2019 Assistant Coaches Hall of Fame (inaugural class);
Named the 2019 CoachStat.net 'Top Assistant Coach in College Basketball';
Longest-tenured assistant coach in the ACC (20 years) and over 25+ years coaching total;
2x ACC Champions (2012, 2020) at Florida State;
On coaching staff for Florida State's appearances in the NCAA Men's Elite Eight (2018);4x Appearances in the NCAA Men's Sweet Sixteen (2011, 2018, 2019 & 2021)It’s often said the notoriety of a basketball coach begins and ends in the ‘crunch time’ of games. The pressure-packed moments of closely contested matchups, where things seem to become a blur to players, often comes down to level of preparation done in practices all-season long and the level of organization of the coaching staff. If players can maintain their ability to focus and execute when a game is at its most-frenzied moments, the chance you’ll have of coming out on top improves significantly.
As such, ‘winning the situation game’ must maintain a primary focus of a coach’s preparation. While preparing your team for all the myriad of possibilities that can occur in critical situations may seem like a tall order, as you’ll find out in this highly valuable instructional coaching video, it becomes quite possible with the proper methods for planning, staying organized, preparation and dedicating practice time.
Stan Jones, the longest-tenured assistant coach in the ACC (Florida State), simplifies the process, provides valuable insights for preparing to win close games and covers critically important information that will teach you how to best prepare your team to ‘win the situation game!’
Preparation, Scouting Difference-Makers
Coach Jones takes you through his journey as a coach and explains how he has developed his own coaching philosophy and ideas on preparing to win the situation game.
From in-game situations such as practicing how to foul when you are up by three points to more effective methods for scouting an opponent, these pressure-filled moments are ones that every coach finds themselves facing and each is masterfully broken down by Coach Jones.
How do you scout opponents to better prepare for how they approach late-game situations? Coach Jones outlines his ‘Scouting Difference Makers’ and outlines how each one provides you the edge when it comes to being ready for your next game.
Not only does Coach Jones cover what he likes to do offensively in specific late-game situations, but he also dives deep into his defensive philosophy as it pertains to stopping great offensive players and how to prepare your team to defend a variety of end-of-game scenarios.
Having a ‘Special Team’s Plan’
Next, Coach Jones delivers everything you’ll need for planning out your situation game. He outlines ideas and concepts that he and his fellow coaches have developed while at Florida State, while simultaneously covering key situational things he learned while coaching at the high school and NBA levels.
Coach Jones explains why and how maintaining a list of ‘things to accomplish’ immeasurably helps with your season-long preparation.
Coaches at all levels of basketball need to have a few ‘go-to plays’ they can call upon during times they need a clutch bucket. Coach Jones delivers and demonstrates multiple plays from various parts of the court that are favorites of his to use in special situations.
Beginning with the jump ball, the developing a system of signals from the bench that the on-court players can instantly recognize will help your team know when they have an advantage at the start and at various other times that you could label as a key situation.
Special Plays, Situational Tactics
Coach Jones then shows a special situation play that provides multiple scoring opportunities from a lob inside to a three outside.
Moving to special situations that require baseline and sideline out-of-bounds, Jones shares screening techniques that will dramatically improve the plays you already have and run from your own playbook.
Coach Jones then covers other critically important special-situation topics – from scoring in crunch time with a short clock, to effective plays to use when you need two points or need to get off an open look at a three-point shot. He also covers late-game set plays that work against a tough zone defense.
Moving on to another special situation, Coach Jones explains how using misdirection can be a great way to steal points in a close game. To illustrate,Jones shows that after getting the ball in from the baseline, how you can initiate and influence the action with moves going one direction, while utilizing a quick back screen, to provide a high-percentage wide-open lob.
In tense moments, defenses tend to play extra aggressive and tighter. Coach Jones shares a remedy for this with a great sideline play that uses your opponent’s aggressiveness against themselves and frees up one of your players for an easy layup.
Covering a situation with less than three seconds on the clock, Jones also showcases a side out-of-bounds set that provides a multitude of options and counters.
Coach Jones concludes by going over other areas of the game that might not get as much attention, but require planning and practice time, such as baseline and sideline plays. He also shares great insight into how to practice and strategize for those times where you purposefully need to miss a free throw.
How does your team start the second half? Coach Jones points out that many teams come out of the halftime break with less focus and explains that this common tendency opens up an opportunity to steal an easy basket or two.
No coach wants to find himself or herself in a close-game scenario that they are not fully prepared for. This highly valuable instructional video is jam-packed and fully loaded with everything you need to execute and win close games during a season!
Customer Review: 5 Out of 5 Stars. ‘This is a great video! … the plays Coach Jones covers are also great….the ideas for practice and things to consider will virtually over prepare any coach who is fortunate enough to watch this video… this is one of the best presentations I have ever seen on this topic!’
77 minutes. 2023.