There are t-shirts asking it, if you talk basketball invariable someone will ask, so why dunk? After all if you can only get 2 points for dunking why not shoot a 3? To this question I have many reply\’s the first being I work on my jump because I want to jump higher! Some people don\’t even play organized basketball; they play a little at the park or in the driveway or something. They don\’t care about threes; they might not even have a three point line. To them dunking is just something that they want to do to impress people and have fun.

There is nothing wrong with this so let\’s all just leave them alone and quit trying to preach fundamentals and shooting whenever they express interest in dunking.

Others people do play organized basketball. They do need to work in fundamentals like dribbling, defense and yes shooting. But we also have to remember that vertical jumping and dunking isn\’t necessarily the same thing. There are a lot of people that have increased their vertical jump and have seen improvements in their game without out dunking.

Good vertical jump training isn\’t just about jumping, it\’s about power. And increasing your power can make you faster, give you better first step quickness and do a whole lot more for your game.

Yes skill training is important and you can\’t make a great player in the weight room. But it\’s awfully hard to have a good player that doesn\’t send time in the weight room as well. There was a day when no one worried about strength so you didn\’t have to either. But no that everyone else is realizing that they can improve their “natural” physical abilities, you have to do this as well or risk getting left behind.

I don\’t think that it\’s a good idea for basketball players to get too hung up on power, but they do have to realize that it\’s very important and that it\’s also possible to increase it by a very large amount. Some people are blessed more than others when it comes to natural power. But we can all make improvements. And don\’t let some ignorant person tell you that increasing your vertical jump or improving power is the hardest thing in sports to do. Or that it\’s rocket science because it\’s not.

I will admit there are some similarities between rocket science and improving your vertical jump, they both involve power and trying to put as much distance between you and the ground as you can. But vertical jumping is way less complicated.

If you think of it as power training and not just vertical jump training then you can probably think of many reasons why it\’s important on your own. After all everyone likes more power. One area where pure vertical jumping does become a factor is at tryouts type events. Sometimes you have to perform a pure vertical jump and you will want to put up good numbers as some coaches are really impressed by someone that can jump well. That\’s because these coaches know that an athlete with a good vertical jump is powerful and can probably run and move very well.

And of course there are direct benefits to jumping high as well. First I have heard, and believe that positioning and timing are the most important things to rebounding. In fact some rebounds are picked up off the floor or on the bounce. In other words you don\’t have to jump well or even be big to rebound. But there are always a few rebounds that are grabbed because one guy out jumped everyone else. I even think that a good vertical jump can help make up for mistakes in the rebounding game. One example would be when you slightly misjudge the ball and are caught just out of position. An extra inch on your vertical can be the difference between snagging that ball despite the poor positioning or watching it graze off of your fingertips.

So yes you need to work on basketball fundamentals to be a good player. But you should also increase your power, even if you think that even after a good power increaser dunking will still be out of reach. Because power is about more than just dunking, even if that\’s power at its best.

Justan (or JW) has been working on his vertical jump for three years now. He has tried; Jumpsoles, Bionic Plyometrics, free weights, machines, plyometrics, medicine balls and The Vertical Jumpers Develpmental Bible. He has written about some of these methods on his website http://vert.2fear.com

In my current role as a mentor to coaches, I receive a lot of questions about practice and game strategies and ideas. Recently I was asked how to beat a team that switches screens in their man to man defense. There are five ideas that I’d like to share with you.

1. On ball screens–One of the most difficult defensive tasks is guard on ball screens. One way to attack a switching defense is to set on ball screens that will create mismatches. The Big/Little and Little/Big on ball screens will create constant matchup problems for the defense. It will be up to them how they choose to handle this situation.

2. Pass and Cut strategy–Instead of screening, pass and cut on every pass, not giving the defense a chance to switch. This will open the floor and allow your post players to gain good position in the block areas.

3. Run set plays. I think that sets are more difficult to switch than straight motion. Sets are designed to include many mismatch-type screens mentioned in #1. Motion screens are mainly between like sized players, making it easier for the defense to switch.

4. Back cutting–If you are down screening on the wing, the defense will anticipate a switch coming. Just before the point of the screen, the cutter can back cut hard to the basket. The question now is, who has the cutter? Does the original defender keep him, which goes against their switching policy, or does the screener’s man have him even though the cutter has not yet come into the defenders area.

