Drills and plays to win in the game’s final seconds

The final seconds of a tightly contested game show the character and preparedness of your team. Typically, chaos ensues and a player fires up a shot from a spot on the floor that has little... more »

’22’ half-court press smothers ball handlers

The "22” is a highly effective 2-2-1 half-court press defense. It has turned some of my average defensive teams into ball-hawking defensive squads. There are many benefits to running the “22.” It disrupts the opposing team’s... more »

Using interior screens to bust zone defenses

No matter where you turn, there’s someone talking about ways to beat a man-to-man defenses. Sit down with some coaches or attend a clinic, and if you’re talking about defense, the strategic emphasis is typically... more »

An aggressive 1-3-1 zone for trap, half-court defenses

Initially, our 1-3-1 zone was intended to serve as a half-court trap in a multiple defense package. When the trap was broken, our players were instructed to fall back into another half-court defense, such as... more »

Steve Prohm’s defensive stance & closeout drills

* Editor's note: Steve Prohm shared these drills with Winning Hoops in 2012, when he was the head coach of the Murray State men’s basketball team. Iowa State men's basketball coach Steve Prohm believes in... more »

Better blueprints for running a successful basketball program

One facet of coaching that must be addressed more often is the process of establishing a successful program. The product of all your hard work, of course, is the team and how it performs in... more »

Modifying the read & react offense to fit your team

The read and react offense is one of the more popular offensive philosophies in basketball programs. It teaches players to play with principle rather than learn set plays. Photo: Anthony Langley,... more »

Superior Performance: selecting the best flooring for your sports facility

{Sponsored} Since 1897, members of the Maple Flooring Manufacturers Association (MFMA) have been dedicated to producing some of the highest quality sports flooring systems throughout the world. And when it comes to deciding on your... more »

Learning the ‘Demon’ controlled motion offense

Installing a new offense is never easy. Motion offenses are increasingly popular, but what if you're concerned the players can’t make all the proper reads? Another concern for coaches is lack of a true post... more »

Phil Martelli’s warmup drills to prep players for practice

Our team starts every practice with a drill that serves as a great warmup routine. During warmup drills, time your players and give them a specific goal. Once your players meet the time and goal,... more »