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Xpert Coaching Training Manual

Guide to Better Coaching and Individual Skill Development

Written by Mike Oppland and Dan Oppland

“The reasons a lot of people do not recognize opportunity is because it usually goes around wearing overalls looking like hard work.” Thomas Edison

The purposes for these manuals are to teach you to acquire the tools to take your game and coaching skills to the next level. We are confident these drills will help make you a better player, student and/or teacher of the game of basketball. We have divided the drills and workouts into three manuals: Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced.

Beginner workouts are geared towards youth players just starting out with basketball and learning how to play the game.

Intermediate workouts are geared towards youth players who have been playing for a while and/or kids that are in high school.

Advanced workouts are geared towards veteran high school players, college players, or professional players.

Always strive to advance to the next higher level; always push yourself but don’t advance to more challenging workouts until you master the less challenging workouts. Most of these drills can be performed individually. This is the great thing about basketball, you can work on your game by yourself; the only thing you need is yourself, a basketball and if applicable to the workout, a basketball hoop. We suggest that parents or coaches watch players perform these drills to make sure they are doing them correctly. Performing drills incorrectly is nonproductive.

Many of the drills can be utilized at all three levels. For example, form shooting is a drill that players can use at all three levels. In fact, we encourage that even the very best shooters use form shooting to break down their shots. We use form shooting to make sure our shot stays sharp. It helps us to get back to the fundamentals and the basics, especially if we are going through a “shooting slump.”

Basic ball handling drills can also be done at all levels. If you are more advanced, we find it beneficial to start off with one stationary ball handling drill and then progress your ball handling with movement and the addition of a second basketball. We cannot guarantee that if you follow these manuals you will automatically become a better player or coach, but we are offering you the tools and guidelines that have been proven to raise the level of play. The results are ultimately up to you and how much time and work you are willing to put into it. If you are willing to put in the hours and effort into perfecting and improving your skills, we are confident that the information provided in this manual will be of benefit to you.

The manuals will cover specific skills such as ball handling. These skills will be broken down into different sub-categories, i.e. stationary ball handling and ball handling with movement. Additionally, each sub-category will have a list with drills and corresponding demonstrations and analysis. You don’t have to perform every drill in a given workout, but we suggest that you at least incorporate drills from each category into your workouts. Only working on shooting or passing, for example, aren’t going to make you a complete basketball player. Our goal is to make you a complete basketball player. Subsequently, we will offer specific teaching points on how to complete these drills, and how to teach these drills. PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO READ

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THROUGH THE DEMONSTRATIONS, ANALYSIS and TEACHING POINTS. Videos will be available that will accompany each drill so the explanation will be both written and visual.

Beginner Workout

Don’t be afraid to use smaller and lighter balls, especially when you are just learning how to play basketball. Coaches need to judge what kind of ball the beginners should use. There are various sizes and weights of basketballs that are available. Beginner workout drills don’t have to be completed in succession. You can pick and choose drills for different days depending on the skills you want to work on that day.

1. Ball handling

Stationary Ball Handling Drills One Ball

Off the Wall Passes Right Hand (10 times)

Off the Wall Passes Left Hand (10 times)

Ball Taps in the Air (10 times each hand)

Right Hand Pounds (20 dribbles)

Left Hand Pounds (20 dribbles)

Front Crossovers (20 dribbles)

Under the Leg Right Foot Forward (20 dribbles)

Under the Leg Left Foot Forward (20 dribbles)

Sitting Right Hand Dribble (20 dribbles)

Sitting Left Hand Dribble (20 dribbles)

Ball Rotations Around the Waist (10 rotations each direction)

Ball Rotations Around the Knees (10 rotations each direction)

Figure Eight Ball Rotations (10 rotations each direction)

Ball Handling Drills with Movement

Right Hand Speed Dribble (down and back full court x 2)

Left Hand Speed Dribble (down and back full court x 2)

Crossover Dribble- one crossover dribble at free throw line, half court line, free throw line, and opposite baseline (down and back full court

Hesitation Dribble- one hesitation dribble at free throw line, half court line, free throw line, and opposite baseline (down and back full court)

Marbles- put your players into a confined area, for example the paint. They have to continuously dribble the ball while trying to knock other players’ balls out of the area. If the ball goes out of the paint, that player is out. Make sure players are dribbling the ball

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the whole time. If they carry the ball or set the ball down in an attempt to get other people out, they should be disqualified. This is a good drill for players to learn how to protect the ball and dribble without looking down.

Teaching Points- Ball Handling

These drills are meant for you to implement and to instill good habits into your players.

First, make sure the players are in a good basketball position. Knees are bent, butt is down, back is straight, and feet are approximately shoulder width apart. There is a natural tendency for kids to hunch their backs when their legs get tired during these drills. If you see your players getting tired and hunching over, give them a short rest, and continue the drill. Make sure they keep their backs straight. This is great practice for them because being an effective basketball player requires being in a great basketball position.

