basketball plays

October 6, 2016

Physically preparing athletes for the season ahead

Most people want to be given a plan, but I think it would help more in the long run to give coaches the principles to build their own performance programs moving forward. Here are three keys to getting players ready for the season: Build a plan t...


September 1, 2016

‘Fanorak’ app promotes fan attendance

Athletic director Ryan Anderson has big, interactive ideas about growing high school fan support. And with the help of a few of his students at Menomonee Falls High School (Wisconsin), he's been able to do just that. Students Connor Schmidt, Jonatha...


September 1, 2016

Training Never Ends

Across the country, countless players have been putting in work to prepare for the upcoming season. Meanwhile, coaches are eager to see how all the pieces will come together to develop their teams. A new season is an epoch of sorts. It marks a very ...


January 13, 2016

Making the case for cuts

One of the most difficult times for any coach is tryouts. Some schools have programs where the numbers dictate the need for making cuts. No coach enjoys this part of the job — not a single one. Making cuts is not only difficult for athletes and par...


January 13, 2014

Hurricane watch

Miami was the only team to beat Duke last season and miss the NCAA Tournament, a fact that still haunts coach Jim Larrañaga. His Hurricanes manhandled college basketball's best team on its home floor, finishing with a winning record in arguably the ...


January 13, 2014

Transfer epidemic has no easy cure

Few things are more frustrating in the game of basketball right now than the transfer epidemic that has plagued the high school and college levels. It's hard to believe when you look at how troublesome it has become, but 15 years ago this wasn't even...


January 13, 2014

How Jim Crutchfield created one of basketball’s most explosive offenses at West Liberty

There's no telling what coaches might give to learn the secrets behind West Liberty's high-octane offense, but none of it would matter. You can't have them. It's not that men's basketball coach Jim Crutchfield isn't willing to help his colleagues. T...


January 13, 2014

Prevent ‘Hack-a-Shaq’ with better coaching

Free throws are not difficult, and any basketball player who commits a moderate level of their time practicing them should be "average" at worst. The distance doesn't change, defense is nonexistent — it doesn't get easier. Nobody needs me to stand...