The Florida Gators became only the seventh team in NCAA Basketball Tournament history to repeat as national champions Monday night, pushing aside Ohio State 84-75 in a game with all of the excitement of looking at an ashtray.

After four very exciting rounds of basketball in the 62-team playoff tournament, the last two rounds put a lot of fans to sleep, including me.

The Final 4 found #1 Ohio State easing past #2 Georgetown 67-60 even though freshman phenom Greg Oden only played a half game (20 minutes) because of foul trouble early on. All Big 10 freshman guard Mike Conley Jr. stepped up with 15 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assets and exactly 1 turnover.

Oden came back big in the second half, scoring 13 points and picking off 8 rebounds.

There is not another team in the country with two freshmen like Oden and Conley. Oden is only the top NBA draft prospect in the country, and at times he has played as advertised. No one should be comparing him to the likes of Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain or Kareem Abdul-Jabbar yet, but he certainly will get better in college if not in the pros next year.

Georgetown’s 7-foot-2 center Roy Hibbert had 19 points, 6 rebounds and 1 blocked shot in 24 minutes of play and held his own against the younger, more celebrated Oden.

Hibbert, however, had little support from teammates Jeff Green, who scored 9 points on only 5 shots after averaging nearly 16 points in the tournament, and DaJuan Summers, who scored only 3 points after averaging nearly 18 points in his two prior playoff games.

It was the 22nd straight victory for the Buckeyes who would see their streak come to a screeching halt against Florida.

In the second semi-final, Florida dealt UCLA another spanking, advancing 76-66, and the score was a lot closer than the game on the court. Florida knocked off UCLA in last year’s NCAA tournament 73-57 to win the national championship.

When Bruin guard and Pac 10 Player of the Year Arron Afflalo went to the bench early in the first half with foul trouble the game was over. Despite a second half rally that fell way too short, Florida had this game in the bag.

Coach Ben Howland has done a great job turning around UCLA’s program but he and the Bruins will have to wait another year to become more famous.

Never mind that UCLA entered the game at 11-1 against ranked opponents this year or that they were 17-2 against teams in this year’s NCAA tournament. Florida has done a little butt kicking of its own, going 20-1 in postseason play the last three years, and going 22-1 in March during that time.

So Florida and Ohio State headed into a national championship for the second time in a year, this time in basketball. Florida beat Ohio State by 27 points in the BCS (Bowl Championship Series) national championship football game in January. Both schools have become powerhouse programs.

Ohio State had Oden, Conley and a lot of hope and prayer. Florida had five starters each of whom was averaging in double figures yet sharing the ball, as all averaged within 2.4 shots of one another and none averaged as many as 10 shots a game. That is called balance.

The Buckeyes decided to leave Oden underneath and did not challenge Florida shooters on the perimeter, and the Gators canned enough 3-pointers to move away quickly and stay ahead.

Florida drained 10 three-pointers, shot 49% from the floor and 88% from the free throw line.

Ohio State’s big impression center Greg Oden led all scorers with 25 points and tied for the game-high with 12 rebounds, but he had little help from his teammates who would have needed a ball with eyes to catch Florida.

For the record, this was the first Final 4 in which all four finalists had 30 or more wins. It was the second Final 4 in which every team was a No. 2 seed or better. And the championship game was only the 5th pairing of no. 1 seeds.

Show a little love for Billy Donovan and his players, all of whom decided not to go pro and came back to try a repeat. They did it. It sounds so simple to say but Florida was the first team since Duke in 1992 to win back-to-back championships and only the seventh team ever to do it.

The others were Oklahoma State (1945-46), Kentucky (1948-49), San Francisco (1955-56), Cincinnati (1961-62), UCLA (1964-65 and 1967-73) and Duke (1991-92).

UCLA won 9 titles in 10 years and 7 in-a-row under coach John Wooden, arguably the greatest coach to ever walk on the hardwood. UCLA also entered its Florida game with an all-time winning percentage of .738 in the NCAA tournament and an all-time 93-33 record.

Coach Billy Donovan has some work to do if he ever expects to rival John Wooden.

After winning his second national championship, Donovan said “I think this team should go down as one of the best teams in the history of college basketball.

“Not as the most talented, and not on style points, but because they encompassed what the word ‘team’ means, ” said Donovan. “They did it the first year with no expectations, then they did it again with all the expectations.”

