Program Blueprint

This article was written and submitted by retired High School Coach Dave Millhollin.

I have included more information about his coaching career at the end of the article.

Caoch Millhollin has contributed several insightful articles to the site. You can find links to more of them at the bottom of this post under the “Related Posts” tab.

If you would like to contact Coach Millhollin, email me and I will put you in touch with him.

The importance of shot selection, defensive strategies, and rebounding

Why are basketball games won or lost?  The answer to this question can be incredibly simple or quite complicated.  Coaches spend unbelievable amounts of time and energy on this topic, most of the time, they realize the obvious but fail to understand the simple.

This article is intended to delve into the simple answers of the question.

Basketball has been at the center of my life for as long as I can remember.  Growing up I played on the playground and played organized ball of one kind or another from the 3^rd grade through college.  My dad was a high school and Jr high coach.  I have coached girls and boys from the second grade through high school throughout my adult life and I was a high school boys varsity coach for 27 years.  Through all of this I don’t think I fully understood the essence of Winning Basketball until about half way through my high school coaching career (around age 40).

All my experience and observation of the game of basketball has led me to what I believe to be the essential elements to Winning Basketball. It can be summed up like this:

“Teams that take better shots and get more rebounds have a tendency to win more games than teams that don’t.”

Most of us believe teams who take good shots are more likely to shoot a high % and because of that; improve their chances of winning.  Most of us also believe that teams who control the boards have a better chance of winning than teams who don’t. I think most of us are correct.

The effect of good shots on rebounding

Missed good shots result in more offensive rebounding opportunities for the shooting team.

If you want to get offensive rebounds; take good shots.

Missed good shots also result in fewer fast break opportunities form the opposition.

If you want to stop your opponents’ fast breaks; take good shots.

CRITICAL CONCEPT; Teach your team to take shots the other team can’t fast break on.

The effect of defense on rebounding

There are three questions every coach should ask himself regarding defense;

1. Is our defense giving up good shots?
2. Is our defense putting our opponents on the free throw line?
3. Is our defense giving up offensive boards to our opponents?

For offensive transition oriented offensive teams there is a 4^th question;

4. Is our defense giving us fast break opportunities?

I asked Bo Ryan one summer about this topic and he said his defensive philosophy was to try to get his opponents to take bad two point shot attempts, then get the rebound.  His teams did it through defensive containment.

Here are some helpful defensive ideas that can produce opponent bad shots:

• Don’t let them run their offense;
  • Take away their entry passes and entry drives
  • Don’t let them get the ball where they want it
• Don’t let the high post or low post catch the ball
• Play defense with hands up
• Close out “head up” or PUSHING ELBOW
• Collapse with help (early) on drives and recover to kick outs early
• Deny the ball to their scorers in the spots they score from
• Teach how to defend the “lanes”; passing lanes, driving lanes and cutting lanes
• Teach “never let your man cross your face or back” for individual off ball defense
• Shade shooting hand on close outs
• Do not over deny off the ball; do not encourage back door cuts.
• Double the ball early on isolation plays
• Switch all “away screens”
• Apply “smart” pressure that does not foul and does not give drives or backdoors
• Finish all defensive drills with block out or “face out” (for 3s) execution
• Defensive communication

Some of the things on the above list are not what most coaches are used to.  My teams quite were served very well from; not allowing the ball in to the low or high post.  Think about it; teams score from the low post either from post moves, free throws on drawing foul down there, offensive rebounds from missed low post shots or from kick out or kick > swing passes out of the low post.  It is amazing to me how many teams at every level allow the ball to be caught at the block!

As for the high post; when the ball goes there to an impact forward or post, that player normally scores, unless he is helped on.  When he is helped on he kicks it to a player who is open for a shot or drive.  We believe that getting the ball to the high or low post helps teams get good shots; therefore, keeping teams from getting the ball there can significantly reduce their chances of getting good shots.

The other two things on the above list most coaches are not used to, but served the teams we coached significantly well are; playing defense with hands up and closing out from the baseline side (pushing elbow), not “sideline, baseline”.  We wanted the drive to go to the elbow one dribble with immediate help, then recover quickly to the kick out pass.  This reduced baseline fouls and fouls on our bigs. This greatly reduced our team fouls and opponent free throw attempts, just as important, it lead to poor % two point attempts from our opponents.

This defensive approach greatly increased our defensive rebounding and almost eliminated opponent offensive rebounding opportunities.  Remember; offensive rebounding increases teams’ ability to score on put-backs, open kick out shots and fouls on the put-back.

