COACH 60 caught up with the highly-respected mens head basketball coach of St. Joseph's University, Phil Martelli, and asked for his help in launching our "60 Second" concept of providing small but steady doses of educational content, to those who have accepted the responsibility of teaching the game of basketball to today's players.

Fittingly, the premiere issue of "60 Seconds on Coaching" for basketball, deals with sharpening the personal skills needed to have long-term team success. Coach Martelli poses a challenging question, and offers valuable answer for coaches of all age groups and levels, to consider.

"We as coaches need to develop our players' skills...Most of us have tendency to focus on what we know is our responsibility and in our control, so we worry about the "2" play or the "3" zone, and concentrate less on the overall improvement of the skills needed for our players to successfully carry out our game plan.

How much time are you spending on ball skills?

Are your players getting enough shooting practice?

Do you play 1 on 1 every day in every practice session?

If we're being truthful, we don't "worry" about shooting, and we're scared of 1 on 1.

But my challenge to you, if you have fallen into this trap, is to stop and rethink your position on these neglected skills.

Suggestion -- Embrace 1 on 1...We have 15 varieties.

• Two players (2 lines on the baseline)...outside player has the ball...put 2 chairs inside the halfcourt line.
• Both players sprint and circle the chairs in the same direction.
• They will go "live" once the chairs have been cleared.
• One day, have them count baskets; one day have them count steps.
• The next 2 players in line are ready to take off as the possession is concluded.
• Switch lines and get ready to go again.

Benefits -- Skill  Work, Conditioning, Competitive Instinct.

What drills do you practice that combines these 3 critical team traits for success?

Quick Idea For Shooting ...play old fashioned "P.I.G.," but with rules.

• Trick Shot = A Letter
• Air Ball = A Loss
• No Banks or Swishes; only Makes or Misses
• No describing Your Shot

"P.I.G." is a great shooting game, but we have messed it up."  

Thanks Coach Martelli... 

So give your players the time and training to develop their individual skills, and they will reward you with a  dedicated gameday effort and an abundance of hard-earned victories." 

Phil Martelli (complete bio) is now entering his 15th year as Saint Joseph's head coach, Phil has built a program that is consistently one of the top in the conference, a perennial post-season participant and a key player on the national scene, while earning his place among the top coaches in the school's storied history.  In addition he is co-author of the best selling inspirational book - Don't Call Me Coach: A Lesson Plan for Life, available through Amazon.com.