Secondly, make sure the players are trying to keep their heads up and their eyes off the ball. Becoming a good ball handler is about making quick decisions with the ball and protecting the ball without turning it over. This requires that you always have your head up so you can see what is going on. The less you have to look down at the ball, the more effective ball handler you are going to become. The sooner players learn how to dribble without looking down at the ball, the better. This is especially difficult for players just starting out so encourage them to try to keep their heads up even if it is only for a few moments. You want to discourage them from having their noses pointed down to the ground and constantly staring at the ball. Allow the kids to make mistakes especially with their ball handling. If they are making mistakes and losing control of the ball, it means they are pushing themselves. It means they are trying to dribble without looking down. This is especially true with beginning basketball players. If you ensure them that making mistakes is ok, and actually beneficial when doing their ball handling drills, they are more likely to want to challenge themselves.

Finally, push your players to increase the speed at which they perform these drills. Even at a young age, it is ok to challenge them to pound the ball harder and get their reps done quicker. You will be surprised how quickly they pick up some of these basic drills, especially if they are doing them a few times a week. If you notice a player that isn’t pushing himself, ask him if he can dribble faster.

It is imperative that coaches encourage their players to work on their skills not just during practice but on their own time for improvement to occur. Remember, to work on ball handling skills, players just need a ball and a place to dribble-they don’t even need a hoop, just a ball.

When adding movement to the dribbling drills, keep the repetitions down but try to make sure your players are doing them correctly. Players need to stay low and have their eyes up, just like the stationary ball handling drills. It is important your players become comfortable with handling the ball while on the move. Teach them the importance of change of speed as they make their changes in direction. Dribble hard to the line but slow down as you near it, and then a quick change of direction move and speed up again. Speed dribbles, crossover dribbles, and hesitation dribbles are good starting moves. They don’t need to learn a lot of new, fancy moves at this stage. Teach them a couple of basic dribble moves that they can utilize in game situations. Less is more in this instance. Introduce only

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a few moves but give excellent instruction for each move, and you are going to see better results.

2. Form Shooting

Against the Wall

Place tape on a wall to form a square, or use a tiled wall that already has large squares in place.

Make sure the tape is high enough to where you can shoot the ball in the air against the wall.

You don’t want the tape location to be too high or too low.

Make sure it is at a height where you can shoot the ball without struggling to get it there but that it is high enough to where you have to extend your arm to shoot the ball in the air (It doesn’t have to be at a height of 10 feet if you are smaller and can’t shoot it that high).

Stand facing the wall at an approximate distance of 2-3 feet away.

Be in a good basketball position, knees are bent, butt is down, back is straight, feet are pointed towards the wall.

Make sure you are aligned in front of the tape.

Make sure your shooting foot is slightly more forward than the other foot.

Place the ball in the shooting pocket (pad on the hand which is right below the bottom of your fingers and above the palm).

Bring your shooting hand up to the side of your face near the ear and eye.

Cock back your wrist to form an “L” shape with your shooting hand and elbow (shooting pocket).

With your knees bent, shoot the ball against the wall into the taped area.

Repeat until you can consistently shoot the ball into the taped area.

Lying on the Ground

Lay on your back with your legs stretched out

Hold the ball in your shooting pocket, next to your eye and ear, and shoot the ball in the air

The goal is to for the ball to come straight back down to your hand

Do these until you get 10 perfect repetitions where the ball comes back to your shooting hand, not in front or behind you.

Form Shooting at Basket

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You will shoot from three spots on the floor, the right and left block, and the middle of the lane

Start on the right or left block, and with the same shooting position, make five baskets

After you make five there, move to the middle, and then the other block

Then start again at the original spot but take one big step backward

Repeat at every spot

Keep moving back after five makes as long as you can shoot the ball without changing your form

As it becomes easier, shoot for a certain amount of made shots in a row at each spot

Compete with yourself or other teammates and see who can make the most in a row

Teaching Points- We have outlined some of the basics of shooting a basketball. It is important to drill these into beginning players very early. The earlier they learn proper shooting form, the better chance they will have of developing an effective shot. Young players tend to not use their legs enough when shooting the basketball. Proper shooting form should be drilled into beginning players. Make sure they learn how to shoot with their entire body, legs to core, core to hand, hand to fingers, etc. If they understand that they need to use their entire body when shooting a basketball, they are going to have a very good chance of developing their shot at a steadier rate. As they get stronger, this will become more natural and fluid for them. This is how great shooters began-proper shooting form:

Make sure they always have their feet squared, or pointed towards the basket, with their shooting foot slightly in front of their non-shooting foot.

Knees should be bent.

Eyes should be on the rim.

Ball should be sitting on the shooting pad of their shooting hand and not on the palm but on the pads of their fingers. There should be a space between their palm and the ball.

Fingers should be in a comfortable but flexed position. If they have their fingers too close, the ball won’t stay on the hand, it will roll off.

