Taking a Closer Look at the Basketball Court
A basketball court has symmetry; one half of the court is a mirror image of the other. The entire court (see Figure 1) is 94 feet by 50 feet. On each half-court, painted lines show the [more…]
Pressing the Opposing Team in Basketball
Press is short for pressure. Often called a full-court press, this is an attacking defense employed in the backcourt, where the objective is to force a turnover. Usually used after a made basket, the pressing [more…]
Developing a Fast Break Offense in Basketball
To fast break means simply to push the ball upcourt before the defense has a chance to set up. The key to running an effective fast break is to get the ball to the middle of the floor [more…]
What a Good Basketball Coach Says before the Game
As a basketball coach, what you say to your players before tip-off — and how you say it — can have a big impact on how they play the game. Here are some ideas about what to say to your team before a game [more…]
Dealing with a Ball Hog on Your Basketball Team
A ball hog — a player who hangs onto the ball for extended periods of time and always looks to shoot rather than pass — creates real problems for the entire team. For instance, a ball hog ignores open [more…]
Assessing Your Basketball Players' Skills
Playing basketball requires a broad range of skills. As a coach, being able to assess a youngster's strengths and weaknesses is crucial for determining where he best fits in your lineup. [more…]
Following a Basketball Game on TV
You'll get a lot more out of watching a basketball game on TV — or even live — if you do more than watch the ball go into the hoop. Check out these insider tips for catching the [more…]
Halftime Talks: Knowing Your Players' Personalities
Why do basketball coaches yell at halftime? Why do they throw things? [more…]
Modeling Good Sportsmanship as a Coach
As a youth basketball coach, teaching kids the importance of good sportsmanship can be challenging. What makes teaching (and modeling) good sportsmanship particularly tricky is that youngsters are bombarded [more…]
Discovering Great Places to Play Basketball
Although astronauts don't play basketball on the moon — the low force of gravity there would make for a fun game — hoops is played almost everywhere else. In prison yards. On ships. Chevy Chase's Fletch [more…]
