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Quick Hitters: Zone Up

For the last almost two seasons I’ve been the head coach of the Aalborg Vikings in the Basketball League in Denmark, Europe. I took over mid-season for the first year, and we weren’t able to run the Dribble Drive, as we had to focus on defense.

For year two we started out running the Dribble Drive but mid season we replaced our import players with three new ones. I didn’t think we’d have time to teach it to the new players in time for the playoffs, so we went with set plays.

However, we ran a lot of set plays and quick hitters out of the Dribble Drive formation, as we were already used to playing out of that set.

Now I’ve made the transition to the GM job in the club, so I’m going to share the best of those quick hitters with you this summer. Some are in the Dribble Drive book I published, but this first one is not.

Zone Lob Play

This is a very simple screen-the-zone alley-oop lob play against most zones except the 1-3-1. One TV-announcer told me this season that he couldn’t figure out why the other teams didn’t catch on to it, as we used it every time we faced zone defense.

The answer to that question is in the deception. All of the real action takes place behind the defense and away from the ball:

Diagrammed it looks like this:

zone_-_up_animation

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Paperback available at Championship Productions

I’m happy to announce that the paperback version of The Dribble Drive Offense – A Complete Instruction Manual is now available to purchase from probably the best resource of coaching books, videos etc. in the world.

The book was accepted into Championship Productions‘ website in August and they have already ordered a second printing.

You can order the book from Championship Productions here: The Dribble Drive Offense

The paperback is also still available at Lulu.com and as a PDF download right here from the site.

Also the book will be available in Japanese before long.

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DVD Reviews

One thing I hear a lot of questions about are the various DVD sets about the Dribble Drive Motion. Are they any good? Are they good enough? Who are they for? Below I’m reviewing some of the best known Dribble Drive DVD’s on the market.

Just press the cover picture for the review.

Vance Walberg DVD Reviews


John Calipari DVD Reviews

Fundamentals: Dave Smart 2-Set Review

Zone: Jerry Petitgoue’s Open Post Motion Offense

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The Dribble Drive Warmup Reads Drill

The two lines Dribble Drive Warmup Reads Drill combines dynamic stretching drills, ball handling and Break Down Zone moves from the Dribble Drive Offense.

I use the drill all the time with my 16’s and under boys team. In fact, this is the only drill we’ve used to practice the moves and reads of theBreak Down Zone.

The line on the right performs ball handling moves in a zig zag line to half court. Any ball handling and/or dribbling moves can be used. We currently use basic moves like the cross-over, behind the back and so on.

Continue reading The Dribble Drive Warmup Reads Drill

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Dribble Drive Game Film Sharing

I’ve had a request from a coach – and I think it’s a fantastic idea. This coach wants to make game film exchange for dribble drive coaches. Would anyone be interested in doing a Dropbox file exchange where we put out game film for others to watch?

I’ll be happy to share game film of my Under 16’s team from Northern Europe.I’ve only coached them for a couple of months but they’ve already made great strides with the Dribble Drive. An article will be up soonish – I currently coach 4-6 games a week between the pro mens team and the Under16 varsity and junior varsity, so time is super limited.

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Walberg Advanced Dribble Drive Review

Last spring Coach Walberg released three new Dribble Drive DVD ses through Championship Productions, and after having used them (and a lot of other sources) to write my last book, it’s time for a review. The DVD’s released were:

Advanced Dribble-Drive Offense: Zone & Transition Game, $119.99

100 Drills and Sets for Implementing the Dribble Drive Offense, $79.99

Walberg also released a defensive DVD set at the same time:

Vance Walberg: Half-Court Pressure Defensive System, 79.99

I don’t personally use Walberg’s defensive sets, so I’ll leave the defensive DVD out of the review.

See the reviews below. Continue reading Walberg Advanced Dribble Drive Review

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More than 200 pages on the Dribble Drive Offense

The  greatly expanded version of the Dribble Drive Offense book is available to buy on Amazon, Lulu.com and as an eBook, below.

The book has 200 pages and was been completely rewritten. I’ve gotten to the bottom of the Dribble Drive, and all the little details of the offense. I talked to Vance Walberg  and that finally settled the last few issues of X’s and O’s. I really think this book covers everything there is to know about the Dribble Drive. There really is no comparison to the first version of the book. This one is 100% better (and 100% longer).

Look for the new chapters on:

  • fundamentals
  • the break down zone
  • passing and cutting
  • the pick & roll
  • the S-gap
  • switching and sagging defenses
  • post play, including how to play with two post players
  • an added 45 pages of drills.

Featured products

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Calipari – a good guy or a con artist?

I’ve heard John Calipari described as a con artist who wins through recruting only – and through shady recruiting too. Having seen the Kentucky All Access DVD’s I’m very sure that the man can coach, and can coach really well (those DVD’s come very recommended).

On the recruitment – and on the man in general – Sports Illustrated ran a feature article a while back (which I only just saw). It’s a really good insight into what makes a big-time college coach:

Too Slick, Too Loud, Too Successful

Why John Calipari Can’t Catch A Break

The NCAA hasn’t held him accountable for any major violation, and dark rumors about his recruiting methods have never stuck. Still, no matter what good the Kentucky coach does—visiting the sick, helping at-risk kids—he’s assumed to have an ulterior motive.

Read more at SI

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Kentucky and the Dribble Drive

I’m sure a lot of you guys around the world are following the NCAA tournament. If not may I just remind you that all the games are available right here:

March Madness On Demand

With my interest in the Dribble Drive I’ve been following coach Calipari’s teams for years, but mostly in the post season, as very few NCAA games are shown in Europe during the regular season.

One thing which surprised me watching this season’s Kentucky matches is that they have pretty much gone away from the Dribble Drive as an offense, and I think they look stagnant because of it. There is a lot of pass, stand around. Pass, stand around waiting for a pick-n-roll. Pick-n-roll, hesitate.

Continue reading Kentucky and the Dribble Drive

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Allowing players ownership of their team

This weekend I watched the World Cup Handball final. For anyone who doesn’t know the sport – which you probably wouldn’t unless you live in Europe or South Korea – it’s a bit like a mix of soccer and basketball, played indoors at two goals, but with the hands. Have a look at some highlights here:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cml4z8qI8Tc&feature=related&w=640&rel0]

Well, this weekend Denmark played France in the World Cup final, in Sweden in front of 16.000 spectators. Denmark had the ball but were down by one goal with 29 seconds left when they called a timeout. In handball 21 seconds is basically time enough for one offense.

We all know what most basketball coaches would do; take control, draw up a play, let the players know exactly what to do.

The Danish coach did something very different. As soon as the players came in he goes:

“What do you want to run?”

Continue reading Allowing players ownership of their team