Wrist should be cocked back somewhere to the side between the eye and the ear.

The shooting pocket is set and the player is ready to shoot.

The follow through should display excellent forward spin if the ball is shot properly.

The follow through should be high and towards the point the player is shooting.

The shooting hand should be snapped forward and it should be held in the air for second or two after the shot is released.

If the ball is spinning left or right, check to make sure the player is not turning his or her wrist on the follow through.

Ideally, the ball should be released off the two fingers closest to the thumb.

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For beginner basketball players, we suggest they do as much form shooting as possible, so they learn the proper mechanics of shooting. Young children, who are not strong enough to shoot with proper form, tend to develop bad shooting habits in order to compensate for not being strong enough. We think teaching proper shooting technique is vital for beginning players, especially those players who have an ambition of playing at the high school level. Implementing these varied degrees of form shooting, ensures players at all strengths, levels, etc. can learn how to properly shoot a basketball. There are going to be times during games when they need to try shooting in a way which is comfortable for them, but when they have the opportunity to shoot on their own or in a practice setting, we suggest doing a lot of form shooting. Making form shooting challenging through healthy competition will hopefully eliminate some of the monotony of form shooting. Creating games out of form shooting drills such as you would do with regular shooting drills, should keep the drills interesting for the players and hopefully as they progress in learning proper mechanics, they will see the benefits of these drills. The repetition of doing these drills over time should begin to translate into the players performances during games and practice scrimmages.

3. Passing

Against the Wall

Face the wall at a distance of 10-15 feet away

Throw chest passes against the wall so the ball ricochets off the wall and comes back to your chest (50 reps)

Repeat with bounce passes (50 reps)

Repeat with overhead passes (50 reps)

Chest passes to the side with slides (20 reps each direction)

Bounce passes to the side with slides (20 reps each direction)

Overhead passes to the side with slides (20 reps reach direction)

Teaching Points- Chest Pass

When throwing a proper chest pass, the player should begin holding the ball at his chest with his hands spread out.

The thumbs and index fingers should almost be touching one another in a diamond formation. If these fingers get too close to one another and touch, it is more difficult to grasp and hold the ball. There should be a space there so controlling the ball is much easier.

The player should take one small step toward the wall while snapping the ball from the chest to the wall. We say snap here because a good chest pass will come off the ends of the fingers and have some snap to it. This will also make the ball spin forward, which is what you want to see with chest passes.

Release the ball with hands fully extended toward the middle of the wall. The goal is to have the ball ricochet back to the chest. This means the ball was passed solidly from chest to chest. If the ball comes back to the knees or over the head, the chest pass was not properly thrown.

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Make sure your players have a good stance, proper hand placement, an extended release, and that the trajectory of the ball is not too high or too low.

Players need to have hands ready for the ball to come back to them.

Teaching Points-Bounce Pass

When throwing a proper bounce pass, the player should again begin holding the ball at his chest with hands aligned as if throwing a chest pass.

Again he needs to take one step toward the wall but this time he will pass the ball towards the ground. The goal is to pass the ball 2/3 the distance from the passer to the wall. So a little more than halfway.

The release should have the hands fully extended toward the ground. Again the goal is to have the ball ricochet off the wall and back to the chest. If the ball is passed properly on the ground, it should bounce off the ground at a proper angle, and then bounce off the wall and back to the player’s chest. If the ball comes back to low, then the bounce pass was thrown to close to the wall. If the ball comes back to high, then the bounce pass was thrown to close to the player and too far from the wall.

Make sure your players have a good stance, proper hand placement, an extended release, and that the trajectory of the ball is not too high or too low. Players need to have hands ready for the ball to come back to them.

Teaching Points-Overhead Pass

When throwing a proper overhead pass, the player should hold the ball above the head. One hand should be on each side of the ball.

Elbows should be extended outward and guide the hands as the ball is thrown. Use your triceps and arm muscles to throw the ball against the wall.

Hands should extend toward the target area on the release.

Similarly to the chest passes and the bounce passes, the ball should ricochet off the wall and come back to the player’s chest. If the ball comes back to high then the hands were not extended downward enough on the release. If the ball comes back too low, the hands were extended too low on the release.

Make sure your players have a good stance, proper hand placement, an extended release, and that the trajectory of the ball is not too high or too low. Players need to have hands ready for the ball to come back to them.

Teaching Points-Slides

Add slides to these basic passing drills to incorporate side to side movement. Make sure you are in a good defensive stance.

Feet are square and pointed to the wall.

Instead of passing in front of you, so the ball comes directly back to your chest, pass to the side of you. Once the pass is made, your goal is to slide, not hop, get your body in front of the ball as it ricochets of the wall, and catch the ball cleanly.

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A good defensive slide means that your feet are shoulder width apart and they never come any closer to this. They never touch. You should be on the balls of your feet as you slide, not the heels. Hands should be ready to catch the ball off the wall. Repeat going the other direction with the various passes.

