Three Takeaways from Pivot by Jenny Blake
I just read Pivot by Jenny Blake. Jenny details six steps that people should consider as they make career moves. It is not written in a specific sense for coaches, but it can certainly be applied.…
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Author: Mark Schruender
Six Steps to Improve Basketball Off-Season Goal-Setting
Last off-season I set out on an ambitious path with my off-season basketball goals. I was not one hundred percent successful in my quests, but I definitely improved as a coach and in my physical health.…
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Feedback from Outgoing Seniors on their Experience
Last year I asked some outgoing seniors to reflect on their experience playing basketball for four years. I decided to ask for feedback again this year from the outgoing seniors. What would you do differently if…
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Over 100 Takeaways from 50 Encounters with Books and Coaches
Tryouts begin the season tomorrow. Good luck this season to all coaches. I hope to keep posting, but priorities do get rearranged this time of year. Thank you to everyone who gave me their time and…
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Kevin Garnett Shell Drills and Unrequired Work
I just read Kevin Eastman’s book Why the Best Are the Best. My favorite anecdote from the book relates to players waiting on the sideline during practice. Eastman, a former Celtics assistant, tells the story of…
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Late Game Basketball Considerations at Villanova
After the skill work portion of practice, the entire practice was scored and competitive. And from the look of it, the teams were balanced with blue going against white. As a result, there were points in…
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What Villanova Emphasizes in Practice Drills
I wrote the other day about Villanova’s defensive skill progressions. That was only one drill during a three hour practice. Villanova allocated time to a variety of fundamentals in their brand of basketball. Among the skills…
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Villanova’s Half-Court Defensive Progression Drill
Villanova used three managers and coaches to go through six levels of progression in their half-court defense. Here they are labeled 2, 3, and 4. For teams without the luxury of three (or one) manager, players…
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Villanova Ball Screen Actions
For reader discretion this write up on Villanova ball screen actions is based on watching them during one practice. My interpretations might not be one hundred percent accurate with what their coaching staff would endorse. Take…
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Five Quotes from Phil Jackson on Focus
In his book, Eleven Rings, Phil Jackson helped clarify how to confront a team member that struggles with focus. There are two sources where lack of focus can occur. The first is on the competitive level.…
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