Skill Development Thoughts

Six components to effective skill development 

· Practice at a rate faster than or equal to a game
· Understand that improvement is a process
    o Need effective practice and must be in condition
· Eliminate work-out killers: fatigue and boredom
· Have a written work-out plan
· Work on 3 areas everyday: conditioning, dribbling, shooting
·Theory of “2” 
    o Coach can show any skill in 2 minutes
    o 2 weeks before player is comfortable with the skill (working every day)
    o 2 months before player is ready to use skill in competition (working every day)

4 MUST-haves in a workout

· Weak hand development
· Footwork and balance
· Practice playing through contact (dribbling and shooting)
· Practice shooting while contested – work on concentration / focus on rim and release
    o Simple hand-up contest
    o Foul just after or on release

6 Fundamentals of a Shooting Work-out

· Catch and shoot
· Cut, catch and shoot
· Shots off the dribble
· Perfect form in all shooting drills – feet / keep follow thorough until ball hits the rim
· Contesting shots
· Game shots from game spots at game speed