Against the Wall (Sitting Down)

Sit facing the wall at a distance of 10-15 feet away

Throw chest passes off the wall so it ricochets back to your chest (50 reps)

Repeat with bounce passes (50 reps)

Repeat with overhead passes (50 reps)

Throw chest passes off the wall with one hand and catch with one hand (25 reps each hand)

Repeat with bounce passes (25 reps each hand)

Repeat with overhead passes (25 reps each hand)

Teaching Points- Passing Drills

This series of passing drills are great for improving muscle memory on your passes. The focus is completely on the upper body and learning to make crisp passes. The same focus applies to these passing drills. It will be more difficult to throw consistent passes since you are not able to use your legs to stabilize. Make sure your players are throwing accurate passes against the wall that ricochet back to their chests.

When throwing one hand passes, many beginner players will not be strong enough to throw a regular basketball off the wall with one hand. Use tennis balls for this drill. Tennis balls are great for not only passing but building coordination as well. Make sure the passes are coming back the chest. If they are too high or low, something is wrong with the way the balls are being passed. Push your players to be accurate with their passing. If they are accurate during drills like this, they are more likely to be accurate during their games.

4. Finishing Moves

Ring Layups: First Step (No Basketball)

Place two large plastic rings on the court near the right side of the basket; one should located right outside the lane, near the block; the other should be located a step inside the first ring, near the hoop (if you don’t have large plastic rings you can use put some tape down in the same spots, emulating rings)

Start at the right elbow of the free throw line

Without the ball, jog toward the first ring

Place your right foot into this ring and step with your left foot into the other ring

After stepping with your left foot, jump off this foot and reach for the rim with your right hand, as if you are shooting a basketball

This is what shooting a right-handed layup is like

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Repeat this 20 times until it feels comfortable to jog towards the basket and shoot a basketball

Repeat on the left side of the court

This time step into the first ring with your left foot, and the second ring with your right foot (20 times)

Teaching Points- Shooting a Layup

This is the first progression of shooting a proper layup.

Shooting proper layups is something many beginner basketball players don’t learn until much later. Make sure your players are comfortable with the footwork of shooting a layup. For many of them, since most players are right handed, being comfortable with the foot work on the left side will be much more difficult. Make sure they are fluidly stepping into each ring and jumping to shoot as if they had a basketball. Make sure their eyes are always on the rim even without a basketball. This is an important component of shooting layups and shooting in general. Also, make sure your players emulate bringing the ball up with two hands before they shoot the layup with one hand.

Ring Layups: Second Step (With Dribble, No Shot)

Start at the elbow

Dribble from the elbow toward the ring

Step into the first ring with one foot, and into the second ring with the other

Jump off the final leg you step with and hold onto the basketball as you emulate shooting a layup

Don’t shoot the ball but drop the ball when you reach the point where you would shoot it (20 times each side)

Teaching Points-

This is the second progression of shooting a proper layup.

Your players now have to get comfortable with the dribble to the basket. Make sure they are being as fluid as possible with their footwork when they dribble to the rings, and prepare their two steps before the layup. Your focus should that the players are holding onto the ball with two hands as they prepare to shoot the layup. Many beginners have difficulty differentiating when to release the guide hand before they shoot the layup. They try to cup it with one hand before they are really ready to shoot. There should be two hands on the ball, until the ball reaches the shoulder. This might vary depending on how strong your players are, but it is a good guideline. Once the ball reaches this point, the player should be able to shoot with one hand. Work with your players as the make their final step and jump, to keep two hands together, and then extend with one hand when they reach the shooting point. Just before they would normally shoot the ball, have them release it. The focus should be on solid footwork with the dribble and holding onto the ball with two hands before shooting the layup. We use 20 times as a guideline with our players but it make take many more attempts before your players get comfortable with the footwork. Practice makes perfect!

Ring Layups: Third Step (With Dribble, With Shot)

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Start at the elbow

Dribble to the first ring

Step with the proper foot, depending on what side you are on

Step with the other foot into the second ring

Jump off this foot, hold the ball with two hands, and at the shooting point, shoot the layup (20 times each side)

Teaching Points-

This is the third progression of shooting a proper layup.

Your players should be ready to dribble to the rings and shoot a proper layup. Make sure all the mechanics and fundamentals are being properly executed from the previous progressions. Most importantly, the player should be shooting the ball with one hand, and the eyes should be on the rim at all times. If they are unable to shoot with one hand, let them practice with a smaller ball if one is available. With hard work and determination, the beginning player will develop a one-handed layup as they get stronger. It is not so important that they make every layup at this stage. You should encourage and emphasize the proper footwork and that they keep their eyes on the rim when they shoot. Scoring the layups will come with more practice and strength.

