Steve Forbes & Staff 'On the Court': Building a Sound Offense & a Stout Defense

with Steve Forbes, Wake Forest University Head Men's Coach;
2022 ACC Coach of the Year;
East Tennessee State Head Coach from 2015 to 2020;
2020 Hugh Durham Award;
2020 SoCon Coach of the Year;
2x SoCon Regular Season Champions;
2x SoCon Tournament Champions;
Wichita State Assistant Coach from 2013 to 2015;
in his first year, the Shockers went 35-1;
in his second year, they advanced to the Sweet 16;
Northwest Florida State Head Men's Coach from 2011 to 2013;
Back-to-Back NJCAA Division I National Runner-Up

and

with Brooks Savage,
Eastern Tennessee State University (ETSU) Head Coach;
Wake Forest Assistant Coach from 2020 to 2023;
ETSU Assistant Coach from 2015 to 2020;
Chattanooga Assistant Coach from 2014 to 2015;
Presbyterian Assistant Coach from 2012 to 2013;
Northwest Florida State Assistant Coach from 2011 to 2012;
Tennessee GA from 2008 to 2010

and

with Matt Woodley,
Wake Forest University Assistant Coach;
Drake University Assistant Coach from 2018 to 2020;
University of Pittsburgh Assistant Coach 2017 to 2018;
Iowa Energy (NBADL) Head Coach from 2016 to 2017;
Iowa Energy Assistant Coach from 2014 to 2016;
Truman State Head Coach from 2011 to 2014;
Waukee HS (IA) Head Coach from 2009 to 2011;
2011 CIML Conference Champions;
Washington State Assistant Coach from 2006 to 2009 (with Tony Bennett);
2008 Sweet Sixteen;
Middle Tennessee State Assistant Coach from 2006 to 2006;
University of Denver Assistant Coach from 2001 to 2004;
Wayne State Graduate Assistant Coach from 2000 to 2001;
played college basketball for Drake University

Steve Forbes, a master in turning around dormant programs, along with his incredible staff (including former Assistant Brooks Savage - now ETSU head coach and Assistant Matt Woodley) take you inside a day in the life of what their basketball practice looks like and some of the thinking behind the decisions made on practice plans, offense and defense. 

In this video that is a combination of lectures and on-court demonstrations, you will get a meaningful deep dive into how Forbes' now celebrated Wake Forest and East Tennessee State programs progressed from near the bottom of their conferences to annual NCAA tournament contenders.

Establishing a System of Play

The first step to turning around a basketball program is to have a system of play. 

Having a system of play allows you to do the following:

• Be organized
• Defines a standard
• Sets expectations
• Consistent terminology
• Clear understanding
• Helps recruiting

Coach Forbes and his staff develop their offensive system based on sound basketball fundamentals and principles. The mastery of fundamentals to build a successful offense requires the following be emphasized for a successful offensive system:

• Get catches
• Proper spacing
• On balance (off 2 feet)
• Ball movement and exchanges
• Across the midline
• Drive - Kick - Swing mentality (don't drive the drive)
• Ball toughness (low turnover)

One of the ways to teach offensive fundamentals is "Fundamental Lines," which is a warm-up drill they use in practice. With four lines along the baseline and a ball in each line, the first player in line will dribble to the free throw line extended where they will execute a jump stop, pivot, and pass to the next person in line. The variations are numerous, but they work on catching, playing on balance, and developing ball toughness.

Building Offense from Fundamentals

Using a left-right landing to get feet set on the catch, a base can be established using basic footwork. Coach Savage presents a series of drills to teach basic fundamentals with an emphasis on mastering the basics and paying attention to the basic details.

One of these drills is called "Catch Lines." This drill establishes a series of ways to catch the basketball by establishing possession and to get set to score the basketball on the catch. Using two lines, one side will work on catching to score while the other will work on catching by using perimeter post-ups.

The next part is to begin to blend the fundamentals together as part of the offensive attack. This includes several three-player drills including "3-on-0 Exchange Midline Games." This teaches the drive-and-kick game that is used by Wake Forest with three players starting at the top and at both wings. The drill also works on player movement including exchanges by the guards away from the ball.

Building Defense

Coach Woodley takes the floor to teach defense. This starts with the progression of "Shell Drill." He covers each progression by explaining what the offense and defense do within the confines of the drill.

The first part of defense is to "stick the basketball" on the closeout. This gets the defender close enough to apply pressure on the basketball. Once pressure is established, the defender will then take a step back to contain the basketball.

Next he covers 'defense one pass away from the ball'. Defenders who are one pass away from the ball are coached to be halfway between the ball and their man and to be one step off the direct line between the two. 

Any defender who is more than one pass away needs to be at or above the "Gaucho." This is a spot in the lane along the midline that allows for helping on drives and to be in position to help in the paint against a post-up.

With a great introduction by Coach Forbes and excellent on court direction from Coach Savage and Coach Woodley, you will learn a lot in this excellent inside look at the inner workings of a purposeful practice to take your team to new levels in the seasons ahead!

111 minutes.  2024.