Buckeye coach Thad Matta did not wear out his mind agreeing with Donovan, saying “I would put them in a category of some of the best teams to win.”

Florida just ripped Ohio State a new backside.

The starting five for the Gators—Corey Brewer, Joakim Noah, Al Horford, Taurean Green and Lee Humphrey—is thought to be the only starting five ever to win back-to-back titles. Florida’s 68 wins over the past two seasons are tied for the 10th most in NCAA history.

2007 NCAA Tournament Results for Round 5 – The Final 4

#1 Ohio State eliminated #2 Georgetown 67-60

#1 Florida eliminated #2 UCLA 76-66

2007 NCAA Tournament Results for Round 6 – Championship Game

#1 Florida eliminated #1 Ohio State 84-75 to win its second straight title.

Copyright © 2007 Ed Bagley

Ed Bagley is the Author of Ed Bagley’s Blog, which he Publishes Daily with Fresh, Original Articles on Lessons in Life, Jobs and Careers, Movie Reviews, Sports and Recreation, and Internet Marketing intended to Delight, Inform, Educate and Motivate Readers. He also operates an upscale resume writing service for executives and professionals that is part of his Blog. Visit Ed at . . .
http://www.edbagleyblog.com
and check out this main article section at . . .
http://www.edbagleyblog.com/LessonsinLifeArticles.html

There are many components of offensive basketball for a coach and his players to master. The offensive system dictates ball movement, use of the dribble, spacing, and individual player skills. The goal of every possession is to score points, whether it be one, two or three. The responsibility of scoring these points rests solely on someone not even in uniform; the coach!

“How could the coach score points as he sits on the bench”, you say. He doesn’t actually shoot the ball but through his leadership he designs an offensive attack that creates scoring opportunities. Once these opportunities are created, the RIGHT player must take the RIGHT shot. This thinking often separates the good coach from the mediocre one.

We all understand that your best friend or the Superintendent has kids on the team and want you to extend the green light to them on offense. Guess what! The quickest way to be given the green light out of your job is to give the green light to players who can’t score. Make up your mind how you want to play and how your philosophy fits into your specific situation.

The following are crucial considerations for the coach and the quality of shots taken by his team:

1. Your Offensive System–The quality and variety of shots your team takes will depend greatly upon the offensive attack you choose. Are you a fast break team that takes quick shots or more of a half-court team? Do you strive to get most of your shots from the paint, mid-range, or from long range? Are you specific in terms of the kind of shots that you want taken, or is your offense an equal opportunity activity? Be clear in your approach to offense because you may be hurting the bottom line, quality of shots taken, by the offense you are running.

2. Who Takes the Shots–This goes back to the “green light” theory of coaching offense. Your team must score points to win, I think we can all agree to that. How you are going to score is a much more complicated predicament. Of the five players on the floor you will probably at best have three good shooters, though most coaches have one or two. How do you determine who can be trusted to shoot the shots to score the points. My advice is to seriously contemplate this issue. You may want to make some important changes to your philosophy and your offensive attack.

3. Where Do the Shots Come From–Equally as important as who takes the majority of shots is where on the floor they are taken from. Consider these questions:

a. Your best post player shoots 67 % from the field. Does this mean you let him take ANY shot he likes?

b. How do you know where on the floor your players are most efficient from? One player may be a 32% field goal shooter, but is 60% when he shoots in the mid-range (8-15 feet). Does he know that and do you know that?

c. Good shooters can fool coaches because of their ability to hit the three point shot. We tend to give them the green light from anywhere when in fact they are poor from anywhere but three point land.

4. The Secret–If you are not a believer in statistics, I would say that the quality of your team’s shot selection is average. Many high school coaches suffer from nagging parents who think their son or daughter should be taking a lot of shots on the team. How can you justify your decision to not allow their son or daughter to shoot in games? Parents want and deserve an answer, and it needs to be a well thought out one.

The secret is to use statistics in everything you do. A sure fire way to determine the accuracy of a player’s shooting ability is to record every shot they take from the beginning of practice to the end. What you will discover will amaze you. Granted, there is validity in game statistics when everything is one the line. By taking extensive statistics you will begin to see the true picture of shooting mediocrity. You may say, “I don’t have enough people around to take all those stats.” That may be true, but if you are committed to improving your shot selection and accuracy it is well worth your time and creativity to get it done.

