> Basketball Player Development

Player Instruction, Tips and Development

Build strong players by teaching the fundamentals of the game — from shooting and ball-handling to defense, rebounding, and team play.

From the Coach's Clipboard Basketball Playbook

Basketball Fundamentals

A complete collection of basketball fundamentals for all ages and skill levels.

Individual skills: shooting, passing, dribbling, and footwork
Team concepts: defense, rebounding, and off-ball movement
Position-specific skills for guards, perimeter players, and post players

Start with the Basics Plan a Practice

It's much easier to win with good players. Game-coaching cannot make up for poor talent and unskilled players. Teach correct fundamentals starting early in development.

Youth coaches should spend 80-90% practice time teaching fundamentals. High school coaches should continue teaching fundamentals (about 50% of practice time) as well as team skills, plays, etc.

Start with the core skills below, then explore position-specific development.

Player Tips Categories

Player Roles

Shooting:

Learn proper shooting form, footwork, and techniques to improve accuracy, consistency, and confidence.

Shooting Fundamentals, Form and Technique... teach your players how to shoot correctly.

Lay-ups and Finishing Moves... correct lay-up footwork and technique, reverse lay-up, inside hand lay-up, pro-hop finish, floaters, Euro step.

Shot Selection... the importance of taking good shots.

Shooting Tips from NBA Coach Hal Wissel ... a series of shooting articles from an expert.

Coaching Shooting

Shooting Mechanics

Confidence and Rhythm

Correcting Shooting Errors

Developing a Quick Release

3-Point Shooting, Rhythm and Range

Shooting Free-Throws

Shooting a Hook Shot

Basic Lead-Up ShootingDrills

Off the Dribble Shooting Drills

Jump-Shot... teaching how to shoot the jump-shot.

Hook-Shots... teaching how to shoot the classic hook-shot, the sky-hook and the jump-hook.

How to Become a Good Free-Throw Shooter... good free-throw shooting will win those close games for you.

Foul Shooting... tips from coach Ari Fisher.

Individual Shooting Work-Out... individual shooting practice work-out for players.

Passing:

Develop strong passing fundamentals, including accuracy, timing, and decision-making under pressure.

The Art of Passing... good passing is key.

Tips for Better Passing... more tips to become a great passer.

Dribbling (and Ball-Handling):

Improve ball control, quickness, and confidence with drills and techniques for handling pressure and creating opportunities.

Dribbling and Dribble-Moves... all players must learn to dribble well.

1-Ball Dribbling Drills... players can do these at home.

2-Ball Dribbling Drills... based on the concept of "over-training", after these difficult drills handling one ball in a game situation becomes relatively easy in comparison.

Ball-Handling... ball-handling tips and drills.

Defensive Skills:

Build defensive fundamentals such as stance, footwork, positioning, and team concepts to stop opponents effectively.

Man-to-Man Defensive Techniques... teach on-ball defense, deny, helpside, etc.

Transition Defense... sprint back, stop the the ball and locate the shooters.

Defensive Tips for Youth Players... some basic defensive tips for youth players are presented.

Defensive Close-Outs... how to close-out on defense.

Taking the Charge... taking a charge can be a huge momentum changer.

Defending Without Fouling... learn to play tough defense without fouling.

Rebounding:

Learn positioning, boxing out, and timing to control the boards on both offense and defense.

Rebounding... box-out, defensive and offensive rebounding, free-throw rebounding.

Footwork:

Master the footwork needed for balance, quickness, and efficient movement in all phases of the game.

Footwork... offensive and defensive stance and footwork, triple threat position, pivoting, how to stop, changing direction and speed, jumping, cutting, jab step, split step, close-outs.

The Jump Stop and Pivoting... master the jump stop and pivoting skills.

Off-ball Movement:

Understand spacing, cutting, screening, and movement without the ball to create scoring opportunities and improve team play.

Spacing and Movement - Moving Without the Ball... what to do when you don't have the ball.

Cutting and Faking... teach your players how to cut and fake and move without the ball.

Setting (and Using) Screens... teach how to set good screens.

Offensive Tips for Youth Players... basic, simple offensive tips.

Transition Offense... teach transition offense, getting the fast-break going, and how to attack 2-on-1, 3-on-2, etc.

Point Guards:

Develop leadership, ball-handling, court vision, and decision-making skills needed to run the team effectively.

How to Become a Good Point Guard... tips for point guards.

Seven Key Concepts that Every Good Point Guard Needs to Know... tips from All-American Dena Evans at PGC Basketball.

Perimeter Players (Guards):

Focus on shooting, spacing, defense, and versatility for guards and wings playing on the perimeter.

Guard Moves, Perimeter Play... how to play on the perimeter, triple-treat, jab step moves, attacking the defender, cutting, etc.

Pro (Advanced) Guard Moves for Finishing Around the Basket... Rondo Fake Finish, Euro Step Finish, Pro Hop Finish, Jamal Crawford Finish, Kobe Bryant Pound Pivot Finish, and Steve Nash Back Leg Finish.

Post Players:

Build strength, positioning, footwork, and scoring skills needed to be effective in the post.

How to Become a Good Post Player... playing the low and high post, and short corner.

Tips for Short Post Players - Playing the High Post and Short Corners... "separation instead of confrontation", using the high post, and short corners.

Post Player Breakdown Drills... use these drills to get better.

Footwork Progression Drills for Post Players

Featured Video

With over 25 years as an elite basketball trainer Ganon Baker now believes that the most important thing to teach players very early on is to go hard, fight and compete, and focus. See this video:

Watch video on YouTube

From Coach Gels: there can be a fine line between (1) encouraging young kids to fight and compete, and (2) bullying and pushing them too hard (we've all seen those parents and coaches). It has to be done in a positive, encouraging manner... the art of coaching!

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