Newsletter #322

This is for high school coaches with limited resources. College and pro teams have paid scouts, with all the latest technology, scouting and statistical apps, and film editing software.

But most high school coaches don't have all these perks. We had a very successful small town high school program (boys and girls), and this was our experience. We played each team in our conference twice (maybe three times including the post-season tournament). But usually we only scouted them once, and would just review our old game film of that opponent. We kept the stats and shooting charts from prior games and would review those.

Scouting can help in the post-season tournament when you haven't seen your next opponent yet. Coaches usually don't have time to drive long distances to scout a game, when they need to be at home either running practice or coaching their own game (frequently our games would be on the same night that future opponents played). Fortunately, we had a very dedicated person, who also did our game film, and he would go to those games, shoot film and make notes.

Scouting - what to look for - Earlier in my career, I would go scout a game armed with my clipboard and scouting forms and (later) an app. I would keep notes, writing things down as fast as I could, only to miss something that was happening on the court. Now I just watch and don't take notes until a time-out or stoppage of play. Doing this, I think I got a better feel for how the teams played, what their tendencies are, what they like to do, and who their best players are.

Here are the things to look for:

Tempo - do they like to fast-break, or slow things down? Are they quick in transition, or slow and methodical? Can they handle pressure and a press?

Offense - do they run a patterned offense like the flex, or more of a motion/read and react offense? Do they pick and roll a lot? Are they looking to shoot 3's, or do they try to pound it inside to their bigs? If you play zone defense, how do they attack it?

Defense - are they mainly man-to-man, or all zone defense (which one), or do they mix in both man and zone? Do they press - full-court or half-court trap? Do they sag back, or apply intense pressure?

Special plays - key out-of-bounds and key set plays.

Best players - who is their "go to guy" when the game is on the line? Who are their best shooters/scorers? Does their best player like to spot up outside, or will he dribble-drive, and does he/she go left or right? If they have a dominant post player, how will you defend him?

Weaknesses - can their point guard handle pressure? Who are their worst (and best) free-throw shooters?

Applying the Scouting Report

First, discuss it with your assistants.

In meeting with the team and watching game film, keep it simple. Don't overwhelm players with lots of details and statistical analysis. Less is more.

Take it to the gym... work on how you are going to defend that star post player, or how you are going deny and double-team their star shooter. If they play zone, work on your zone offense. If they press, practice your press offense.

One last word of caution - per coach John Wooden's advice, I would not change my game plan from what we usually do successfully to something else solely designed to stop our opponent. Let them change their style of play to try to stop you! Stay with what has worked for you, while making a few tweaks in how to defend their best players.

For more, see "Scouting Your Next Opponent".