When parents approach you with the age old, “Why don’t you let Johnny shoot?”, you will now be armed to educate them on the facts. The hard, cold statistics are always enough to stand on their own and until you take a stand with parents, they will make your job as a coach a real battle.

Do yourself a favor during this off season and use this article to analyze your philosophy, your offense, and your shot selection. A small improvement can lead to great results next season. Good luck!

Randy Brown has passion for the game of basketball. He works as a basketball consultant and mentor for coaches. Visit him at http://www.coachrb.com for free resources, Q & A, newsletter, and coaching programs. A speaker and writer, he has authored 75 articles on coaching and is nationally published. His 18 years in college basketball highlights a successful 23-year career. Mentored by Basketball Hall of Fame coach Lute Olson at Arizona. Resume includes positions at Arizona, Iowa State, Marquette, Drake, and Miami of Ohio, 5 Conference Championships and 5 NCAA apprearances. His efforts have helped develop 12 NBA players including Steve Kerr, Sean Elliott, and Jaamal Tinsley. To contact Randy, email him at rb@coachrb.com.

Recently I received an email from a coach asking this question: Can you tell me what my guards should do before and during penetration and how they should finish at the rim? As I prepared to answer the question it made sense to me what this coach really wanted to know. Like any other skill in basketball there are a series of skills that proceed the end result. Let’s take a look at the secrets to scoring at the rim. In this article we will analyze what happens before and during penetration to the rim.

There are a lot of elements to consider as you break down this skill. There is an art to scoring off the dribble, as opposed to the coach who tells his players to simply “get to the rim”.

Before

1. The number one thing is to clear your defender. Of course, there are a multitude of ways to do this. 2. Knowing that you are on a clear or open side plays into the players thinking also. He SEES that the drive to the basket is possible.

During

1. Once by the defender, the ball handler needs to quickly survey the floor. Good teams will not let you just go by and get to the trim. They will have levels of help in place. By survey, I mean visually check out the floor for a path the basket OR passing opportunities.

2. I have always taught the Stride Stop as a way for the dribbler to be in control but strong with the ball at the same time. This is where a lot of kids miss out. They are convinced they are driving it all the way to the hoop, eliminating any assist possibilities. Many players, at this time, jump in the air to make a play. The stride stop is a controlled jump stop & pivot at the deepest point of penetration. It allows for control, balance, good decision making, a shot possibility and a pass opportunity.

3. If there is a clear path to the rim, the ball should be taken to the rim in the strongest method possible. Some players can take it up strong off one foot. Others need to jump stop then go up and finish.

Finishing at the Rim

1. Strength is the key. Protecting the ball as they go up with the ball. Use the term, “Take the defender up with you.” In other words, they key is to not let the defenders contact to STOP your momentum to the rim.

2. Concentration is crucial. Most players concentrate on the impending contact rather than the rim. When this happens, the contact becomes the focus, not making the shot.

3. Use of a blocking dummy and mock defenders is good because it simulates contact at the rim.

4. Terms I have used over the years:

a. Finish at the rim–meaning they should release the ball as close to the rim as possible. Makes sense that the less the ball has to travel, the better chance you have to make it.

b. Play THROUGH the contact.

c. Take the defender up with you.

d. Expect contact–how many times have you seen a player get fouled or hit hard and act like they had NO IDEA there was going to be any contact around the basket. This is a mindset you can help your players develop. I use the term, “Take on the contact”.

A key in all of this is the ability for players to make DECISIONS—why? Because getting by the defender is not a licence to get all the way to the basket. It just means they beat the first line of defense. A lay up or power shot is possible, but so is a pass or pull up jumper (the mid-range game). This gives players three options after beating a defender, not just one.

Randy Brown has passion for the game of basketball. He works as a basketball consultant and mentor for coaches. Visit him at http://www.coachrb.com for free resources, Q & A, newsletter, and coaching programs. A speaker and writer, he has authored 75 articles on coaching and is nationally published. His 18 years in college basketball highlights a successful 23-year career. Mentored by Basketball Hall of Fame coach Lute Olson at Arizona. Resume includes positions at Arizona, Iowa State, Marquette, Drake, and Miami of Ohio, 5 Conference Championships and 5 NCAA apprearances. His efforts have helped develop 12 NBA players including Steve Kerr, Sean Elliott, and Jaamal Tinsley. To contact Randy, email him at rb@coachrb.com.

