On Becoming a Shooter

To become a competent shooter, there is no substitute for repetition. But it's not just taking shots, it's working on proper technique and more.

I've posted some video of great shooters like Ray Allen and great scorers like Bill Bradley and Pete Maravich, but ultimately you have to be yourself. What great scorers have in common is a variety of weapons to score.

We've talked about developing the outside game (perimeter shooting), inside game (post for bigs, drives for perimeter players), and the role of the intermediate (mid-range) game. See the video below.


In addition to practicing from different 'zones' or 'spots' I'd encourage the following.

• 100 free throws a day, recording the results
• Extensive practice using the backboard, particularly in close
• Shooting off the catch (practice in pairs)...
• Shooting after a pump fake (small percentage of shots)
• Shooting after one dribble used to create separation.
• Shooting the "pull-up" jump shot.

The coaches have seen some impressive improvement in a number of the girls, but encourage players to remember that it's different to make it happen in a game because of either taller or quicker defenders. That's why we encourage you to work on your jumping and getting the shots off more quickly. We will help you work on all aspects of your game...but only you can translate practice into results. 

Getting After It

How much do the young players want to improve? On a 'smoky/hazy' Memorial Day, 21 girls came to work out at a skill building session at the Common.

Ralph Labella puts them through their defensive footwork drill.
______________________________________

Ballhandling drills receive special attention for both the perimeter and the post players.

Understanding the Game

Although 'transition' basketball (fast break offense) is our chosen style, we hope to teach our young players fundamental principles associated with good 'half-court offense' otherwise known as 'plays' or 'set offenses'.

I'd encourage every player to try to develop ONE play, incorporating some of the basic principles of offense:

• Spacing (diminishes the defense's ability to provide help)
• Motion (player movement)
• Ball movement
• Picks or screens on the ball or away from the ball
• Players available to rebound (core principle)
• Floor balance (at least one offensive player back to defend)

The core offensive sets for most teams tend to have the following configurations:

Click to enlarge:

From the top:

• 1-4 (one set used by many teams)
• 1-2-2
• 2-3 (favored by the great UCLA teams of the 60s and 70s

By no means are these the only available sets, and in fact recently I discussed the set the Celtics used on Friday. Remember, the goals we want to encourage are to allow for proper spacing, use individual technique to get separation, small group plays to present mismatches, and to optimize player and ball movement to establish open shots. 

This isn't homework, but rather a goal to help players conceptualize goals of offenses, which will help them BOTH offensively and defensively. 

Not My Favorite

Click the 'play' to ENLARGE.

This looks something like what the Celtics were trying to do at times. The pass would go in to Rondo (R) near the left elbow. He looked too hurt to go 1 on 1, and had either Pierce (34) or Allen (20) coming off the Garnett (G) screen.

Orlando seemed to be able to clog up the middle keeping the Pierce drive option a poor one, and they pressured Rondo who normally would just try to blow by the outmanned defender.

If Rondo were healthy, then this type of iso (isolation) approach with cutters away from the ball would make more sense. Defensively, if you sag too much AND Rondo can make the pass, then you open up either Pierce or Allen for three point shots. For example, if the ball goes to Pierce near the top of the key, and Allen sees his man (e.g. Redick) try to anticipate the low cut, Allen cuts back out, Pierce identifies this and swings the ball back to Allen.

Obviously, the difference in pro sports is the frequently high efficiency rate of scorers to make open shots.

Biters

Former Patriots Coach Bill Parcells has a saying, "if they won't bite when they're pups, they won't bite when they're grown." What Parcells says figuratively is that 'growing' a competitive spirit becomes a great challenge. You either have it, or you don't.

Hubie Brown says that if you are an NBA Coach, you are fortunate to have one 'star' player who wants the ball in crunch time. He means it, because the twice NBA Coach of the Year knows it.

Melrose basketball has enjoyed great success because we have had not only talented players but players with great desire and great competitive spirit, battle-ready.

