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I have coach John Kruse on the show today. John talks about how to start a development league. He's focusing on 3 on 3 basketball and running leagues for his high school team and the middle school girls coming to West Platte High School in the next few years. His development league is 45 minutes of teaching concepts and skills and 45 minutes of 3 on 3 games. Any coaches who are looking to speed up the development process of their players and increase their engagement need to listen to this episode. Follow Coach John Kruse on Twitter (www.twitter.com/JohnKruse11). Show notes: www.coachcallstimeout.com/48. --------------- Sign up for the FREE 30 Day Challenge for basketball coaches (www.coachcallstimeout.com/challenge). --------------- Take the Practice Planning Course to get the most out of your players and your limited gym time. Practice Planning Course: www.coachcallstimeout.com/resources/practice-planning-course/. --------------- If you know of any coaches who are doing great things you can reach me on Twitter (www.twitter.com/CoachCallsTime). Go to our website to get hundreds of basketball plays, drills, practice plans, worksheets and other resources: www.coachcallstimeout.com. Use the coupon code PODCAST to save 25%.

I have coach Ben Murphy on the show today. We get into the benefits of playing 3 on 3 in terms of skill development and we also talk about what it’s like to coach in a small town where it’s tough to get enough interest for a basketball season. Follow Coach Ben Murphy on Twitter (www.twitter.com/benjaminmurph55). Show notes: www.coachcallstimeout.com/47. --------------- Take the Practice Planning Course to get the most out of your players and your limited gym time. Practice Planning Course: www.coachcallstimeout.com/resources/practice-planning-course/. --------------- If you know of any coaches who are doing great things you can reach me on Twitter (www.twitter.com/CoachCallsTime). Go to our website to get hundreds of basketball plays, drills, practice plans, worksheets and other resources: www.coachcallstimeout.com. Use the coupon code PODCAST to save 25%.

Today’s guest is Aaron Fernandez, the director of player development for the Division 1 Davidson Wildcats women’s basketball program. There are three things that stand out to me when I heard Coach Fernandez’s coaching journey: 1. He packed a lot of experience into a small amount of time. 2. He benefited greatly from a mentor, coach Nathan Messer. 3. He is not afraid to try new things, which stems from constant self-reflection. In ten years he climbed the coaching ladder very quickly thanks to those three items. In today's episode Coach Fernandez shares a way to teach and simplify motion offense. If you’re a coach who’s willing to dial back on the play calling and allow your players to play with a little more freedom and less to think about then this is your kind of offense. Follow Coach Aaron Fernandez on Twitter (www.twitter.com/CoachFernandez1) or ask him some questions about 'Attack Space, Create Space'. Show notes: www.coachcallstimeout.com/46. --------------- Take the Practice Planning Course to get the most out of your players and your limited gym time. Practice Planning Course: www.coachcallstimeout.com/resources/practice-planning-course/. --------------- If you know of any coaches who are doing great things you can reach me on Twitter (www.twitter.com/CoachCallsTime). Go to our website to get hundreds of basketball plays, drills, practice plans, worksheets and other resources: www.coachcallstimeout.com. Use the coupon code PODCAST to save 25%.

In today’s episode I interview the founder and creator of the Wednesday night basketball coaching chat on Twitter, coach Jon DeMarco. He has built his Twitter chat (#GBetBBChat), which focuses on helping coaches support and connect with each other into the largest live basketball coaching resource on Twitter. Every Wednesday at 8:00 PM EST he starts the chat that is helping hundreds of coaches from around the world. I talk with Jon about the Twitter Chat, his coaching journey and a bunch of other coaching related topics. Coach DeMarco provides a ton of value throughout our conversation. Follow Coach Jon DeMarco on Twitter, I highly, highly recommend it (www.twitter.com/Coach_DeMarco). Visit the #GBetBBChat: www.twitter.com/search?q=%23GBetBBChat&src=recent_search_click. Show notes: www.coachcallstimeout.com/45. --------------- Take the Practice Planning Course to get the most out of your limited gym time and your players. Practice Planning Course: www.coachcallstimeout.com/resources/practice-planning-course/. --------------- If you know of any coaches who are doing great things you can reach me on Twitter (www.twitter.com/CoachCallsTime). Go to our website to get hundreds of basketball plays, drills, practice plans, worksheets and other resources: www.coachcallstimeout.com.

