Chapter - 29

Developing The Big Boy

Where to begin | Developing strength, jumping ability and agility | Developing shooting ability | Developing the ability to play the pivot | Developing defensive ability in the tall player

One of the primary concerns of every coach is the development of a tall player. By much individual coaching and special drills, the tall, awkward player often can be developed into a smooth, coordinated big man that can wreak havoc with the opposition. Most championship teams have at least one tall player to control rebounds and present a dangerous scoring threat.

Where to Begin

The beginning point for developing a tall player should be in the lower grades. Because of rapid growth by many players, it often is difficult to tell early enough whether or not a boy will grow into a tall player. Therefore, it is necessary for the coach to select several players whose build indicates considerable future growth and begin fundamental work with these. As they enter high school, the more promising individuals may be singled out and given a great deal of individual attention.

Developing Strength, Jumping Ability, and Agility

Weight training can be an important factor in developing strength and jumping ability in the tall player. A program of weight training as discussed in Chapter 28 is more important in the development of the tall player than in any other. It is the tall player that needs a good amount of strength in his upper body, particularly his shoulders, arms, and hands, for the rugged rebounding work. The increase in leg strength brought about by work with weights can add inches to his vertical jump and improve his speed.

The ability to move well is important if he is to develop his offensive and defensive capabilities. Rope skipping is one of the better drills for developing this agility. Windsprints and footwork drills should also be included in the development program.

Developing Shooting Ability

Most good offensive centers use the following shots:

1. Lay-up.

2. Jump shot.

3. Hook shot.

4. Tip shot.

5. Free-throw.

Lay-up. The "George Mikan" drill is an excellent beginning point for developing the tall player's shooting ability. He stands under the basket and shoots a lay-up shot with his right hand. The shot is taken off his left foot. As the ball comes through the net, he steps onto his right foot and shoots a left-handed lay-up shot from the other side of the goal. This procedure is repeated over and over for several minutes and should be used daily.

Jump Shot. In developing the jump shot, the tall player should start close to the basket and gradually move away as his shooting proficiency increases. A minimum of fifty shots daily is absolutely essential. Keeping a record of the number of shots attempted and made daily will enable the player to check his progress and will add incentive for additional work.

Hook Shot. The hook shot should be developed with both hands. Again, work should begin close to the basket. With his back to the basket, the player should step onto his left foot and hook the ball with his right hand. After a number of shots with his right hand, he should move to the other side of the goal and shoot the left-handed hook shot off his right foot. At least fifty shots daily with each hand should be a minimum program. As his ability to shoot the shot improves, he should move further away from the basket.

Tip Shot. The tall player will be in offensive rebounding position on most offensive plays. The perfection of the tip shot will enable him to increase his scoring effectiveness. A variety of tipping drills are available and at least one tipping drill should be used daily. As the fundamental technique is learned^ a defensive rebounder should be added to the drills to contest the tall player for the rebound and simulate game conditions.

Free-throw. The free-throw must not be neglected. Since the tall player receives the ball in the highly dangerous area around the basket, he often will receive more free-throws than any other player on his team. Therefore, he must develop his free-throw technique to reach maximum effectiveness. However, no special free-throw program is necessary. The tall player should follow the same free-throw practice plan as the other members of the squad.

Developing the Ability to Play the Pivot

The fundamentals of the pivot play are different than those of the outside positions. The pivot player usually receives the ball with his back to the basket and must develop scoring maneuvers from this position. The chief fundamentals that must be mastered are:

1. Meeting the pass.

2. Receiving the pass.

3. Footwork.

4. Fakes.

5. Passing to cutters.

Meeting the Pass. Since the defense will attempt to prevent passes from reaching the pivotman, the tall player must learn to meet passes and to fight for position. The defensive player usually will play between the pivotman and the ball necessitating quick cuts and changes of direction by the pivotman to free himself for a pass. An excellent drill for teaching the tall player to fight for position and to meet passes is diagrammed in Chart 227. With the ball at the forward position, the center stands on the side of the lane away from the ball and with a defensive player between him and the ball. The pivotman breaks across the lane using any maneuvers necessary to meet the pass. Another excellent drill is to place two defensive men on the pivotman.

Receiving the Pass. Many tall players fail to catch the pass unless it is a perfect pass. The pivot player must be impressed with the fact that it is his responsibility to get the ball once it is passed. He must catch the pass regardless of whether or not it may be high, low, wide, too hard, or too soft. He must learn early that the excuse that the pass was a bad one is not to be tolerated.

CHART 227. Drill designed to teach pivot-men to meet passes. The pivotman is stationed on the side of the lane away from the ball and uses quick cuts and changes of direction to get position for a pass.

Four drills have been found excellent in improving ability to receive pivot passes.

1. As the player slides in the pivot, a guard or forward passes the ball to him using a variety of types of passes and speeds, and deliberately making bad passes occasionally to keep the pivotman alert. Upon receiving the ball, the pivot player return passes and waits for another. As his proficiency for catching passes develops, a defensive player should be added to the drill.

2. Four players are stationed around the pivot player as shown by Chart 228. Two balls are used. Player 1 passes to the pivotman who passes to 2 and slides to meet the pass from 3. When the pivotman receives the pass from 3, he passes to 4 and slides back for the pass from 1 again.