Equal opportunity is deeply entrenched into our work culture in this country. It states that any person, regardless of race, gender or age, has an equal chance to apply for any job they desire. It also states that based on their qualifications, they will receive an equal shot at the position applied for. Not to say this is a perfect system by any means, but the intent is honorable to all who seek employment.

Does equal opportunity apply to the athletic field, court, or arena? This is a sticky area and one that is challenged daily by kids and parents around our country. Important questions exist here: Is each participant entitled to "equal opportunity" when it comes to playing time on the field? Some say yes, some say no.

It’s obvious that just being on the team allows all young players to experience the joy of team sports. In the lower grades, 1-4, it is necessary for all kids to have a fair shot at experiences in sports. This specifically means equal playing time and equal opportunity to bat, shoot, or kick the soccer ball. This IS NOT the time to gear your coaching toward winning. Surprisingly, many coaches in these grades DO approach every game as an opportunity to win. I have not problem with that, we all want to win if we are going to compete. The problem comes when winning affects equal opportunity and this is destroying the experience for the kids. Can you imagine a 3rd grader having to stand on the sidelines the entire second half because the game is close and his team has a shot to win? Who are we trying to buffalo here, coaches?

In the later grades, 5-8, there is a natural shift toward player development, execution and patterns of playing time. Again, there needs to be a balance between winning and equal opportunity at these grades levels too. An even split of playing time is not appropriate, but some equality must exist between the best player and the worst.

I’ve often wondered how many young athletes quit playing a sport because he or she was never given a fair shot. The result is a major missed opportunity to learn all of the valuable lessons that sports so freely give away. How sad is this reality when a 2nd or 3rd grader becomes disillusioned because his coach wanted to win a 2nd grade game more than giving each player a chance to learn, shine, and grow?

The next jump in levels puts us into the high school range of 9-12. Again, I say that that winning has become too big of a deal at these levels as we have seen all over the country. Although the winning/equal opportunity pendulum has shifted even more, there still must be opportunities for all athletes to participate. Many JV program has gone by the wayside unfortunately. This is an example of added opportunity for the young athlete that will not get a chance to compete on Friday night in the varsity game.

In conclusion, it’s obvious that the older the athlete is, the less he or she will be granted equal opportunity. The reason is the scoreboard on the wall of every gym in America. American’s love their sports and want to win. As long as games are judged by the final score, equal opportunity and basketball do not mix.

Randy Brown has passion for the game of basketball. He works as a basketball consultant and mentor for coaches. Visit him at http://www.coachrb.com for free resources, Q & A, newsletter, and coaching programs. A speaker and writer, he has authored 75 articles on coaching and is nationally published. His 18 years in college basketball highlights a successful 23-year career. Mentored by Basketball Hall of Fame coach Lute Olson at Arizona. Resume includes positions at Arizona, Iowa State, Marquette, Drake, and Miami of Ohio, 5 Conference Championships and 5 NCAA apprearances. His efforts have helped develop 12 NBA players including Steve Kerr, Sean Elliott, and Jaamal Tinsley. To contact Randy, email him at rb@coachrb.com.

“Welcome to Indiana basketball.” Hoops history was made in northern Indiana over the weekend by a small township school off US 30.

This should come as no surprise from the state that spawned the most famous and encouraging sports movie in history, ‘Hoosiers,’ detailing the run of the ‘Milan Miracle’ in 1954. That school had an enrollment of 161 students, Oregon Davis has 246 students; but what happened to both schools was similar Saturday night at the high school state finals in Indianapolis.

Oregon Davis became the first high school to win both the 1-A girls and boys championship in the same year. Four other schools previously had teams in both state finals, but none had won. In a state where basketball is beloved, where coach Bobby Knight ruled for a spell, that is a prized endeavor.

“I’m not an oddsmaker, but I gotta think the odds aren’t good for such a small school to make this sort of history,” said IHSAA assistant commissioner Ray Craft. “Having a community pull together for its young people is amazing and truly unique,” IHSAA commissioner Blake Ress said.