Today begins the focus on youth and high school basketball coaches who are doing unique things. The goal of the podcast is to throw ideas at you, help you connect with your players and give them the best experiences possible. You can listen to stories from your peers and decide what to add to your own coaching toolbox. In today’s episode I interview an old friend of mine and past teammate coach Derek McGrattan. He put together a very fun season kick-off meeting for his players and their families. There’s no better time to start building team chemistry than on the first day. We also go a little off topic and discuss contracts for parents’ conduct. I know some coaches will be interested in that. Practice Planning Course: www.coachcallstimeout.com/resources/practice-planning-course/. If you know of any coaches who are doing great things you can reach me on Twitter (www.twitter.com/CoachCallsTime). Show notes: www.coachcallstimeout.com/44. Go to our website to get hundreds of basketball plays, drills, practice plans, worksheets and other resources: www.coachcallstimeout.com.

The podcast is back for another season! This season I want to focus on youth and high school coaches who are doing amazing things. We’re going to highlight specific details from coaches doing really well and take items that you can implement into your coaching journey. For instance, on next week’s episode I’m going to talk to a coach who held a season kick-off meeting by inviting his player’s and their families to a mock press conference where the players signed contracts and had fun at an arcade. In the episode after that I’m going to talk to the coach responsible for the largest live Twitter chat for basketball coaches. A lot of great advice and ideas come out of the weekly chats that you can add to your coaching toolbox and fast track your progress. So… this episode is just a quick one to let you know that we are back and to let you know what’s coming. Tell your friends and leave a review. I’ll talk to you next week! Don’t forget to subscribe to this show so the new episodes show up in your feed. Reach me on Twitter (www.twitter.com/CoachCallsTime). Show notes: www.coachcallstimeout.com/43. Go to our website to get hundreds of basketball plays, drills, practice plans, worksheets and other resources: www.coachcallstimeout.com.

Today's topic: Building team culture. Once again the three brothers get together to discuss coaching and leadership. Each brother takes a stab at his most valued aspect of building team culture. Let us know what you think about this topic. What items do you focus on when building team culture? Reach us on Twitter (www.twitter.com/CoachCallsTime) or leave a comment in the show notes. Show notes: www.coachcallstimeout.com/42. Go to our website to get hundreds of free basketball plays, drills, practice plans, articles and tips: www.coachcallstimeout.com.

Today's topic: Coaching a dominant player. The latest craziness with James Harden’s scoring numbers has us thinking... what is the best way to coach a team with a dominant player and still ensure the other players are developing their skills, getting better and enjoying the game? Let us know what you think about this topic. Are you coaching a dominant player right now? I’d love to hear what you focus on to ensure your dominant player isn’t the only focus on your team. Reach us on Twitter (www.twitter.com/CoachCallsTime) or leave a comment in the show notes. Show notes: www.coachcallstimeout.com/41. Go to our website to get hundreds of free basketball plays, drills, practice plans, articles and tips: www.coachcallstimeout.com.

Today's topic: Can you coach aggression, was difficult for us. We didn't really reach a solid conclusion which may speak to the difficulty of this topic. Personally, I have trouble accepting that coaches can’t motivate or coax aggression out of people. Yes, there is a level of aggression that is inherent in a player; but I think that is just their baseline. The more you motivate, encourage and build their confidence, the more likely they are to increase their aggressiveness throughout the season. Like most things, good coaching and leadership result in improved performance – aggressiveness is no different. Let us know what you think about this topic, I’d love to hear success stories of a timid player turning into a player that regularly dives for loose balls. Reach us on Twitter (www.twitter.com/CoachCallsTime) or leave a comment in the show notes. Show notes: www.coachcallstimeout.com/40. Go to our website to get hundreds of free basketball plays, drills, practice plans, articles and tips: www.coachcallstimeout.com.

Last week we talked about the merits of playing zone defense in youth basketball. In today's 12 minute coaching helper we go to the other side of the ball - offense. We talk about the keys to a great zone offense. Below are some of the keys we dissect: - How to create mini 3-on-2 and 2-on-1 advantages. - Using pass fakes. - Who's flashing middle? - Attacking gaps. - Passing angles. - Does screening the zone work? - Hit the glass! Go to the show notes page (www.coachcallstimeout.com/39) to find links to all these great zone offenses and set plays that work against all types of half-court zone defenses. vs 2-3 zones: Offense vs 2-3 Zone, Ball Screen Offense vs 2-3 Zone, Corner Shot Offense vs 2-3 Zone, Corners Offense vs 2-3 Zone, High-Low vs 1-3-1 zones: Offense vs 1-3-1 Zone, Motion Offense vs 1-3-1 Zone, Corners Offense vs 1-3-1 Zone, Skip Pass vs 3-2 or 1-2-2 zones: Offense vs 3-2 Zone, Motion Offense vs 3-2 Zone, 1-3-1 Set Find plenty more by clicking here: www.coachcallstimeout.com/offense/vs-zone/ Show notes: www.coachcallstimeout.com/39. Go to our website to get hundreds of free basketball plays, drills, practice plans, articles and tips: www.coachcallstimeout.com.

