Sports have been a big entertainment for all types of people. Little children, teenagers, and adults all love playing and watching sports. Basketball is full of fundamentals and techniques that have helped the game become more fast paced and exciting. Practice is required to develop fundamentals and technique. Coaches try to reinforce and improve skills to achieve their main goal, which is winning. Coaching teaches people of all ages to learn and have fun playing the game. Coaching basketball teaches fundamentals, drills , and the preparation for practice and game.
Coaching requires teaching the basics before any drills or set plays come into play. Fundamentals are very important in basketball because there are so many different skills that are used to play the game. Dribbling is the main part of basketball because it is how a player moves from one court to the other. Dribbling requires the bouncing of the ball with one hand while the other protects the ball. It is very important for some players to be able to dribble the ball better than others, but everyone on the team should have good dribbling skills.
Another very important skill of basketball is passing. Passing is a good way to move the ball by bouncing and throwing it to other teammates. Being unselfish is a big part of passing. Moving the ball around makes for a winning team because if a team is selfish, the other team can take one man out a lot easier than a whole team.
Rebounding can win or lose a ball game in a very silent way. It is very important on both, the offensive and defensive sides because it is good way for a team to keep possesion of the ball . Rebounding means grabbing the ball after the opposing team has shot the basketball. A rebounder can be short or small but has to use their instinct to determine how the ball will bounce of the boards. Blocking out is one of the techniques used to get rebounds. It requires the offensive or defensive player to plant both of his legs in a balanced position in front of the other team. (Sullivan 65). This makes it easier to get rebounds because the player that blocks out makes it unable for the other player to get the ball. Rebounds are important on the offensive glass because the rebounder can just put the ball right back in the hoop for points. Sitting under the hoop waiting for the board is a good way for some players to make a living.
The most important fundamental in basketball is shooting. This requires lots of practice and repetition because this is how the game is won. Coaches that stress the right shooting technique will win more basketball games. "High shooting percentages means that players make a lot of the shots that they attempted." (Reinhart 23). There are many different types of shots that should be taught, such as the jump shot, the dunk, lay in, and free throw shot. The jump shot has changed the game today.
While shooting a jump shot, knees should be bent and weight distributed evenly over the balls of the feet. Jump straight up as high as possible, while carrying the ball into position above the head and shoulders with both hands. The ball is released with a forearm wrist and a finger snap. (Hartley 80)
Coaches have to work on these fundamentals of the jump shot to make each player an outside threat. This shot has turned the game into a three-point and outside game.
Another shot, the dunk shot, has made the game more exciting to the fans. Dunking is throwing the ball through the hoop with some force. "Shaquille O Neil and Alonzo Mourning use the dunk as their main force unlike the great centers of old like Kareem Abdul Jabaar and Bill Russell." (Newman 85).
The lay in was a shot that was the important shot, in the 60Æs and 70Æs. This is a shot of finesse that was respectable for the game. The lay in is a shot that requires being close to the basket and shooting it in with a finger roll or by shooting of the backboard. (Finney 25).
A shot that some people think is not very important is the free throw shot. The free throw shot is a big part in winning a game. A team that shoots well from the free throw line is very effective on the offensive end. A team that wins close games usually has a great free throw percentage. Repetition is key to developing the right technique and increasing the percentage.
Screening is a very effective way for a team to develop their offense. A screen occurs when a player blocks the path of an opponent without touching him. A player can get his defender off by having a screen set so that he can get open for a shot. Even players without the ball can have their opponents screened so that they can break free for a pass. It is important for a ball handler that his defender sets screens so he can get out of tight situations.
Footwork is the basis for all the fundamentals that are learned in basketball. It is important that the body is balanced in any type fundamental in basketball. When guarding an opponent it is important to have good lateral movement. Staying low is also important when playing defense because it means being more quick from side to side. (Hartley 114). Being quick from side to side can make any player a good defender. Pivoting is another part of footwork that has to be mastered in order to turn on one foot. Pivoting requires one foot to stay planted on the floor and the other foot can swing right or left to avoid defenders. It becomes important in passing because sometimes offensive players get in trouble they need to move by protecting the ball in the way of pivoting.