5. Screen your own man–I know this sounds crazy, but think about this tactic. Suppose you made a pass to the left wing and down screen for a teammate on the right wing. As the cutter is about to use your screen, you screen YOUR OWN MAN. Why? Because he’s getting ready to switch onto the cutter, but he CAN’T because you are screening him. This will really confuse the defense as you are getting open easily on every screen. I have seen this work against very good man to man college teams so I know it is technically sound and a good strategy to go to against switching.

What makes the game great is all of the wrinkles and strategies that a coach can use. I hope this has given you some insight on how to attack and beat switching defenses.

Randy Brown has passion for the game of basketball. He works as a basketball consultant and mentor for coaches. Visit him at http://www.coachrb.com for free resources, Q & A, newsletter, and coaching programs. A speaker and writer, he has authored 75 articles on coaching and is nationally published. His 18 years in college basketball highlights a successful 23-year career. Mentored by Basketball Hall of Fame coach Lute Olson at Arizona. Resume includes positions at Arizona, Iowa State, Marquette, Drake, and Miami of Ohio, 5 Conference Championships and 5 NCAA appearances. His efforts have helped develop 12 NBA players including Steve Kerr, Sean Elliott, and Jaamal Tinsley. To contact Randy, email him at rb@coachrb.com

Coaching basketball defense is essential for all teams and organizations. Here is why.

Anyone can learn to play DEFENSE.

There are games when the shot is not falling. That happens. Yet a player can always play defense.

Here are some tips that I have passed on to young players.

Determination

Desire and hustle are a must for a good defensive player. You gotta love a player who never rests on defense. Any player can give effort like this on the court.

Hey - if you want to rest, rest on offense!

Position

Balance is crucial….keep your weight over the ball of your feet!

Keep feet spread about shoulder width apart. Defense is all about foot-work.

Use a somewhat crouched position, bend the knees more than the back.

Arms should be relaxed, slightly flexed, and kept moving.

Stay between your man and the basket.

Guarding the Dribbler

Use a fake to get a person to stop their dribble when he’s away from the basket.

Over play them to their strong side. Force them to go where you want them to go!

Keep palms up. Make deflection moves away from the dribblers body.

Don’t be “all over” your opponent. Be deceptive. Only attempt high-percentage steals.

Guarding the Shooter

Keep both hands up and moving.

Never leave the floor until after the shooter does.

Deflect the ball as the shooter brings it up from their dribble.

Vision (Use of the eyes)

Guarding the ball: Don’t look at the opponent’s eyes, don’t focus on the ball, LOOK AT THEIR BELLY BUTTON!

Guarding opponent without the ball: Focus on seeing your check and the ball at the same time. The closer they get to the basket, the closer you move towards your check.

Guarding the ALL-STAR Player

Don’t let them get the ball - DENY the pass in to them.

Take away their favorite spot!

Coaching basketball defense is vital for developing the complete player. Take the time to reinforce these concepts. It will pay off for your team.

For more on coaching youth sports, visit RTP Sports Camps.

Kent Janz is the founder of RTP Sports Camps. Having coached basketball for 15 years, it was time to teach others to do the same. RTP Sports Camps is all about helping youth develop a love for sports. By the way, we are looking for coaches in your area!

When coaching basketball offense it is key to first understand the principles of offense. Listed are 11 principles about coaching basketball offense that can be passed on your your players.

1. Always move to receive a pass. The offensive player should keep the defense busy watching the ball and the players by cutting and faking.

2. Quick, fast passes will keep the defense off-balance. Dribbling gives the defense time to get in a good defensive position. It is important for offensive players to be in a good, balanced position on receiving the pass so that a number of moves can be made.

3. Individual moves are important for each player to develop. These moves are then incorporated with other teammates’ moves for an effective team offense.

4. If an offensive player drives to the basket for a lay-up, all other offensive players should clear out of the area.

5. Floor balance is a basic key to winning basketball. All players must know when to enter a play situation or keep out.

6. Give and Go is the simplest offensive pattern. It is used in all offensive patterns, simple or complex.

7. The player with the ball should always be followed by a trailer for a safety pass backward if forward progression is blocked. Also, if the ball is intercepted, the trailer is ready for defense.

