Blog entries

Sports camp coaching

Baba "Bob" Eleby El — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 20:13:00 +0100

I was fortunate enough the last two weeks in July, to coach at two prominent basketball camps in the DC area. Both camps were equally jam-packed with hundreds of kids, awesome fundamental drills, solid coaching and plenty of competitive game-play. I'm sure by the end of each session someone's child discovered new-found basketball potential.

From my coaching perspective however, I wish I had more time to work with players on an individualized basis. I saw many ga...

BIG MAN BLUES

Baba "Bob" Eleby El — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 19:00:43 +0100

In my world, I stand around 6 foot on a good day and have been this same height since I was 11. Naturally, I got my start learning all the typical big man low-post moves: jump-hooks, drop- steps, up and under, boxing out, rebounding, shot blocking, sealing-your-man, quick jumping, etc...

All I remember about life in the paint, there was a lot of banging, pushing, scratching, elbowing, fighting for position and clawing going-on down in the paint and the spoils usually went t...

Improving/Testing Ball Handling

Baba "Bob" Eleby El — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 00:45:56 +0100

Although there are many useful drills that will help players improve their ball handling skills. No ball handling drill will simulate game situations more and reinforce dribbling confidence; than playing against tough competition!

I vividly remember early on in my playing career, how I wanted nothing more than to show my defenders/spectators/teammates and coaches, "how much ball control I had." The ability to go left, go right, crossover, take it between my legs (forw...

Improving Ball Handling

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 22:49:20 +0100

What's The Score Coach?

Jim Chandless — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 22:41:54 +0100

It was a cool spring day on the sidelines of a youth soccer game. My 6 year old son is totally engulfed in a fierce match against, oh I can't even remember who it was. The last quarter is about to begin and one player shouts out to his teammates as they start to take the field, "Hey, what's the score?" The coach, without hesitation or using any of his ever present coaching manuals promptly replies, "The score is Fun to Fun". The number of confused players on the field went from 1 to all in th...

Time TO PUT IN THE WORK

Baba "Bob" Eleby El — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 16:31:14 +0100

As I watched the NBA finals come to a close, I can remember only one key point about the season: Kobe Bryant is the best player in the world! I'm sure he will take some time-off during the off-season to get his index fingered repaired, rest his tired legs, and relax with friends and family. Despite his much earned time-off, you can be assured one thing will occur this off-season; there will be times scheduled for Kobe to PUT IN THE WORK! Simply put, he will increase his phys...

Why do parents and coaches argue so much?

Jim Chandless — Thu, 13 May 2010 13:39:44 +0100

The single most common question I get from people when it is discovered that I coach youth sports is, "How do deal with the parents?" It's a question that seems so common that it almost assumes there must be an inherent disconnect between coaches and parents. Why? Parents and coaches are on the same side, with the same mission, and the same goals. So what is behind the perception that a coach has to be at odds with the parents of the kids they coach? And more important, what does that mean fo...

Six points in six seconds

Jim Chandless — Wed, 05 May 2010 01:49:24 +0100

Out of bounds plays have long been held secret by coaches at all levels, housed in the sacred tabernacle full of clipboards. They are what we call "situationals" or "quick hitters" aimed at taking advantage of a perceived strategic weakness in an opponents team defense. But are they really that secret? And are they really that sacred? I've learned that the best and most effective out of bounds plays don't even have the sport of basketball as a source. Yet the results are consistent. Six easy ...

Sport Camp vs. Private Coaching

Jim Chandless — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 13:29:06 +0100

Every year parents send their kids off to summer camps. But only a handful of those kids will use a private coach, an often overlooked resource right in your community. While there are certainly some great camps out there, there are also some that could be considered...well...less than effective. Private coaching runs the same range of effectiveness. Choosing what camp or camps to send your young athlete to, or whether or not to have a private coach work 1 on 1 with your child, involves a num...

Why oh why must we teach zone defense?

Jim Chandless — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 20:56:42 +0100

Make a bet, right now, with anyone that will take it. You go to any regular recreation league basketball game and at least 1 team will be playing zone defense. Probably both teams. But since you are betting, let's be safe. WHY are they playing zone at these young ages? Time to wake up coaches!

Zone defenses are predicated on the idea that a group of individuals (5 - to be exact) can work together to protect an entire basketball court. Can you think of any kid under the age of 13 that ...

The Perfect Season...almost

Jim Chandless — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 05:19:28 +0100

Every season is special. There is always something that makes a team feel different than any other. It isn't always a positive difference, but there is always a difference from team to team. I was fortunate enough to be the head coach of THE team one season. We had it all. Great players, great attitudes, great parents, and yes - even a great record. Everyone felt good about coming to practice. They were good students. They won games with sportsmanship and teamwork. They honored their parents ...