Surveying the local landscape, your coaches know that many of you and your older sisters moving up through the ranks bring that tenacity. Our job becomes to help you develop skills, conditioning, and team spirit to complement your intensity.

Here's a drill I read about that looks terrific, but just MOVE IN to about 12 feet for now. It combines the requirements of shooting skill, conditioning, and mental toughness. And it requires a partner (or two, for both rebounding and passing). Work out together and grow as teammates.

Coach Labella has moved the skill building session to Monday at 3 PM at the Common. Have a great holiday weekend.

Guard Play

Terrific article on what is required from the guard position. It's not all about scoring, not by a long shot...

Shooting Stars: Form Begets Function

Here's the 'young' Ray Allen, who played "Jesus Shuttlesworth" in He's Got Game.You'll notice a number of features of a great shooter in Allen:

• Perfect balance
• Reproducible shooting technique...every shot looks the same
• Compact shot
• Outside shooting power comes from the legs
• Note how the elbow stays in. Elbow flying out means less power, shots fall short.
• Great follow-through
• Wonderful backspin 
• Perfect 'arc', neither too high nor too flat

Melrose has had a lot of terrific basketball players, but as a program we can shoot much better. Good form (technique) produces better function (results). Form begets function. 

Summer League Info Posted (same as email attachment)

Girls Dates (Monday):
                    June io^th(Thursday>, 14^th, 21st, 28th, July 12^th, 19^th, and 26^th Boys Dates (Wednesday): June 9th, 16^th, 23^th, 30^th, July 14^th, 21st, and 28^th

Girls Division:                     Monday Eveninq	Times:
Girls entering the 6th grade or below, or maximum 12 years old Girls entering the 7th grade or below, or maximum 13 years old Girls entering the 8th grade or below, or maximum 14 years oldBoys Division:                    Wednesday Eveninq	6:00 PM 7:05 PM 8:10 PM Times:
Boys entering the 6th grade or below, or maximum 12 years old Boys entering the 7th grade or below, or maximum 13 years old Boys entering the 8th grade or below, or maximum 14 years old	6:00 PM 7:05 PM 8:10 PM

League Registration Fee: $375.00 per team. The registration fee includes the following:

• Indoor full court facility
• (7) Game schedule
• (2) Patched officials per game

League Game Rules:
Standard High School basketball rules apply with the following exceptions:

• Two 20 minute half's - running time, last two minute of each half stop time.
• 2 minute overtime period, stop time.
• 2 time-outs per half. 1 additional time-out for each overtime period (no carry).

Complete the information section below and return via Email to John_Macdonald( Follow with your teams entry fee through the mail (see address below). 
)TJX.com

Head Coach Name:		Town:
Home Phone:		Grade:
Cell Phone:		Boys/Girls:
Work Phone:		League:
Home Email:		Last Year Record:
Work Email:		Team Rating:	Strong/Average/Below
Assistant Coach Name:
Home Phone:		Comments:
Cell Phone:
Work Phone:
Home Email:
Work Email:

Please make checks payable to Billerica Youth Basketball. Send registration and payment to:

John Macdonald 6 Eagle Trace Drive Billerica, MA 01821

Home-978-667-2740 Cell 978-621-3419 John_Macdonald@TJX. com

The Most Important Shot

This is a MUST drill for both forwards and guards. I always tried to make ten in a row from each side.

Note how the ball is "handed" into the basket softly.

Opening Day

Many returnees attended as well as enthusiastic newcomers as the Sunday "Open Court" at the Common began. Our emphasis is simple, to develop individual skills within a core framework of skill, conditioning, and team spirit.

We always begin with basketball dribbling skills from the five 'offensive skills':

• Passing
• Dribbling
• Shooting
• Rebounding
• Pivoting

As always, the girls worked on control, crossovers, and hesitation dribbling, as well as half and full court layups, and passing and receiving on the move. We reviewed some options off the pick and roll. 