Intermediate Workout

1. Ball handling

Stationary Ball handling Drills One Ball

Right Hand Fingertip to Waist Pounds (20 dribbles)

Left Hand Fingertip to Waist Pounds (20 dribbles)

Front Killer Crossovers (20 dribbles)

Under the Leg Right Foot Killer Crossovers (20 dribbles)

Under the Leg Left Foot Killer Crossovers (20 dribbles)

Behind the Back Crossovers (20 dribbles)

Sitting Right Hand Side Dribble (20 dribbles)

Sitting Left Hand Side Dribble (20 dribbles)

Ball Rotations Around Head, Waist and Knees (10 rotations for each body part, each direction, 60 rotations total)

Pretzel (20 times)

Figure Eight Ball Rotations (10 rotations each direction)

Figure Eight Dribble (10 times each direction)

Front V-Dribble Right (20 dribbles)

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Front V-Dribble left (20 dribbles)

Side V-Dribble Right (20 dribbles)

Side V-Dribble Left (20 dribbles)

Stationary Ball handling Drills Two Balls

Same Time Ball Pounds (20 dribbles)

Alternating Ball Pounds (20 dribbles)

Front V-Dribbles (20 dribbles)

Side V-Dribbles (20 dribbles)

Front Crossovers (20 dribbles)

Waterfall (20 dribbles)

Same Time Circle Ball Pounds (5 times each direction)

Alternating Circle Ball Pounds (5 times each direction)

Windshield Wipers (20 dribbles)

Front Dribble Pull Backs (20 dribbles)

Ball Handling Drills with Movement One Ball

Full Court Continuous Crossovers

Full Court Continuous Between the Legs

Full Court Continuous Behind the Back

Full Court Spin Dribble (Zig Zag)

Full Court Crossovers (Zig Zag)

Full Court Between the Legs (Zig Zag)

Full Court Behind the Back (Zig Zag)

Full Court In and Outs (Both Hands)

Ball Handling Drills with Movement Two Ball

Full Court Alternating Dribble

Full Court Same Time Dribble

Full Court V-dribble in Front

Full Court Windshield Wipers

Full Court Partner Pushes (Alternating and Same Time)

Full Court Partner Pulls (Alternating and Same Time)

2. Form Shooting

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Against the Wall

Place tape on a wall to form a square, or use a tiled wall that already has large squares in place

Make sure the tape is high enough to where you can shoot the ball in the air against the wall

You don’t want the tape location to be too high or too low

Make sure it is at a height where you can shoot the ball without struggling to get it there but that it is high enough to where you have to extend your arm to shoot the ball in the air (It doesn’t have to be at a height of 10 feet if you are smaller and can’t shoot it that high)

Stand facing the wall at an approximate distance of 2-3 feet away

Be in a good basketball position, knees are bent, butt is down, back is straight, feet are pointed towards the wall

Make sure you are aligned in front of the tape

Make sure your shooting foot is slightly more forward than the other foot

Place the ball in the shooting pocket (pad on the hand which is right below the bottom of your fingers and above the palm)

Bring your shooting hand up to the side of your face near the ear and eye

Cock back your wrist to form an “L” shape with your shooting hand and elbow (shooting pocket)

With your knees bent, shoot the ball against the wall into the taped area

Repeat until you can consistently shoot the ball into the taped area

Lying on the Ground

Lay on your back with your legs stretched out

Hold the ball in your shooting pocket, next to your eye and ear, and shoot the ball in the air

The goal is to for the ball to come straight back down to your hand

Do this until you get 10 perfect repetitions where the ball comes back to your shooting hand, not in front or behind you

Form Shooting at Basket

You will shoot from three spots on the floor, the right and left block, and the middle of the lane

Start on the right or left block, and with the same shooting position, make five baskets

After you make five there, move to the middle, and then the other block

Then start again at the original spot but take one big step backward

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Repeat at every spot

Keep moving back after five makes as long as you can shoot the ball without changing your form

As it becomes easier, shoot for a certain amount of made shots in a row at each spot

Compete with yourself or other teammates and see who can make the most in a row

Teaching Points- Form Shooting

Make sure the feet are always squared, or pointed towards the basket, with the shooting foot slightly in front of the non-shooting foot.

Knees should be bent.

Eyes should be on the rim.

Ball should be sitting on the shooting pad of the shooting hand. Not on the palm but on the pads of the fingers. There should be a space between the palm and the ball.

Fingers should be in a comfortable but flexed position. If the fingers are too close, the ball won’t stay on the hand, it will roll off.

Wrist should be cocked back somewhere to the side between the eye and the ear. The shooting pocket is set and the player is ready to shoot.

The follow through should display excellent forward spin if the ball is shot properly. The follow through should be high and towards the point the player is shooting. The shooting hand should be snapped forward and it should be held in the air for second or two after the shot is released. If the ball is spinning left or right, check to make sure the player is not turning his or her wrist on the follow through. Ideally, the ball should be released off the two fingers closest to the thumb.

