Chapter VII and Chapter VIII Elective Chapters

Chapter VII or VIII

Basketball Program and Offensive & Defensive Systems

Through Great Oak’s core values of C.O.M.P.E.T.E., Wolfpack Basketball will represent

our school and the community on and off the court with integrity through competition.

Representation of these core values should be demonstrated by players, coaches, parents and

everyone associated with our program. We will provide a competitive team-oriented culture that

teaches all fundamental aspects of the game of basketball as we strive for competitive greatness.

We will learn to do this by practicing, lifting weights, and conditioning in a competitive manner.

As our players step into the community to demonstrate their competitiveness through games,

they will understand they are representing something bigger than themselves. Our program will

demonstrate they do everything to the best of their ability and with the utmost integrity.

Great Oak Basketball’s core values can be defined by the acronym C.O.M.P.E.T.E. These

core values will help our student athletes be successful on and off the court. Our first core value

is “Character”. Our student athletes will demonstrate trust, fairness, and respect as they represent

our program within our school and in the greater community. The “O” stands for “Objective”.

We expect our players to be objective in dealing with problems that arise within our program and

in their personal lives. We want them to not only see the problem through their own eyes but

they should consider others when defining and solving problems. The “M” represents “Mirror”.

It is important that our student athletes are able to look in the mirror and reflect upon their lives,

the decisions they make, and how those decisions affect others. The “P” represents “Purpose”.

It’s important for student athletes to have purpose in their lives. Live for something greater than

themselves. “Service to others is empathy and kindness put into acts and actions. It gives

meaning to life and helps sustain and dignify the lives of others” (Ehrmann, 2011, p. 122).

Players should consider having their own mission statement, vision statement, and core values

that help to guide their lives. The first “E” represents “Ethics. Their decisions, while

representing our program, their families, their church, or any other group that they see

themselves belonging to, should be guided by a set of moral principles. These moral principles

should help guide them in deciding what is right when facing confusing and difficult dilemmas.

The “T” represents “Teamwork”. Working within the realm of our basketball program and

beyond, players will be expected to work within a team-oriented environment, “the main

ingredient of stardom is the rest of the team” (Wooden & Tobin, 1988, p. 165). The final letter

“E” represents “Excel”. We want our student athletes to excel on and off the court in all aspects

of their lives.

Offensive System

Developing an offensive system for a high school needs to be something that is flexible

based upon the talent and pieces that you have from year to year.

Primary Break

Our offense will start with the defensive rebound and depending on in-game situations

we will usually push the ball up the floor for an easy score if it is available. Our primary break

will consist of our two and three men running to the corners as our point guard looks to push the

ball up the floor via the pass. Normally we would send our five man down the middle of the

floor to the ball side block if we have a traditional five man or someone who plays that position

that can finish at the rim.

Level 1 Heading

Level 2 Heading

Half Court Offense

X Series vs. Man to Man

If we don’t have the opportunity for an easy layup or wide open three we will have a

number of man to man basic offenses depending upon who the opponent is and how they play

their man to man defense. If we feel that we have the speed advantage or the other team is

playing pressure man to man we will go with our “X” series dribble drive. This will put pressure

on the man guarding the ball as all of our perimeter players will have the opportunity to catch,

face, and drive hard to the basket for the finish or to draw help and kick out for three or dump off

to the post for a layup.

Chin vs. Man to Man

Teams that play a “softer” man to man defense will be countered with our “chin” offense.

The chin offense is a continuity offense that allows for our main shooters to work off of flare

screens. Team’s that continue to go under flare screens will allow us to get open three point

shots. We can continue working the back screen flare screen option until we get an open shot.

Teams that close hard on the flare screen are susceptible to the shot fake and drive down the slot

and if help comes, the wing shooter floats to the corner for a wide open shot.

If teams go over the flare screen we counter with a “rip” series that allows for our flare

cutter to curl the screen to the basket. The continuity can continue to take place until we get the

curl cut layup or the pick and pop three point shot from the five. Dribble handoffs, fake handoffs,

back door cuts and multiple sets can and will run off this offense. The types of sets will vary

from year to year based on personnel.

Level 2 Heading

Level 3 Heading- use level 3 for subsections

of Level 2 headings.

Five Out vs. Man to Man

The five out offense begins from the chin set so that we can run another offense out of the

same set so as not to give away what we are doing. Five out principles apply even though we are

starting with a high post. Counters for switching defenses will include slip screens and dribble

drive options when advantages occur because of switches.

Clear and 40 vs. Zone

Basic zone offense principles will be in place for both of these calls. In “clear” we will

establish permanent high post and short corner players. Perimeter players will play in the gaps

of the zone. We will look for high low and low high opportunities on the inside as well kick out

for threes. In “40” we have an alternate high post. The high post will exit and replace the

dribbler on the perimeter. The dribbler will then cut to the high post after passing the ball. The

5th player will roam the baseline and play both the short corner and the corner three point line.

Wolf vs. Zone

Our Wolf offense gives us the opportunity for the last three years to get our point guard

isolated on the baseline with a slower defender. Wolf begins out of the same set as chin. Once

the PG dribble handoffs to the wing he cuts to the opposite corner. When the ball is reversed and

gets back to him in the corner he becomes a driver. If he is able to go baseline the high post goes

straight to the rim and is usually open for a layup. If they cover down on the post the skip pass is

open to the other corner or wing for an open three. Set plays can be run off either of the zone

sets that we have.

Defensive System

We will “hang our hat” on man to man defense on that side of the floor. While we will

have other defenses to change up tempo or rhythm however we will play man to man as much as

possible. We will build our defensive skills through our slide series of drills, our help and

recover closeouts (Rice drill), and shell drill. We will make sure to cover help the helper

principles, charge drills, and defensive rebounding through drills.

Half Court Defense

Man to Man “1”

The philosophy of our man to man (1) defense will be pressure. We will pressure the ball

handler and wings whenever we have the personnel to do so. We will force the ball to the

baseline and our help will come from under the basket.

Man to Man “5”

The philosophy of our “5” man to man defense will be a sagging man to man. We want

to disguise this man to man as a zone defense to confuse the opponent. This is also used if we

are unable to stop the drive.

2-3 Zone “2”

The zone defense will be used sparingly and only as a way to upset the tempo or rhythm

of the opponent.

3-2 Zone “3”

This zone may be used for the same reason as “2” but vs. a team with a lot of guards.

Level 2 Heading

Level 3 Heading- use level 3 for subsections

of Level 2 headings.

Level 1 Heading

Full Court Defense

Black

This is an extension of our “1” defense. Full court man to man

Red

This is an extension of our “3” defense. Full court 1-2-2. Keep the ball out of the middle

and trap around half court.

Blue

This is an extension of our “2” defense. Full court 2-2-1. Force up the sideline and trap

around half court.

References

Ehrmann, J. (2011). Inside out coaching. New York: Simon & Schuster, Inc.

Wooden, J., & Tobin, J. (1988). They call me coach. Chicago, IL: Contemporary Books, Inc.