GREG WHITE BASKETBALL

The Big 5
Stance  |  Concentration  |  Quickness  |  Balance  |  Play Hard

 

1. Stance: Start with feet pointed straight ahead as wide as the shoulders. Go down bending in knees and not the waist; chest out, back straight, and chin up. Widen your base (two feet) two steps or more. Get your buttocks down, almost as if you are sitting in a chair and the chair is taken away. On offense, the ball goes on the chest, touching it under the chin with elbows out. We play defense with arms out and up, and always flashing in the passing lane.

2. Concentration: To me, basketball is a very serious business. When you step across the line, you must have the total concentration for the duration of practice. Athletics takes Concentration – Focus – Execution. Your coach should not have to tell you over and over; Think-Concentrate-Execute. We feel the two most important things in basketball are quickness and balance.

3. Quickness: Try to think quickly: pass quickly, move quickly, and shoot quickly. Outlet pass quickly, dribble quickly and after a while, we might become quick. Everything you do, try to do quickly. Do stance and footwork drills daily. CAUTION: Be quick, but don’t be in a hurry. The fine line we call poise is quickly and properly executing the Fundamentals of the Game while staying on balance. Basketball remains the same at all levels…however, the quickness of the game escalates each level you are involved with.

4. Balance: Balance is described as the head at the midpoint of the two feet on everything you do. When you run, shoot, dribble, rebound or defend, your head must be in the middle of your feet. If the coach says, “Don’t reach,” he really means, “Don’t let your head get out of the middle of the two feet.” BALANCED PLAYERS PLAY AND UNBALANCED PLAYERS RIDE THE PINE.

5. Play Hard: The definition of the word ‘hard’ is – your shirt is completely wet, not partially; your gut is pulsating; your breathing is hard – gasping for breath!

 

 

BASICS FIRST

 

BALLHANDLING

Handling the basketball with control and confidence is certainly one of the most important aspects of the game. Good hands are needed to play effectively. Every skill in basketball requires the use of the hands.

 

RECEIVING

Before you can do anything with the basketball, you must learn to receive it properly. If you stop to consider the reasons for many fumbles, you will find that a lot of the players do not know how to catch a ball. Like all skills, it requires practice and concentration.

• Watch the ball all the way into your hands.

• Try to meet the ball but GIVE with the hands and elbows.

• Keep your hands spread and relaxed.

• Hold your hands close enough together so a hard pass will not slip through.

• Catch the ball with two hands. Sometimes you may have to catch with one hand, but as quickly as possible, bring the other hand to the ball.

• Never make a move until the ball is secured in your hands.

• Know where the ball is at all times. Always expect a pass.

 

PASSING

The best and quickest way to move the basketball is by passing. When your teammate works hard to get open for a shot, he expects to receive the ball. If you can hit the open man, you will be a great asset to your team.

 

TWO-HANDED CHEST PASS

The two-handed chest pass is used to get the ball to a teammate quickly. Usually, there won’t be a defender between you and the receiver.

• Balance with your feet spread comfortably.

• Flex your knees slightly and bend your body forward slightly from the waist to maintain balance.

• Spread your fingers wide and hold the ball away from your chest with your hands to the rear of the ball, your elbows bent and angled out.

• The ball can be cushioned against the pads of your hands, but the fingers will do most of the work.

• As you pass, stride forward and snap the ball forward with a snap of the elbows and wrist.

• Release the ball close to your body when your motion has reached its full force.

• Follow through with your hands in the direction of your pass.

• At the completion, your thumbs will be down.

• Aim for your receiver’s chest.

• Make the pass with a reverse spin to make it easier for the receiver to handle.

     **The same principles apply for the one-handed chest pass.

 

BOUNCE PASS

The bounce pass, which also can be thrown either one- or two-handed, is effective when there is a defender between the passer and the receiver. Excellent pass to use in traffic because it is much harder to pick off or deflect than the chest pass.

• This pass is executed similarly to the two-handed chest pass except the arms and hands are thrust downward.

• Bounce the ball approximately two-thirds of the way from passer to a receiver.

• Push the ball hard to the floor so it will lose some momentum from hitting the floor.

• Put a reverse spin on the pass to make it easier to handle.

• The ball should be received about waist high.

 

OVERHEAD PASS

The overhead pass is a pass used to throw over a guarding defensive player. The pass is not a fast pass but can be caught easily and thrown accurately. Often used to feed the pivot or a cutter.

• Hold the ball high above the head with hands on the side of the ball.

• The elbows should be out and the arms three-quarters extended.

• Snap the wrist down with the palms and hand following through in a downward position.

• Pass is quick but not too hard.