In today's 12 minute coaching helper we dissect a polarizing topic... should you play zone defense in youth basketball? We get into why most people play zone, why it's effective and if we think it should be allowed at the grade school level. As coaches, we need to do what's best for our players. Wins and losses should be secondary. Does zone defense in youth basketball help anyone other than the coach? If the players are too young to shoot from deep or make skip passes what are your intentions? All that and more in today's episode. Show notes: www.coachcallstimeout.com/38. Go to our website to get hundreds of free basketball plays, drills, practice plans, articles and tips: www.coachcallstimeout.com.

As coaches, we can’t just force our preferences and style of play onto a group of players. We need to adapt our playing style to match our players’ strengths. You are only one person. To expect an entire team of kids to adjust to your way in three or four months is unrealistic and selfish. To get the best out of your players and put them in a position to succeed you need to adapt your style to suit them. In today’s episode we discuss why that works best in our experiences and some specific playing styles that might match the types of strengths within your team. Show notes: www.coachcallstimeout.com/37. Go to our website to get hundreds of free basketball plays, drills, practice plans, articles and tips: www.coachcallstimeout.com.

Today is part two of our discussion on setting goals for your basketball team. We get in to setting specific goals for your players, your team, the parents and your coaches (including yourself). We also realize even more than last episode that Brian is completely losing his mind. Show notes: www.coachcallstimeout.com/36. Go to our website to get hundreds of free basketball plays, drills, practice plans, articles and tips: www.coachcallstimeout.com.

Today we’re talking about setting goals for your team… How to do it, why you do it and when to do it. This might be my favorite discussion so far. The main reason I like it is that it starts with Brian talking about setting goals for his team, or should I say A goal for his team – win a championship. He honestly thought that was the only goal he needed and the only goal he set. As we got further into it and Brady and I pushed back against his giant goal that seems impossible on its own we made him get more specific and find goals that can be measured easier. Then Brian started to realize... wait a second, I actually set all kinds of little goals before games in order to help the team achieve our larger goal. It’s kind of comical how everything clicks. It took us a while to beat it over his head before he made this realization - now we’re going to need a part two to get into the specifics of setting goals next week. But… today’s episode is great to understand why you need to get specific when you're setting goals for your team. You need something you can measure and be accountable for. This episode starts with Brian blabbing about winning a championship. Let's get to it! Show notes: www.coachcallstimeout.com/35. Go to our website to get hundreds of free basketball plays, drills, practice plans, articles and tips: www.coachcallstimeout.com.

We’re cramming a lot of information into this episode; we’re talking about tryouts. Myself and my brothers Brian and Brady dish out some tips on running your youth and high school team tryouts during this First Quarter episode. We’ll leave it to you to take your team to the promise land for the final three quarters. Let's get to it! Show notes: www.coachcallstimeout.com/34. Go to our website to get hundreds of free basketball plays, drills, practice plans, articles and tips: www.coachcallstimeout.com.

Hey, it’s Dan here. Ok, some serious talk before we get into today’s discussion. One thing coaches value a lot in a player is accountability. If you make a mistake… own up to it, learn from it, move on and improve. Accountability isn’t a one way street, sometimes coaches make mistakes too. When you do make a mistake, the best lesson for your players is to show that you can be accountable for your actions too. Talk about it with your players, own up to it, learn from it, move on and improve yourself. That’s where we’re starting today’s 12 minute coaching talk. I screwed up in last week’s episode. So did my brother’s Brian and Brady. When we started our discussion last week we wanted it to be a resource for coaches on how to deal with difficult players. What it turned into was a talk about why the Minnesota Timberwolves can’t keep Jimmy Butler. And I don’t feel like we served our audience during this talk. As a youth coach, you don’t have the ability to trade or cut a player. Sometimes you’re forced to go with whoever shows up for tryouts or you may have a philosophy that you don’t want to give up on difficult personalities. So, today’s 12 minute coaching talk is essentially a take 2 on the dealing with a difficult player episode – from the perspective of how you can manage while keeping that player on the squad. We promise to do better in the future and help you as much as we can. Show notes: www.coachcallstimeout.com/33. Go to our website to get hundreds of free basketball plays, drills, practice plans, articles and tips: www.coachcallstimeout.com.

