I'm Helping You, Coach!

Motivation with Drills

As a coach I always find one of the most challenging parts of my job is keeping the players motivated.  One of the best ways I have found for doing this is to vary the drills I use in practice.

Drills can be designed to incorporate and train any combination of offensive skills in basketball. 

I have found that drills are often overlooked as an asset in coaching.  No matter where I am coaching whether at a clinic, or watching the practice of a club in Europe, South America, an NCAA or high school team. I see that coaches around the world often get into a routine of the same drills every practice.  If a drill becomes routine, then the players will lose interest and focus. 

I was inspired to write this book after coaching a group of professional players in the Euro2003 tournament in Spain. The players were from all over the world and they responded enthusiastically to my drills.  Other coaches who attended the tournament also said my drills were unique and asked me to share my techniques with them.

Drills have great potential for training fundamentals as well as for maintaining motivation.  Drills can generate enthusiasm and excitement among the players because drills move in a rhythm and generate energy into the practice.  Running drills is energizing and fun.

The execution of moves and shots in a drill at game speed is similar to execution in a game, so drills provide excellent training. The rhythmic flow of the drills allows communication and timing to build into teamwork and be used by the players.  This type of focus is what is required to win games.  The rhythmic flow that we train with is critical in the fast break, and in all aspects of the game. Drills train both fundamental skills, as well as the instincts of timing, coordination and teamwork needed in basketball. 

What I find is that by teaching and running a wide variety of drills, and periodically incorporating new drills, this improves the player’s attention and focus in practice.  When a coach uses a variety of drills, this challenges the players and keeps their interest and motivation.

Drills provide a powerful opportunity for coaches because they combine so many important elements of training at once.  Drills can train all fundamental skills.  They train the team to work together in speed, agility and execution.  The flowing repetition of the drills allows the training to become second nature to the players.  Using new and varied drills and incorporating them into our practices, we train a wide variety of fundamental skills and variations on basic offensive plays like the fast break.

Teaching Drills

During my basketball clinics I show in detail how to teach and introduce new drills.

New drills should be presented early in the practice period before the players become too tired and their learning process is slowed down.  The purpose of every drill should be explained, so the players know what they are working on.

Each practice should use a variety of drills.  The same drill should not be continued too long.  It is better to have several different drills for the same purpose. 

Drills should be as focused and competitive as possible and should simulate game conditions whenever possible.

Practice

The most important part of coaching is what you do in practice. Whatever you do in practice is going to be reflected in your games.  The better you practice, the better you are going to play.  Practice should be focused, intense, and still be fun.  

Practice must be active and purposeful for maximum learning to occur. After a skill has been learned correctly, the players should practice the moves at game speeds.  We can do this with drills.  Drills allow us to maximize our practice time by training many different skills, in different ways, in the constant flow of the drill. 

The drills in this book emphasize shooting, conditioning and ballhandling on the run at game speed, as well as, the fundamentals of the fast break.

Daily practice is something we as ball players love. This is where both players and coaches can excel and improvise their game.  The coaches must set the example for intensity, concentration and execution in practice and in the games. 

Practice time is something we seem to never have enough of. Drills allow us to maximize our practice time as well as our coaching staff.  The assistant coaches can teach new drills and run the team though sets of drills. 

When we use a variety of drills, practice can move from drill to drill, providing structure for the practice session.  This helps to organize the practice and keep it moving forward.

When drills are run well, they seem to build up energy, intensity and excitement in the team.  Drills train the quick responses and the timing in the execution of moves that improves the total game. 

Before you head back to the locker room, end practice with a drill that leaves both the players