Keys to Effective offseason basketball workouts by Mark Chapman

Written by Coach Peterman

I have coached at the NCAA Division 2 (Southwestern Oklahoma State University), NAIA (USAO), and JUCO Levels (Blinn College and Carl Albert State College) as well as high school. I just felt that fellow coaches especially young coaches need to constantly work on their “game”. Just like the basketball players that we coach. We as coaches need to improve ourselves. That is my story and why I do this blog.

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Basketball Coaching | Basketball Coaching Clinic Notes

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March 21, 2014

Keys to Effective offseason basketball workouts by Mark Chapman
(Various Coaches)

Here in Ohio we are approaching the end of our dead period, which is a 28 day time in which coaches can’t have basketball contact with players. Over the past couple weeks I’ve looked into what some college coaches do with their player in the offseason basketball workouts and there are many similarities that I’ll share in this post.

1. All programs are organized: It’s not surprising that a good program is not put together in the minutes before the workout begins. It is thought out, specific for the group, and progressive for what the coach wants to accomplish.

2. Develop a routine: The programs I looked at had a flow to what they were trying to do. They didn’t waste a lot of time explaining new things (talking a lot) but spent their time with exercises and drills that players knew and could work to perfect.

3. Focus on skills for that player’s position: Good coaches will pair up players of similar position so that the skills that are emphasized are effective. Having guards and post players all skill develop together can be difficult as the players will be at very different levels and most importantly will use those skills differently during the game.

4. Vary the workout: There are multiple ways to develop the same skills and allowing players to experience different games, drills, or activities that accomplish the same end result will keep them interested and motivated.

Example: Xavier has a program written up for their players from a few years ago that breaks their players into groups by position and has a list of things to choose from. They always have warm-ups, position specific skill development, shooting (for that position), some type of screen use, and FT’s.

Make the time you spend with your players in the gym effective by having a plan. While open gym is great for getting players a chance to run it’s not always the most effective for developing players that will benefit your program during the season. Work smart!

We have a new basketball coaching contributor in Mark Chapman He is doing an excellent job in providing basketball coaching clinic notes, basketball drills, and basketball plays. He is the Head Boy’s Basketball Coach at Hamilton Township High School in Columbus, Ohio. I think that you will enjoy these basketball notes on the Keys to effective offseason basketball workouts.

Follow Coach Mark Chapman on Twitter!!!

Click on the pdf link to download the basketball coaching notes: