Learning From Women's Basketball Coaches
I've never coached a women's basketball team, but I've learned a great deal from watching teams of successful women's basketball coaches. Collegiate women's basketball coaches such as; Pat Summitt, Geno Torretta and Vivian Stringer are on the cutting edge of basketball coaching strategies. This article will discuss how we can use women's basketball to help our own teams. If you have Tivo, a DVR box or some other method of recording a televised women’s game, you'll find that it lends itself nicely to teaching us as coaches.
Women's basketball teams tend to rely more on solid basketball fundamentals than pure athletic talent. For this reason you'll see more half court offenses and ball movement in a women's game than you'll find in most men's games. If you watch men's teams such as the Memphis Tigers for example; you'll see plenty of fast break basketball and one on one play. Compare that to the Tennessee women's team. Tennessee will certainly run the fast break but when an easy lay-up is not available they'll quickly set up their half court offense. This is one phase of the women's game we can benefit from as coaches. You can watch them pass the basketball and run their half court sets until an open shot presents itself. This gives you the opportunity to see various basketball plays during the course of a game.
The women's game moves relatively slower than a men's basketball game. This is due to the fact that men are physically stronger and quicker, but has nothing to do with the quality of basketball being played. The slower pace is another reason I like to watch women's basketball when I'm looking for new basketball plays or defensive strategies. If you're watching a game to pick up coaching strategies, the slower pace certainly simplifies the process.
ESPN has recently begun televising women's basketball games on a regular basis. Search for and if possible record these game so you can breakdown the various basketball plays the team's use. Not only will you pick up some great strategies but you'll also get a chance to watch basketball teams who are fundamentally sound.
