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Rusty LaRue
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Bring Back The Multiple Sport Athlete

8/5/2014

 
PictureLebron James was an all-state receiver in high school.
There have been many articles done over the past ten years about the decline of the multi-sport athlete in the United States. In my opinion that falls directly on parents and coaches. As a parent and former multi-sport athlete myself, I am just as guilty as the next parent or coach. In our quest to have kids who excel and possibly even earn a scholarship, we narrow their focus at very early ages. When we find a sport where they have some success, we tend to steer them in that direction. The growth of organized youth sports has allowed a child who wants to specialize the chance to compete almost every weekend. For example, I could register my sons for some sort of basketball camp, showcase, or clinic practically every weekend of the year without driving more than 3-4 hours from my house. On top of that, there are numerous basketball trainers eagerly awaiting to train them daily or weekly. This abundance of opportunity is not necessarily a bad thing, but in my opinion is not the healthiest way for athletes to develop.

The reality is that most kids are not fully developed and finished growing until they are 16-18 years old. In today's society, athletes are often starting to narrow their focus prior to high school. If I had chosen the sport I was best at in the 8th grade, I would have specialized in baseball. I was 5'9" and rail thin but had great hand eye coordination and a good arm. Would I have made it to the majors or even gotten a baseball scholarship? I don't know the answer but I am glad I continued to play multi-sports. Yes I probably was not as proficient at any one sport due to playing the others, but I learned valuable lessons and skills in one sport that translated to the other. The toughness and leadership skills I learned as a quarterback as well as the focus and attention to detail I learned on the baseball field were integral in my growth as a basketball player.  I certainly would not have played ACC basketball if it wasn't for a full football scholarship.

We have all heard the stories of burn out as well as the potential for over use injuries. Of course those are concerns but I want to focus on what I feel is the biggest reason why athletes should play multiple sports while developing. Growth as a person and an athlete can only come when you are challenged and pushed outside of your comfort zone. In my opinion, playing multiple sports is the best way to challenge an athlete mentally and physically. The effort and mental toughness it takes to switch your mindset from one sport to another will stretch and grow a young athlete physically and emotionally. The star in one sport might have to learn to be a role player in another. By playing more than one sport, an athlete stokes the competitive fire within them in different ways and that is a great thing.

You might argue that when competing for a college scholarship, you can't afford to not be playing year round because your competition will be. In reality you might be right that someone who focuses on one sport may have more skills at an earlier age. However, I would argue that a smart college coach will look at the fact that you played multiple sports and see the benefit in that. If I am comparing two players in high school one of which has focused exclusively on basketball year round and another who has played multiple sports, which one do you think might make the biggest advances once they go to college?
I strongly feel that athletes should play more than one sport at least through their sophomore year of high school. At that point, if one sport sticks out as something they should focus on then go for it. Enough already with the 12 year old phenom who does nothing but play one sport. Push them out of their comfort zone and try something new. If it's not another sport then have them learn an instrument or pick up a hobby. I guarantee in the long run it will be a rewarding experience.

NCAA Basketball Recruiting Calendar

8/1/2014

 

The NCAA live period for men's basketball recruiting is now officially over. Having gone through it as both a college coach and the parent of a prospect, I can attest that the system is not ideal for anyone involved (except maybe the tournament operators and hotels). Now that college coaches get eight weeks to work out their players in the summer, they are pushed to the max trying to fit in workouts and get out on the road to recruit. They work Monday and Tuesday developing their current players then travel on Wednesday to tournaments to watch recruits. Once the tournament ends on Sunday, they fly or drive back to campus and do it all over again. As for players, they travel all over the country missing class in the Spring and living out of hotels in the July period. The amount of games they play in a short time is grueling and taxing on their bodies. And as for parents of players, they almost have no choice but to send their kids on the road with the coach because they can't get enough time off work or even afford the travel costs and game entry fees.

While I do not claim to have all the answers, I do have a few ideas:

  1. Make April through August a quiet period which allows coaches to communicate with recruits as well as recruits to visit college campuses. This gives juniors a chance to take some visits prior to their senior year in the summer when they are out of school.
  2. Have a ten day recruiting period for coaches to go back into homes and high schools in April. Start it the Thursday before signing day and concluding it after a short three day dead period just before the signing period.
  3. Schedule two evaluation weekends for coaches to watch NCAA certified events (travel teams) in the Spring. One on the last weekend of April and the other in early May. This avoids the situation of this past recruiting calendar where there was only one evaluation weekend. The Spring evaluation weekend would only be three days (Friday through Sunday).
  4. Have a mandatory three week dead period from the end of May into the middle of June. This gives coaches a break and keeps players off college campuses when they should be studying for exams.
  5. Add one four day (Thursday through Sunday) recruiting period in late June which allows coaches to go watch prospects with their high school team only. This will help keep the high school coach involved in the recruiting process in the summer.
  6. Scheduled only two four day (Thursday through Sunday) evaluation periods for coaches to watch NCAA certified events in July with a week off in between them. The other option would be to leave it at the current three weekends but shorten them. Kids need to play less and coaches need to travel less.