8. Never force a pass or shot if several defensive players converge on the ball. Turn and pass the ball back.

9. Move the ball out and around the top when moving the ball from one side of the court to the other.

10. On the shot, all offensive players should move into offensive rebounding positions ready to put the rebound up for another shot.

11. Screens or blocks create a situation with two offensive players against one defensive player. These are essential to learn.

For more on coaching youth sports, visit RTP Sports Camps.

Kent Janz is the founder of RTP Sports Camps. Having coached basketball for 15 years, it was time to teach others to do the same. RTP Sports Camps is all about helping youth develop a love for sports. By the way, we are looking for coaches in your area!

When it comes to teaching passing in basketball, it all starts with the Chest Pass.

I am not sure why this simple skill is missed, but for many kids, a good fundamental chest pass, or bounce pass or overhead pass is not part of their play book. You see, when kids watch good passers like Steve Nash or Jason Kidd, they see the finished product. What they fail to realize that good passers work on their game.

When Steve Nash jumps jumps in the air and hits Shawn Marion with a alley-oop, I can guarantee that this was not the first pass Steve Nash learned. When Jason Kidd throws a no look flip pass through four defenders, I can guarantee you that was not the first pass he learned.

It all comes with practice

The Chest Pass

Ball starts at the passers chest (hence the name). With both hands working together the ball is “snapped” towards the target.

It all ends with good follow-through. This means that after the ball is released, the palms are pointing outwards and the thumbs are pointing down. Power from this pass, and any pass, comes from the legs. By stepping towards the target power is generated.

The Bounce Pass

Like our first pass, the fundamental bounce pass starts at the chest. It is released like a the pass from the chest, it hits the target like the chest pass and power is generated through the legs like the that pass.

Here is the obvious difference. The bounce pass bounces in between the passer and the target. Now the key to teaching this pass is to tell beginners that the ball bounces about 2/3 of the way to the target. Here is why. The pass will generally slow down when it hits the floor. If it bounces too soon, the ball will lose its speed and be easier to steal.

This pass is most effective when passing through traffic. Good passers master it.

The Overhead Pass

Players sometimes need to pass the ball from above their heads. This is where this pass starts from instead of from the chest.

It still requires a follow-through. It still requires power to be generated from the legs. It just gives more options when passing around a defender.
Passing is a lost art in youth basketball. Practice it and you will stand out. Perfect and and you will be a star!

Kent Janz is the founder of RTP Sports Camps. Having coached basketball for 15 years, it was time to teach others to do the same. RTP Sports Camps is all about helping youth develop a love for sports. By the way, we are looking for coaches in your area!

For more on coaching youth sports, visit RTP Sports Camps

I work for an online sports paraphernalia company that offers a wide variety of basketball apparel and equipment. So much so that potential customers are often confused about what to buy and what will ultimately fit their needs. The majority of the confusion pertains to basketball standards, hoops and goals and what each entails. Well, here’s the skinny on each.

Basketball Standard: Basketball standards are the most expensive of the bunch. They can be either portable or stationary. When you think basketball standard you should think of the type of basketball system that is used in the NBA or out on the playground. Simply put, a basketball standard is the entire package - rim, backboard, net and pole.

Basketball Hoop: When little Johnny writes to Santa Claus telling him he wants a basketball hoop for Christmas, he means that he wants the entire package. However, a basketball hoop is not quite the entire package. A basketball hoop is the combination of a rim, net and backboard, but no pole. Think of your high school gym. Yes, you probably had a basketball standard in there somewhere which the basketball team most likely used for real games. But you also had basketball hoops on the surrounding walls. That is what a basketball hoop is - a rim, net and backboard that can be fastened to an already existing structure.

Basketball Goal: The name of this particular piece of equipment get its name from its intended purpose. The word goal is something you strive towards. In sports, the goal is usually the place where you score points. Well, the same is true in basketball. The goal is just another name for the rim.

When purchasing sporting equipment, it is good to know the difference between the various technical terms associated with each individual sport. If you don’t, you may unintentionally buy something which you did not want.

Nishan Wilde is VP of Sales at RobbinsSports.com, an online resource for Basketball Hoops, the Seiko S149 Stopwatch and the Ultrak L10 Lane Timer.

