Georgia Southern Coaches Clinic Notes
Written by Coach Sean Mims, Founder/Director of HoopsEdu
I did less writing and more watching of practice. For myself, I took away a few things that will help with the organization of practice to be able to get more things down in less time, players get a lot of reps, ways to get players to talk, and using the assistants in practice more (giving them ownership).
Here are some bullet points. Let’s continue to grow the game and grow in the game.
PLANNING OF PRACTICE
- Everything starts will planning. HAVE A PRACTICE PLAN EVERY DAY (FOR YOU AND ALL COACHES). TAKE NOTES FOR THE NEXT DAY.
- MAKE sure your practice plan matches your STYLE OF PLAY.
- Pre and post practice huddle with a message.
- Tempo: no wasted time between drills and name your drills.
- Communication of players: call names, count passes, call rebounds, echo the calls, etc. This encourages talking and accountabilities.
- Everything is timed. Got to be precise, teach in 3s, but never neglect a moment to teach.
- Group players for drills and scrimmages. Utilize all rims when can on breakdowns and skill work.
- Water breaks are timed.
SHELL D
- ALL habits of defensive principles should on display and accounted for.
- Cover all your progression (especially early in the season) to set the standard of your “habits” of how your team will guard.
- Cover your on ball, post screening, and off ball screening.
- Head coach was active. His voice set the tone. Assistants moved around, finding small talk times to teach even without stopping so much.
TRANSITION D
- Did the segment from a 5 on 5 perspective. Incorporate your transition D principles against your transition offense. More reps.
- King of the Full of Court. 5 on 5 on 5. Offense keeps and play in transition each time they scored. Want the the ball to play in transition, must get a stop. Keep score.
OFF THE COURT AND DISCIPLINE
- Intentionally educate players on rest and taking care of body. (handouts, speaker, involve parents).
- Believe in giving days off for rest. Shorten practice times.
- Take away basketball. The days of running players are over. If they are struggling academically, assign extra tutoring, get work made up before allowing to practice.
- Another example: cut minutes, take away responsibilities, don’t start them, suspend for game.
BUILD FOR IMPROVEMENT ON THE COURT AND RAPPORT
- Can’t get stuck on win and losses.
- Set a standard on skill development to make players want to work on their own.
- Determine what skills you want to work on.
- Be cautious of being negative. Know the level and maturity of your team.
- Encourage and keep their love.
- When all fails, lean on your best players.
- Teach how to play basketball, not run plays.
- **As a coach, let some CONTROL go so players can GROW.**
