5-0 offense, 5-0 defense every practice

When I was a player growing up, the only way you really learn the plays is by doing them EVERY single practice. Some call it “dummy offense” or “Five on 0”. If your players aren’t able to run the play without any one defending them, odds are they won’t be able to run the offense when somebody is. Position players in places they will most likely be during the game. If a player may play multiple positions, encourage them to pay attention and even have them run plays in those multiple positions.

At every level, we did dummy offense. From the first time I ran a play at the Boy’s Club through all my college career. The only way to improve, at anything in life, is through repetitions. Now it is your job as the coach to help the team improve pace, know the options of who is open and when and what to look for (what they can expect from defenses, spots to look for their teammate open, etc).

One thing many coaches don’t do well enough is to simply talk through their offense. Advise your team that the plays are merely a suggestion. The main thing they need to do is play. If nobody is guarding the ball, take it to the hole until somebody stops you. If a player is wide open under the goal on an inbounds pass or as you set up your offense, advise your team to get that player the ball and get the ball in the hole. Players are on the court while coaches are on the sidelines, those on the court must be the ones to participate and act out what is drawn up on the chalk board. The game of basketball is not too difficult, score more than the other team and your team will win the game. That simple. Oftentimes, especially with young players, coaches make things WAY TOO HARD. Encourage the kids to play, not always go just the way it was drawn up I the timeout.