With this format, there are only four weekend periods for coaches to watch NCAA certified events but additional dates added are added to watch players with their high school teams in June and it spreads out the Spring recruiting period. It would also remove the dead period restrictions in July so parents could take kids on visits when they are not in school.

I would love to hear what other coaches at all levels as well as parents like or dislike about the current set up for men's college basketball recruiting. Take a minute and comment now!


10 Keys to Beating a Zone

7/21/2014

 
10 KEYS TO BEATING A ZONE

  1. BEAT THE DEFENSE DOWN THE FLOOR
    Push the tempo to catch the defense off guard to create quick easy scoring chances.

  2. IDENTIFY THE ZONE
    If there is no initial scoring opportunity in transition, you must properly identify what zone is being played (ie, 1-2-2, 3-2, 2-3, 1-3-1 match-up, etc.) and set up the offense accordingly.

  3. MAINTAIN GOOD SPACING
    Spacing is vital on offense and even more so vs zone. Poor spacing allows the defense to guard two offensive players with one defensive player. Proper spacing will spread out the zone and open up scoring opportunities.

  4. CRISP PASSING AND BALL MOVEMENT
    The quicker the ball moves the harder it is for a zone to keep up and adjust. “Skip” passes are particularly effective and force the zone into long rotations.

  5. BE READY TO MAKE A PLAY
    Offensive players must be in triple threat position on the catch ready to attack. You cannot simply pass the ball around the perimeter holding the ball above our head.

  6. ATTACK THE GAPS WITH LIMITED DRIBBLING
    Unnecessary dribbling allows the defense time to adjust or reset and slows down ball movement. The best time to drive a gap is when the zone is in rotation. Penetrate and protect the ball.

  7. GET THE BALL INSIDE
    Zones are designed to force outside shots. You must attack inside out by penetrating the zone with low and high post passes. Often the best outside scoring opportunities come from inside out play.

  8. OUT NUMBER AND OVERLOAD
    Depending on the zone being played you must identify the weak areas and attack those weaknesses by working to get a numbers advantage. You can accomplish this by screening as well.

  9. BE PATIENT
    You want to be aggressive but you also cannot settle for the first quick shot. Work the zone to create GREAT not GOOD scoring opportunities.

  10. PURSUE OFFENSIVE REBOUNDS
    Zones offer excellent offensive rebound opportunities due to the lack of direct man-to-man responsibilities. You have to exploit this weakness with relentless pursuit of the ball.

Qualities of a Team Player

7/7/2014

 
During the summer I like to go back through my coaching notes and reread some of my favorite ones. Below are my bullet points from John Maxwell's book "The 17 Essential Qualities of a Team Player: Becoming the Kind of Person Every Team Wants".

  1. Adaptable - If you won't change for the team, the team may change you
  2. Collaborative - Working together precedes winning together
  3. Committed - There are no halfhearted champions
  4. Communicative - A team is many voices with a single heart.
  5. Competent - If you can't, your team won't
  6. Dependable - Teams go to Go-To players
  7. Disciplined - Where there's a will, there's a win
  8. Enlarging - Adding value to teammates is invaluable
  9. Enthusiastic - Your heart is the source of energy for the team
  10. Intentional - Make every action count
  11. Mission conscious - The Big Picture is coming in loud and clear
  12. Prepared - Preparation can mean the difference between winning and losing
  13. Relational - If you get along, others will go along
  14. Self-improving - To improve the team, improve yourself
  15. Selfless - There is no "I" in team
  16. Solution-oriented - Make a resolution to find the solution
  17. Tenacious - Never, never, never quit

The Seven C's of Defense

6/25/2014

 
No matter what type of defense you play, these are some important concepts that will help a team and individual players be more effective.

COMMIT …. be willing to sacrifice yourself for the good of the team
COMMUNICATE
.... open your mouth and talk effectively
CONSTANT .… always be aware and in a stance, especially when off the ball
CONTEST…. challenge everything - shots, positioning, dribbling, and passing
CONVERT …. from offense to defense, don’t get beat in transition.  Sprint back!
CONTAIN
…. the ball handler,  never give up a straight line drive
CLOSE OUT
…. under control on every shooter giving no open shots
CHASE
…. all rebounds and loose balls, be willing to get on the floor for the ball


Shooting Mechanics

6/20/2014

 
I often compare shooting a basketball to a golf swing. The biggest similarity of both a golf swing and jump shot is that repetition, rhythm and muscle memory are vitally important. While every player has a unique shot, there are some basic fundamentals that good shooters have in common.

