Lack of fundamentals

[SoonerNorm]

Watch video to hear what Geno says:

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=15110307

 

[35TangoTango]

I've heard from a much closer source (though this was some time ago) that we have to pretty much teach defensive fundamentals, footwork etc. from scratch when they come to college.

 

[Soonerbay]

Very true for both boys and girls high school teams. Generally speaking, fundamental training is very limited with high school coaches and non-existent for club/AAU teams. And when they get to college, there are some college programs that sit on their laurels and are just satisfied with athletic ability, never further developing the overall game of the player.

 

[womenssports]

I don't understand not teaching the fundamental in high school, jr high, middle school. It is like most things in life, you have to take care of the little things
or you won't obtain the big things or, if you do, you won't have them for long.

That is exactly why I think Geno wins. He and his assistant do not let players get by with doing things the wrong way.

 

[SoonerinNC]

I'm always amazed at how little some high school coaches utilize the skills of their talented players like Llanusa and Dungee. They sort of let them do thier own thing one on one rather than do things to get them good shots. You rarely get those kind of players so you need to capitalize on them. Sometimes it looks like they want everyone to get equal number of shots.

On the other hand you have to be careful to not get into a situation where you go to your star too much and they are out there playing one on five and everyone else is watching.

Sampson understood all of that. He often said that it was not an equal opportunity situation and usually got a lot of good open shot for his best players.

 

[sybarite]

One of the problems with teaching fundamentals is that they tend to be things for which there is limited glory. The fundamentals often pertain to things that are not noticed by fans or have no place in a box score. Setting a screen, making an intelligent pass, moving your feet on defense, moving to create opportunity, hitting behind a runner, throwing to the right base---there isn't any place in the box score that says you had a good game if you do these. They require a discipline and a self-sacrifice, something rarely found inherently in a young person. They have to be instilled, and it isn't always easy to do. It's too much like homework.

 

[womenssports]

One of the problems with teaching fundamentals is that they tend to be things for which there is limited glory. The fundamentals often pertain to things that are not noticed by fans or have no place in a box score. Setting a screen, making an intelligent pass, moving your feet on defense, moving to create opportunity, hitting behind a runner, throwing to the right base---there isn't any place in the box score that says you had a good game if you do these. They require a discipline and a self-sacrifice, something rarely found inherently in a young person. They have to be instilled, and it isn't always easy to do. It's too much like homework.

I agree, but if that is what you work on in practice and insist that it is done right, I do believe young players would listen. Especially, if fundamentals are emphasized on every level. When I started playing in the fifth grade, most of us listened to our coach and did as we were told and wanted to get his approval. I am sure that it is more difficult now with the change in access to media in all it's different forms. I do believe that has changed the
attitude of not only young people but their parents. I am also not sure that it hasn't resulted in the coaches not being interested in coaching fundamentals.

The following seems relevant to this conversation: " John Wooden once made some observations about how he enjoyed what he called the "purity" of women's basketball. He was speaking about appreciating watching the fundamentally sound execution of the top women's players -- which shouldn't have surprised anybody, since doing things the right way was the very foundation of his life."

I can't find WHEN he made this statement but it wasn't after 2010. And I presume he is talking about college and the WNBA because of the remark about the top women's players. So, I guess these young women could have learned the fundamentals in college, but I am wondering for those of you who are familiar with maybe the last l5 years of basketball at the high school level and have coached or know programs well or worked with the aau or know about it, WAS the lack of teaching fundamentals as prevalent l5 yrs ago as it is now or has it been a progression? As we see all these players shoot so well and/or start to dunk plus see the youtube videos put up of these young people doing incredible feats? {and I was impressed by videos I saw (not that I thought kids shouldn't know the fundamentals) however I followed up on one player who showed mad skills in the video and he didn't do all that well in games, so being able to dribble between your legs and other stunts with two basketball is impressive but it doesn't mean you are a good basketball player. My point is it seems flashy is exciting for kids. And flashy wasn't what we used to see as much as we do now. And that flashy is kind of about all things in life now, so it has to be affecting the kids, and basically everyone to some degree.

ONE more point. I do not care if a player dunks in a game. Actually believe most times, unless necessary to make the points, that it is careless and risky, harder on a person's body who is already wearing their bodies down much more quickly than the average person. BUT it is flashy, so we get back to that and away from fundamentals.