Game Day Preparation

Players and Coaches perform at a peak level when the are positioned to get into flow or rhythm which includes their game day routine.  Over the years this has been adjusted based on where our team is physically and mentally at any point in the season.
*Week day shoot when you can.
*Saturday or Sunday shoot by 10:00am-10:30am to get them up and around.
*Walk through the scouting report.  Familiarize with the known, but expect the unknown.
*Arrive at gym at least 90 minutes before the game.
*Out to shoot no more than 75 minutes before the game.
*Meet again for brief review 38 minutes before the game.  
*Go out 15-30 minutes before the game.
   -8-10 minutes of team drills.
   -8-10 minutes of game shots from game spots at game speed.
*Off the floor at ten minutes before the game. 
*At ten minutes before game time, review match-ups, opening offense and defense, and what to expect from them.
*Back on floor five minutes before the game.

It is important to be organized in your thoughts in the following areas and to create expectations with your players, coaches, managers, and trainers regarding how you will execute in the heat of competition.

*How many players must you get in during the first half? If you need him in the second half, play him in the first half.

*Will you sub to get stronger or to get weaker?

*When will you accept your team as being the weakest? First 4-5, Second 4-5, Third 4-55, Fourth 4-5.

*Do you have your players ready to communicate without a time-out?

*Let the game develop. Don’t overcoach from the beginning.

*Are they playing expected defense and offense? If not, can you identify what you are seeing?

*The assistant’s job is to stay out of the game emotionally and chart their offense.

*Assistant must keep accurate game charts.

*The assistant must learn to communicate in a few concise phrases. He must not ramble or get into the game. He cannot get on Referees.

*Do you have a prearranged time for substitutions? (Roughly)

*Rotate four perimeter and three inside players, then stay with three perimeter and two inside players playing the best.

*Have you thought out your adjustments? If they do this or make this change, then we go with this.

-Perspiration over inspiration.

-You should find a minimum of 30 minutes within 4 hours of the game to review your game

Plan. Try to anticipate their adjustments and have your own adjustments ready.

*Work hard to avoid officiating. Coaches who ‘work the officials’ aren’t working their players.

*Do you have the flexibility to show your opponent a bluff at the end of the first half? Jump into a press, a ½ court trap, a combo defense, or something different offensively to get opponents to waste time on it at halftime?

*Figure out a way to finish strong in the first half.

The best way to come out of the locker room with momentum is to take some in with you.

The first five minutes of the second half are often critical to the outcome of a basketball game. Using your half time effectively for your team to come out of the locker room with the proper mindset and adjustments. The mantra play the same up 10 or down 10 is spoken often in our locker room.

*Have manager or Assistant Coach keep track of clock. Or simply check your watch as you walk off court at half. Write time in the upper right hand corner of your game sheet.

*Leave them alone as a team for the first five minutes of half time. Assistants can address individuals from 12-10 on individual corrections. They do not address team!!

*Meet with Assistants 15-10. Keep emotion in check and don’t permit complaining about what transpired in first half. On back of game sheet list: time, lineup, offense, defense, transition. You can’t make 12 corrections, so don’t try. Decide either:

-What you want to do, then what your second half line-up will be, or

-Who you want to play, and

-What you can do with that line-up.

*Get your stats, game charts or whatever is important to you by 10’ mark. Make your people work at it to be quicker.

*Check your shot charts. Are you getting shots where you want? Where are their shots and goals coming from. How about offense rebounds, either way? Are 1 or 2 men killing you? Do you have a defense ready?

*Remember, you can make 2-4 points from 10-5. Don’t over-coach and confuse them.

*You have to decide, do you want to send them out with an ass-chewing or something that will help them to win?

*Save 5-3 for anything unexpected. Have a manager raise 5 sign in back at five minutes.

*Back on floor by 3 minutes. Check your second half starters in and get theirs as soon as possible. Do they have a line-up change? Does that mean an offense or defense change? Anticipated

*Two minutes, thirty seconds – confer with Assistant; players in at thirty seconds so you can give second half match-ups and last second thoughts.

