Photo: Catherine Griffin Neyhart
When I coached basketball in Atlanta, I had the privilege to be connected with Better Basketball. Rick Torbett and his team helped me refine and hone coaching techniques. Through that connection, I was exposed to the read and react offense. 26 rules or tenants, and I found if a high school team could learn 10 of the 26 principles they would be competitive and if they learned 15 or more principles they could over achieve.
I loved teaching it because it also helped in life……
The Read and React basketball offense consists of several key rules and guidelines that help players make decisions based on the defense’s actions. Here are 26 essential rules:
Pass and Cut: After passing, the player must cut to the basket. When life becomes stale, helping others can create an amazing boomerang of good will.
Post Pass and Cut: When passing to the low post, the passer cuts to the basket. Life is infinitely more fun when you attack it and can be even more fun when you have a solid group of humans that attack it with you.
Dribble At Back Cuts: A dribble at triggers a backdoor cut from teammates. When you walk the road of life, don’t be afraid to smile at others and wish them well. The look or kind word could be the catalyst that triggers their victory.
Circle Movement on Dribble Penetration: Perimeter players move toward the direction of the drive. Momentum in life is a real thing. ride the waves and prepare your lungs for the crash, but ultimate breathe in a steady rate and enjoy the ride!
Read the Defense: Players must constantly assess the defense’s positioning. We are at war. We have an enemy. Keep your friends close and enemies closer to the point you know the flavor of chewing gum they crave. Every movement in this world has to be strategic.
Spacing: Maintain proper spacing to create driving lanes and passing options. Give yourself alone time. Intentionally. Give others that same courtesy. The longing for more will help you cull the herd and tighten your circle.
Ball Movement: The ball should move quickly to find open players. When you find yourself in the zone of life, you quickly find that time passes quickly and you better take advantage of every moment and make the myths that last.
Cut Hard: All cuts should be executed with intensity to create separation. Work hard, play hard, pray mightily and rest while hydrating. It’s a marathon with know real time keeper.
Use Screens: Set and use screens effectively to create scoring opportunities. The best things in life are free, The best wins are those where you gave away something to allow others to shine. Leaders lift others and MVPs understand that helping the team creates maximum joy.
Read the Help Defense: Players should recognize when help defense is coming and react accordingly. Sometimes enemies become friends. Those new friends often are loyal and more valuable because they had a reason or catalyst to switch and that catalyst might have been you,
Skip Passes: Utilize skip passes to exploit defensive rotations. Life played like checkers can create joyful moments but chess is a longer play.
V-Cuts: Use V-cuts to create separation from defenders before receiving the ball. Life is a beautiful dance and each of us are a unique artist.
Ball Reversal: Reverse the ball to shift the defense and create openings. Prayer is critical. Prayer can change hearts and move situations. When you realize praying is powerful and character building and not delivering your order at the counter, the more you will pray for God’s will and not your own.
Post Play: Utilize post players effectively, allowing them to read the defense. In life the closer you get to the win, the more location and proximity to the problem solves the riddle.
Drive and Kick: Drive to the basket and kick out to open shooters. Sometimes you can appear selfish as a fake or misdirection of serving and contributing. It’s how knowledge becomes street wisdom.
No Set Plays: Focus on reading and reacting rather than running set plays. Life is a beautiful improv.
Communication: Players must communicate constantly on the court. All we have to do is make sure we keep talking.
Defensive Recognition: Identify whether the defense is man-to-man or zone. Adulting sucks. You better have a game plan and that game plan needs to be flexible to deal with life’s chaos.
Attack the Gaps: Look for gaps in the defense to penetrate. Seems like attacking the day is a principle to cherish.
Cut to Open Space: Move to areas where the defense is weak or absent. The more space you create in life, the more impactful you can be. Eat dinner a lone every now and then. Use the space to pray or read the room. Be mindful of those that appear lonely. Pray for them and listen to the promptings of the holy spirit.
Be Unpredictable: Vary cuts and movements to keep the defense guessing. Being unpredictable allows for opportunities to encounter diverse talent, creative minds, and healthy challenge.
Utilize the Shot Clock: Be aware of the shot clock and manage time effectively. In life, we have no clue of our quality time left balance. Buy the concert ticket, take the trip, call that loved one, send the text, live free…..
Read the Ball: Players should read the ball’s position and react accordingly. Life has a few foundational principles. The sooner you can learn what those are, the faster you can get to bending those rules to create a beautiful symphony.
Transition Offense: Quickly transition into the Read and React offense after gaining possession. Life is full of turnovers. Winning the turnover battle of life and making lemonade out of lemons can be a differentiator but proactively creating an environment that allows for the pivot is crucial.
Practice Drills: Regularly practice drills that reinforce these principles. Each day we are called to die to self, challenge the flesh, and train to go to battle for those we love. If you have lack of self respect, this will be intolerable.
Adaptability: Be willing to adapt strategies based on the opponent’s defensive schemes. Adapt or die.
No team I ever coached or was a part of got all of these down to perfection. I’ve seen a few pro teams that came close. What made the ultimate difference was making this the fabric of the daily. Constant repetition. Perfect practice.
Time flies by whether you train and remain disciplined. You will be amazed at the results.
Boutwell Jones
redclaygospel.com
I remember these days 🙏😇❤️