Intermediate basketball players should do as much form shooting as possible, so they continue to learn the proper mechanics of shooting. Implementing these varied degrees of form shooting, ensures players at all strengths, levels, etc. can learn how to properly shoot a basketball. When they have the opportunity to shoot on their own or in a practice setting, we suggest doing a lot of form shooting. Making it challenging through competition will hopefully eliminate some of the monotony of form shooting. We suggest that you create games out of form shooting drills like you would do with regular shooting drills to keep the drills interesting for the players. With repetition and practice, the players should progress in learning the proper mechanics. The above referenced drills if performed properly and repeatedly should improve the players’ overall performance and skill level during games and scrimmages.

3. Passing

Partner Passing: Full Court

Pass and Slide Chest Pass (Full Court and Back)

Pass and Slide and Bounce Pass (Full Court and Back)

Pass and Slide Overhead Pass (Full Court and Back)

Pass and Slide Right Hand to Right Hand (Full Court and Back)

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Pass and Slide Left Hand to Left Hand (Full Court and Back)

Partner Passing: Sitting

One Hand Passes Right to Left (20 passes)

One Hand Passes Left to Right (20 passes)

One Hand Overhead Passes (20 passes)

One Hand Bounce Passes (20 passes)

Two Hand Chest Passes (20 passes)

Two Hand Overhead Passes (20 passes)

Two Hand Bounce Passes (20 passes)

Teaching Points- Passing

Make sure the players are in a good basketball position when doing the pass and slide drills. Even though it is not a defensive drill, if you emphasize good defensive position when they are sliding, it will build good habits. Staying low and sliding with quick, short steps is only going to help your players become effective basketball players. Make sure they are making good passes that target the chest area. The one-handed passes might be difficult for some of the players who have smaller hands. Make sure they are controlling the passes when they catch them. This is a great drill for coordination and learning to use both hands.

The purpose of the passing drills while sitting is to accustom the players to using their core. It is much more difficult to make crisp passes when you are not standing. Sitting will challenge them to work on their core stability and use that, as opposed to their legs, to complete their passes. We prefer trying this drill with beginner players but we find it is often more difficult for them because they simply aren’t strong enough. You might find this to be true with intermediate players as well, but we think it is a good drill to use to challenge them. As they get comfortable with passing while sitting, challenge them to keep their feet off the ground and use only their core to pass.

4. Finishing Moves

Basic Layup Series

Perform a normal layup off one foot, off the backboard

Perform normal layup off one foot, no backboard

Perform a jump stop and then layup off of two feet

Perform a jump stop, shot fake, and layup off two feet

Perform a normal reverse layup off one foot, off the backboard, using the opposite hand (i.e. start on right side, finish on left side with left hand)

Perform a normal reverse layup off one foot, no backboard, using the opposite hand

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Perform a jump stop, and then reverse layup off two feet

Perform a jump stop, shot fake, step through, reverse layup off two feet

Repeat until you make two of each layup in a row

Repeat on the other side

Teaching Points- Finishing Moves

The goal of this drill is to get players mentally focused on making different types of layups. The layups in this drill are basic but it is important to vary the kind of layups the players are shooting. Make sure they keep their eyes on the rim at all times. Misses might occur, but make sure that the reason for the miss was not because the shooters’ eyes are not on the rim. The goal is to keep the misses down to a minimum. Layups are easy shots that players need to learn how to make without defense. This will help them in their games when they have to make layups with defense. As a coach, you can stand under the basket and challenge your players to simulate game situations and to offer the players a challenge. Make sure players always attack the basket and that they finish their shots towards the rim. There should not be any fading away from the basket, which could lead to the development of bad habits. We cannot stress enough how important it is for the player to use the correct hand for the specific side of the basket. Bad habits die hard therefore as a coach be aware of these and point these out to the players as areas that need work.

5. Shooting Drills

5-Spot Shooting

-Make five shots from five mid-range spots on the floor: both baselines, both wings, top of the key

-Repeat off the dribble

-Make two shots from five three-point spots

Around the World

-Make a shot from block, hash lines, elbow on both sides and free throw line

-Shoot from close distances

-Have to make it from one spot to move onto the next

-Goal is to make it from all spots without a miss

Free Throws

-If you make it without hitting the rim, you get one point

-If you make it but it hits the rim, you get zero points

-If you miss, you lose one point

-Goal is to make five points

Teaching Points- Shooting Drills

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Focus on consistency with your shooting. Make sure you keep your form while shooting. Use your legs, hold follow through. If you have to change your shot while shooting, move in. Don’t sacrifice form for distance. Keep track of your makes and misses, especially on free throws.

