Observations from Practice
- High level of organization
- All drills run to time, no drill goes over time
- Quick transition from drill to drill
- Multiple repetition of fundamentals in short periods of time
- Assistant coaches provide a high level of “on the run” instruction, Coach Williams speaks to the players as a group regularly during practice
- Emphasis on sprinting the floor on transition, not simply running
University of North Carolina – Men’s team practice 21.10.03
7 minutes – Shooting form, using eight baskets
10 minutes – Trainer-led stretching
10 minutes – Individual fundamental breakdowns
Guards & swings –
- Catch and square-up off the “spin out” from the base-line (no shot)
- Catch and shoot the 5 metre shot off the “spin out” from the baseline
- 1 dribble jump shot to the base-line off the “spin out” from the baseline
- 1 dribble jump shot to the middle off the “spin out” from the baseline
- Jump shot off the crossover dribble
- 1 v 1 forward lead/post feed
Post players –
- No dribble moves – jump hooks to the middle/turnaround jump shots
- Power moves – drop step middle and baseline
- Turn and face shots off reverse pivot
- Turn and face 1 dribble moves
- Trail position shooting
- 1 v 1 post positioning – feel and react – coach feed
5 minutes – Secondary break breakdowns
- 3 v 2 plus two coaches as feeders
- Emphasis on running post creating position
- Up screen for trail post player
3 minutes – 3 man transition drill
- 3 man break – no dribble
- Coach or defender back at foul-line to force decisions
- Break into lay-up, weak-side player is in-bounder, centre player breaks to side-line
- Outlet is thrown to side-line, ball is thrown overhead down the sideline
3 minutes – 3 v 2/2 v 1 continuous drill
- Coach shoots, rebound and run – no dribble
- 3 v 2, passer attacks ball-side elbow on pass to wing
- On score or defensive rebound, 2 v 1 on return trip (highest man back on defense) – no dribble
4 minutes - Secondary break organization – numerical advantage drill
- 5 offensive players rebound shot and run secondary break
- 5 defensive players at mid-court sideline
- On rebound, coach nominates how many defensive players sprint into court to guard break
8 minutes – Defensive breakdown stations (2.30 minutes per station)
- Station One – wing denial (coach feed)
- Station Two – 1 v 1 channel from a wing (call “sideline”, no middle)
- Station Three – 1 v 1 box-out (coach shot)
6 minutes – 4 v 4 defensive positioning (Shell drill)
- Groups of 4, third group shoots with coach at other end of floor
- Deny one pass away
- Handle down screens (through on down screens_
- Force side-line/baseline on penetration
10 minutes – Defensive stations
- Station One – 3 v 3 talking – continuous movement by offense, down and up screens, defense had to continue to work and handle cutting/screening action (no shots by offense)
- Station Two – Deny and switch at top of key (coach feed)
- Station Three – Lateral screens – hard show, get through on screens
12 minutes – 5 v 5 defense
- Defensive rules – no middle, communication, deny one pass away, box out
- ½ court
- Full court
8 minutes – Defending the underneath out of bounds
- 5 man takes the basket, stays with in-bounding player for that possession or until switch can take place
- Adjust match-ups “down the line”
10 minutes – Up and backs – secondary break into free-lance offense
10 minutes – Full court “catch and pass”
- 4 basketballs
- Player passes ball to coach at sideline, receives it back
- Passes to second coach in front court, receives it back
- Second coach nominates what type of shot player executes – dunk, lay-up, jump-shot from 45, 3-point shot
- Continuous drill
5 minutes – 115 in 4 minutes – full court passing/shooting drill
- 3 man break (no dribble)
- Trail players run down and receive pass from base-line players for jump shot
- Base-line players then break with lay-up shooter
- Continuous drill
- 115 made baskets in 4 minutes
10 minutes – Trainer-led stretching