How To: Gameplanning

How To: Game planning

Each game is slightly different because of the team dynamics, makeup, strengths and weaknesses for both your opponent and your own team. It is important to note that if you have not looked at the Depth Chart post I highly suggest taking a look as it relates to game planning. 

Player Distribution

This area is quite controversial depending on which coach you talk to in Hoops Dynasty. Some coaches and rather successful ones use the 0-3 system, which I will discuss a little later after this and other also successful coaches say that it is better to use a system that equals up to 100 total on the player distribution tab of the game. 

0-3 System

In this system, you determine which of your players are the scorers usually a Senior or Junior and set them at a distribution of 3. Then the backups or guys that could score but are not elite get a 2. Then the players that are backups at their position but are just average get a 1 and the guys that are complete trash get a 0. I will say that even a guy that has a 0 will attempt shots every once in awhile just not very often. 

100 System

In this system, you again determine your players in terms of elite, average, good, great or whatever you determine and then you give the highest number to that player taking into account all the players on your team to equal a distribution for all players combined to 100. This from what other coaches have told me allows them to control more of the outcome of the game in terms of possessions for that specific player when they take a shot and do not leave anything up to chance so to speak. 

Team Play Style - Per Game or Season Long

This section might get rather long but please do not disregard this section as this is probably the most important section you can read if you even read this post. It is important to note that relates to the Strengths and Weaknesses sections below. 

Every game you play you will end up changing something in terms of how you play. Let's say you look at the other team and they generally shoot a lot of 3 pointers and do rather well with that but do not take many inside shots in comparison, you will change your setting on defense to a + value generally do not go above +2 as that will allow too many inside shots and those are higher percentage shots. 

On the flip side, let's say they do not shoot outside at all or maybe up to 10 total a game, you would want to defend inside. In this case, you would put a - setting. Up to -5 now putting a -5 would defend inside consistently but this also creates an issue - FOULS. You will foul more when you defend on the interior which could be good or bad depending on the other team free throw shooting. This is more of a preference in terms of where you set the interior, I generally do not go higher than -3 but usually, go between -2 and +2 when I set my defence setting. 

There is more to go into in this section, but I ALWAYS set my preference of style Motion, Man to Man etc based on my practice plan setting or overall team ability in a certain area. So if you just took over a team but want to change the defence do not change the setting in the game plan until your team has developed the skills necessary to effectively use that Offence or Defence. This means utilise practice time for a full season prior to setting it as your offence or defence. Your assistance coach will get mad at you but it will help to not lose a ton of games right off the bat that season by changing everything right away. 

Find Strengths

Determine your team's strength. Is it stamina? Is it outside shooting? Is it taking high percentage shots and slowing the game down to decrease possessions? Whatever the strength you need to exploit it against the team you are playing. For most of my teams, it is going to vary each year and against each opponent, but generally speaking I usually plan one way for the entire season unless I see something or somewhere against a specific team that I can exploit. 

Find Weaknesses

Determine your opponents weaknesses. Is there a single player that they play that has low defence, speed, athleticism? Or something in between. Also, most coaches do not look at their own team often enough. Look at your team determine what you would do against your own team if you were the opposing coach to attempt to win. This way you can change your depth chart or adapt the player distribution to adapt to what they might try.

If you liked this post please check out the next post on practice plans!