Advanced Workout

1. Ball Handling

Stationary Ball Handling Drills One Ball (and one tennis ball)

Front Crossover with Tennis Ball Toss (20 times)

Between the Leg Crossover with Tennis Ball Toss (20 times)

Behind the Back Crossover with Tennis Ball Toss (20 times)

Double Front Crossover with Tennis Ball Toss (20 times)

Double Between the Legs Crossover with Tennis Ball Toss (20 times)

Double Behind the Back with Tennis Ball Toss (20 times)

Triple Front Crossover with Tennis Ball Toss (20 times)

Triple Between the Legs Crossover with Tennis Ball Toss (20 times)

Triple Behind the Back with Tennis Ball Toss (20 times)

Triangle Crossover (Behind the Back, Between the Legs, Crossover) with Tennis Ball Toss (20 times)

Figure Eight Dribble (20 times)

Spider Dribble (20 times)

In and Outs Between the Legs (10 times each direction)

In and Outs Between the Legs and Behind the Back (10 times each direction)

In and Outs Between the Legs, Behind the Back, and Crossovers (10 times each direction)

Stationary Ball Handling Drills with Two Balls

Marionette Dribbles (20 times each direction)

Waterfall (20 times)

Figure Eight Dribble (One Ball in Front)

Figure Eight Dribble (Both Balls Between the Legs)

One Low, One High (Both Hands)

In and Outs Between Legs Forward Continuous (20 times)

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In and Outs Between the Legs Continuous (20 times)

Continuous Front Crossovers (20 times)

Killer Front Crossovers (20 times)

Front Crossovers into Behind the Back Crossovers Continuous (20 times)

Windshield Wipers Front (20 times)

Windshield Wipers Side (20 times)

Ball Handling Drills with Movement with One Ball

Continuous Crossovers

Continuous Between the Legs

Continuous Behind the Back

Continuous Triangle Dribble (Between the Legs, Behind the Back, Crossovers)

In and Outs into Crossovers

In and Outs into Behind the Back

In and Outs into Between the Legs

In and Outs into Spin Dribble

Crossovers into Spin Dribble

Between the Legs into Crossovers

Between the Legs into Behind the Back

Double Crossovers

Double In Between the Legs

Double Behind the Back

Ball Handling Drills with Movement with Two Balls

Same Time

Alternating

Crossovers

Between the Legs

One Low, One High

V-Dribble Front

V-Dribble Side

Marionette Dribbles

Continuous Crossovers

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Continuous Between the Legs

Continuous Behind the Back

Continuous Triangle Dribbles

Continuous Spin Dribbles

One Dribble, One Toss

Continuous Waterfall

Teaching Points- Ball Handling

Continue to push yourself with these ball handling drills. Many of these drills might be new. Many of them are very challenging. Try to perform them with high intensity. Keep your eyes up and off the ball especially during the two ball drills. I didn’t put a set number of reps on each drill because you know how many reps you need for each drill. Also, make sure you are keeping your back straight and knees bent. Work on always being in a great basketball position.

2. Form Shooting

Three Spot

Shoot from both blocks, and middle of the lane in front of the rim

Goal is to make five shots in a row from each spot

Shoot the first round with one hand, no guide hand

Second round hold guide hand next to ball (not touching) and shoot with one hand

Andrea Bargnani Form Shooting

Shoot from five spots on floor: corners, sides, and middle

Make five shots from each spot

Start in close and take a step or two back after each make

Goal is to make five in a row from each spot

Shoot with both hands on the ball

Not shooting jump shots, so keep feet on the ground when you shoot

Teaching Points- Form shooting is supposed to prepare you for your shooting workout. It is important that you focus and concentrate when doing these exercises. TAKE IT SERIOUSLY! If you don’t shoot consistently in your form shooting, then you won’t shoot consistently when from the outside. This is the time to evaluate your shot and make changes. Especially make sure you have good arc on your shot and that you are shooting with a good follow through.

3. Passing

Wall Passing

If you have access to a Pass Back, use that

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Stand about 10-15 feet away from the wall

Throw chest passes against the wall as fast as you can for one minute

Goal is to complete as many passes as you can in this time

Repeat with bounce passes, overhead passes, and behind the back passes (both hands, chest and bounce passes)

As you get good at this drill, step back and challenge yourself with longer passes

Chair Passing

Set up a chair on the wing

Attack the middle of the lane with the dribble, jump stop, and make a chest pass to the chair

A precise pass will land on the chair or at least hit the top of the chair

Repeat at until you can make at least five good passes in a row

Repeat on the other side

Set up a chair at the top of the key

Attack the basket towards the baseline, jump stop, and make a chest pass to the chair

Repeat at until you can make at least five good passes in a row

Repeat on the other side

Set up a chair on the block

Dribble towards the baseline, jump stop, and make a two-handed bounce pass to the chair

A precise pass will land on the chair or at least hit the top of the chair

Repeat at until you can make at least five good passes in a row

Repeat on the other side

Repeat with one-handed passes

Teaching Points- Passing

Making crisp passes out of movement is critical to developing your game. This is a challenging drill that might take some time for you to master. With the wall passes, focus on good form when you pass. Transitioning to the chair passes will be easier once you build a solid foundation. Make sure you are attacking the basket hard and making good, sound jump stops. Have good balance and complete the pass. Passing to a chair is much more difficult than passing to a person because the room for error is much slimmer. If you find the one-handed passes and the behind the back passes difficult, keep practicing. These passes are necessary at times during basketball even though they are viewed as not being fundamental.