Do you want to know what is even more amazing? Four years ago, when my son(from Bremen) played against the OD Bobcats, I was actually rooting for and feeling sorry for that team. They had the longest losing streak in the state. That group of boys had never won a game throughout their entire basketball career. You could see it in their depresssed demeanor on and off the court. They were discouraged…my heart went out to them.

However, a younger group of guys did not let defeat define their school reputation. They began to look forward not back and did the next thing to prepare to change that losing legacy. They learned from the previous losses and then let that fuel the passion to perform better the next year and year after. Same coach but a different attitude. Their work took winning to a whole new level.

Congratulations to Coach Travis Hannah and OD community for not giving up on the school and the team. Congratulations to the many individuals, too numerous to name, who believed and had a part in the process to encourage the kids to work hard and stay in the competition.

It does make a difference in athletics and the game of life to have people behind the scenes who believe in you and encourage you to reach your goals. Let that be a lesson to all of us. And as they say, the rest is Indiana basketball history!

Kay the Encourager
My world needs healing words, inspiring words, caring words–I want to know the right words to say. Thus a lifetime of learning and how to encourage became my purpose and my story. I found out: I can impact a life in a positive way. I can encourage people to persevere in difficult life situations. You can too! We can make a difference in one another’s lives. My husband and I are still married, after 32 years of starting and owning several successful small businesses together. I have a degree in retail merchandising, am a human resource manager, advertising manager and janitor. I have been an employer and employee. I have been a counselee and counseled. I love to volunteer in my church and community, encouraging women and children.
http://www.howtoencourage.com

There are in fact vertical jump super foods that will help you increase your vertical jump. This article will discuss vertical jump super foods to increase vertical jump and which foods will help you decrease your vertical jump. Keep reading to get instant access to the powerful vertical jump workout program that has already helped over 2000 individuals worldwide increase their vertical jump.

Not all foods are treated equal and not all fats should be avoided. In fact, studies have shown that eating monounsaturated fats like olive oil actually help you burn fat faster.

Having a fast and powerful vertical jump is a direct result of your muscle versus weight ratio. Fat is heavy and weighs you down while strong, firm muscles give you explosive vertical jump power.

These are some vertical jump super foods that will help you build real muscle mass, and ultimately a significant vertical jump increase.

1. Creatine. Creatine has been proven to be safe for building muscle and speeding up muscle recovery after strenuous workouts.

2. Low fat meats, fruits, vegies and salads. Eating unprocessed healthy foods will decrease your body fat while at the same time improving your health. These foods are high in Vitamin C, a powerful building block and protein. Be sure to try and incorporate protein rich foods in every meal for their powerful muscle building and fat burning properties.

If you’re after a significant vertical jump increase then avoid some of the foods below:

I think you have an idea which foods to avoid to increase your vertical jump. All the ones that ultimately taste real good and are real bad for you. High fat content foods, deep fried foods, foods with little nutritional value should be avoided at all costs as all that will do is overload your body with ineffective carbs and sugar that will all be converted to one thing… fat!

Also lower your intake of sugary soft drinks and cordial when looking for a powerful vertical jump increase.

Focus your attention on a lot of unprocessed foods healthy foods that don’t overload your system and fill your body with heavy fat that ultimately is going to weigh your body down.

For a more extensive list of vertical jump super foods to increase your vertical jump check out the vertical jump workout program at the website below.

Wait! You won’t believe how easy it is to improve vertical jump. I can show you how to improve vertical jump in just days! An increase in vertical jump and an easy step by step vertical jump program can land you the athletic career, lifestyle and money you’ve always dreamed of. Find out how to get all three at http://www.increase-and-improve-vertical-jump.com and get instant access to my free vertical jump workout course ($99.00 VALUE)!

Longtime Las Vegas sports gambler Lem Banker likens the NCAA Tournament to a game of musical chairs.

“Anything can happen,” Banker said.

“One loss, the music stops and you’re out.”

The field of 64 (or 65) will be announced on Selection Sunday, after leagues wrap up their own conference tournaments.

“We all know who the good teams are,” Banker said.

“Now we have to see how things line up.”

When it comes to betting, Banker lets his head trump his heart.

Being human, however, he admits he has personal favorites.

“I’m pulling for a sleeper,” Banker said.

“Personally, I’d love to see UNLV win it all, but I don’t think that’s going to happen this year.

“I don’t think the Rebels have the bodies to do it.