Have your players and coaches conditioned to maximize the time-out. Everyone must know their role on the sideline.

*Prepare your team to play as if time-outs were not a part of the game.

*Save them against equals or inferior opponents. Don’t hesitate to use them quickly against superior opponents.

*Players must hustle to bench. Assistant makes any pertinent suggestions in first 15 seconds.

*Forty-five seconds to ten seconds you talk. Assistants never butt in. Players must raise hand. All other players must huddle to listen. Any player who shows no interest must be

corrected. Watch your video tapes for this. (Tell your camera man to shoot your huddle during time-outs).

*Two points, maybe three with mature players. Don’t confuse them. Make yourself be calm and concise. Sometimes humor is seen by players as a coach’s confidence.

*Sometimes when you call them, it is just to break other team’s momentum. Tell players that.

*If you are rolling and they call time-out, stress going for kill and anticipate their next move.

*Are you flexible enough to show them a different defense to start second half (1-3 possessions)? A different offense?

-If you’ve got horses, run over them!!!

-If you’ve got ponies – Finesse them.

-Keep them off balance.

- Bold Courage in face of great challenge- Competitors Only

*Be quicker to use your time-outs in second half, you don’t have as many minutes.

*Do you need to give your people a break in the second half? It they can’t go twenty minutes, don’t wait too late to give key shooters and key handlers a break.

*Are you going to try and play the same way through last possession or will you alter? Do you change shot selection? Are you going to pack defense if ahead; if so, when?

*Have you anticipated their time adjustments? Do you have your counters ready?

*Where do you want the tempo at 10-5? How about 5-2 and 2-0? Can you get the tempo there?

*If you get up, are you going for the blow-out or will you cut it off and play the clock?

*Do you need to break their rhythm? Can you do it with a time-out? Can you do it with a defensive change? If you take a key player away (diamond and one; triangle and two; solo). Can you get a run?

Offense

-Fake delay-get 25 seconds off in regular offense, then look for shot.

-Make good shooters chase.

-Can you vary your delays?

*Defense

-Can they hit 3 point goal? Will you take Fouls?

-What’s more important? Stopping first shot or getting first rebound?

-Pressure man- take away 3 points. Sag man stop penetration. Zone or combo.

-Taller man on good squat jump shooter.

-Quickest man on penetrate

*Offense

-Don’t panic 2-3 minutes long time.

-Get ball down quickly to save time.

-Versus zone: Into gaps and pitch out

Players must learn to shoot quickly

Cannot afford slow release guy now.

-Offensive rebound strategy adjusted

-If they are going to play it safe on offense end-send 4 to boards.

*Defense

-If you can’t press, don’t try it unless desperate. Instead of 8 becoming 2, it may become 16

-Find the time when they stop looking to score, then go after them.

-Against four corners, play wings soft to strip penetration and look for steals in mid-court.

-Teach your players to use defense fakes to get dribble used. Learn to come from behind for flicks or steals.

-At what point will you trap and/or foul

-Deny good foul shooters, allow reception by weak ones, then foul.

*Be prepared for all situations.

-Have your basic- then use check-offs, inserts.

-Get the ball to good free throw shooters.

-Have several special o-o-b plays from base-line in back court.

-Don’t forget organization after in bounds on side. Move quickly into and X, then read.

-Have a special play side line or under in front court to inbounds ball.

-Make your kids understand that a 5 second call is preferable to a turnover that sets up

a quick score.

-Let your guys know that they can take a time out if they need to.

*Get off the floor. No hanging around with buddies, girls, parents, etc.

*Win or Lose, keep it short after the game.

*If you played well and won, don’t dampen their enthusiasm. Time enough for that tomorrow. If you played poorly and won, tell them so, but a win is a win – don’t forget that. If you played well and lost, understand they’re hurting, be honest, but be positive. If you played poorly and lost, make it clear that it is not acceptable, but don’t harangue. Make your point and get out.

*Don’t ever forget that they’re all you’ve got until next year. Don’t beat them down so that they won’t play for you.