Q & A Mailbag

  Welcome to the mailbag! We’ve received some great questions and comments on our recent articles and content lately.  Before we get to the articles and questions, we wanted to share an exciting announcement . . .  NEW Product Release Next Week!  This week we are excited to release our newest product, The Screening Game Offense with Bob Martin.  Coach Martin, who recently won a Georgia HS State Championship, covers all aspects of offense in this video, including: - Unique, high-scoring offensive system and how to use it v. zones as well - Transition offense with secondary break actions - BLOBs, SLOBs, Sets - Live Game Clips - How to build conceptual offense through small sided games - Green Light Shooting System that has made his teams consistently one of the best shooting teams in the state Along the way, his teams have accomplished some incredible statistics: - 39% 3 point shooting (Top 3 in the state for the last 5 years! - Offensive rebounded 37% of their misses (10% points above average) - 1.5 assist to turnover ratio as team (average is approx 1:1) Be on the lookout for more information this week!  Host a Breakthrough Camp Fundraiser! Make Money For Jerseys, Basketballs, Hudl, Equipment, and More Hosting a Breakthrough Basketball Camp is a quick and easy way to raise funds for your program. [Learn more here](   NEW Coaching Articles, Plays, Drills & Videos:  [The Toughest Team In The NBA Plays This Defense - Do You?](  [5 Ways Al Marshall Adjusts His 2-3 To Exploit His Opponent’s Weaknesses]( (YouTube video)  [Create Pace Without The Press: The Power Of Locking Left](  [The 3 Best Man Left Drills To Lock The Ball Left](  [How The Man Left Defense Helped My Team Set A School Record For Wins](   NEW YOUTH Coaching Articles, Drills, & Videos:  [The Minecraft Inspired Concept That Will Keep Your Players Engaged](  [How To Quickly Improve Players’ Balance & Footwork](  [Rebounding Drill: Reaction Rebounding](  [2 Competitive Drills To Improve Passing For Youth Teams](   NEW Training Articles, Drills, & Videos:  [Serious About Improving? Try This Attack & Counter Sample Workout](  [Why You Should Train To Attack The Defense, Not Read It](  [Add Steph’s Gold Medal Move To Your Arsenal](  [3 Finishing Drills To Train Game Situations]( (YouTube video)  NEW Sports Parenting Article, Drills, & Videos  [5 Best Questions To Ask Your Child After Practice](   Today’s Mailbag  Question: Is The Man Left Defense Good For Youth Teams? We recently featured the[Man Left Defense]( from Coach Rob Brost. This defense forces the ball left, making players beat you with their non-dominant hand. I shared some of my experience on X, prompting this reply:  Jeff Huber’s response:  I absolutely would use the Man Left Defense at the youth level. Here’s a couple reasons:  1 - Players are learning man to man principles.  This isn’t a zone defense, where you might win more in the short term but are stunting long term development. Players are learning how to guard the ball and how to play help defense.  2 - It would be really effective. Most youth players struggle with their weak hand. Thus, it would help you competitively.  3 - It would build your players’ weak hand skills. By practicing against this defense, they would be forced to develop their non-dominant hand, resulting in better player development.  Now, one trade off could be that those players end up playing later on for a coach who doesn’t use Man Left. That would require someone of an adjustment.  However, the Man Left still teaches players: - How to direct the ball - How to stunt - How to deny Those principles apply to almost all types of man to man. Thus, while there might be some transition, it shouldn’t be too difficult.  Question: Should Youth Players Use A Smaller Basketball? Coach Brian McCormick recently shared[this video interview]( with NBA legend Ray Allen: In the video, Ray Allen talks about the detrimental effect shooting with a bigger ball has on his son’s shot.   Jeff Huber’s response:  This can be a controversial issue. Some coaches think ball size doesn’t matter. I would beg to differ, as would Ray.  When the ball is too big for your hands or too heavy, you have to compensate mechanically. This creates bad habits.  Oftentimes, those bad habits take thousands of reps to undo.   The good news is, you can largely control this. Make sure your child is shooting with an [appropriately sized ball](   Question: My Youth Team Is Overmatched - Help!  Coach Arlo recently submitted this comment which shared some common coaching frustrations:  “Where I coach, kids play 5x5. I have had my team playing man to man every year for the last two years. All the other teams play zone and press the living hell out of us, and when they have the ball they put it in the hands of their best, most athletic player, they spread the floor, give him an on-ball screen and he drives in for a layup. Needless to say, we get blown out.  Before you tell me we are in too competitive a league, this is the rec division in our CYO league. There really isn't anywhere to go and most of these kids and families are more likely to quit altogether or register at another parish than any other option.”  Jeff Huber’s response:  First of all, hang in there, Arlo! You are doing the right things. I know it’s frustrating when it doesn't show up in the results. However, if you zoom out, you are helping your players long term development.   Here are a couple ideas to help with the issues you’re having:  1 - Zone defense - work on shooting and passing more in practice. Against a zone, the ability to make open shots and get open shots through good passing is critical.  