Rebounding

Shot selection and defense are the two biggest keys to rebounding.  I believe that if coaches would spend as much time teaching and working on these keys as they do on heart, toughness and effort; their teams would get more rebounds.  I am not suggesting to stop teaching heart, toughness and effort.  What I am saying is that as far as priorities are concerned when it comes to rebounding they should be, in my opinion;

1. Shot selection and Defense
2. Rebounding concepts and techniques
3. Heart, toughness and effort

In that order

Our teams were pretty tough and played hard with heart but, funny as it might sound; my teams routinely outrebounded teams that were tougher than us and beat teams that played harder than we did.

Execution by playing smart with proper technique brings about winning.

© Dave Millhollin 2020

About the author of this article, Coach Dave Millhollin In fourteen years at Ponderosa High School, Coach Dave’s teams won 260 games (.665). From 2000 through 2009 Ponderosa won 207 games over a ten year stretch which included four SVC Conference Championships and two CIF Section final four appearances. Over his 27 year Boys Varsity Coaching career, Coach Dave posted 391 wins, produced 20 college basketball players and was named SVC Coach of the Year four times. At Ponderosa, Coach Dave’s teams were #1 in California in team defense five times and in 2008 Ponderosa was the top defensive team in the Nation among shot clock states. Over Coach Millhollin’s last five seasons (2005-6 through 2009-2010; 136 games) Ponderosa averaged a composite 50% total field goal percentage, 58% two point field goal percentage and 32% three point field goal percentage. Since retiring from High School coaching in 2010, Coach Dave has been actively involved in coaching Jr High level School and AAU teams as well as and running instructional basketball clinics from the primary grades through the College level.

Club athletes gravitate to great coaches. Equip your coach with the best video tools to draw in the best talent.

The biggest influence on a player’s choice in clubs is the coach.

We surveyed nearly 1,000 players across four sports to understand what they want from a club. When we asked them to rank the most important factors when choosing their club, coaching came in first — by a lot. Players depend on their coaches to make smart decisions, help them improve and get to the next level.

Just like athletes, coaches are constantly developing. It’s essential to equip them with the best possible tools to help them grow and succeed. Video empowers your coaches’ improvement in ways no other tool can.

Provide Clarity

Video gives coaches a new perspective on things they might have missed live. In addition to providing a second angle, it allows coaches to relive the contest in a no-pressure environment and make level-headed decisions.

“Sometimes in a fast-paced game, it’s very, very difficult to understand what you could have done better,’ Jonny Burns, the technical development director for Florida Celtic Soccer Club, said. “To have that ability to go back and watch those scenarios that evening or the next day, it really gives a knowledge of what could have been done better. We make sure the games are analyzed as quickly as possible so the coaches can go back and evaluate.”

The human mind is affected by the misinformation effect. Previous experiences, mood, biases and others opinions warp our memories and cause us to incorrectly recall what actually happened.

Video snaps the mind back to reality by providing a clear, unbiased account that gets everyone on the same page.

Develop Athletes

Players count on their coaches to identify weaknesses, help them improve and put them in the best position to further their careers. No individual plays a more important role in an athlete’s growth, and players seek out leaders to drive their development.

Video is the best teaching tool because it shows the player exactly what happened. It’s one thing for a coach to tell an athlete what needs to improve, but actually showing the action brings a higher level of understanding and helps them pick up concepts much quicker.

“Sometimes you just need to sit down in a video session with a player and show them the things we’ve been telling them,” Chris Leonard, director of the Pilipa`a girls volleyball team, said. “You can kind of see that moment where the light bulb goes on for players and they go, ‘Oh, that’s what you mean.’”

Club coaches don’t get much time with their players, but video gives them a chance to develop on their own time. Coaches can create playlists of clips, complete with comments and drawings, and share them with athletes to study when they’re away from the team.

Add Depth to the Data

Stats have become an essential part of the evaluation process, but relying solely on the numbers limits their power. When stats are linked to video, they take on new life.

With Hudl, simply click on a stat to create a playlist. The review process is easier and less daunting when you can quickly jump to the exact moments in the game you want to see. It also speeds things up for athletes with shorter attention spans.

“Stats show a lot of different things,” Brendan Smith, the director of ASA Hoops, said. “It’s not just how many shots did you hit and miss. You’re getting rebounds and you’re getting assists. You’re getting charges taken. Someone can feel a real sense of worth on a team that may not score a lot of points. Now they have other ways to prove their value.”

Athletes want strong coaches and they recognize clubs that employ the best. Recruit the top talent to your club by giving your coaches the tools they need to improve their athletes’ experiences. Find more insights on the current club culture in our full survey report.

I received this post from Randy Lambert, Head Men’s Basketball Coach at Division III Maryville College in Maryville, TN.  Coach Lambert has accumulated 701 victories in his college coaching career!