Want to learn to shoot a Basketball? Here are four “C’s” for good shooting.

Correctness and Consistency (What you do)

Concentration and Confidence (What you think)

SHOOTING HINTS

Focus your eyes on the rim - front, back middle does not matter - just focus.

Follow through in important on any type of shot.

Put good arch on the ball. It makes the hoop bigger and will soften your shot.

Your shot should have a soft back spin - about three turns for a free throw.

Always use the backboard consistently and not more than necessary.

Learn to shoot layups with either hand.

Pick a spot on the court and get deadly from there. Then pick another.

Develop one unstoppable offensive move. Master it and get another.

Always fake the defense into a position so you can take our favorite shot.

Never hesitate to take a good shot - unless a teammate has a better scoring position.

SHOOTING FORM

Hand position on the Ball

Index finger on should be on the middle of the ball. Use the valve as a guide

Don’t spread thumb too much. It tightens the wrist.

Keep our palm off the ball unless you have extremely small hands.

Your weak hand is used only for guide and control, not shooting.

Arm Position

From behind, the forearm, wrist and index finger should be basically in a straight vertical line that intersects the basket.

From the side, the wrist should be cocked back; forearm basically vertical and upper arm horizontal.

Shooting Free Throws

Position feet / foot one inch (2.5 cm) from the line.

Never leave the floor on your shot.

Become so consistent that you appear to be a machine.

For more on coaching Basketball or other sports, visit RTP Sports Camps.

Kent Janz is the founder of RTP Sports Camps. Having coached basketball for 15 years, it was time to teach others to do the same. RTP Sports Camps is all about helping youth develop a love for sports. By the way, we are looking for coaches in your area!

The behind the back dribble is really an effective skill to master for it easily blow pass your opponent when you use it. Notice the great ball players they have put a good foundation in their behind the back dribbling. The behind the back dribble happens when you want to shift easily from left to right or from left to right dribbling. Shifting in another direction by using the behind the back dribble from left to right or from right to left makes you a very shifty dribbler most especially when you use this when you are trapped in the direction you are going thru. You are in control of your dribbling and makes you harder to be anticipated where you are going. Behind the back dribble and behind the back pass are both effective skills if you have mastered it, so let me emphasize the great value of this dribbling technique.

First and foremost you have to understand that in basketball you just do not have to shoot and shoot but you also have to dribble as well in order to score closer and surely. Get this for instance an opponent tries to anticipate your dribbling and you cannot have enough space to move away from your opponent, so the best solution for this is to use the behind the back dribbling. By dribbling away through the behind the back dribble you can have body and ball control easily.

The behind the back dribble is an easy to master skill because it only takes a minute to learn it. It only takes a sunny side up egg to have it cook so does the behind the back dribble, it’s easy to learn yet effective for your offensive skills.

Here are some simple steps to follow in order to execute the behind the back dribble well:

1.) First, Bend your knees slightly.

2.) Second, dribble the ball at your right or left side as you prefer.

3.) Third, bounce the ball behind your back directly to the opposite side.

NOTE: If you are starting your dribble from the left, the ball should be coming from the left onto the right side and so does if your starting at your right it should be ending at your left side.

Trini F. Laspiñas is a former varsity player in H.S. at Saint Paul College Dumaguete and a collegiate varsity player at COSCA.

In any sports event, where athletes need to jump, vertical jump becomes one of the main key areas where improvement is required to compete with others. Jumping is an explosive movement, and can be improved with extensive training. Most of the basketball professionals, can achieve up to 28 to 34 inches of vertical jump, and this requires both strength and power along with dedicated exercises to reach that capability. You will need to first develop the kind of strength required, and than get on to the power exercises, which are more explosive in nature.

The two kinds of exercises - strength and power

To improve your vertical jump, you would need to go through two kinds of exercises: strength and power.
Strength exercises are softer, and are especially made up of controlled movements, such as squats and step-ups.
On the other hand, power exercises are more explosive. Power exercises should never be taken up without having completed the sufficient amount of strength exercises.