“Their coach (Lon Kruger) has done an outstanding job, offensively and defensively.

“He has a well-conditioned, talented club, but needs another big body or two to get the job done.

“What he has accomplished is he has built a successful program and that will help with recruiting.

“I don’t know where he’s going to get the bodies from — Europe, South America, the Orient — but UNLV could be great down the road.”

The Rebels, who won their only national championship in 1990 under Jerry Tarkanian, were 26-6 and ranked 25th heading into Friday night’s Mountain West Conference Tournament game versus Colorado State.

UNLV being the exception, Banker says he wants a team who’s never won before to reign over the Big Dance in 2007.

“Somebody like Gonzaga,” he said.

The West Coast Conference champions have been to the NCAA Tournament eight straight years, but some observers say the 23-10 Bulldogs may not make it nine in a row after a turbulent season that included the arrest of one star for possession of a controlled substance.

“We’ll have to wait and see on that one, but what I’m saying is I’d like to see someone different win it all, maybe a team with a young coach,” Banker declared.

“I want to see someone who has never won before get there.”

Brian Gabrielle is a documented member of the Professional Handicappers League.
Read all of his articles at http://www.procappers.com/Brian_Gabrielle.htm

This Year much like all the previous years when the 65 teams were chosen to participate in the NCAA Men’s Division 1 Basketball tournament fans of some of the teams that were left out were extremely upset and vocal. Looking at the results so far it is very hard to be upset at the selection Committee this year. They did an outstanding job, was it a Fluke

The selection process is fairly simply. Of the 65 teams who get in the tournament 31 are selected by either a Conference Championship or Conference Standings. The Remaining 34 teams are picked by the NCAA selection committee. After the Field of 65 are selected the committee divides the field into 4 regionals. Three Regionals have 16 Teams and a fourth regional has 17 teams. Each regional is then seeded from 1 to 16 with 1 being the best team and 16 being the worst team. The last 2 teams selected play an extra game sometime referred to as the “play in game” to determine the fourth 16th seed.

Every year the field is laden with upsets and Cinderella teams. A 12th seeded teams always beats a 5th Seeded team. Number 1 Seeds don’t make it past the 2nd round and some small unknown team makes it to the sweet 16 or Round of 8.

But not this year. All 4 Number 1 Seeds (Florida, Kansas, North Carolina and Ohio State ) are in the Final 16. Only 5 Teams Seeded higher then 4th are in the Sweet 16. The Highest Seeded team in the Sweet 16 is 7th Seeded UNLV. This year more so then ever the selection committee did an amazing Jobs of picking and seeding the teams.

As a fan of the NCAA I hope this year was a Fluke, I still long for the day when a 16th Seeded team does beat a Top Seed. Perhaps a Sweet 16 with no teams seeded lower then fourth or fifth.

About the Author
Mike BigMak Makler Offers Financial Services (Life Insurance, Annuities and Mortgage Protection) in Florissant Missouri which is in North St. Louis County Missouri Just Across the Bridge from St. Charles Missouri and Alton IL

Call Mike at 314 398-5547

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Copyright © 2005-2006 Mike BigMak Makler

With the increase in coaches salaries, the shelf life of their existence has shrunk. The demand for any head or assistant coaching job is high. Getting one of these jobs takes experience, timing, and a well-placed network of helpers. Once the job is secured though, the real work begins; keeping it! Learn from experienced college coaches what it takes to enhance and keep the job you have.

When Tubby Smith recently left Kentucky for Minnesota it opened the eyes of many, especially coaches. These days no coach is safe and secure in college and in many high school situations.

What can you do as a coach to strengthen your position and security as a coach? The following suggests a few ideas for you to use and incorporate into your coaching career.

1. Coaches must understand the ground rules of the job that they hold.

Too many times a coach and parents or the administration have different ideas about expectations. A coaches first task is to develop a philosophy and share it with his superiors to put both parties on the same page. A coach who is not in line with his administration is treading in deep water.

2. Define the terms success, progress, and direction of the program.

The next time a coach is fired, look for these words as they almost always are thrown out. It is imperative that these words are defined and agreed upon by all parties before moving ahead.

3. Develop a long range and short term plan for your program.

Why? People want to win and win now! Fans, alumni, and administrators are very impatient when it comes to winning. Many of them do not understand the difference between present progress and long term vision for the program. Everyone wants to win in today’s sports arena and this has made a coach’s job much more difficult.