When it comes to shooting mechanics there are lots of little details that go into developing great form. Earlier in my blog I discussed footwork which is where proper form starts and it should build from there. A player must always have his hands ready to shoot. Catching the ball with the finger tips and quickly getting the ball on the palm (not heel) of the hands helps to speed up the shot. When hands are properly on the ball the thumbs should be about 1-2 inches apart and form a "T".

The next step is critically important and where many players falter. As the shot begins, the ball should be brought up into the shooting pocket which is just off the shooting hand side of the head. For me as a right handed shooter, my right thumb is pointing at my right side temple or forehead when the ball is in my shooting pocket. At this point the shooting elbow should come up underneath the ball forming a 90 degree bend in the arm. A key point here is that the elbow should be pointing at your target. The big mistake I see players making is that they never get the ball out to their shooting pocket correctly. They let the ball rest on their off hand which usually puts the ball closer to the middle of their forehead. With the ball in this position it is almost impossible to get your elbow underneath the ball. This is why I am a big proponent of one handed practice shooting because it forces correct ball and elbow placement.

At this point it all boils down to the single most important part of the shot, the follow through. From the shooting pocket the first movement should be up, extending the elbow above the eyes and finishing with a flick of the wrist. It's important on follow through to put your fingers in the rim. Depending on how you hold the ball you may be more inclined to finish more with your middle or pointer finger. Also a good practice is to envision a spot in the middle of the rim and shoot the ball to land on that spot instead of straight at the spot. This will help get the arc needed to develop a shooters touch.

This was a brief overview of proper shooting mechanics and some important points that are key for any shooter. As I mentioned before, shooting is like a golf swing. Every day I see guys without perfect form make shots. Why? They practiced the same way over and over - repetition, rhythm, and muscle memory.

Shooting Footwork

6/11/2014

 
Every shot starts with footwork and therefore it is critically important. Proper footwork builds a foundation for the rest of a players mechanics. In a perfect world, like a free throw, every shot would be taken with a player having perfect technique and balance. Here are a few key points.
  • Shooting hand foot a few inches in front of the other foot and centered on the rim. On free throws I place my big toe in alignment with the nail in the floor on the free throw line (designates the center of the rim).
  • Feet shoulder width or comfortable distance apart. To figure out the best distance for a player, ask him to do a standing vertical jump. However far apart he puts his feet to jump is the most comfortable position.
  • Knees should be slightly bent with weight evenly distributed on each leg. It's important to not lean back but have the weight on the balls of your feet and shoulders forward.
Ideally every shot would start from this position but in a fast paced basketball game that often is not possible. The main line of teaching for shooting footwork is to lead with the non-shooting hand leg and step into the shot, called a one two step. For a right handed shooter that would be a left right step. It is important to be low with the butt down and hands ready as the player steps into the shot. Mastering this technique is an important first step for any shooter.

Once a player has mastered this basic technique, he must move on to more advanced footwork. This is the point where I may differ from many coaches. I truly believe most players hurt their ability to shoot in a game because they do not experiment and practice different footwork. I especially like to use warm up and spot shooting to practice different steps. For example if I was going to shoot 10 spot shots I would try not to use the same footwork more than twice. Here is what the footwork on the ten shots might look like:
  1. Stepping in left right x 2
  2. Stepping in right left x 2
  3. Standing still - no steps x 2
  4. Slight side step left x 2
  5. Slight side step right x 2
Working on different footwork in this manner helps a player get comfortable with getting his feet into proper alignment in different ways. As a player becomes more advanced he can incorporate back steps, staggered feet, wide feet and even the occasional one footed shot. Obviously if a player is struggling to make shots, he should revert back to his most comfortable footwork to make a few shots before branching out again.

Advancing from spot shooting to shooting game shots off the move is where great shooters separate themselves. Being able to master the footwork of shooting off the dribble and coming off of screens will take a player's game to another level. The only way to get better at the different game shots is to practice them at game speed. Incorporate specific game situation shots such as one two step off the dribble or curl step off a down screen into every workout. The most important thing is to be creative and do it at game speed. Have a little imagination - If a player can make tough shots in practice, he will make tough shots in the game!