Fundamentals play a big part in drills that coaches draw up for practice. Drills play an important role for a coach because they increase their teams skills in the area of the drill. Drills take a lot of researching depending on what type of team that the coach has. For instance, if the coach has a small team, speed and quickness must be emphasized in the drills. Learning from other coaches is another form of research. Watching high school, college, or pro coaches use their techniques helps a coach learn how others operate. Sometimes coaches can learn different drills from other teams that run the same type of systems. Once the drills have been researched by the coaches they are drawn up on chalkboards. This is done so that the players can see how the drills come in to play in their offense. It is easier for players to see how the drill is done visually rather than just hearing it.
Demonstrating these drills has to be done properly and effectively. "Proper teaching techniques should be used in drills, explaining the mechanics of the drill and how it comes into play during a game." (Cousy 45). It is important for the players to know what this drill is trying to do. Teaching a drill has to interest the players otherwise they will not perform it correctly. The drills have to be explained with precisly and effectively so that the players are kept interested and still learn the importance of the drill. It is important that all the players are involved in the drill in some sort of way. Players have to be kept occupied by either watching the other players perform the drill or performing the drill.
Running drills has to develop skills that a team needs to work on. The drills are used in developing the winning team. The drills increase skills by repetition. Drills such as the tired free throw drill make for game situation type play. "Players run for 3 or 4 minutes then line up at the free throw line and shoot free throws." (Jeremiah 146). This drill gets the players atoned for what it will be like during the game.
Drills have to be performed and researched with lots of preparation. The coach has to be prepared for practice and game. The team should have weekly objectives so that each week something can be accomplished for the next game. (Cousy 20) He must study the players on his team so the offense and defense can be set up. The offense has to be set on what type of players a team has. While running a practice a coach has to find what type of plays should be ran for the team. Offensive plays can be crucial in clutch game situation.
The point guard is a very unselfish player that picks up the tempo or slows it down depending on the situation. (Sullivan 90). This position is very crucial to the team because this player calls the plays and sets both the offense and defense during the game. The point guard has to be an exceptional ball handler that can drive and spot the open man from anywhere on the court. The shooting guard is the guy to go to in the clutch. This position requires a sharp shooter that can drain the outside shot. They have to be quick and be able to drive to the hoop. The small forwards have to drive the basket with their size and quickness. They are strong outside shooters and sometimes can cross over to a guard position. The power forwards are the power man that can work their way inside and they are also a key rebounder. They are also a key player on the defensive end with their size and shot blocking ability.
"Not only are forwards taller than they used to be, theyÆre much more versatile. They have taken over what used to be the centerÆs chief role" (Sullivan 85).
The center is the big part of a teamÆs offense and defense. Rebounding and blocking shots are their key duties. Centers are also big offensive threats from inside or outside. (Sullivan 83).
Defense is key to win a game, for any type of team. A team with no defense cannot focus on their offensive side of the game. Their are many type of defense such as zones and man to man. A man to man defense is most commonly used to match up against the other team individually. In this defense the players have to be quick and anticipate their opponentÆs move. This keeps teams from being wide open and shooting from the perimeter. Zones are sometimes used when teams need to trap teams and make them be unselfish with the ball. Changing defenses during games keeps the other team on their toes. They have to adjust to what ever defense that is put up against them. The coach has to adjust his teamÆs defense on what caliber team he is facing. If another team has a Michael Jordan type player, it is the coachÆs job to make his players adjust to the defense that will stop this threat.
Mental attitude is a must for any kind of athlete, especially in basketball. Making the game fun is key for people at any ages. If the game of basketball is made fun to people, they have more interest in the game and the will to win. Winning is an attitude that should be a part of a team. If there is no winning attitude on a team, they have no life and effort to get better at the game. Setting down before a game is essential because relaxation makes the game of basketball a lot easier to play. Each player has to find something in themselves that they contribute to the team. Whether it be a vocal role, encouraging teammates on the bench or a key role on the court that will help the team win the game.
Coaching basketball requires a lot of hard work and preparation. This hard work requires the teaching of fundamentals and drills that are essential to play the game. This game requires repetition in these drills and fundamentals because teamwork is a big part of basketball. Practice shows in a game because it shows what the team has worked on to be the best they can be. The preparation for a game requires a lot of studying to form a stragedy against the opponents. Teams that have good attitude show that their coach teaches discipline and respect for the game of basketball. Basketball is a game that is very important to many people around the world, not only in playing but watching too. Coaching no matter what the sport is very time consuming and requires patience with the team and the surrounding community. Little children and adults all love to watch and play these wonderful sports all around the world. It is the basis of our society today, kids look at sports for recognition and something to get involved in. Sports give entertainment for the whole world and inspire people to achieve to be the best they can be.
