Basketball Fundamentals - Player Tips and Development

From the Coach’s Clipboard Basketball Playbook, @ www.coachesclipboard.net

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 Player Development, conditioning, training and nutrition that are just as important.

Basketball Player Fundamentals

Footwork Fundamentals... triple threat position, pivoting, defensive stance and slides, jab step, cutting, jump-stop, etc.

Ball-Handling... ball-handling tips and drills.

Dribbling and Dribble-Moves... all players must learn to dribble well.

Passing Fundamentals... good passing is key.

Teaching/Learning How to Shoot... teach your players how to shoot correctly.

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.

Jump-Shot... teaching how to shoot the jump-shot.

Hook-Shot... teaching how to shoot the classic hook-shot, the sky-hook and the jump-hook.

Free-Throw Shooting Techniques... good free-throw shooting will win those close games for you.

Correct Lay-up Technique... correct footwork and technique will result in players "finishing" more often.

Offensive Tips for Players... basic, simple offensive tips.

Guard Moves and Skills... how to play on the perimeter, triple-treat, jab step moves, attacking the defender, cutting, etc.

Playing the Point Guard Position ... tips for point guards.

Post-Player Fundamentals... playing the low and high post, and short corner.

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.

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.

Man-to-Man Defensive Techniques... teach on-ball defense, deny, helpside, etc.

Rebounding... box-out, defensive and offensive rebounding, free-throw rebounding.

Player Development

How to Make the Team, Try-Outs... what coaches are looking for in try-outs.

Things to Think About... a few things players should consider.

Attitude, the "Right Stuff"... having the correct attitude.

When you don't have the ball... what to do when you don't have the ball (most of the time).

The Exceptional Player... what makes a good player great.

The Role Player... good role players who can come off the bench are a tremendous asset to any team.

Other Stuff for Players

Academics and the Student Athlete... academics from an athlete's perspective, dealing with time constraints, fatigue, stress.

Having a Practice Program... how to practice correctly on your own.

Individual Shooting Work-Out... individual shooting practice work-out for players.

Conditioning... get in shape to play the game.

Nutrition, What To Eat... have good nutrition. What players should eat.

Food Supplements... about food supplements, growth hormone (HCG), creatine, andro, etc.

Basketball Terminology... learn the language of the game.

Basketball History... Learn about the interesting history of the game.

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