Basketball Fundamentals - Player Instruction, Tips and Development
By Dr. James Gels, from the Coach’s Clipboard Basketball Playbook
It's much easier to win when you have good players. Great game-coaching cannot make up for poor talent and unskilled players. Players must be taught the correct fundamentals starting early in their development.
Youth coaches should spend most or their practice time (80-90%) teaching fundamentals and not worry too much about wins and losses. High school coaches will continue teaching fundamentals (about 50% of practice time) and also teach team skills, plays, etc.
Players must learn footwork, how to handle the ball, dribble, basic dribble moves, pass and catch, shoot correctly, play defense, rebound, cut, screen, etc. And don't forget the mental aspects, conditioning, training and nutrition that are just as important.
Youth coaches should spend most or their practice time (80-90%) teaching fundamentals and not worry too much about wins and losses. High school coaches will continue teaching fundamentals (about 50% of practice time) and also teach team skills, plays, etc.
Players must learn footwork, how to handle the ball, dribble, basic dribble moves, pass and catch, shoot correctly, play defense, rebound, cut, screen, etc. And don't forget the mental aspects, conditioning, training and nutrition that are just as important.
Basketball Player Fundamentals
Point Guards:
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.
Ganon Baker Interview... Premier basketball trainer Ganon Baker has a great DVD series for point guards.
Perimeter Players (Guards):Seven Key Concepts that Every Good Point Guard Needs to Know... tips from All-American Dena Evans at PGC Basketball.
Ganon Baker Interview... Premier basketball trainer Ganon Baker has a great DVD series for point guards.
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: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.
How to Become a Good Post Player... playing the low and high post, and short corner.n>
Tips for Short Post Players... "separation instead of confrontation", using the high post, and short corners.
Footwork Progression Drills for Post Players
Rebounding... box-out, defensive and offensive rebounding, free-throw rebounding.
Ball-Handling and Dribbling:Tips for Short Post Players... "separation instead of confrontation", using the high post, and short corners.
Footwork Progression Drills for Post Players
Rebounding... box-out, defensive and offensive rebounding, free-throw rebounding.
Ball-Handling... ball-handling tips and drills.
Dribbling and Dribble-Moves... all players must learn to dribble well.
Shooting:Dribbling and Dribble-Moves... all players must learn to dribble well.
Teaching/Learning How to Shoot... teach your players how to shoot correctly.
Taking Good Shots - Shot Selection... the importance of getting good shots.
Where are all the Great Shooters?... why is there so much poor shooting nowadays?
Basketball Shooting - 3 Simple C's... 3 simple things to foucs on.
Individual Shooting Work-Out... individual shooting practice work-out for players.
Shooting Tips from NBA Coach Hal Wissel ... a series of shooting articles from an expert.
Hook-Shot... 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.
Correct Lay-up Technique and Finishing at the Hoop... correct footwork and technique will result in players "finishing" more often.
More Offensive Skills:Taking Good Shots - Shot Selection... the importance of getting good shots.
Where are all the Great Shooters?... why is there so much poor shooting nowadays?
Basketball Shooting - 3 Simple C's... 3 simple things to foucs on.
Individual Shooting Work-Out... individual shooting practice work-out for players.
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.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
Hook-Shot... 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.
Correct Lay-up Technique and Finishing at the Hoop... correct footwork and technique will result in players "finishing" more often.
Footwork Fundamentals... triple threat position, pivoting, defensive stance and slides, jab step, cutting, jump-stop, etc.
Passing Fundamentals... good passing is key.
Offensive Tips for Youth Players... basic, simple offensive tips.
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.
Spacing and Movement - Moving Without the Ball... what to do when you don't have the ball.
How to Score, Even If You Aren't As Skilled as Your Opponent
Escaping from a Trap... how to avoid and escape a trap.
Transition Offense Fundamentals... teaching transition offense, the fast-break, 2-on-1, 3-on-2, etc.
Defensive Skills:Passing Fundamentals... good passing is key.
Offensive Tips for Youth Players... basic, simple offensive tips.
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.
Spacing and Movement - Moving Without the Ball... what to do when you don't have the ball.
How to Score, Even If You Aren't As Skilled as Your Opponent
Escaping from a Trap... how to avoid and escape a trap.
Transition Offense Fundamentals... teaching transition offense, the fast-break, 2-on-1, 3-on-2, etc.
Defensive Tips for Players... some basic defensive tips for players are presented.
Defensive Close-Outs and Drills... how to close-out on defense.
Man-to-Man Defensive Techniques... teach on-ball defense, deny, helpside, etc.
Mental Aspects:Defensive Close-Outs and Drills... how to close-out on defense.
Man-to-Man Defensive Techniques... teach on-ball defense, deny, helpside, etc.

Mental Prep Playbook... how to become mentally prepared.
The Exceptional Player... what makes a good player great.
Guide for Serious Basketball Players
Don't Waste Your Time Getting Seen Before You Get Good
Keys to Becoming a Great Player... Roles, Training, Intelligence, and Determination.
Things Good Basketball Players Do... a list of tips for players.
Basketball Tips: Being a Team Leader... how to be a leader, by Lamar Hull.
How to Make the Team, Try-Outs... what coaches are looking for in try-outs.
Tips to Dominate Tryouts... by Ryan Thomas.
Things to Think About... a few things players should consider.
