa/q1517.html

http://www.breakthroughbasketball.com/articles/10-tips-to-Keep-Players-Focused.html

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You are a life saver. i have been using these drills for the past three years and my team have always placed first or second in the competition held annually.

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Hi, i am coaching a group of disabled individuals basketball and they seem to find it really difficult. At the moment i have worked on passing and shooting but the majority of individuals find it difficult to even bounce the ball. Do you have any fun game ideas which i could use in order to develop them further?
Any suggestions would be of help! many thanks

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I would like to thank you for the drills and tips you give, I am a High School coach and have been coaching at this level for close to ten years now. I have changed schools and have moved to another country in Africa (Swaziland). Basketball here is still in its infancy in as far as goals are concerned. I would need help with developmnet of attitude, and work ethics for a group of learners(players) who have a laid attitude.
At the same time i have boys who are so enthusiastic i am happy for that.

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I don't feel that you can improve the speed of your slow players overnight. However, by teaching proper movement mechanics, improving strength, improving mobility, and using proper drills and exercises, you can improve the speed of your players.

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HI FIRST I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BEING HELPFUL, THE TACTISE I USED LAST WEEK WORK FOR MY TEAM, I AM HAVING TWO GAMES THIS WEEK, I STILL DISCOVER THAT MY SMALL MEN ARE TOO SLOW PLEASE MAIL ME A TIP ON HOW TO IMPROVE ON THIS BEFORE MY NEXT GAME.

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hi first i want to thank you for bieng helpfull and i want to ask what to do with to mantal turn over

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Great articles, Since signing up at the beginning of our season I have used your letters and articles to help a first year 5th grade team learn more abour team play. We have a long way to go,But the 'me' ball play is slowly giving way to a motion offence team.

Thanks

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Chad

Since the ball was inbounded I put the inbounds play at half court. If the timeout was called before inbounding I would have it inbounded from the spot where the timeout was called.

George

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First I want to thank you for this wonderful resource. As a first time coach I need all the help I can get. Also, I have a rules question for anyone that might want to help. When We get the ball under the opponents basket after a made shot or out of bounds and we pass it in and I call a time out. Where should the next inbound take place. From the same spot or at half court. I coach 7th and 8th grade in missouri. The refs have been putting at half court. The other team argued this call and the refs changed it to under the basket. Also, how do i find official rules. My team is not an a league yet we just play who we can find. Still it seems we follow the Missouri High school association rules. Thank you for any input.

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I have been coaching girls basketball ages 8-14 for over ten years. I agree with the problems of teaching a pattern offense. Early on it is very difficult to get some girls to understand movement on the court. They seem to want to stay in their area with the hands up hopeful for a pass. If you can get a couple of girls who understand the importance of movement and to know how to pass you have a good chance of putting points up on the board.

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We have tons of drills and tips on ball handling and shooting. Just use the left hand menu to browse through the site.

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iam a high school coach, iam having problem with my shooting guard and my power forward.
they are slow in nature and find it difficult to pass or hit the ball on the hoop. what can i do to improve on this.

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Thanks for the timely articles.... !

Charlie

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