Today we are introducing a new segment to the Coach Calls Timeout podcast!! It’s called the First Quarter; a 12 minute podcast for basketball coaches. My brothers Brian and Brady join me to dissect a coaching related issue that we see in the sports world. And we’re going to tackle it in less than twelve minutes per episode – no small feat when you have Brian on the panel. Today’s discussion we talk about this whole Jimmy Butler / Minnesota Timberwolves soap opera. It got us thinking; just what should you do with a player that isn’t 100% committed to the team? Show notes: www.coachcallstimeout.com/32. Go to our website to get hundreds of free basketball plays, drills, practice plans, articles and tips: www.coachcallstimeout.com.

We are back!! Welcome to episode 31 of the podcast. Today we have a great guest for you. He has a very unique perspective as a head coach in the NCAA. We are talking to Ed DeChellis, head coach of the men’s basketball program at the Naval Academy. Coach DeChellis shares his journey from coaching East Tennessee State (7 years) to a large school with, big expectations at Penn State (8 years) to an extremely unique situation coaching at Navy (8th season). It’s amazing how different the three programs are – and yet, his team’s core values and the characteristics he’s looking for in players haven’t changed at all. One of the things we preach about here at Coach Calls Timeout is consistency. It’s the coach’s job to provide stability and consistency, whether that’s how you run practices, how you react to a situation with encouragement or discipline, or how you respond to adversity – it all needs to remain consistent. Players thrive when they can expect what’s coming next. Our guest, Coach DeChellis deserves a master’s degree in consistency.

Welcome to episode 30 of the podcast!! Today we have our first active NBA coach join the show, we have Scott Morrison, assistant coach of the Boston Celtics. We talk to him about his journey from a small town in Prince Edward Island, Canada to head coaching stints at Lakehead University and the Maine Red Claws and now assistant coach of the Boston Celtics. It’s a story of hard work, some risk and a trust in his abilities. Stick around after the interview for a discussion with myself and Brian on one of the questions from the forum that we have at Coach Calls Timeout. We answer a question about making cuts for a 7th grade team. Click the link below jump into the Forum conversation... www.coachcallstimeout.com/forum/selecting-your-team/how-many-players-makes-for-a-perfect-practice/. ------------------- Join our newsletter to get two free plays, a practice plan and a bonus video. www.coachcallstimeout.com/free-basketball-plays. ------------------- Start your 7 day free trial with Coach Calls Timeout: www.coachcallstimeout.com/membership. Use the coupon code PODCAST. Show notes: www.coachcallstimeout.com/30. Leave an Apple Podcasts review: www.getpodcast.reviews/id/1094127789. Start your free Audible trial: www.audibletrial.com/coach. Thanks for your support! The Coach Calls Timeout Team

We’re back! Welcome to Season 2 of the podcast!! We’re going to start off with the same game plan as always, interview successful basketball coaches and find out what makes them tick. We’re starting off with a bang. Two coaches for the price of one. Two Canada Basketball head coaches, Roy Rana and Carly Clarke. This summer Roy coached the Canadian U19 men’s team at the FIBA World Cup in Egypt. With Roy at the helm Canada won its first ever gold medal in international play. He’s also been recently named the head coach of the Canadian men’s program. Coach Carly Clarke was making history this summer as well. She was the head coach of the Canadian U19 women’s  team at the FIBA World Cup in Italy. Carly led the team to a bronze medal, its best finish ever at that level. Both coaches are also the head coaches of the men’s and women’s basketball teams at Ryerson University in Toronto. They are both past guests on the podcast. Carly was episode 5 and Roy was episode 16 - we recommend listening if you haven't already. Click the link below jump into the Forum conversation about 'dealing' with parents. www.coachcallstimeout.com/forum/communication/meeting-with-parents/ ------------------- Join our newsletter to get two free plays, a practice plan and a bonus video. www.coachcallstimeout.com/free-basketball-plays. ------------------- Start your 7 day free trial with Coach Calls Timeout: www.coachcallstimeout.com/membership. Use the coupon code PODCAST. Show notes: www.coachcallstimeout.com/29. Leave an Apple Podcasts review: www.getpodcast.reviews/id/1094127789. Start your free Audible trial: www.audibletrial.com/coach. Thanks for your support! The Coach Calls Timeout Team