Build your own tools of the trade.

A grab bag of low-cost, highly useful, homemade coaching aids for the budget-conscious basketball coach

All kinds of basketball instructional tools, gadgets, and gimmicks are marketed every season. They come in a wide assortment of sizes, styles, usefulness, and cost.

Some have undergone scientific research. Others are supported only by speculation.

Some are sponsored by large companies with the endorsement of a "big name" coach. Others rely upon "word of mouth" as their primary sales spur.

Many focus on a specialized skill. Others are general in scope and design.

The one commonality of these commercial aids is their price, which often is too steep for the limited budget. A recent high school survey indicates that the cuts in funding and rising costs are posing problems to about 75% of the manufacturers. Many of the coaches looking for teaching aids are unable to afford them.

Fortunately, Yankee ingenuity is not dead. A lot of coaches are turning to homemade alternatives - personally crafted coaching aids. We invite basketball coaches to take their choices of the following assortment of homemade instructional aids.

SHOOTING

There are probably more aids on shooting than for any other skill. They can be categorized as: (1) shooting gloves; (2) devices on the proper positioning of the elbow, palm, and hand; (3) balls of various weights, sizes, and shapes, and (4) ball-return apparatus, including funnel or net types and stationary devices.

Coaches looking for an inexpensive shooting aid may find the answer in the Thumb Blocker and the Defensive Broom.

THUMB BLOCKER

A simple tool designed to correct the common fault of pronating the thumb of the non-shooting hand during the release. By tying the thumb to the index finger, you can prevent it from causing the ball to veer laterally off target. Though the device may be used in any shooting drill, it works best in free-throw and form-shooting drills.

Construction: None is needed, though a strong, thick rubber band will work best.

DEFENSIVE BROOM

Provides a barrier for the offensive player to shoot over. The broom is slid between the chair-back and the seat to create a distraction for a stationary or moving shooter. The broom may also be held by a player or coach. Benefits: increased concentration and additional arc in the shot.

Construction: Any household or push broom will suffice. For taller players, the broom can be taped to the chairback for additional height.

PASSING

The most common types of commercial passing aids include gloves that keep the ball off the palms; toss-return nets that rebound balls toward them; and weighted balls that involve some kind of resistance.

WEIGHTED BALL

Will strengthen hand, arm, shoulder, and back muscles used in passing. Two-person drills, three-person, triangular drills can be done with the ball.

Make a six-inch slit in an old, worn ball, and stuff the ball with sand or any other dense material to bring it up to any desired weight (usually 4 to 10 lbs.) The ball can also be stuffed with substances like rags, newspaper, foam, etc., to prevent the sand from shifting in flight.

Duct or electrical tape can be used to cover the slit. The ball can be made more durable by poking small holes near the cut and sewing the ball back together with shoestring and then covering it with tape.

Cost is minimal, since old, worn balls are plentiful and the weighted stuffing material is easy to obtain.

DEFENSIVE STANCE, FOOTWORK, AND AGILITY

Commercial aids include harnesses, weight vests, slide boards, and hand/foot weights. Most coaches will use lateral and vertical defensive slide drills to teach the proper defensive stance and foot work.

BRICK WITH SAFETY STRAP

Bricks held in the hands at shoulder level can provide an "overload" device for defensive slide drills such as the group "wave" drill. Full-court defensive slide drills and a 30-second slide across the key are other popular drills that can be done with hand-held bricks.

Construction: The bricks should have construction holes in them that will permit them to be secured to the hands by a safety strap. The strap is particularly helpful for players with sweaty hands and to protect the floor against dropped bricks. Since old bricks may be found at almost all construction sites, the cost is minimal.

REBOUNDING

Commercial apparatus usually involves some type of mechanism (rings, domes, etc.) that can serve as a lid for the basket and will deflect shots for rebounding purposes. Other machines will enable the players to jump into the air and seize a stationary ball placed at various heights.

REBOUND RIPPER 

This is a rope with a loop around one end for the ball and a wooden handle tied to the other end for the holder. The rope is dangled over the back of the basket mounting at a height that will allow the player to jump with both hands up and grasp the ball. For outstanding leapers, the rope can be slung over the top of the backboard to a very high vertical position.

As the player leaps and grabs the ball, the holder can jerk the rope to force the player to squeeze the ball aggressively and "rip" the ball off the board. For increased difficulty, the holder can swing the ball from side to side or have another player block out (physical contact) the rebounder.

Construction: One end of an 8 to 12 foot long nylon rope should be looped around the ball and secured with duct tape, while a six-inch long wooden handle is tied to the other end. The Rebound Ripper can be used at any basket, and moved quickly - no tools are needed.

JUMPING AND AGILITY

Vertical jump machines and height-measuring motivational devices.

AGGRESSIVENESS

Most coaches have their favorite drill for teaching and practice of aggressiveness. However, few involve any good instructional devices.

UGLY STICK 

Developed by Kip Drown, women's head basketball coach at Georgia Southwestern College. This padded broomstick handle is used to apply pressure against the shooter's arms, shoulders, and body during post moves, shooting, or rebounding.

The players learn to enjoy powering through the Ugly Stick while putting the ball up. Power-to-the post drills, 1-on-0 rebounding outlet drills, and 3-ball power-up lay-ins provide good opportunities for the use of this aid. (Ideal for the practice of 3-point plays.)

Construction: Simply cut off a broom handle to a length of 2-3 feet, cover the entire surface with a 3-4 inch wrapping foam padding, and carefully wrap with tape from top to bottom.

These homemade instructional tools have much to offer coaches and players. Their cost is negligible and their usefulness is limited only by the inventiveness of the user.

Dennis R. Phillips and Joseph Cole Coaching and Sport Administration U. of Southern Mississippi