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Prep boys basketball in Colorado a fundamentally flawed game (Denver Post, Mar. 6, 2011)
...But [coaches] all agree the lost art of basketball at the prep level begins with the basics, which too often aren't being taught well enough or are simply ignored... “You'd be surprised at how many kids don't have [basic skills]," longtime East boys coach Rudy Carey said... Mostly gone are the days when a player works on specifics of his or her game in the offseason and comes to a new season a more well-rounded player...
Videos & Opinion
Opinion Archive
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The Fundamentals of Basketball Intelligence
Posted on October 27, 2018 | No CommentsEvery coach wants smart, intelligent players. This isn't the same as players who blindly follow instructions. You want players who can break away from the diagrammed play and take advantage of their opponent's weakness. Basketball intelligence boils down to 5 questions that every player should ask themselves with every pass of the ball. Teach your team to take the time to ask these questions again and again until they become habit.
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How to become great at basketball and just about everything…
Posted on April 30, 2016 | No CommentsIf you want to be great, and you're willing to work hard to get there, don't waste time. You don't have any to waste. Start practicing hard and smart. Get help from a coach who understands and utilizes deliberate practice.
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Deliberate Practice
Posted on November 16, 2014 | No CommentsI think you can spot those kids who will be successful in sports or in life by watching how they spend unsupervised time before and during practice. Do they work on their skills in a focused way or do they screw around?
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Rabies and Youth Basketball
Posted on April 6, 2014 | No CommentsWhen did blind aggression take over the game of basketball in the youth ranks? There's plenty of blame to go around but most resides with the referees. Simply by enforcing the rules, they can make the game more enjoyable and safer for the players.
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Don’t shoot yourself in the foot by using the Pistols Position
Posted on March 22, 2014 | No CommentsAs a crutch to get help-side defenders to position their bodies in an open stance, the defensive pistols position has some value. However, the recommendation that you look straight ahead and use your peripheral vision to watch both your opponent and the ball makes absolutely no sense.
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“Good try!” Good grief…
Posted on January 27, 2014 | No CommentsAs a youth basketball coach, I’ve attended many youth basketball games. As I sit there I often hear parents calling out “Good try, <insert each child’s name here>”. Usually the praise is associated with an unsuccessful attempt at something. There doesn’t actually have to be anything “good” about the action, just that the child took some action and was unsuccessful.
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Confidence – the luxury of forgetting
Posted on November 9, 2012 | No CommentsIt turns out that focusing on the future and not the past is the secret to confidence as an athlete.
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Action Heros with Skills
Posted on October 14, 2012 | No CommentsIt's fun when you see techniques you've been teaching appear in the most unexpected places.
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Help in Navigating the NFHS Basketball Rules Book
Posted on July 31, 2012 | No CommentsDon't get lost navigating the NFHS basketball rules book. I've built a simple web interface.
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Leadership “Skills”
Posted on June 22, 2012 | No CommentsWhat does it take to be a great team leader? It starts by being a great team member.
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Hands Down on Defense!
Posted on December 16, 2011 | No CommentsWhen will the myth end? Putting your hands up on defense just puts you at a disadvantage.
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Other exceptions to the “equal playing time” rule
Posted on December 15, 2011 | No CommentsSometimes it’s necessary to use playing time as a reward to coachable players and a communication mechanism for uncoachable players.
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Disruptive Defense
Posted on December 13, 2011 | No CommentsDenial Defense is just in a state of denial. A Disruptive Defense takes an active role in shutting down the offense.
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Beating the Half-Court and Three-Quarter-Court Press/Trap
Posted on November 22, 2011 | No CommentsBeat the trap by attacking the weakness of the trappers themselves - their need for ease of movement.
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Why I don’t teach plays to young players.
Posted on November 15, 2011 | No CommentsTeaching plays gives coaches a false sense that they are teaching the game of basketball and players a false sense that they are learning the game of basketball. The best players will actually make their mark by deviating from the play and scoring.