Basketball Practice Planning Techniques Revealed

    CHICAGO, IL, November 26, 2010 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Pat Anderson has devoted his life to coaching youth basketball. Whether playing or coaching, he has dedicated years to understanding the fundamentals of the sport.

Now he passes his knowledge on to coaches interested in widening their approach and further developing their teams. Here he uses his experience to provide insight into planning a season successfully, from start to finish.

Coach Anderson states that while season planning is essential in the success of a team, it is often neglected by coaches. He stresses the importance of having a plan and suggests using these tips as a template. However, Anderson acknowledges that being flexible to the needs of the team and irregularities of the season is necessary and that coaches should be prepared to adapt.

Anderson starts with four points that coaches should keep in mind throughout the season. First, when holding tryouts and choosing starting players, look for long arms. Reach and jumping ability can often be more important than height.

Second, communicate the schedule to the team and stay true to the plan. Players feel more secure when they know what to expect, and they will respect the coach for maintaining a stable environment.

Third, follow through the commitment for communication by having each player say hello when they come to practice. Coaches should make eye contact and interact with players on a consistent basis to keep those lines of communication open.

Finally, make sure older players commit to a weight or strength training program throughout the season. Strong players will have better endurance and more powerful performance on the court.

When it comes to the first half of the season, Anderson stresses developing offense and defense strategies. Focus on man-to-man and zone defenses, and practice one to two offenses to go against each defense. Emphasize the importance of developing defense and rebounding skills, which require a lot of effort but will be valuable throughout the season.

For the second half of the season, Coach Anderson suggests working on specific approaches to opposing teams. At this point, coaches should know what strengths and weaknesses they will be facing against each team on the court. By preparing the team for particular types of players and strategies, they can better anticipate the opposing team's moves and feel more confident on the court.

For more information on season-planning and tips for coaching youth basketball, visit Coach Anderson's website at:

http://www.online-basketball-drills.com

Coach Pat Anderson is a youth basketball writer and the publisher of online-basketball-drills.com, the web's #1 resource for free basketball drills, plays and coaching tips.

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