Strength exercises - How are they handled

Strength exercises make you stronger, and prepping you for the power sessions, which will ultimately improve your vertical jump. Strength exercises build within you the endurance that you need which ultimately aids and prepares you for power training. In such exercises, every muscle in the body has been categorized, for women as well as men. For example, there are sets of exercises where you can work-out on your chest, triceps, shoulder and abdominal muscles, while another set the exercises are meant for developing your biceps, back, the leg muscles. It becomes very necessary for you to breathe regularly and correctly while doing the exercises, and also avoid stressing your body. You should always do these exercises under instruction, and repeat the number of sets as suggested. You would need warm up before starting any exercise routine, making sure that you are wearing the right adaptations as required. As you exercise, you should have a spotter present who can help you with the manner in which particular exercise should be performed.

And now for some power exercises

Power exercises, on the other hand, are tougher and explosive. This should be done only after you acquire enough strength to withstand the stress of these kind of exercises. Power exercises provide you with a faster method of improving vertical jump. As an example, using a medicine ball for exercises has proven to be a great way to add those few inches to your vertical jump. However, holding medicine balls in your hands, you wouldn’t be in a position to swing your arms as you would want when you are taking a leap, and that will make it harder for you to perform.

While exercising for the improvement of vertical jump, you should increase your body weight with the help of extra weights on your ankle, or by wearing a weight plate. There are restrictions on your exercising performance when you do work-outs with medicine balls. But with weights worn on your body, you will have your arms free to do the jumping exercises. Weight lifting is another exercise which definitely contributes in increasing vertical jump. The primary muscles that start to react as you leap are your quads, hips, glutes, and calves. These are the muscles that get conditioned with power exercises. There are several weight lift exercises that improve these muscle conditions.

When you leap vertically, a very complex muscle movement happens in your body, which requires very close synchronization. The improvement of this synchronization results in improvement of your vertical jumping. The muscles involved require specific development through exercise trainings. The traditional exercises that we know, such as strength training, explosive types of weight lifting training, plyometrics, and Olympic lifting provide you with the right body conditioning to improve vertical jump.

Alex Dale is a fitness expert. You can find his fitness experiences and recommendations posted at the increase vertical jump blog. Just follow along as he posts his thoughts about the subject, and learn how to apply them to your life.

The excitement of the season is upon every high school coach in Ohio and around the country. The opening of practice is a time for optimism and excitement for the players and coach. This article will share with you the concept of developing the right mind-set for your team even before the initial practice is finished.

Through the years I have heard many coaches say that their players were just not tough enough. Initially, that is a true statement for most teams. The decision then is to accept these weaknesses within your team or construct a plan to slowly build these players into a championship unit. If I told you that even your mentally weakest player could develop toughness, would you be intrigued?

Building a mentally tough team is a minute by minute process. The coach that commits to building mental and physical toughness will yield positive results later in the season when toughness separates good teams from great ones. How can this happen in your gym this season?

Building toughness is based on the better concept. This concept says that whatever an athlete demonstrates in a practice setting, he can potentially do better. It is very important that players know and hear from their coach that they CAN do better. A common mistake is to form preconceived attitudes and ideas toward players before the season even starts. With this thinking comes the practice of dividing players into categories. This is a dangerous practice because it limits the growth and development of the individual.

The coaching staff conversation goes something like this: “We know Tommy and Vince are the only two guards we have that can bring the ball up against pressure. If one of those guys gets hurt, we are in real trouble. Not to mention of inability to shoot the ball from the perimeter. I know our perimeter guys wore out that Shoot-A-Way this summer, but I will believe it when I see it.” This coaching conversation sets up a difficult situation for this team.

Most likely the development of player skills and the confidence to put them into difficult situations will not be present on this team. The edge goes to the coach who keeps an open mind, develops players, and instills confidence in each player according to their ability. From the first stretching drill of the season a team can begin building the toughness it will need later in the season.

I will use an example to show the power of stretching players beyond their comfort zones. In the summer of 1975 as a high school player I attended a camp at Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa. Camps were not nearly as prevalent as they are today and this camp attracted many of the nations best coaches. This weeks main lecturer was Bob Knight of the University of Indiana. Coach Knight asked a young man to come out and execute a simple task to make a point to us all. The young man strutted out to Coach Knight with little urgency. He was gently told to run over to the corner and touch the end of a rope that was hanging down. The young man trotted over to the rope and touched it, returning with cockiness in his stride. (Coach Knight must have loved how this kid set up his example for him). Coach Knight, still in a calm voice told the young man that he did fine. Then he said, “Now this time I’d like you to do the same thing, except this time I want you to run as fast as you can! This scared kid jumped toward the rope with Knight inches behind him, screaming at him to go faster. In what seems like 3 second the young man returned to Knight totally scared and exhausted. “Now let me tell you what just happened,” Coach Knight mused. “The first attempt was at his speed and the last attempt was at MY speed! And this game must be played at my speed!” Point taken, Coach Knight. I stayed as far away from him as I could all day!