One of the more frustrating things I deal with is trying to make the most of our pre-season.  Because of NCAA rules, we are not allowed to be on the court with our players until October 15th.  All of our workouts must be voluntary and monitored by our upperclassmen.

Regardless of the level, I think these basic ideas will apply to any basketball program.  We emphasize to our players the importance of having a personal plan to follow and holding yourself accountable to the plan.

Editor’s note from Brian:  Regardless of what your governing body’s rules allow you to do prior to the start of practice, some good thoughts to share with your players any time of year.

Making the Most of My Off-Season

The Intangibles

• Be a Leader- By example or vocally, project enthusiasm by my constant “reminders” of the price we pay for success.
• Be a good teammate- We are a family and I must do what I can to bring us together.
• Be coachable- Buy-in with my teammates to the process.
• Demonstrate toughness- In everything I do, eliminate the ABC’s: arguing, blaming and complaining.
• Minimize the distractions- Get my life in order off the court (academically, socially, and spiritually) to insure the ultimate productivity on the court.

The “Givens”

• Be in the best possible condition- We play fast and I have to be in shape and able to run the floor.
• Bring physicality to my position- I must be as strong as I can be to be physical and manage the demands of a season.
• Know my role- With the help of my coaches, carve out my role for this team.
• Maintain composure- Be poised and in control of my emotions through every situation.
• Be fundamental and a student of the game- The foundation of my skills will determine my effectiveness as a player.

The Dream

• Run the floor- I will try to be one of the first ones back on every offensive and defensive possession.
• Take good shots- Be a finisher and value efficiency by sharing the ball and hitting the open man.
• Defend and motivate your team to get stops- Coach yourself to stay in a stance and rotate to provide good help.
• Rebound- Be the best rebounder at your position and initiate contact on your blockouts.
• Play team basketball and incorporate sound principles on both ends of the floor

Between graduations, transfers and coaching changes, high school programs deal with constant change. Allow video to be the anchor.

Volatility is inevitable in high school sports. With players graduating, transferring and shuffling between JV and varsity, rosters change constantly from year to year, and coaches can take new jobs in the offseason. The outlook of a team can vary greatly from one season to the next.

Athletic directors crave stability for their programs, but it can be hard to find. This is where Hudl comes in.

Video helps build a consistent culture that resonates through roster cycles. By creating an environment where watching video is an expectation athletes embrace, you establish a steady baseline. Players are constantly watching those who came before them, allowing them to learn plays and quickly settle into roles once they reach varsity.

“If Player B is kind of going to be in the role of Player A, who has graduated, you’re able to show that,” Brett Hilliard, the head basketball coach at Hilliard Bradley High School (Ohio), said. “When Player A is a good player, you can say, ‘These are the kinds of things that you can learn by watching the film, areas of your game that need to grow as you develop into your role.’

“Most kids are visual learners and the film is a great way to teach. To be able to give them examples of past players who have done things well is a really, really powerful teaching tool.”

Video allows your coaches to deliver a consistent message at every level of the program. When players on the freshman and junior varsity teams reach the varsity squad, they’ll already have a firm grasp on what the program is about and will quickly adapt to their position.

“We have a very consistent message. There’s a standard that we live by,” Tim Olszewski, the head girls coach at Howell High School (Mich.), said. “They find out very quickly if this is a place they want to be playing. We have high standards and we have certain criteria. Girls in our program know from the third grade what it is. We’re never lowering our standards. They’re going to be what they are. It’s up to the players to come up and meet those standards as opposed to us adjusting ours. My players know from elementary school up what to expect.

“If you would ask all our kids from sixth grade through high school, most of them would be right on with what we’re about.”

Athletes aren’t the only ones who benefit. Video provides coaches with a stable, objective view of what’s happening during games, allowing them to make informed decisions and adjustments. The younger coaches learn schemes and tactics from watching video of the varsity team, creating a narrative for your program.

Hudl gives coaches the resources to develop successful programs and effectively communicate with their athletes. It’s so effective that some schools have chosen to run their entire programs through the platform.

“It’s a one-stop shop for everything you need,” Chris Blumenstetter, the head football coach at Half Hollow Hills West High School (N.Y.), said. “My practice scripts are run through Hudl. My scout team is run through Hudl. It’s everything.”

Change will always be a major part of the high school athletics landscape, but you can give your school an advantage. Let Hudl be the rudder that keeps your programs on track.

This post was written by Texas A & M Assistant Coach Bob Starkey and shared on his Basketball Coaching Blog, HoopThoughts

Editor’s Note from Brian.  Even if you are able to practice and play games in the summer, there are several ideas here that you might be able to fit into what you do.

