Developing young players who adapt to the competition

Is it better to understand directions or learn how to read a map? The first gets you where you want to go, as long as you have someone who can tell you all the roads,... more »

How big-on-small screens give offenses a greater edge

Ball screens and countless types of off-the-ball screens are difficult enough for the opposition to defend. When offensive packages use those screens with different players at different locations, it’s even harder. One method that defenses... more »

Refining your communication skills

Skilled coaches always look for ways to improve themselves. This can be done in many ways, including developing better communication skills. Here are seven ways that coaches can use communication in developing team success. 1. Establish... more »

Good coaches ask great questions

The idea for this article comes from the book, “Good Leaders Ask Great Questions” by John Maxwell. It’s a wonderful book and I would strongly advise you to both read and take notes from it.... more »

Structuring a well-organized plan for practices

After more than 40 years of coaching high school basketball, it has become apparent to me the importance of having an organized practice plan. How a coach sets up his or her practices and how... more »

Strength training principles to get players ready for the season

About 25 years ago I was attending a basketball camp at Washington State University. I thought I was pretty good, but that was until I met a man named Kevin Eastman. If you’ve ever been... more »

10 concepts to become more defensive-minded

Coaches hear the phrase “defense wins championships” so often that they regard it as a cliché instead of the cornerstone of every successful basketball program. There are many types of defenses that can win —... more »

Support for high school shot clock going strong

This summer, my home state of Wisconsin became the latest to implement a shot clock for high school basketball. The change, which won’t take effect until the 2019-20 school year, was met with overwhelming support,... more »

Team culture wins the locker room

We spend countless hours on player evaluations, recruitment, practice preparation, scouting and film breakdown. Those tasks are time consuming but also necessary for our teams to be prepared and successful. But how much time do... more »

Five tips to create a positive practice environment

As leaders, we must strive to create a positive environment that allows our players to thrive. I take a lot of pride in the fact that my players enjoy practice. That doesn’t mean practice is... more »