Attitude, the "Right Stuff"... having the correct attitude.
The Role Player... good role players who can come off the bench are a tremendous asset to any team.
Mental Focus - Stay in the Present... how to focus and stay in the present.
Play Big: Believe in Greatness... how all players regardless of skill level can contribute.
Reading The Court - Mastering The Moment... how players should make decisions, how to read the court, the situation and the moment.
Imagine... challenge your players to imagine greatness.
Playing Smart... how to play smart and make good decisions.
Playing With Gratitude
Importance of a Strong Coach-Athlete Relationship
Other Stuff for Players:The Exceptional Player... what makes a good player great.
Guide for Serious Basketball Players
Don't Waste Your Time Getting Seen Before You Get Good
Keys to Becoming a Great Player... Roles, Training, Intelligence, and Determination.
Things Good Basketball Players Do... a list of tips for players.
Basketball Tips: Being a Team Leader... how to be a leader, by Lamar Hull.
How to Make the Team, Try-Outs... what coaches are looking for in try-outs.
Tips to Dominate Tryouts... by Ryan Thomas.
Things to Think About... a few things players should consider.
Attitude, the "Right Stuff"... having the correct attitude.
The Role Player... good role players who can come off the bench are a tremendous asset to any team.
Mental Focus - Stay in the Present... how to focus and stay in the present.
Play Big: Believe in Greatness... how all players regardless of skill level can contribute.
Reading The Court - Mastering The Moment... how players should make decisions, how to read the court, the situation and the moment.
Imagine... challenge your players to imagine greatness.
Playing Smart... how to play smart and make good decisions.
Playing With Gratitude
Importance of a Strong Coach-Athlete Relationship
Player Workouts During the Coronovirus Pandemic... workout while social distancing.
How to Maximize Basketball Skill Development
How to Enhance Basketball Abilities off the Court
Top 5 Mistakes Players Make When They Workout
Make Your Mark - Selecting a College... how to select a college.
Academics and the Student Athlete... academics from an athlete's perspective, dealing with time constraints, fatigue, stress.
When Individual Basketball Instruction Goes Too Far... having your own individual instructor or trainer.
Smaller Basketball Players: Perhaps the Best Athletes of All... by Tom Emma.
Dealing with Lack of Playing Time... by Tom Emma.
Having a Practice Program... how to practice correctly on your own.
Seven Benefits of Playing Multiple Sports... from Adam Eyal.
6 Benefits of Playing Sports in School... from Sarah Daren.
How Sports and Exercise Impact Your Health... from Sarah Daren.
Sports and Exercise Tips for Students... from Sarah Daren.
Playing AAU or Club Basketball... yes or no?
Why Doesn't Johnny Practice Any More?... from Paul Hoover.
Individual Shooting Work-Out... how to practice shooting on your own.
Conditioning... get in shape to play the game.
How to Improve Your Vertical... improve your jumping.
Alan Stein's Training Drills... strength, conditioning, warm-up and more drills from training expert Alan Stein.
Basketball Speed Starts with Stopping... by "The Speed Guy" Lee Taft.
Nutrition, What To Eat... have good nutrition. What players should eat.
Food Supplements... about food supplements, growth hormone (HGH), creatine, andro, etc.
Why Wearing Proper Footwear Matters - by Aaron Connolly
Simple, Fun Driveway Games... here are several fun games that you can play in your driveway.
Basketball Terminology... learn the language of the game.
Basketball History... Learn about the interesting history of the game.
See these basketball videos in the You Tube library:How to Maximize Basketball Skill Development
How to Enhance Basketball Abilities off the Court
Top 5 Mistakes Players Make When They Workout
Make Your Mark - Selecting a College... how to select a college.
Academics and the Student Athlete... academics from an athlete's perspective, dealing with time constraints, fatigue, stress.
When Individual Basketball Instruction Goes Too Far... having your own individual instructor or trainer.
Smaller Basketball Players: Perhaps the Best Athletes of All... by Tom Emma.
Dealing with Lack of Playing Time... by Tom Emma.
Having a Practice Program... how to practice correctly on your own.
Seven Benefits of Playing Multiple Sports... from Adam Eyal.
6 Benefits of Playing Sports in School... from Sarah Daren.
How Sports and Exercise Impact Your Health... from Sarah Daren.
Sports and Exercise Tips for Students... from Sarah Daren.
Playing AAU or Club Basketball... yes or no?
Why Doesn't Johnny Practice Any More?... from Paul Hoover.
Individual Shooting Work-Out... how to practice shooting on your own.
Conditioning... get in shape to play the game.
How to Improve Your Vertical... improve your jumping.
Alan Stein's Training Drills... strength, conditioning, warm-up and more drills from training expert Alan Stein.
Basketball Speed Starts with Stopping... by "The Speed Guy" Lee Taft.
Nutrition, What To Eat... have good nutrition. What players should eat.
Food Supplements... about food supplements, growth hormone (HGH), creatine, andro, etc.
Why Wearing Proper Footwear Matters - by Aaron Connolly
Simple, Fun Driveway Games... here are several fun games that you can play in your driveway.
Basketball Terminology... learn the language of the game.
Basketball History... Learn about the interesting history of the game.
- Basketball Post Drills
- Basketball Guard Drills
- Basketball Shooting Drills
- Basketball Dribbling Drills
- Basketball Passing Drills
- Basketball Defense Drills