Esmegma

John Wooden, probably the most successful coach in college basketball history, would write out his whole practice to the minute, on index cards. There is something to be said for this kind of preparation, especially when all the activities planned are geared to winning the next game.

It is good to start with the material that you really want your players to get. Early in the practice they are fresher, more alert, and more attentive. You can set a good tone for the practice by emphasizing certain actions that need to occur on the court.

It is good to keep the practice moving, with no more than 5 minutes for each drill. No players standing around. Basketball is a game of movement. Successful players are those who are moving constantly and with a purpose. They are relentless in moving to open spots on offense, and in moving themselves on defense to prevent easy shots by the opponent.

Practice actions are good when they are connected to each other and build on what was done previously. Players start to see the connections among various aspects of the game. Each aspect should be given its due as valuable toward winning. Each player ought to have the feeling that he/she is contributing to what the team is trying to accomplish. We win together, and we lose together.

The last thing we want to do is waste time with needless drills. Rather, each drill and activity should have a practical purpose. Each should help accomplish something which is good for our team’s development that week. We should be able to communicate that purpose to our team.

It is good to end practice with ideas and experiences that we want our players to remember. Social psychology tells us that we tend to remember what is most recent. It is helpful to end practice on a positive note in a way that builds our players’ self-confidence and inspires them to want to play hard and smart.

Coach Kevin Clancy