I’m a big believer that what a player and/or team does when the coaching staff is NOT around goes a long way into the success level of said player and/or team.  Discipline is about what you do when no one is around to watch.  Obviously, there is no bigger range that the summer months when on the collegiate level, we have no access to our players in regard to what they are doing on the court.

Keys to a good summer should include:

1. Commitment: The staff can make the gym available but it is up to the player and the team to make use of it.  During our Final Four run at LSU, the players would drive us crazy to open the gym for them.  Seimone Augustus would play 2 hours of pick up with the Lady Tigers and then drive across town and play pick up with a boys high school team.  Several of our players would head to the rec center to play with men after pick up.

2. Concentration: It is not enough just to walk in a gym and play.  The great players/teams go into each opportunity knowing there are specific things that they need to work on and they must have a high level of focus during pick to improve upon those areas.  Habits can be developed and improved upon in the summer –good ones and the bad ones — based on the commitment and concentration of the player(s).

3. Effort: The average player goes through the motions in pick up and in their summer workouts.  They will give a little effort at times but nothing consistent.  And that is largely why they are “average” players.

While we can’t be there with them, there are ways for us to enhance the off-season process for the players.  The first thing is to meet with the players individually and the team as a whole and talk to them specifically about the areas that need to be worked upon in the off-season.

My suggestions would be to give each player something they do well and encourage them to continue to improve in that area.  John Maxwell talks often about how the great ones know what their strengths are and work hard so that it remains a strength.

Obviously you should also give them a couple of weaknesses to improve upon.  With some players, you might be able to list 7 or 8 things — don’t.  Less is more.  Pinpoint a couple and challenge them to come back in the fall better in those areas.

Be specific in how they need to go about improvement.  It is not enough to tell a player to work on her dribbling with her weak hand in the off-season.  Give her some specific drills that she needs to do during the summer and how often you think she needs to do them to gain improvement.  We had one player at LSU that was a very good player but had a poor left-hand.  We gave her a list of drills to work on her game.  But we also told her she was not allowed to use her right hand in pick up — and we told her team this as well.  We wanted everything she did (other than shoot) to be off of her left hand.  Don’t expect to tell a player to work on something and not tell her how.

Finally, you should be specific in what you expect to see in them when workouts in the fall start. Paint a picture of what you want to see and share that vision with them.  Part of this process should be follow up.

“How’s the work on your left hand coming?”

“Are seeing and feeling any improvement?”

The other thing we did at LSU and now at Texas A&M was to create guidelines for playing pick up.  These not only applied in the summer but anytime during the fall and spring when we were out of season and playing pick up.  Obviously they need to specific to your philosophy and how you play the game.  These were typed on a sheet and placed in their notebooks and we went over them with the team in detail early in the fall and right before summer.

Here is what our guidelines at Texas A&M are for pick up games

1. ALWAYS PLAY MAN TO MAN DEFENSE
Good pressure on the basketball (even if you get beat on the drive)
Get a hand up on every shot
Make contact, blockout, and finish the possession
Get in the passing lanes
No switching

2. RUN OUR OFFENSIVE SETS
Spacing: High and Wide
Minimize your dribble usage
Take good shots
Set good screens to get your teammates open
No ball screens
No plays or entries

(This is also a great opportunity for your veteran players to teach your new players a few of your offensive sets)

3. START WITH HALF COURT GAMES
Even if you have enough for 5/5, start with a couple of half court games
Will help us to develop our man defense and offense principles

4. UTILIZE CONVERSION
After half court games, finish up with full court games

5. GET BACK ON DEFENSE
Even 4/4 games can be played full court

6. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY
3/3, 2/2, 1/1
Play, play, play

7. BE A GOOD TEAMMATE
Encourage teammates
Upperclassmen teach our freshman how we play
Help freshman to understand offensive/defensive principles

8. PLAY HARD
Is there any other way?!

A few weeks ago I attended a Coaching Roundtable in Arlington, Texas with some very bright coaches from the collegiate and professional ranks.  One of the topics that was brought up was maximizing summer pick up.  Here are some of the things I took way from that discussion.

1. LET PLAYERS PICK THE TEAMS

Gives them a chance to know where they stand with their teammates.  Makes captains give thought as to who they think can help them win.

2. PLAY SHORT GAMES

Play to 7 or 8 points.  This creates a greater sense of urgency and can cultivate more intensity.

3. VALIDATE THE WIN WITH A FREE THROW

After a team gets to the point total needed to win, a player (selected by the losing team) must hit a free throw for the victory to be complete.  Otherwise another game is started at 0-0.

THERE WILL COME A TIME

WHEN WINTER WILL ASK,

“WHAT HAVE YOU DONE THIS SUMMER?”