I am an assistant coach of...

Question
I am an assistant coach of both the 7th and 8th grade teams at my childs school.  It is a very small school (250 students in grades K - 8th), they play in a district with much larger schools (300 + in 6 - 8th). While I feel that our teams are very good, given the size of the school, we are many times beaten by quicker, more athletic teams.  Is there a way we can either improve the speed that we do have, to match up with other teams, or slow the game down to help our kids win?
  We are quite good when they are intense, but they aren't always as intense as I think they should be, if they are down by 10 at the half and they come out and make a good shot, they'll get into the game at that point and then come back to make a game of it, this can be a little frustrating, because they don't always get into it. Any way of getting there heads into the game at the beginning?
   One other thing, we have one player who is tall for his age (13 years old, 5' 10" and steadily growing), do you think he should do some lifting or is he to young yet?
Thank you, I look forward to hearing from you soon.  

Answer
Hi Greg,
I tried answering your question earlier and lost my dsl connection when I pressed "send"! Very frustrating! Anyway... 2nd try!

I always suggest using the KISS method - keep it safe and simple!

Good coaches always adjust their tactics and strategies to the personell on hand. If your players are slower and have less athletic ability than your opponents, then I suggest trying to "shorten the game" by increasing the time/legnth of your possesions, thereby decreasing the opportunities # of possesions for your opponent to use their athletic ability to score. Yes, slow it down.

Here are a couple of ALIGNMENTS you can use -
1-4 high, or 3out 2in, with the post players positioned at the mid post (1/2 way between the block and the free throw line). This pulls their post defenders away from the basket so that you can drive and rebound better. This really helps negate their height and athletic advantage.

Once in a spread out alignment maintain 15ft spacing and try to teach ONLY 2 or 3 ACTIONS to be run off the alignment. Pass & cut (give & go), screen away (w/the screener cutting backdoor after the person he screen for catches the ball) backscreens, or ballscreens (pick & roll). Try reversing the ball at least 2 times before you start an action to score.

As far as intensity - focus on generating the constant and ongoing EFFORT it takes to obtain and keep proper DEFENSIVE POSITIONING as a TEAM. SPRINT, don't slide to "closeout" to the basketball, SPRINT to get in helpside position BEFORE the other team drives to the basket, and understand that all 5 defenders must help stop the basketball from being driven to - or passed CLOSE to the basket. Don't get caught guarding someone closely out beyond the 3pt line while your teamate is getting beat to the basket. Finally, play zone defense - you can't match-up well enough, and there is a reason zones have been illegal in the NBA, they stop people from scoring!

It's ok for young teenagers to do stregnth training, but I suggest doing so only under trained supervision. Focus on major muscle groups and use lighter weight (70% or less of their max) and more (10-15) reps. Speed and quickness is a combination of stregnth + coordination, so lifting wieghts will help in that area for all your kids.

Try talking with your local high school coach, or take a trip to the nearest collge to watch practice - that's the best way to learn. Also try the American Sport Education Program at asep.com.  They have a book and video that can used as a virtual blueprint for coaching a team. (also try nays.com/positivecoach.org)

Good luck and let me know if there is anything else I can do -