Lately I have been getting a lot of e-mail from coaches who would like to adopt a fast break oriented approach to the game but are concerned with organizing effective practices and implementing a fast break oriented attack. Here are some simple ways of improving practicing for the fast break attack.
Want to make your players happy? Substitute fast break drills done for time for sprints and traditional conditioning. How many players like running sprints? How many players like running fast breaks? Why not take time set aside for conditioning in the form of sprints and run fast break drills for time? This is a more efficient use of practice time, obtains more repetitions of both the fast break attack, fundamentals and shooting.
Use short bouts to practice skills in order to increase intensity. A fast break that is not executed with intensity is not effective. When building the foundation for an effective, high paced and intense fast break, use short bouts of intense practice on the essential skills and the breakdown components of the overall attack. Limit each bout to 3-5 minutes for the entire team and 30-40 seconds in duration for the players involved when performing the drill. If a drill, skill or concept requires more time in practice, split up the overall allotted time into different segments spread out during the practice.
Keep score and work against the clock. This always increases the urgency level during a drill, making it more game-like. Players learn to function at a higher level of efficiency and to perform with intensity and execute correctly when under pressure.
Always include transition in every drill. Whether working on offense or defense, always include transition to enter the drill. Build a habit of starting from the fast break or making transition from offense to defense at a high rate of speed.
Last of all, shorten practice. There is only so much gas in the tank and teams who play an intense, demanding style of play need to have practices that are somewhat shorter or the wear and tear on their energy levels, mental freshness and physical state will catch-up at the wrong time of the season.
For more information about ideas to improve any team’s fast break attack, you may want to consider my book Fine Tuning Your Fast Break, available from Amazon in paperback or Kindle editions. You can go to my store on this site and purchase directly from Amazon.