• Hit the target that the receiver gives: either the chest/head area or away from the defense.

 

BASEBALL PASS

The baseball pass is a great pass to throw when needing to cover a long distance in a hurry. This pass looks to be simple, but actually is the hardest of the passes to throw. With practice, it can become a very accurate and effective pass.

• Take a step in the direction of the pass with the opposite foot forward from the throwing hand.

• Keep the hands behind the ball, but slightly toward the outside. The non-throwing hand should be in front of the ball for balance.

• Bring the ball back, keeping the throwing elbow bent.

• The ball is brought up and over (similar to the overhand baseball throw).

• Let the weight shift from the rear to the forward leg.

• The wrist must snap so the ball comes directly off your fingertips preventing a side spin and a curve.

• Raise the ball high enough so the motion is straight ahead and the backspin carries the ball straight.

 

TIPS

• Pass the ball quickly. It should be crisp, but not too hard nor too soft.

• Have good vision. Keep your head up – be aware of the defense.

• Don’t telegraph the pass. Fake your passes.

• Pass the ball, don’t hold it.

• After making the pass, be ready to move quickly. Don’t stand around.

• Don’t force the ball. Careless passes cause turnovers.

• Know where the open man is or will be so that you can get the ball to him.

 

DEVELOPING YOUR DRIBBLE

 

DRIBBLING

Dribbling is a very important part of basketball and an effective way to advance the ball. It is especially effective for penetrating the defense for a high-percentage shot or creating a play for a teammate. Dribbling is a skill that can, with practice and concentration, be helpful to every player.

• Balance with your knees bent and relaxed.

• Bend body forward slightly at the waist.

• Keep elbows close to the body.

• Spread fingers slightly for control.

• Flick wrists downward to push the ball.

• Use the arm and shoulder for force.

• Keep your head up.

 

CONTROL THE DRIBBLE

Controlling the dribble is used when the player with the ball is closely guarded or dribbling in a congested area. Also when killing time or moving the ball into an attacking and passing position.

• Stay low and protect the ball. Keep it close to the body.

• Protect the ball with your body and your opposite arm and hand.

• Keep the dribble low – the lower you dribble, the harder it is for the defense to knock it away.

 

SPEED DRIBBLE

The speed dribble is usually used on the fast break or when the dribbler has a clear path to the basket. The quickest way to get the ball up court is with the pass – the next quickest way is with the speed dribble.

• Straighten your body position and push the ball out in front with a high bounce.

• Run to meet the ball.

• Don’t look at the ball – keep your eyes and head up.

• The faster you move, the greater the angle of the push.

 

CROSSOVER DRIBBLE

It is a big advantage when a player is able to dribble well with either hand. You can always protect the ball by keeping your body between a defensive man and the ball. The change of the direction dribble makes a player more deceptive and much harder to guard.

• Switch hands and change direction simultaneously.

• Move the ball from one hand to the other in a quick, close to the body transfer.

• When changing direction, maintain your stride.

 

CHANGE OF PACE

Changing the pace is a very effective move to get the defense off-balance. By varying the speed from fast-to-slow or slow-to-fast, you can get the defense to stand up or come closer giving you the split-second opportunity to get by.

• Maintain your balance – be ready to move.

• Keep the ball low – fake with the head and shoulder.

• Give the defense a chance to react (pause) then sprint by.

• Be quick but don’t get in a hurry.

 

SPIN DRIBBLE OR REVERSE DRIBBLE

The spin dribble or reverse dribble is used when the dribbler is being overplayed on the side of the ball, and if the direction was continued in front the defense would have a chance to knock the ball away or force you to pick up your dribble.

• Turn your back and pivot away on the foot closest to the defensive man.

• Dribble with the SAME hand as you turn.

• As you complete the turn, continue the dribble with the OPPOSITE hand.

• Keep head up – anticipate another defensive man going for the steal.

• Don’t turn the ball over.

 

TIPS

• Don’t look at the ball. Keep your eyes and head up.

• Never waste a dribble and always dribble with a purpose.

• Learn to dribble with either hand.

• Always protect the ball.

 

BALLHANDLING / DEXTERITY DRILLS

1. Finger Tip Drill: Ball above head, hold with fingertips; tip back and forth, raise and lower arms while tipping.

2. Corkscrew: Circle ball around head, mid-section and legs.

3. Over-Under: Ball in left hand, flip turn hand back towards rear and catch; flip ball over right shoulder and catch in right hand; flip, turn right hand back towards rear and catch; flip ball over left shoulder and catch in left hand.

