Basketball For Coaches

At the high school level and below, I don’t think anything will lose a game faster or more frequently than a team’s inability to handle pressure. We have probably all had teams that have excelled in a controlled half court game, but immediately lost their poise when the opponent began to press. As a coach, there’s nothing more frustrating than helplessly watching from the side...

Scoring is difficult at all levels of basketball. Even with good players and well-considered set plays, it can be hard to score in the half court against a solid defensive team. This is even more true at the youth, middle school, and high school levels. To avoid long scoring droughts, all coaches should emphasize fast break basketball.

The point guard (also called the "one") is one of the five positions in basketball.Point guards are usually the smallest and quickest players on the court, and they're responsible for bringing the ball up the floor, running the offense, controlling the tempo, and creating scoring opportunities for their teammates.Traditionally, that meant a pass-first player whose […]

The shooting guard could be the most famous position in basketball. It’s a position that has been filled by many legendary basketball players including the greatest player of all time (MJ) and The Mamba (Kobe). And it’s well known as a “scoring” position. The player in this role is expected to knock down three-point shots, have the ability to pull up from midrange if necessar...

The center, who is often referred to as the “five,” is one of the most important basketball positions on the team. A dominant center can completely change the identity of a team’s offense and defense. Often the player deemed "the center" is the tallest player on the team, and they usually spend a lot of time around the key on the defensive end of the floor. Offensively, most ...