‘Thunder & Lightning’ trapping press unleashes relentless pressure

For a full-court press to be successful, you must continuously stress the importance of attitude and communication among players. We developed a full-court trap named “Thunder & Lightning” because thunder represents power, and lightning represents... more »

Coach Throwback: John Wooden shares his fast-break offense

Throughout the year, Coach & Athletic Director will go back 25 years to share some of our best articles from 1994. The publication, formerly Scholastic Coach magazine, is closing in on 89 years of production.... more »

Offensive fundamentals to guide teams to a title

Simple tips to free shooters and create more scoring opportunities It seems like not that long ago when our team won the Massachusetts Division I state championship. While... more »

Fan or funnel? Analyzing which man defense works best

How many times have you heard coaches shout during a key defensive possession, “Don’t give up the baseline!” It's a phrase that rings in every player’s ears at one time or another? Still, other coaches... more »

Developing a blue chip program without blue chip players

9 tips for building a team destined for long-term success I often hear coaches make excuses about not being able to get over the hump. How many times have you heard a coach say they... more »

Motivating Moments: Can you force players to be committed?

Commitment is the soul of teams everywhere. Without it, it's impossible to find success, regardless of talent. And with it, teams that might lack the physical strengths of other programs find ways to win. When... more »

Progressions to build your full-court man defense

The full-court, defensive slide zigzag drill is a program staple. It works on proper defensive ready positions, drop-step footwork, slides, and hand and body location. Here are some suggested progression to get even more out... more »

Motivating Moments: Ray Allen’s top-level preparation

Benjamin Franklin once said, "By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail." You can bet that was never an issue with NBA Hall-of-Famer Ray Allen. Allen made his mark by being one of the... more »

Winning Hoops’ most popular stories of 2018

Another year is in the books, which means it's time to look back at Winning Hoops' most popular stories from 2018. This year, coaches spent a lot of time researching strategies to beat zone defenses,... more »

5 tips to make your team banquet pop

Whether your team wins a championship or struggles mightily, the postseason banquet is extremely important to those within your program. That’s why coaches must carefully plan and execute the event to make sure the season... more »