4. Over-Under Spin: Same as above, but spin ball forward as you flip the ball up.

5. Spider Drill: Legs shoulder-width apart, ball in left hand, dribble between feet with left hand then right hand; then dribble with left hand to right hand behind legs; repeat.

6. Hike Drill: Same as above but flip the ball from left to right in front and left to right in back.

7. Zig-Zag Drill: Ball between lefts, left hand in front, right hand behind holding ball; drop ball, exchange hands, rotate ball around to position in which you started; repeat.

8. Rotation: Ball between legs, left hand in front, right hand behind holding ball, drop ball, exchange hands, rotate ball around to position in which you started; repeat.

9. Figure Eight: Dribble Head up, numerous low dribbles between legs forming a figure eight.

10. Body Dribbles: Sitting position, dribble around body, raise legs, dribble under to other hand.

11. Slam Drill: In crouched position, ball held with both hands, bounce ball, bounce ball between legs, catch behind back with both hands.

12. Front-Back Drill: Same as above but flip ball, do not bounce.

13. Ricochet Drill: Ball behind head, slam ball between feet, catch behind back; toss up behind head; repeat.

14. One-Hand Quick Drill: Toss ball up, catch with right hand under right leg; toss ball up and catch with left hand under left leg.

15. Moon Catch: Toss ball up, catch with hands between legs as ball comes down behind back.

16. Clap Drills: Ball at chest, drop, touch chest, catch before ball hits floor; ball behind back, drop, clap in front, catch before ball hits floor; ball behind knees, drop, clap hands in front, catch before hall hits floor.

17. Vertical Hand Circles: Ball in right hand, flip up, pass left hand around ball, catch in left hand; flip ball up, pass right hand around ball, catch in right hand.

18. Horizontal Hand Circles: Same as above but move hands in horizontal (side to side) as opposed to up and down.

19. Hike Drill: Assume football center’s position holding the ball; shoot ball through legs; deflect with hands back to front; repeat.

20. Crab-Dribble: Bounce ball between legs left hand to right hand, right to left in stationary position.

21. Crab-Dribble Walk: Same as above but move up court in walking manner; go backward and forward.

22. Crab Drill: In crouch position, pass ball through legs left to right, right to left, and remain in stationary position.

23. Crab Run: Same as Crab Drill but run up court forward and backward.

 

DRIBBLING TOO MUCH

Most basketball players, even the ones who usually don’t dribble very much, dribble too much! Drives to the basket which should involve just one explosive dribble are most often made with two or three dribbles – too many to score against a good defensive team. And players stalling or freezing the ball often let themselves be double-teamed or fouled because they want to keep pounding the ball to the court instead of quickly passing the ball off.

 

For many point guards, the problem is one extra dribble, the failure to pass at the right time because of the desire to show off that dribbling ability one more time. For big men inside, often even one dribble is too many. A move should be able to be made effectively without any dribbles at all, so the defensive guards have no chance of stripping the ball on its way up from the floor.

 

Analyze YOUR game. Chances are you often take unnecessary dribbles.

 

Sometimes unnecessary dribbles may not seem as though they hurt you, but they always end up hurting the team. Unnecessary dribbles give opponents extra chances to steal the ball or get into the defensive position they want.

 

This lack of purposeful activity encourages the offense to stand around instead of developing precision cuts and perfectly-timed passes. Your teammates can not get a feel for when to cut if you are in the habit of taking a few needless dribbles – or even one needless dribble – when you have the ball.

  

FAKING

There is an old saying in basketball, “Always precede what you are going to do with a fake.” The fake depends entirely on the individual situation and the ability of the player.

 

BALL FAKES

• Most often, fakes are carried out with the ball. It can be used to fake a shot before passing, shooting or dribbling.

• Good passers use ball fakes to set up their passes so they are not telegraphed.

 

EYE FAKES

• Eye fakes are used a lot in passing so the defense doesn’t know where the ball is going.

• Use the eyes to mislead the defense. Let him think the ball is coming his way. He will then concentrate on him and will not be in position to help out.

• While on defense you can fake your eyes so the offensive man thinks you are “asleep”. Then go for the real steal.

 

BODY FAKES

• Use head, shoulder and body fakes to throw the defense off balance.

• Can be used with or without the ball.

• Without the ball, the body and head are used to deceive before cutting past he defense.

• With the ball, fakes are important when changing direction while dribbling or coming to a quick stop.

• The body can be used to fake at the start of a pass, shot or dribble.

 

TIPS

• Be sure fakes are sharp and quick. Have a purpose.

• Mix your fakes up – use a variety of moves.

• Don’t over fake – this can take you out of the play.

• Protect the ball while faking.

• The best fakes are with the body.

• Sometimes the best fake is no fake at all!