Shooting Warm Up

6/4/2014

 
Being a consistent perimeter shooter is developed through hours of correct and focused practice. Taking 100 shots the right way is better than 400 the wrong way. Great shooters have consistent technique and excellent muscle memory developed by being intensely focused on details. One of the biggest mistakes I see players making is how they approach practicing their shoot. Every single shot that is taken will either be enforcing correct technique or creating bad habits. Many players walk into the gym and just start shooting without any thought to a warm up or a progression to create consistent shooting mechanics. The warm up time is important because it allows you to focus on the fundamentals while at the same time building confidence as you see the ball go through the net.

Developing a consistent warm up routine is important for any shooter. I used one myself as a player and coach. I simple call it "100". It is designed to help reinforce good habits as well as allow a player to get 100 made shots in before he even breaks a sweat. With a rebounder and one or two basketballs it only takes about 15 minutes. The key is to focus on every detail and fundamental of each shot during this time. It's not about how fast it gets done but that it's done right.

"100" WARM UP

  • Start about 2 feet from rim. Make 10 one handed form shots from right block, left block and middle. (30 makes total)
  • From 7-8 feet away make 10 bank shots from both left and right side (50 makes total)
  • From 15 feet make 10 shots from both baselines and both elbows (90 makes total)
  • Finish with 10 made free throws (100 makes total)

At the end of this routine, a shooter should be fully warmed up and ready to start shooting at a faster pace and on the move. This routine is not complicated but is very effective. Nothing like starting a practice having made 100 shots to boost a players confidence.

What's a little cheating between friends

4/27/2014

 
Last week the big story in pro baseball was Michael Pineda of the Yankees being tossed out for having pine tar on his neck. What astounded me as I listened to the baseball experts was that their ire was not that he cheated but that he did it so blatantly. There was no real outrage that he would actually dare to break the rule. After all everyone does it, they just respect the game enough to hide it better. Reminds me of how baseball dealt with PEDs, everyone knew it was going on and accepted it until the abuse was so obvious the league had no choice but to enforce the rules. MLB was reluctant to act because they knew how much damage it would cause.

There is a similar situation going on in college basketball recruiting right now. It is accepted practice by some (not all) to bend and sometimes knowingly break rules in order to get players. There are those being immoral and others who are just doing the illegal. The NCAA has created a system where there are so many minor rules that even the most ardent follower will stumble and break one. Those trying to do it the right way spend half their time talking with the university compliance office in an effort not to slip up. So the coaches toeing the line stay silent because they don't want to be the one pointing the finger. Much like the pine tar incident, the NCAA and everyone involved accepts the business as usual mantra because it simply can't be enforced. The NCAA has a tough job because college coaches are a fraternity that frowns on holding each other accountable.

I certainly don't have all the answers but getting rid of some of the minor petty rules is a start in the right direction. It is impossible for the NCAA to effectively enforce things like the size of mail outs as well as the amount of contact and communication with recruits. I would suggest getting rid of any rules the NCAA is unable or unwilling to enforce. The harsher penalties for head coaches is a good step to create a culture of accountability instead of plausible deniability. No matter what the NCAA does there are going to be people willing to cheat because of the big money involved. Simplify the system so it levels the playing field for those doing it right. Then focus your attention on catching those who aren't. Enforcing the rules may cause the college game to take a public relations hit, but it will be good for the college basketball in the long term.



Role Playing

4/23/2014

 
One of the biggest factors for basketball players finding success when they move up from high school to college or college to pro is their ability to adapt and adjust their roles. As players go from being the star player in high school or college to having a limited or different role at the next level, the guys who understand the transition and adapt are the ones who succeed.

There are very few players who get to go from one level to the next without changing their role. The Lebrons and Durants of the world are so talented that they are the man at every level. But most players have to figure out what role they will fill and often it is vastly different from what they are used to. I have seen players throughout my career who were big time talents in college never make it in the NBA. Why? Because they were used to that role and could not or would not change their game to fill a certain need. I played with and against some great players in the minor leagues and overseas who probably were good enough to be in the NBA. They chose to go play at a level that did not require them to adapt their role or at least only required minor changes.

The same thing is happening today at the college level and in my opinion is why we have so many transfers. It is easier to switch schools and try to find somewhere that allows you to stay in your comfort zone instead of changing your role to fit what the team needs. I was not a starter in college until my senior year at Wake Forest. My role on the team grew every year, primarily because I accepted my given role and tried to excel in it. A piece of advice to all the players out there, embrace the role you are given. By doing so you will not only get more playing time, but you will earn the trust of the coach and your role will grow. And if you work hard enough you may actually get the role you wanted in the first place.

    Rusty LaRue

    Semi-random thoughts on life, leadership, and the game I love.

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