4. Finishing Moves

One Foot Finishing Series

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Every move begins on one block and you need to make 10 in a row before you move on to the next spot or next move

Explode to rim off one foot and finish

Repeat on opposite block

Pivot with one foot, square, and finish off two feet

Repeat on opposite block

Explode to rim off one foot, and finish with reverse layup

Repeat on opposite block

Pivot with one foot and finish on opposite off two feet

Repeat on opposite block

Take one dribble to the middle and finish with running, one-footed hook

Repeat on other side

Ball Screen Chair Series

Place a chair at the wing

Place another chair on the block

Use the chair on the wing as a screen

Set up using the screen by dribbling to the level of the chair

Dribble of the screen and attack the chair at the block

When you come to the chair, you will work on a variety of finishing moves:

o normal layup

o reverse layup under the rim (same side hand)

o reverse layup through the middle (switch hands)

o jump stop two-handed layup

o one-footed runner

o two-footed floater

o crow hop layup

o Euro step

o in and out layup

o crossover layup

Repeat on other side

You can also perform this drill from the top of the key as well

Goal is to make at least 9 out of 10 layups but you should be able to make 10 out of 10

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Teaching Points- Finishing Moves

Similar to form shooting, shooting layups tends to be taken for granted by basketball players because they are shots that are supposed to be made. You need to put a lot of focus and attention on working on these finishing moves with a game speed tempo. That means pushing yourself as hard as possible so it is second nature during the game when you are more tired and there is actual defense. Always keep your eyes on the rim when shooting these shots. Extend your arm towards the rim. Make sure you are attacking the rim and not fading away. This is a bad habit that can eliminated with perfect practice and reinforced with poor practice. Get your knees in the air and explode to the rim. Be explosive and stay low when dribbling towards the basket.

Also, give special attention to using the ball screens properly. Work on this. Whether you are a guard or big man, work on attacking off the ball screen. Come to the level of the screen. Keep your shoulders down and dribble off the screen. I teach coming off ball screens hip to hip. This means the ball handler’s hip should be at the level of the screener’s hip, and they should be making contact if possible. When doing this drill, brush your hip against the chair. This ensures the defense can’t get through the screen.

5. Shooting

Larry Bird Shooting

Shoot from five mid-range spots on the floor (corners, elbows, top of the key)

Make three in a row from each spot in two minutes

After you make five in a row at each spot, shoot from free throw line and make as many as you can until time runs out

A good score is ten or more

Repeat with three point shots

Make two in a row from each spot in two minutes or three in a row from each spot in three minutes

After you make the allotted number in a row, continue to make as many as you can from the top of the key until time runs out

A good score is ten or more

If this gets too easy challenge yourself by going back a spot for every two misses in a row or repeat with shots off the dribble

Swans Shooting

Shoot from five mid-range spots

Within each spot, shoot from five different spots for 25 shots total

First spot is a layup in the lane, second is outside the lane, third is a ten-foot jump shot, fourth is a fifteen foot jump shot, final shot is a three point shot

Goal is to make every shot in two minutes

If that gets easy, move a spot back for every two shots missed in a row

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Ball Screen Chair Series

Set up just like the ball screen chair series with finishing moves except there will be a chair at the wing and a chair in the middle of the lane

Shoot a variety of shots when you reach the chair:

o pull up jumper off two feet

o runner in the lane off one foot

o floater in the lane off two feet

o crossover into jump shot

o double crossover into jump shot

o step back jump shot

o step back into crossover jump shot

o hesitation dribble into jump shot

o in and out dribble into jump shot

o spin dribble into jump shot

Repeat on other side, as well as from the top of the key

Goal is to make at least 7 out of 10 shots

Free Throws

To break up your shooting workout, you can shoot free throws in between each set

You can shoot a maximum of two free throws; you have to make the first to shoot the second

End your shooting workout by making ten free throws in a row

Teaching Points- Shooting

All of these drills need to be performed at game speed. Push yourself. Many of these shooting drills are mentally challenging because you have to make a certain amount of shots in a row in a given amount of time. If you find yourself struggling to make the time, step away and come back to it later or the next day. DON’T SACRIFICE FORM BECAUSE YOU ARE PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY TIRED! There is a difference between stopping because you don’t feel like doing it and stopping because you just don’t have it on a particular day. When you get tired, remember to use your legs and focus on keeping your good form on every shot. If the drills get to easy, don’t stick to these numbers. Make the drills more difficult by making more shots in the allotted time or decreasing the allotted time you have to make the shots.

On the shots off the dribble, make sure you focus on using one hard set up dribble into the shot. Stay low when you are shooting off the dribble and always use your legs. Shooting off the dribble becomes very difficult as you get tired-even more so the shooting from the catch. Work on creating space by attacking hard and preparing yourself to shoot the ball quickly.

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