Selection  of  the  offense | Teaching the offense

The selection of the team offense and the method of teaching this offense are important factors in the building of a championship basketball team. Selection of an offense unsuitable for the available personnel will certainly decrease chances for success while faulty teaching of the selected offense will produce similar results.

Selection of the Offense

The major factor to be considered in selecting the team's basic offensive pattern is the type of player personnel available. Offensive plays must take advantage of the strengths of individual team members. A team composed of three or four tall players may find a four- or five-man weave offense very ineffective. A team without a good pivot player probably would find a pivot offense involving a great deal of feeding the pivot unsuitable. If two good pivotmen are among the probable starters, a double pivot offense could be used to advantage. The coach must analyze his players early, determine the strengths of each, and select the team offense accordingly. A correct selection is extremely important for it is difficult to change offenses in mid-season.

The type of defense to be faced the majority of the time should receive some consideration in the type of team offense selected. If the team will be facing a zone defense most of the time, as is often the case in high school basketball, the selection of an intricate continuity offense for attacking man-for-man defenses would be impractical. True, the team must be prepared to face the man-for-man defense but a simpler pattern can be selected.

It is important that an offense be selected with which the coach is thoroughly familiar. Having a complete knowledge of the offense will allow the coach to teach it confidently, properly answering any questions that may arise and correctly analyzing mistakes that occur.

In addition to a team's basic half-court offense, other offensive plays and patterns must be prepared. These include a zone offense, press offense for meeting both the zone and man-for-man pressing defenses, out-of bounds plays, jump ball plays, freeze patterns, and special plays. If the team is to fastbreak, plans must be formulated for teaching the team how and when to use the break.

Teaching the Offense

The basketball coach should keep foremost in mind that he is a teacher and that the words "coach" and "teacher" are synonymous. All good coaches are good teachers for they must use proven teaching methods in teaching all phases of the game. When one coach is consistently more successful than another, it is usually due to superior teaching competency rather than a "pet" offense, knowledge of the game, or some other factor. Since teaching abilities can be improved, each coach should constantly strive to improve his teaching techniques.

When a particular play or pattern is to be learned, the coach should use a method similar to the following:

1. Explain the play clearly by diagramming it on a chalkboard. Discuss the play fully and answer any questions that may arise.

2. If returning players are available who already know the play, use them to demonstrate the play.

3. Allow each player on the squad to actually run through the play without defense until it is well learned.

4. After the play has been learned by all players, use a "dummy" defense against the play. This means that the defense will go with the offensive players but will make no effort to intercept passes or block shots.

This allows offensive players to see clearly where scoring options will occur.

5. Add live defense. Allow defensive players to contest for passes and block shots. Simulate actual game conditions as nearly as possible.

6. The coach should point out any mistakes that occur and make proper corrections.

7. Break-down drills should be used in mastering parts of the play.

8. As the overall team offense is learned, use full-court scrimmage to simulate game conditions.

9. Brief skull sessions should be held regularly to discuss various parts of the team offense, errors that are occurring, and to answer any questions the players have about the offense.

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