basketball stars picture: Planning

Have a plan, not only for the day, but for the week and the month and the year and ten years from now. Anticipate. Plan. Anticipate every situation that could arise. Plan for every situation that could arise. Don't think second by second on what needs to be done. Have a plan. Follow the plan, and you'll be surprised how successful you can be. Most people don't plan. That's why it is easy to beat most folks.

I always had a plan I believed in so strongly that I thought it would win at Vassar College. I never doubted winning. It was just a question of how long it would take.

On the field I try not to make any decisions unless they have particular significance, I don't mean I sit there on my fat fanny, like I have done in some games, thinking or praying they would do it when I knew I should have~but I try to have a plan and the guts to stick to it no matter what happens.

I tell all my coaches you have to have a plan for everything, an objective; you just don't go out day to day and coach. You have a plan you believe in and you have to be strong enough not to compromise.

If you want to coach you have three rules to follow to win. One, surround yourself with people who can't live without football. I've had a lot of them. Two, be able to recognize winners. They come in all forms. And, three, have a plan for everything. A plan for practice, a plan for the game. A plan for being ahead, and a plan for being behind 20-0 at the half, with your quarterback hurt and the phones dead, with it raining cats and dogs and no rain gear because the equipment man left it at home.

This post is an excerpt from Ralph Pim and Jerry Krause's book Basketball Defense Sourcebook. Here are former Oregon State's basketball coach Ralph Miller's thoughts on teaching and coaching of basketball:

1. Purpose of coaching-teach fundamental skills for competitive purposes.

2 Teach how not to lose; winning will take care of itself.

3. Losing occurs because of mistakes; poor individual and team defense (easy scores), poor defensive rebounding, and turnovers.

4. Players must learn automatic reactions to competitive situations.

5. Coaches must be good teachers; know the subject matter; know what to teach and how to teach it. the mark of a good teacher is the ability to simplify the subject matter for understanding and better comprehension.

6. The #1 fundamental skill is body position and movement (stop, pivot, run).

7. Analyze what the opposition does best and quickest, and then decide how to take advantage.

8. Offensive Concepts

Attack principles-pass and cut to the basket.
The pass is a primary weapon (quickest attack).
Use mostly air passes for quickness, bounce passes only on a backdoor or in an emergency.
When the shot goes up, think defense-you are responsible for the man guarding you (automatic pick up rule)
Ballhandler create a core for your teammate.
The jump stop is the most important offensive tool (especially against zones).

9. Pressure Defense

Prevent easy scores and gain ball possession.
Always see ball.
Body position-staggered stance, feet shoulder-width, palms up, unless guarding the shooter.
Keep the ball out of the middle
Conserve time and space.
Defend with feet-slide, run when needed, stop and pivot.
Every change is initiated with the pivot.
No gambles; basketball is a percentage game.

10. Teaching Tips-basketball is a continuous game.

Limit drills; keep them simple; they must fit the system and be competitive; drills are teaching tools
Set and require movement goals.
All players must do everything.
Learn by doing-repitition and use of whole part
Be patient-give all a chance to learn.
Know why you teach what you teach.
Demonstrate only what you can do well.
Criticism must be consistent, constructive, and used for important things.
Make changes only to simplify

11. Be cautious in changing skills:

Ages 10-12-guarantee success
Ages 13-14-65% success
Over 14-40% success

12. Eighty percent of possessions from defensive rebounding and made baskets; 20 percent of possessions from opponents errors, steals, interceptions, etc.

13. A successful program should be interesting and enjoyable for participants and spectators.

14. Conduct a program within the rules, provide equal opportunity, and develop a successful team and individuals (academically, socially, morally).