37 learning targets
Learning targets
Everything a player can learn here. One thing per learning target: something a player can learn, a coach can teach and someone can see.
Body Moving, stopping, balance, falling, contact
Move and stop, head up
Run, stop and turn in balance while seeing what happens around you.Balance
Keeping your body under control, still and moving, on one and two legs.Land softly
Always land softly on two feet, knees over the feet.Good stop
A hop stop or a stride stop on every catch and every finish. Always.Fake and first step
From a good stop, fake and get past your defender in one step.Legal contact
Creating, holding and releasing contact when you want, within the rules, on both sides of the ball.Always run back
When the ball is lost, everyone sprints back at once, all the way, until you're in front of the ball.Stop the ball with the chest
Stopping the dribbler in transition by getting your chest in front, not by reaching from behind.Box out
Finding your opponent, making contact and keeping them behind you for the rebound.
Ball Catching, passing, dribbling, finishing, shooting
Catching
Getting the ball under control, ready for the next action.Passing
Getting the ball to a teammate at the right moment, past a defender.Dribbling
Moving with the ball, with both hands, with a purpose: to the rim, away from pressure, to a better passing angle.Head up
While dribbling you look at the court, not the ball. Always.Protect the ball
Keeping your body between ball and defender, with dribble, pivot and arm.Lay-up and finishing
Scoring close to the rim, from a dribble or a catch, with both hands and different footwork.Shooting
From a catch in balance, power from the legs, a long smooth release.Free throw
The same routine and the same movement every time, without an opponent.Rebounding
Judging where the ball falls, getting there first and grabbing it with two hands.
Game Seeing and choosing: space, time, advantage
Good spacing
Keeping the floor wide, not crowding, filling the corners. Always.Get free without the ball
Keep moving after your pass, cut and get away from your defender.Create, see and punish an advantage
Making a numbers edge or a step on your defender, recognising it and using it at once.Drive first
Going to the basket and making space for a good shot is not selfish. Passing straight away without a reason or a goal is.Drive reactions
When a teammate drives, you move to a spot where they can find you: corner, behind the drive, to the rim.The second cut
In pass-and-cut the first cut rarely works. The cut from two or more passes away is the dangerous one.Good shot
A good shot is in balance, within range, uncontested, after a good pass or a drive with a small advantage.Lanes and corners in transition
After winning the ball, sprint forward wide, fill the corners and get the ball up fast.Look before you catch
Before the ball arrives, glance around: where is my defender, the rim, the open player.Help and recover
Stopping a drive as the helper and getting back to your own player before the pass arrives.Foresee the advantage, don't gamble
Defending against the advantage: not giving it, seeing it coming and recovering when it's there. Only go for the ball when the team is safe behind you.
Mind Attention, courage, resetting, choosing
Reset after a miss
After a miss or a turnover, straight to the next action: run back, defend, try again.Courage: positive aggression
Wanting to go to the rim, taking contact, fighting for the ball, fierce but safe for others.Choose and explain
Making a choice in the game and being able to say what you saw and why.Ask: how can I do this?
Asking on your own how something can get better, instead of saying you can already do it.
Together Talking, helping, making each other better
Talk on the court
Calling names, "ball!", "shot!", "I've got him": helping out loud.Encourage each other
Saying or doing something kind after a good play and after a teammate's miss.Make teammates better
Playing so someone else scores more easily: the right pass, the screen, the space, without expecting anything back.Basketball language
Knowing and using the team's words: stop, pivot, spacing, lava, smiley, closeout.