Teaching Shot Blocking To Developing Players

I spend a lot of time and energy on detail teaching. I find it pays off as a player develops. Too many times skill details aren't taught and the players just end up doing what they think they should do instead of applying any kind of logic or system to their play.

Shot blocking is one of those small areas that don't get much attention from coaches--especially in the early years. But, while shot blocking can be a small item down the list of things for many coaches to teach, teaching it early and correctly can play huge dividends as players mature.

To read this article, go to www.Top-Basketball-Coaching/shotblock.html.

See you next month.


Yours in Sport & Spirit,
Coach Ronn

Youth Basketball: How Much Offense and Defense for 8th Grade Girls?

From the many letters I receive from coaches around the world, I chose to answer this one for this month's article--How much offense and defense should be taught to 8th grade girls?

So much depends on the talent and basketball savvy of your girls.

Let's say, your girls have played together for a year or more and have decent knowledge of the game and execution of basic individual fundamental play as well as team play.

To read the rest of the article, go to: http://www.top-basketball-coaching.com/8th-grade-girls

Yours in Sport & Spirit,
Coach Ronn

Coaching Girls Basketball: Teaching "L", "X" and "Z" Moves in the Post

I find that teaching post play in basketball is a lot of fun and reaps great rewards for
the post players as well as the team. I find this especially rewarding when working
with players who would not be considered natural post players.

When coaching girls basketball vs. coaching boys basketball there is really
no difference in my approach. The strategies remain the same. Boys are stronger,
jump higher, move quicker and have usually a more diverse shooting arsenal. My
teaching methods remain the same, though, concentrating on fundamentals, defense
and discipline—the basis for my teaching philosophy found in my teaching DVD
and books—“Basketball On A Triangle: A Higher Level of Coaching and Playing”.

In teaching post play, unless a team’s strategy is to use a strong and fairly
stationary low post, I would have the post in continuous movement. I do this in
order to confound the defender and to constantly attempt to open up passing
angles. My “L”, “X” & “Z” patterns make it nearly impossible to hold a correct
defensive position all the time. This creates an advantage, or at least an equalizer,
for a smaller post player.

To read more of this post, go to Coaching Girls Basketball...