Most youth teams can’t do that, which is why it’s effective. Spend some more time on those skills. They are hugely important to your players future development and will help you in the here and now.  2 - Pressing - spend time every practice [working on handling pressure]( If players learn not to panic when pressed, that’s a good starting point. Then, if you can teach them proper spacing against pressure and where to look (sideline, middle, reverse), that should give them more confidence.   3 - Defense against clearouts & ball screens - get your team to understand that even against a clearout or ball screen, all 5 defenders must be involved. Spend a lot of time on shrinking the floor (getting more into the help) and forcing the best player to be a passer and not a scorer.  Will those ideas translate to more wins? I can’t say. But they should help.   Final thought - stay positive with your team. Remind them (and yourself) it’s not about the wins and losses, it’s about improving.  Good luck!   Question: What Is Proper Closeout Technique?  On Instragram, we shared Coach Rob Brost “Angles” Closeout Drill.   A viewer asked:  “Which is correct - to stutter step into a closeout or not?”  Jeff Huber’s Response:  Yikes - this is a sure way to draw some fire! Coaches tend to be very dogmatic on this point.  I used to teach the traditional closeout - sprint ⅔ out the way there, then break down in a stutter step the last ⅓.  I’ve softened on that a bit. I heard a coach say this - if you have your players sprint down and back, do they stutter step when they get to the opposite baseline?   The answer is no. That suggests that might not be the best way to stop and change directions under control.  I’ve relaxed on the form and focused more on the outcome. In Coach Brost’s [Man Left Defense]( that means taking away the catch and shoot 3 and the right hand drive.  If your players can do that, don’t worry too much about the footwork!  YouTube Question: Point Guard Cuts Against The Zone?  Coach Jason watched this video on[3 Best Quick Hitters To Attack Switching Defenses](.  He asked this question:  “Would point guard slip work well against a 2-3 zone?”  Jeff Huber’ response:  Coach Schultz shows the Point Guard Slip action against a man to man in the video. That said, it would absolutely work against a 2-3 zone - with a subtle tweak.   After 1 screens and slips, they need to find the open spot in the 2-3. This could be anywhere between the high post and the mid post.   When 1 gets the ball, they have multiple options. If they are open, they should shoot.  If x5 steps up, they can look to 4 behind the zone.   If x4 stay wide, 5 can cut behind as well.   Question: Should The Defender Be The 2nd Jumper When Contesting?  We recently shared the Creighton Rebounding Drill from Coach Nick LoGalbo’s [3v3 Drills For Offense & Defense](.   Hoop Talk TV responded below:   Jeff Huber’s response:  Coach LoGalbo takes the opposite view. Being the 2nd jumper helps prevent fouling. It gives you an extra second to control your body and prevents you from flying into the shooter.  Perhaps more importantly, it helps your players stay in front of the player they are guarding.   Too many players jump at every fake and leave themselves susceptible to getting out of position.   By requiring players to be the second jumper, you build a good defensive habit.   Breakthrough Product Review - 5 Star Reviews Rolling In: “Well delivered content” “Good teacher,” “Explained well”  We continue to receive great reviews on many of our products, and I want to share a few with you today so you can see if they’re the right fit for you.  Here are 3 recent 5 star review of [The Hybrid Attack Offense With Ryan Schultz](  “Extremely well delivered content!” -Aubarey  “Coach Schultz is a good teacher. He explains everything well.”  - Dustin  “Hello, what I liked most about Hybrid Attack is the ease with which both offensives are combined and the way of transmitting to the players..”  -Ricardo   “Learned a lot”, “Highly recommend” “Thrilled with the attentiveness” and “Super high energy”: Soundbites From Breakthrough Camp Attendees  Check out these camp reviews from a player and parent:   Ending Soon: Fall Breakthrough Camps & Training Academies!  The season is just around the corner, and these final weeks of the preseason are your chance to get ahead. With only a few[Fall Breakthrough Basketball Camps]( left—and spots filling fast—NOW is the time to take action. The ultimate advantage of attending a Fall Camp is that it gives you the roadmap and momentum you need to take the court by storm this upcoming season.  There are still a few spots left (you can also join the waitlist if they're sold out), so if you’re interested and in the area, just click the link below for more info.  [See ALL Fall Camps & Training Academies Here](   Closing Notes  Thanks so much for reading this edition of the Breakthrough Basketball Mailbag! Stay tuned for upcoming editions, featuring more of your questions and comments. We value your input and look forward to helping you on your journey to success.  If you have any thoughts on the type of content you’d like to see more of in upcoming mailings, please feel free to shoot us a reply and let us know!  All the best, Jeff Huber Breakthrough Basketball   This email was sent to {EMAIL} because you indicated that you'd like to receive emails and updates from Breakthrough Basketball on 2016-12-16 05:42:39. If you don't want to receive such emails in the future, please [Change Your Email Preferences]( or [Unsubscribe All]( Copyright © Breakthrough Basketball, LLC. All rights reserved. Breakthrough Basketball, LLC. | 5001 1st Ave. SE, Ste 105 #254 | Cedar Rapids | IA | 52402 [email.gif] . It’s our mission to build a strong community centered around basketball, personal development and most importantly - fun! We love to create extraordinary and useful products and share them with you! 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