4. Self-Improvement Program for coaches.

As a coach, you must be on a consistent self-improvement track. You cannot afford to stand still in terms of new trends in the game and changing player personalities. This cannot be done by just going to clinics. This is where coaches miss the boat. I recommend that you take courses in communication and player-coach relational skills. Coaching is teaching, and teaching is about relating to players in terms of what you want them to execute on the floor.

5. Develop excitement in your program so players buy in.

I believe that another mistake by coaches is assuming that everyone will fall in line with the program without effort. This is short sighted thinking. You coach a dozen different people and personalities. The art of coaching and teaching is to reach all of your players as you build a team concept. Look at your program and philosophy from the outside/in and you may discover some interesting things. Be flexible, willing to change, listen to players, and help them get excited about playing basketball.

6. Coaches need a “Plan B”.

Forever I have been amazed at how coaches think they can coach forever. This firm belief is to the point where they have no idea what other kind of job they would do. This is a scary thought! Do you think this way too? You must prepare for the future to protect you and your family. In today’s climate, a person will have eight different jobs in a lifetime. Based on a changing world, you will not coach “forever” as coaches once thought. You must develop a Plan B and a tool for an additional income stream.

Randy Brown has passion for the game of basketball. He works as a basketball consultant and mentor for coaches. Visit him at http://www.coachrb.com for free resources, Q & A, newsletter, and coaching programs. A speaker and writer, he has authored 75 articles on coaching and is nationally published. His 18 years in college basketball highlights a successful 23-year career. Mentored by Basketball Hall of Fame coach Lute Olson at Arizona. Resume includes positions at Arizona, Iowa State, Marquette, Drake, and Miami of Ohio, 5 Conference Championships and 5 NCAA apprearances. His efforts have helped develop 12 NBA players including Steve Kerr, Sean Elliott, and Jaamal Tinsley. To contact Randy, email him at rb@coachrb.com.

There is a long standing debate among coaches on the topic of offensive efficiency. Some coaches believe set plays are the best way to score baskets. Others contend that motion offense gives your team the best chance to win. Both sides fiercely defend their stance on the best way to score. Here are 10 advantages of running motion offense.

My intention is not to take sides or determine the winner of this debate. Rather, I will lay out the advantages of both approaches to aid the coach in determining which style fits best. There is not perfect way to play basketball as history can attest. Winners in high school, college and the NBA have represented an array of different styles and philosophies. Picking the right approach for you and your program is the prime consideration.

Basketball purists tend to favor either sets plays or motion offense. Due to long held beliefs about either style, change is a hard thing to swallow. Coaches defend their basketball programs and beliefs as if life itself hung in the balance. Many coaches take bits and pieces of various offensive systems and morph them into their own style. Approximately 80% of coaches fall into this mixture between set plays and motion.

Let’s examine the advantages of motion offense and let you make the decision:

1. Motion is a “thinking” offense that requires players with basketball IQ.

2. Motion is a combination of every pass, screen, cut known to the game of basketball.

3. The Snowflake Theory–No two possessions are ever alike.

4. Can highlight your best player by screening for him continuously.

5. Offense reacts to the defense instead of moving in predetermined directions.

6. Motion is unpredictable making it very hard to guard. Hundreds of unique entries.

7. Is impossible to scout because of its flexibility and adaptability.

8. Screening, cutting, and ball movement are an unstoppable combination.

9. Multiple opportunities for getting the best shooters open.

10. Role definition is clear cut, letting players perfect their specific jobs within motion.

Randy Brown has passion for the game of basketball. He works as a basketball consultant and mentor for coaches. Visit him at http://www.coachrb.com for free resources, Q & A, newsletter, and coaching programs. A speaker and writer, he has authored 75 articles on coaching and is nationally published. His 18 years in college basketball highlights a successful 23-year career. Mentored by Basketball Hall of Fame coach Lute Olson at Arizona. Resume includes positions at Arizona, Iowa State, Marquette, Drake, and Miami of Ohio, 5 Conference Championships and 5 NCAA apprearances. His efforts have helped develop 12 NBA players including Steve Kerr, Sean Elliott, and Jaamal Tinsley. To contact Randy, email him at rb@coachrb.com.