Gray Devils Information
Welcome to the 2018-2019 Winter basketball season at CYA!
My name is Josh Martin, and along with Tom Tufts and John Ritter will coach your son this year. We are looking forward to a great season, and want every boy on the team to be excited to play again next year. Our practices are every Monday from 6pm to 7pm at Lees Corner Elementary School (13500 Hollinger Ave, Fairfax, VA 22033), and we will have games on Saturdays and/or Sundays through early March.
Throughout the season, we will focus on a few key concepts, but it all starts with two main ideas:
- Sportsmanship: The players, coaches, and parents will show good sportsmanship win or lose, have a positive attitude, and show respect to each other, the referees, and other teams.
- Effort: Effort counts more than outcome. We will practice and play with energy and focus on improving throughout the season.
On offense, we will teach:
- Pass and Move: When you pass, move somewhere else. Our main offense (Motion) below shows examples.
- Protect the Ball: Good positioning and footwork with the ball. Strong dribbling and passing.
- Be Active: When you do not have the ball, work to get open.
On defense, our focus will be:
- Stop the Ball: Good active and help defense.
- Communicate: Talk to your teammates. Let them know if you need help and what you see.
- Go Get It: Agressive rebounding and chasing down loose balls.
Positions
During each quarter, I will assign players a position, based on a number between 1 and 5. The numbers equate to guards, forwards, and centers in basketball, but we are going to stick with the numbers to keep it simple.
When we are taking the ball out of bounds, the 2 (shooting guard) will pass the ball in.
When the 1 (point guard) brings the ball up the court, players should start in the following positions:
Players line up several steps away from the lane to leave space in the middle.
Set Plays
We have a few "set" plays based on the players assigned number.
In each of our set plays, the point guard loudly calls out the play as he is dribbling up the court (e.g. "3"). Once the point guard is ready, he yells "Go" and the other players run the play.
We also have a base motion offense that can be seen further down the page.
2
When the point guard calls this play, the 2 player comes and sets a screen for the point guard.
As with all screens/picks, the point guard can fake one way before using the pick.
The point guard then tries to get to the basket and score. If the other team covers him, he should look for an unguarded, open player.
3
3 is identical to 2 - just from the other side.
4
4 is an "off the ball" screen. We are trying to get a player open for a pass in the middle.
The 4 player crosses diagonally through the lane, and sets a screen for the 3 player.
The 3 player then uses the screen to get open in the lane for a pass from the point guard.
If the pass is not open, the 3 player should get out of the lane and reset. If the pass is made, the 3 player should take the layup.
5
5 is the same as 4 - just from the other side.
Unlike the animation on the right, the point guard should try to pass while the player is still on the move to receive the pass.
22
22 is the same as 2, except we will do a pick and roll.
The point guard will dribble a little wider to the left to draw defenders.
The 2 player rolls into the lane, always facing the point guard (do not turn back on ball).
The point guard passes to the 2 player for the layup.
33
33 is the same as 22, just from the opposite side.
Motion Offense
Our motion offense relies on players screening away to help get teammates open. It is our base offense, and can be used at any time (even after other plays have been called).
The sections below show different ways the players moved based on the ball location. The boys are also encouraged to beat their defender and go for a shot.
From the Top
If the ball is "up top", the two players at the top of the box screen/pick down.
The two players at the bottom of the box use the screens to come up and get open.
The player with the ball can pass to either player coming up - whoever is most open.
From the Side
In this example, the ball was first passed to the right side. Now what do the players do?
They "screen away" again. In this case, the ball is on the right, so the players closest to the ball (1 and 3) go and set screens to the left.
The players on the left (2 and 4) come around the picks to get open.
The player with the ball can pass to either 2 or 4 - whoever is most open.
Ideally, we want to pass the ball down close to the basket for a shot.
From the Bottom
If a player has the ball in the corner, the closest players (3 and 5 in this case) screen away.
Overall, players close to the ball go screen away to get a teammate open.
Once we get near the basket, players are encouraged to go for a shot.