3. The pivot player stands 6 feet away from a wall and with his back to the wall. He makes a bounce pass with his right hand against the wall, pivots on his left foot to face the wall, and receives the ball caroming off the wall. He assumes the original position and makes a pass with his left hand against the wall, pivots on his right foot to face the wall, and receives the ball. This demands quick reaction and does not allow the pivot player vision of the ball until it is almost at his hands. The ball will carom low, high, and wide on occasion and the pivot player can receive excellent practice in receiving passes of various heights and speeds.

4. Two defensive players guard the pivot player. The pivot player has two teammates who will attempt to pass him the ball. He must jockey for position against his two defensive opponents and fight for the pass once it is thrown. This enables the tall player to become accustomed  to the concentrated defense around the basket that he will undoubtedly face in an actual game.

CHART 228. An excellent drill to develop the pivotman's ability to receive passes and to pass off to teammates. 1 passes to 5 who passes to 2 and slides to meet pass coming in from 3. Upon receiving the pass from 3, 5 passes to 4 and slides back for another pass from 1. Each ball is kept in its respective triangle. This drill is also helpful in developing the pivot player's split-vision.

Footwork and Fakes. Proper footwork and clever fakes are absolute essentials for pivot play. The tall player must receive practice on footwork and faking until the movements become habitual. The daily practice plan should include time for the pivotman to work on a side goal on correct footwork and scoring fakes.

The basic footwork the pivot player will need in moving across the lane to receive passes is the slide step. This step follows the pattern of the defensive slide step. Standing with feet shoulder width apart, the pivot player should assume an erect stance with elbows wide to present a big target. To move to his right, he steps onto his right foot and slides his left foot to a position beside his right. As the left foot makes contact with the floor, the pivot player again moves his right foot. The reverse is true when moving to the left. When using the slide step, the pivot player should never cross his feet.

The slide step should be perfected both with and without the ball. It can be valuable in sliding across the lane to receive a pass. Once the pass is received, the pivot player ¢an use a dribble and slide step to maneuver into position for a favorable shot.

The pivot player should be able to make the following moves involving faking:

1. Roll right or left immediately upon receiving the ball.

2. Fake right, turn left for a shot. To shoot the hook shot, the fake to the right should be made with the head and shoulders. After faking, a quick step onto the left foot sets up the hook. If shooting the jump shot, the pivot player may fake by stepping to the right with the right foot.

He then pivots on his left foot swinging his right foot around and into position for the shot.

3. Fake left, turn right for a shot. The fake for the hook shot will again be with the head and shoulders while a step left with the left foot may be used when shooting the jump shot. The left-handed hook shot should be taken off the right foot.

4. Fake left, fake right, turn left for the shot. For the hook shot, the fake left will be made with a movement of the left foot to the left. The fake right will be made with the head and shoulders. A step back on to the left foot for the right-handed shot will complete the maneuver. For the jump shot, the fake left must be made with the head and shoulders. The fake right will be made with a movement of the right foot to the right. The jump shot will be taken then by pivoting on the left foot and swinging the right foot around into shooting position.

5. Fake right, fake left, turn right for the shot. For the hook shot, the fake right will be made with a movement of the right foot to the right. The fake left will be made with the head and shoulders. A step back on to the right foot for the left-handed shot will complete the maneuver. For the jump shot, the fake right must be made with the head and shoulders. The fake left will be made with a movement of the left foot to the left. The jump shot will be taken then by pivoting on the right foot and swinging the left foot around into shooting position.

The preceding maneuvers are made with the back to the basket and are used when the player is within ten feet of the basket. It doubles the effectiveness of the pivot player when he learns to face his opponent outside this area and drive either left or right. Development of an outside shot can add to his scoring potential also for few pivotmen are adept at defensing their opponent on the outside.

Passing to Cutters. If the pivot player does not develop the ability to pass to cutters, the defense will always converge on him once he receives the pass and make offensive maneuvers difficult. Daily drills to help him develop passing ability are important. Charts 229 and 230 diagram drills for this purpose. The drill shown by Chart 228 is also good for developing pivot passing technique.

CHART 229. Drill designed to develop pivot player's ability to feed cutters. As 2 feeds 1, 3 cuts for the basket for pass. 2 and 3 should alternate cuts with 3 cutting on one pass to pivot player and 2 cutting on next pass to pivot. The pivot player should be encouraged to fake one direction and pass another and to use the bounce pass. As the pivot player's passing ability develops, defensive players should be added to the drill.

CHART 230. Drill designed to develop pivot player's ability to feed cutters. 2 passes to 1 and cuts either left or right for a return pass. Defensive players may be added to the drill.

Developing Defensive Ability in the Tall Player

The tall player must receive a good deal of defensive work for he can be the key defensive player. He must receive regular drill that will enable him to perform the following defensive skills:

1. Prevent passes from reaching his opponent in the pivot area.

2. Proper footwork for defensing his opponent once the ball has been received in the pivot area.

3. Pick up cutters and drivers going for the basket.

4. Proper footwork for defensing an outside opponent. Having the all player guard a small outside opponent on occasion can be a big help in his defensive footwork development.

5. Screen his opponent off the board on rebound attempts.

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