Todays' Practice Plan

Today's post is to give you an idea of what Allison and Mike McNeill had for a practice plan for the NEDA girls. I have described the drills and given the emphasis listed on the practice plan as well as the actual points that came out of executing the drill.

February 8th, 2007

7:15 am Warmup
7:30 am Creative Layups

Description: Players start in a line at the wing, each with a ball. Players drive game-speed to the hoop practicing different styles & angles of layups.

Emphasis: ginobili layups (weaving steps)
fake pass layup
reverse layup
hook layup


7:35 am 6 spot shooting

Description: 2 lines are needed, one with balls, the other without. 6 spots on the floor to shoot from, 3 on each side. First time, line without balls starts from near center, vertically aligned with the swing spot (edge of the wide key). They sprint in and receive a pass from the other line, which is in the corner. Goal is to simulate transition jump shot.

Second time, lines are at each wing spot (foul line extended - 3 point line). Same idea, using inside foot pivots this time.

Last time, one line is in the corner (outside the three), the other is at the opposite swing. Player sprints up as if coming off a down screen and shoot using inside pivot.

Same spots on the other side of the floor are used.

Emphasis: Quick 1-2 footwork on inside pivot.
If throwing a pass to a curling player, throw it to their inside shoulder so that they catch it in their shot pocket.


7:45 am 3 player weave with a runner

Description: 4 lines on the baseline. Three players weave to the other end, the other sprints to the far basket. When the sprinter is at the right spot, the weavers pass the ball. She does a layup and begins to sprint the other way. Weavers get the rebound and weave back. All players have to sprint to finish the drill in the key.

Emphasis: Head up - pass the ball in rhythym
Pass is better early than late
Can alter this to 2 on 2 on the way back (shooter & passer play defense)


7:50 am Contest the shot drill

Description: Groups of 2. One player at the edge of their shooting range, one defender with the ball starts under the hoop. Player with the ball passes to offense and sprints to a close-out. Offense has the shot or one dribble. Players switch positions after the shot is taken (no box out). You get one point for a score and -2 if your rebound bounces twice before you get it.

Emphasis: If closing out on what you think is a shot, don't run right at the shooter, run slightly to the shooting hand side so you can run by them instead of running into them.
Dribble jumper shooting % is way lower than stand and catch shooting %


7:55 am Dribble Hand-offs

Description: Groups of three at a basket. All three players are on offense. Pass the ball from swing to swing and the reciever will do a "dribble-at" with the wing on her side. Coaches give reads.

Emphasis: Drag the arc before coming off the dribble hand-off
Player with the ball dribbles at the inside of her teammate's defender (the coach)
Run right at the dribbler's nose to force the defener to give you a read.
Come hip to hip off of the handoff.

Reads: Defender tries to "muscle it" or "cheat" over top - cutter goes back door
Defender trails - curl around and go to the hoop
Defender goes underneath the hand-off - pop and either shoot, or attack the closeout, opposite of the way the defender recovers around the handoff.


8:05 am 3 on 3 end line

Description: 3 players on offense outside the 3 point line. 3 on defense under the hoop. Rest of players are out of bounds on the baseline. Coach has the ball under the basket and passes out to one of the offensive players. Defenders close out and play live 3 on 3. Just a different way to get into playing 3 on 3.

Emphasis: Patience - we want 2 good screening acions
Work on the handoffs
Work on post triangles
Attack!


8:15 am Defensive footwork - wave series - hip turns

Description: Players start all in the half court facing the coach with plenty of space.

Emphasis: Work on hip turn defensive footwork
Hips remain the same level
push with your back leg, not pull with your front leg


8:22 am Defending ball screens

Description: Groups of 4 - 2 on 2 working on the details of going over-under on a ball pick.


8:30 am 5 on 5 - 1.5 drill

Description: 5 on 5 that starts from half court. You play at one end, transition to the other end, and transition back. Then the drill stops and we reset with the other team starting on offense. One team gets 2 offensive possessions, the other teams gets 1 offensive possession each time. It ends up being a more controlled scrimmage.




By this time it was 9:15 and time for the girls to get ready for school.

I could do a whole post on the hip turns, the dribble handoffs and over/under on ball picks. Some day I probably will.

A few tidbits that came out of the coaches mouths were:

2 bad decisions in a 24 second shot clock means that you are getting a bad shot.

The offense starts as soon as you get down the floor. Don't wait for the ball to be dribbled into the swing before starting any action. Movement!

We as a group need to get better at finding our team's advantage and using it. Sometimes we tend to play "equal opportunity" offense when that isn't your best chance of scoring or your most intellignet way.

Long one today, fingers are cramped.