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| Basketball Coaching: Teaching The Low Post |
| by: Ronn Wyckoff |
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Whether I’m teaching post offense to a 10-12 year
old novice boy or girl or an experienced 16-18
year old, I always start with the same technique
tests from the low post.
I want to see how they move around the key as the
ball moves around the perimeter. I want to see
where they stand when they stop and what the path
is they took to get to where they stop. I want
to make sure they are facing the ball all the
while, that their hands are ready to receive a
pass and that their body balance is correct to
protect the ball and to withstand defensive play.
If they have trouble with any of these things,
or all of these things, that’s where I begin to
teach.
Moving
To begin this basketball drill, I want to see
inside movement that mirrors the perimeter
movement of the ball. For instance, start the
post player at one low box, moving up the side of
the lane to mid-post, then to high-post elbow,
center high-post, other high-post elbow, down the
other side to mid-and then low-post block. I
want them shuffling their feet as they move, with
wide stance, bent knees and upper body upright,
while always facing out at the ball and with
their hands in a ready, pass-receiving look. As
they move, I will emphasize lane line rules and 3-
seconds. So, when they stop in a position, I
want the player to be sure the feet are placed
outside the lane or FT lines—not touching the
lines.
The Low-Post Block
This is where we will spend most of our time
learning the post/center play basics. I want the
player close-in to the basket and as the player
grasps skills and progresses, we’ll then move all
over the key.
Starting with a good stance and feet placed
outside the lane line, I want the player’s low
foot (nearest baseline) above or barely touching
the low box. This will become apparent soon.
Players should always be cognizant of where the
lines and post markings are, as they move about.
This comes with repetition.
I will have a ball and be toward the wing
position, about half-way between the baseline and
the FT line extended. I want the player facing
me, in ready, bent-knee stance, on good balance,
with the arms extended toward the ball, hands
anticipating a pass. I will pass in to the post
and have them take the ball in to the chest,
pressing the ball tight with both hands, elbows
pointed out (parallel with the lane line). I
emphasize always keeping the eyes on the ball,
looking the pass right into their hands, before
they attempt any other movement. We’ll do this
several times, until the player is comfortable
with the procedure and until I too feel they can
do the drill and move on.
Next, I will have them come across the lane from
the opposite low block, watching me and the ball
all the while, giving me a lead/target hand to
pass to, and landing in the right position
described above at the near low block. Balance,
stance, foot placement, arms and hands extended
and ready—everything we just covered—and then I’
ll pass the ball to them. When they have this
maneuver correct, now we begin teaching what to
do, once they receive the pass.
Standing slightly above the low block, receiving
the pass, I will now teach the player to drop-
step toward the baseline. Earlier, I said the
low foot must be above the low block. This will
help the player to know the relationship between
the player, the baseline and the basket. As the
player drop-steps toward the baseline, he/she
will be in direct line with and even with the
basket. If the player was straddling the box or
lower toward the baseline, when they took the
drop-step, they’d be behind the backboard.
I will have the player hold the ball while I demo
and explain the foot placement needed here. The
high foot (toward the FT line) becomes the pivot
foot as the player drop-steps away from the lane
line and toward the basket (not toward the
baseline). I want the dropping foot to point to
the basket. The step is, quick, long and on
balance. I will have them pivot, drop-step and
hold this stance while I check these things. I
often will be on the floor, holding the pivot
foot in place. Other times, I might put my foot
on the pivot foot, in order to keep it still
while they execute the drop-step. I will also
stand slightly behind the player, standing on
their pivot foot while grabbing the pant leg of
the low foot side, pulling them quickly into the
drop-step.
Many players will at first attempt to pivot on
the low foot, bringing the high foot around the
pivot foot. It’s slow, it’s awkward, and easier
to defend. It will not allow the offensive player
to play off the defender, as I will soon
demonstrate.
If, on the drop-step, a taller player is nearly
under the basket, they may go right into a layup
off the dropping foot. Most players, however,
will need a dribble to get to the basket, so I
teach the dribble with the outside hand when they
pivot, which will be away from the defender. The
pivot and drop-step must be quick, with the
dribble accompanying the drop-step (not before or
after the step). The dribble allows the post
player to slide and get in close to the basket.
This takes the drop-step and a second step
sliding in quickly with the dribble. Without the
dribble, this would be traveling.
We repeat this over-and-over, until it’s a nice
fluid action—no single parts, but rather
everything happening nearly simultaneously—
finishing with a power shot (a 1-2 foot bank shot)
at the basket.
Every step of the way, we practice the moves from
both the right and left low blocks. This teaches
confidence to attack from either side, while
requiring a player to pivot/drop-step from either
foot. It also requires the one dribble to be
done with either hand and the finishing shot to
be taken with the dribble hand.
We’ve drop-stepped to the base line and made a
power move to the basket. We’ve learned to do
that from either side of the basket. Now, we
will do the same maneuver to the inside, across
the front of the basket.
This time, the low (baseline) foot will be the
pivot and the drop-step will be taken by the high
(closest to the FT line) foot. The move is
exactly as before. The drop-step foot will be
pointed across the lane, the balance, etc., is
exactly as before. The dribble is taken with the
hand away from the basket (and the defender).
When the feet come together, right in front of
the basket, the power shot now is over the front
of the rim, perhaps even banking it off the
square above the basket.
Again, practice this move and shot from both
sides of the lane, learning to step with either
foot and to shoot the shot with either hand.
Later we’ll add other shots and ways to finish.
Right now we are concerned only with getting the
basics of the drop-step power move to the
baseline or across the front of the basket,
finishing with the power shot.
The offensive player has now learned the how of
the moves. Now, they are ready to learn the why
behind the moves.
The drop-step and power move can only be used
against defensive pressure coming from one side
or the other.
If the defender is on the high side of the
offensive post, we want to receive the low block
pass and immediately drop-step baseline, catching
the defender on the hip and backside of this move.
We use with a strong power move, finishing with
the power shot. The defender should be caught on
the back of the offensive player.
Conversely, if the defender should be on the
baseline side of the low post player, the quick
drop-step over the middle of the lane, in front
of the basket, should create the same finishing
opportunity.
Coaching Tip: Always teach that the finishing
shot should be taken with the hand away from the
defender. If the defender is on the right hip,
finish with the left hand. If the defender is on
the left hip, finish with the right hand. |
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This article was posted on June 23, 2007
and reads 12 times. |
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