The second rule of deep practice is “Repeat It.” This by no means involves doing blind repetitions until every muscle aches. Crucially, you have to find the sweet spot to optimize skill development through repetition. And that’s why situational one-on-one drills can be a coach’s best friend.
1. Repetitions: These must be done on both offense and defense. During a typical five-on-five scrimmage, each individual player hardly touches the ball relative to the amount of time he or she is on the court. With one-on-one, the repetitions increase by 500%. Yes, teams need to be able to play together, and it is important to spend time playing five-on-five. But if you want players to improve their individual skills, one of the best ways they can play is one-on-one.
2. Accountability: Defensively, you are accountable for yourself in one-on-one. There is no help-side defense and no shot-blocker to rotate and cover if you get beat. It’s all on you. Developing this mindset will make you a better on-ball defender.
3. Teaching Yourself: The more repetitions, the better chance the kids will have to “figure it out on their own.” It might seem like a waste of time to have your kids play one-on-one, but over the course of a season, I know you will start to see results. It also gives them freedom to make mistakes and learn from them. Let this be the teacher instead of trying to coach every single play. As Hall of Fame coach Pete Newell once said, “Basketball is the most over-coached and under-taught sport in America.” This is one way you can let the kids teach themselves how to play.
4. Individual Attention: Now I’m not suggesting your just roll the ball out and let the kids play. This also gives you a chance to individually address each player in specific situations. Don’t try to coach every situation, but be short and specific with your teaching: “Hey Billy, you’re going too wide. Lean in and put your shoulder on him.”
When you play the correct way, players are put in specific situations where they need to make decisions quickly. This practice at decision-making and self-correction can be almost as important as learning the skill itself.
Development Challenges
As Steve Showalter, head boys’ coach at Germantown High School (Wis.), once said to me, “Too bad, in a game, not everyone has a ball in their hands.” I absolutely agree, but I do think it’s much easier to teach a kid to play without the basketball—that is, off pin-downs and off penetration—than it is to get them skilled. Allow me to rephrase that: It’s not easier, but you don’t have to spend as much time on it to succeed with it.
The development of the players in Brazilian for youth soccer using futsal is almost a complete contradiction with basketball development in America.
Here are two problems. First, our hoops are too high. Until kids reach sixth or seventh grade, I think they should be playing on a hoop that is no taller than nine feet.
Also, our basketballs are too big. I think seventh grade should be the earliest kids are allowed to use a regulation-size men’s basketball, and in most cases this is too early. I understand that there are sometimes cases of extremely mature kids who can definitely use a regulation-size ball, but most of the time, these are the kids that lack developed skills.
Why the Changes are Necessary
Incorporating one-on-one games, as well as using smaller basketballs and lower rims can have a twofold effect on the younger ages in your program.
1. Skill Development: More emphasis can be placed on form shooting because the kids will have more success. They will trust the coach more since they won’t be as limited because of their strength. Kids will find more enjoyment in the game if they can have success at a younger age. As the kids age, the bigger the basketball can be and the higher the hoop can be raised. Remember, goals should just be out of reach so players are at the edges of their abilities.
2. Enjoyment: Kids will enjoy playing more because we will be enabling them to have success
I think it’s pretty ridiculous that a fourth grade girl (or boy for that matter) should be expected to shoot on the same height hoop that LeBron James does.
As with futsal, it’s important to get younger players a lot of repetitions, and they need equipment they can succeed with. This necessitates using one-on-one play to get more reps and bring about teachable moments, while doing so with an appropriately sized ball and hoop.
—
Mike Lee Basketball Services trains thousands of middle school through NBA players across the country each year in their skill development training, camps and coaches Academies. The owner, Mike Lee, is also a former Nike Girls Skills Academy instructor and former assistant director for the Stephen Curry Skills Academy. Recently the company has authored 7 skill development DVDs and created miSkillz Online Basketball training. To host an event in your city please email mike@mikeleebasketball.com
—
Click here for more information on Daniel Coyle and The Talent Code