Use the Two minute drill to win the close ones

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

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December 7, 2014

Use the Two minute drill to win the close ones by Craig Shorey

There is 2:19 left in the game and your team has not been shooting well. The game is close and time out is called. What things (besides game plan) do you say to your team?

Championship programs win the close games the majority of the team. Sometimes what separates winning and losing is just a two or three minute stretch of play. For a lot teams it’s the last couple minutes of the game. There are two simple keys to winning the close ones.

First – practice. Yes, I said practice. Many young players today do not really watch basketball and if they do the notice the isolation plays. I like to use what I call the 2 minute drill. I pick an end of game scenario and play it out, 5 on 5. I also give each team 2 timeouts. Once we get half way through the season, we do this every day for at least 30 minutes.

The famous Red Auerbach would sometimes ask his players in the huddle what they thought the team should do. If most coaches did that today their players would not have an answer because they do not know game time strategy. Use this 2 minute drill to educate your players and prepare them for the end of the game. Pretend you are holding a coaching clinic and review the many options.

Preparing players for the end of the game builds confidence. Point number two is to be positive. Do not cuss, swear or be little your players. It doesn’t work and only builds added pressure that is not needed. Reduce the pressure by preparing your players and speaking positively in your huddle.

2:19 and my team hits their first outside jumper of the game. It’s a 1 point game because we have played defensive and pounded the paint. The other team’s coach calls a time out. His players walk over to the bench with their heads down. Everybody in the gym can hear him yelling insults and profanity to his players. I yell to my team “two minutes guys, two minutes.”

My players are high fiving each other and say “we do this every day, we got this” as they sprint to the bench. I review strategy and encourage. As both teams walk onto the court I hear the other coach say to his point guard “I know you’re gonna screw this up.”

We won that game by 7 points. Use the two minute drill and be positive.

Craig Shorey Bio:
Maricopa, Arizona
Graduated form Western Governors University and is currently pursuing a Masters from Grand Canyon University.
Coaching Experience: Craig is in his 6th season combined at the Middle School, and High School level. He also coached for the Phoenix Suns Basketball Summer Camp program. He has two middle school championships with one undefeated season.
Work: Currently he is teaching U.S. History at a middle school in Maricopa, Arizona. He was also his districts Coach of the Year for the 2013-2014 school year.
Favorite Quote: “Do not let what you cannot do get in the way of what you can do.” John Wooden

two minute drill