coaching philosophy

Developing Your Offensive Philosophy
Ok, now it’s time to pick an offensive system. This can really be a grueling task. With so many different formations, and philosophies out there things can get pretty overwhelming for someone coaching basketball.



Ok, now it’s time to pick an offensive system. This can really be a grueling task. With so many different formations, and philosophies out there things can get pretty overwhelming for someone coaching basketball.



You need to start out by making things simple. An easy way would be to take an existing offensive system and implement your own coaching philosophies.



Once you’ve established a solid foundation, you can go ahead and start creating your own unique integrated system with all the bells and whistles.

So What Offense Suits My Personnel?



At the core, there are really only two types of offenses:



Free-Lance - players create their own offense depending on the defense (man-to-man, zone, etc.). Free-lance is not as free or uncontrolled as the term implies, because all one-on-one, two-on-two, and three-on-three plays are practiced over and over.



Controlled - a system where the team keeps control of the ball until a player gets open for a high-percentage shot. Any basic system can be used to implement a control-type of offense.



If you’re just completely lost when it comes to choosing an offensive system, we got you covered. Below you’ll find a quick and easy guide to selecting a system based on your personnel.



Five Taller Than Average Players:

A team composed of this group should really run a controlled offense. I would recommend the stack offense.



Four Bigger Players and One Small Player:

This type of team should also run a more “up-tempo” controlled offense with a little fast break action.



Three Bigger Players and Two Small Players:

This is normally the ideal type of basketball team. The team can use the fast break and/or a set two-three offense in which the three big men stay in close for offensive rebounds.



Two Bigger Players and Three Small Players:

The fast break is recommended for this team. They should use more of a “Free-lance” offense.



One Big Player and Four Small Players:

This team should use a controlled fast break, followed by a good quick-shot secondary attack, transitioning into a good set offense.



Five Small Players:

This team should use a “Free-lance” offense. They should push the ball at every opportunity.



Coaching basketball on the offensive side just got a whole lot simpler. You now have a quick and easy way of coming up with an offensive system. With these guidelines and resources at your finger tips, you’re ready to dive in head first.