Tricks of the Trade for Basketball

Tricks of the Trade for Basketball is a collection of basketball ideas, tips, coaching cues, problem-solvers, drills and games. The focus of these articles is on practical information that basketball coaches and physical education teachers can use right away. For example:

• How to use shoe noise to set better screens;
• Where to place the hands when stripping a rebound;
• Timing cues for better shot blocking;
• Ways to make your players' solo practice more effective

...plus a wealth of other useful tips and dozens of drills and games for improving every aspect of the game. These ideas were gleaned from some of the best active coaches in
the sport as reported in dozens of books, journals, videos and clinic reports. Some articles were contributed directly to us or
were the result of discussions with successful coaches. In almost all cases, they were chosen because they made us say, "Hey that's
neat," "That looks like fun," or "A lot of coaches could use that!"

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
For the past 25 years, Dick Moss has worked as the Editor/Publisher of Physical Education Digest and PE Update.com. He has published four eBooks covering different coaching and PE topics. ---------------------------------------------------------------

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Offense

• The "Step-Through" Move
• Make a Squeaky Screen for Better Timing
• Four-Point Free Throw Play
• Transition Drills Keep Your Players Thinking
• The "Ultimate" Fast Break
• Make Contact Against A Shot Blocker
• The Automatic Pickup Rule Controls Opposing Fast Breaks
• Use the Line Principle When Positioning the Low Post
• Making Your Move In a "One-On-One"

Passing

• Better Passing With a Deflated Ball
• "Penny Push" Teaches the Bounce Pass
• Improving the Overhead Pass
• Spin Pass Makes Solo Practice More Game-Like
• Bounce Pass Off the Post for Precision Passing

Shooting

• Rapid-Fire Shooting Drill
• Eye Dominance May Affect Shooting Ability
• Hula Hoop Drill for Better Arc & Accuracy
• Run, Stop & Shoot Drill for Unhurried Shots
• Inside Shooting Drill
• Establish Each Player's Shooting Range
• The On-Your-Back Drill

Foul Shooting

• Improving Foul Shooting in Game Situations
• Fatigue and Pressure Drills for Foul Shooting
• The Role of Free-Throws in Basketball Success
• Improving Your Free Throw Percentage Using a Pre-Shot Ritual
• Pressure Foul Shooting Drill
• Make Free Throw Practice More Game-Specific

Dribbling

• Develop Ballhandling Skills During Aerobics Workouts
• Dribble Flag Ball
• Live Pylon Dribbling Drill
• Target Bounce Drill Teaches Dribbling Skills
• Scramble Drill Teaches Heads-Up Dribbling
• Snake Catcher
• Use Two Balls for Better Dribbling
• Space Jam Game Improves Dribbling Skills
• How to Teach the Behind-the-Back Dribble

Rebounding

• Teach Rebounding in "Traffic" With the Bump Drill
• Rebounding Approach Drill
• Stripping the Ball From a Rebounder
• Blocking-Out Drill for Rebounding
• Feeders Develop Ability to Read Rebound Angles
• Rebounders Should Make a Quarter-Turn in the Air
• Three-On-Three Rebounding Game
• Rebound Grab Ball
• Superman Drill for Better Rebounding

Defense

• Double-Team Strategies
• Tips for Blocking Shots
• "Snowbird Defense" Keeps Your Offensive Star Safe
• Defending the Post Player-Break Contact on the Catch
• Ricochet Pickup Drill
• Steal the Ball on the Up-Bounce
• Jumping the Screen
• Run and Jump Defense
• Hand and Arm Position for Better Defending
• Catch-Up Drill for Transition Defense
• Jump to the Ball When Defending a Pass to the Wing

Games

• On-Balance Scrimmage
• Hoop Golf
• "Fill-er-Up" Basketball Contest
• A Sequence Scrimmage Ensures that Everyone Scores
• Bowling Basketball for Shooting and Passing Skills
• Beat the Pro Game Improves Your Players' Self-Practice
• Same-Uniform Game for Better Court Vision

Miscellaneous

• Use Competitive Drills for Better Motivation in Practice
• Play Med-Ball on Nice Days