This story explains how players will work to a level most comfortable to them. This level of play, intensity and execution is a far cry from what you expect. Early in the season you can develop a climate of my speed that will foster hard play, toughness, and a resilience that will win a lot of games for you. Sounds great, does it not? Next are some insights into how you can make this happen in your gym this year.

1.) Accept the limitations and potential of each player. A good rule to follow is to tell your team that you will not ask them to do anything they are not capable of doing! You know what, Coach, your players are capable of doing GREAT things if you give them the opportunity.

2.) Physical toughness is developed during early practices through drill design and an emphasis on playing physical. It is a waste of time to talk about playing physical but not demanding it. Again, remember that each player is different and you cannot expect to have a team of equal physical endurance and toughness.

3.) Mental toughness comes from early practices and continues throughout the season. Three ways to create toughness in players is by:

a. Drills that are demanding but not complicated. Repetition of simple skills (blocking out) are a great way to test toughness. Mental toughness in a player comes out when he can block out 10 times out of 10. He may be slight in build and weight, but he can be your most mentally tough player.

b. Put players in difficult situations in practice. Because you can not control the game environment, you have to make your practices difficult. An example is a 3 vs. 3 rebounding drill where the defense must get three consecutive rebounds to rotate out of the drill. After 15 possessions the team will either have given in or rotated out. This is a golden teaching moment. Remind these three guys in the depths of exhaustion that they can give more and they can get out of the drill ONLY if they each give their best. This moment will provide an opportunity for each player and the collective team to gain an extra measure of mental toughness it did not have before. Practice is where toughness comes from.

c. Add components to drills that make them tougher than any game can create. When preparing for a ball control team while coaching at Iowa State, we had our defense guard for 45 seconds without breaking down. Once they did break down, (no vision, rotation, or communication) the possession started over. It took forever to get a perfect 45 second possession, but it proved that they could do it. In terms of their mental toughness it was a breakthrough because they approached a 15-25 second possession with a completely different perspective. This one drill made us a better defensive team and contributed to our team’s toughness.

4.) Evaluation of each player does not come from checking field goal efficiency or rebounding totals. Each player must be evaluated on how CLOSE to his potential he comes every day. Your best player can have an off night, and get 9 rebounds while your most limited player could play to his maximum potential and have 7 rebounds. Who do you challenge and who do you congratulate the next day in practice?

5.) Treat each practice as an investment into the next win or the next loss. Coaches say that games are won on the practice floor, but do we really construct practice to reflect this statement? Constantly remind your team where they were yesterday and where they are today. If true improvement and added toughness have been accomplished make sure they know this. Each day adds another layer of confidence and toughness to them. The combined efforts of all players can either build up or tear down the team. Peer pressure and encouragement come into play when individuals need a pick up. Use video tape of an average or bad practice to show the measurable improvement you are talking about.

In conclusion, I want to encourage each of you to embrace your team and the individuals on your team. Your job is to teach them, push them out of comfort levels, and to provide an environment for pushing their potential. I hope that some of this information can aid you as you begin building another team. Best wishes to all of you for a great season.

Randy Brown has passion for the game of basketball. He works as a basketball consultant and mentor for coaches. Visit him at http://www.coachrb.com for free resources, Q & A, newsletter, and coaching programs. A speaker and writer, he has authored 75 articles on coaching and is nationally published. His 18 years in college basketball highlights a successful 23-year career. Mentored by Basketball Hall of Fame coach Lute Olson at Arizona. Resume includes positions at Arizona, Iowa State, Marquette, Drake, and Miami of Ohio, 5 Conference Championships and 5 NCAA appearances. His efforts have helped develop 12 NBA players including Steve Kerr, Sean Elliott, and Jaamal Tinsley. To contact Randy, email him at rb@coachrb.com