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We’re trying something new. This is the first Tribe Spotlight where we feature the successes, struggles, insights, and hopefully game footage of Read & React coaches. Our first spotlight comes from Stephen Ring in Melbourne, Australia. I know, the R&R is so international. Here’s what Coach Ring (Ringy in the forum) has to say. And, if you want your team spotlighted, send me an email at scott@betterbasketball.com and we’ll set it up.

The following clips have been taken from our first pre-season games through the fifth game of the regular season. We are far from perfect, but what I’ve tried to highlight with these clips is the players making the reads and reactions. We don’t score on every occasion and sometimes we don’t make the correct reactions, but I think the footage shows that the coordinated movement (even with mistakes) is very difficult to defend, post passing can open up the outside for kick-outs, and cutters are generally in good rebounding position if a shot is taken. Pay particular attention to the progression from the pre-season (Videos 1 & 2) into the regular season (Videos 3 & 4)- we made a lot of progress!

Pre-Season Clips: Learning the Basics

The above clips are from a couple of our pre-season games and we are pretty much sticking to our basic Layers highlighting:

Pre-Season Clips: Becoming More Comfortable

Here’s another set of pre-season games highlighting:

Early Regular Season Clips: Starting to Click

Now we’re just beginning the regular season. The above clips highlight:

Early Regular Season Clips: We’re On Our Way

A few games into the regular season highlighting:

I have been a volunteer coach for 25 years and currently coach a U18 club representative team called the Diamond Valley Eagles. My boys are 16 and 17 playing in the strongest level of competition in the state. I definitely have some high level players with a good understanding of the game and this is our second year with the Read & React.

We practice twice weekly for 1 1/2 hours per session and play one game per week under FIBA rules including the 24 second shot clock. As of our last game, we are tied for first place with an overall record of 11-2.

Layers 1-5, as well as Layer 12 are the basis for our structure – that is where we spend the most practice time. We have covered all 17 Layers, but some are certainly not permanent habits yet. Of course, when the team we are slated to play tends towards zone defense, we put more effort into practicing the Pin & Skip, Hook & Look, etc.

The one Layer that I feel I have not been able to adequately teach is the Back Screen Layer. I have really found this difficult to teach in a manner that is not confusing to the players. Whilst I certainly agree that this Layer has many benefits, we as a group struggle with coordination when trying to use it for an extended period. Individual players through their own initiative will go and back screen for another player, but it is not in our regular structure.

Steve, thanks for being our first Tribe Spotlight and working with me to get your story and game footage out to the rest of the Tribe. Also, thanks for being active in the forum. It really helps everyone when we get to see exactly how other R&R coaches are progressing. We’ll be expecting an update when the season ends.

8 Responses

  1. Ringy,

    I am a coach out in Western Australia running the R&R. I coach u18 girls. With the Back screen layer i brought it in just after teaching pass and cut, pass and post. Infact we do little dribbling at all.

    My rule is every passer must screen someone before getting to the perimeter (5 out). The decision is made as to who to screen under the basket after the cut. The girls were getting double staggers in the first 5 minutes of scrimmage.

    I then called plays where 5 Big was to only screen a post player (inside) and 5 Small for to only screen a guard (shooter).

    Very effective. Good luck next season. Send me an email to chat more.

  2. UPDATE : Just a note to let everyone know that our season has finally come to an end. Our Diamond Valley Eagles were unfortunately knocked out in the Final Four Semi Finals of our competition.

    Whilst obviously dissapointed with our loss, this has been a very successful season in what is considered by many to be the premier competition in the country.

    Our team worked as hard as any, and The Read & React played a major part in our success.

    Thanks again to Rick, Scott and all the contributers to THE TRIBE.

  3. Thanks for the video. This is my first year with the Read and React and I will be using it with both my Biddy Girls team (4th, 5th, 6th grade) and also my JV Girls team. I am very excited about it especially after watching your video.
    Thanks,
    John

  4. Great stuff!

    I realy like how all of your players have “attacking skills” and use them, particularly with the 24 second shot clock. (This is one of the most important fact that made me adopt the read and react.) It just seems as if the defense cannot concentrate on stopping only 2 players on offense, alla of them are attacking!

    My situation certainly has simularities with your’s:
    Boys 16-17 years old, Fiba rules 24 sec shot clock in Canada, and two practices of 90 minutes each a week.

    Would also love to see one of your practice plans.

    Thanks for sharing with the tribe!
    Mat

  5. Ringy-

    Great Work!! Your team plays unselfish, attacks the basket, is reacting well, and is scrappy (especially only practicing once a week for 1 1/2 hours)! I appreciate you getting the video footage together because it is very helpful to me. I notice many similarities to my teams development of the R and R.

    A few observations-
    -The “chaos” created early on creates sloppiness and the flow/tempo/passing takes some time for a team to understand. ( I plan on focusing on emphasizing this even more next year)
    -A team running the R & R with that understanding looks like watching a mens league team with players who have played the game for a while (B.I.Q.!) playing a boys team!!. At times, it is very noticeable that the defense is overwhelmed!
    -Keep on doing what your doing and adding layers because the way you are delivering the drills is working!!

    I would love to see one of your practice plans.

    Thanks for sharing your team with the tribe!
    Jesse

  6. Keep up the good work coach. Your team looks very aggressive and I think that’s no small part to your coaching efforts and teaching the R&R principles. They look like they’re just “playing” ball and having fun. Good luck the rest of the season.

  7. Coach Ring,

    Thanks so much for the taking the time and effort to put together these game clips. The most valuable aspect of what you’ve sent is the noticeable progression of development by your team from pre-season to the last clip. I wonder sometimes if coaches are unrealistic in their expectations when their team is first learning the Read & React. This will help to demonstrate what coaches might expect when installing and operating the Read & React. Thanks again.

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