We finished the reintroduction with perimeter moves:

• Face up moves from the wing
• Face up and pull up jumper
• Baseline power move to the hoop (swim move into power dribble and jump stop)

We have a long way to go with a talented, athletic group of young athletes. We expect most sessions will run Sundays from 3:00 to 5:00 P.M. 

Find Your Focus

The Coaching Toolbox says you can develop your mental toughness. Here are some excerpts:

• When you fear, trust.
• When you fail, find the lesson in it.
• When you head into battle, visualize success.
• When you are tired and drained, remember to never, never, never give up.  Finish strong in everything you do.
• Focus on what you can control and let go of what you can’t.
• Life is short; you only live once.  You have nothing to lose.  Seize the moment.
• Prepare!

New Shooting Theory

New shooting theory and review of some old:



Forget the commercial, remember issues related to shooting success. Try something different and see how it works for you.

  Long-range shooting...Power comes from THE LEGS.

Practice, Practice, Practice

Nice shooting drill:

I'd encourage shooting practice from both elbows, both corners, and the free throw line

1st drill: catch and shoot (as shown at the website) alternating elbows or the corners (after taking 10 shots, 'rest' by taking 5 free throws

2nd drill: same as first, but don't shoot, make a good upfake and ONE-DRIBBLE drive to basket for a layup (again 10 shots), rest with free throws

3rd drill: catch off the pass, upfake, and make a ONE-DRIBBLE lateral move off a jab step into a shot


You have to be able to find the "blue sky", openings to shoot.

NOTE: The ball is NOT shot out of the chest. Some of the best players in Melrose history could have improved even more with better technique. We want you to practice good technique at a young age. When my daughter, Paula was studying in Spain, she was amazed at how much better the younger players' fundamentals were than in the U.S.

Quotes and Such

Tips from the coaching toolbox.

quotes:

“They do not care how much you know, until they know how much you care”

 “All you touch and all you see is all your life will ever be.”

 They must be willing to pursue the goal/vision they have w/out fear and with confidence!
 
Referring to Bill Parcells quote “If they don’t bite when they are pups, they won’t bite when they are grown.”

Follow-up on Spring Season

The coaches like to see the girls playing other sports, because we think the overall training makes better athletes.

We expect to have the courts reserved from 3 to 7 PM, because we also expect to have time for some of the older players to come in later. Obviously, these workouts are totally voluntary, and the players' priority will necessarily be: FAMILY, SCHOOL, and BASKETBALL.

Although it's fine if the girls haven't touched a basketball since the season ended, if they have we hope that they spend some of their time shooting free throws.

My favorite shooting drills (which we've previously handed out) are:

1. Elbow to elbow
2. Bill Bradley (one point for a make, minus three for a miss, game to 11)
3. Around the world (make shots from all ten spots, going out and coming in, in the fewest shots possible...that would be twenty). It can be done!

See the clip below about Bill Bradley, who later became a Rhodes Scholar and U.S. Senator. 

Offseason Gathering

Part of the coaching staff (Ralph and Ron) walked the Lake Sunday, sharing our thoughts on the past season and planning for the next season.

We anticipate that informal workouts will begin the Sunday after Mother's Day (3-5 P.M.), and we expect to add more scrimmaging to our previous routine, in order to simulate game situations and give players a chance to develop under 'game' conditions.

As a program, we want to emphasize the core principles of skill development, conditioning, and team spirit.


Teams that excel defensively and rebounding will always be competitive. "Defense and rebounding bring victory; offense determines the margin."

We will continue to focus our emphasis offensively on team concepts to create separation and easier shot opportunities, and individual skills to maximize opportunities and minimize turnovers.

Defensively, our goals will always remain to pressure the ball, prevent penetration into the lane, and use team play to limit mismatches and avoid easy opportunities.

The coaches are extraordinarily enthusiastic about having an opportunity to help raise the understanding of the game of basketball and individual skills to maintain the excellence and extend the success on and off the court that the young ladies of Melrose basketball have enjoyed.