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Focus on One Channel

Focus on One Channel

Focus on One ChannelWhen some coaches look at the structure of the Read & React, two things cross their mind (I’m basing this on lots of one-on-one conversations, twitter questions, forum questions, and clinic comments):

  1. This is too simple – there has to be more – you’re holding back the good stuff – give us the secrets to some of these phenomenal “turn-around” Read & React stories that we’ve seen or read about.
  2. OK, I see the benefit of the simplicity of the foundations layers, but let’s hurry up and jump into the complexity of using ALL of the layers!

The secret to success is not complexity created within the players’ minds. The secret to the success stories is the same secret that allows a team to be successful with 8 layers or 16 layers. This secret is one of the main reasons behind the architecture of the Read & React. The secret to success with the Read & React lies within the secret to ATHLETIC FOCUS.

As much as people like to toss around the word “multi-tasking”, you’ll not find it on the lips of championship athletes. The secret to making correct “in-the-moment” decisions lies in the ability to FOCUS on one and only one thing at a time – and that’s usually what’s immediately in front of them. In fact, watching two channels in the TV of your mind would mean that you are NOT focused by definition.

What’s that got to do with the Read & React? Let’s look at the number of places within the Read & React that the system REQUIRES our players to be “focused on one thing alone”:

  1. If you don’t have the ball and you’re on a Spot, you are required to focus on one thing alone: Read the ball-handler and React with the one pre-determined-pre-drilled reaction.
  2. If you have the ball and you pass it, there are no decisions to make; you can focus on one thing alone: making a scoring cut to the basket.
  3. If you make it to the lane without receiving the ball, you can change channels and focus on one thing: “What is my Next Best Action based on the layers that I’ve been taught?”
  4. Once that decision is made, you can focus on that action alone.
  5. If no decision is made in the lane, then fill out to an empty spot (one thing to focus on).
  6. Once you are on a Spot again, your channel changes back to #1 on our list.

This was a huge factor in determining how I would shape the Read & React system. My players always seemed to play with more confidence and aggression if things were simplified. Complex defensive systems are not really complex in terms of what’s required of the individual players. It’s usually a matter of “if the ball is here, then you do this” (one and only one thing at a time – no decisions). Why not design an offensive system with the same simplicity of FOCUS for each player?

Even the ball-handler can take advantage of the structure of the Read & React in terms of FOCUS. The channels that should change within the ball-handler’s mind can be (and should be) trained to follow this order:

  1. Upon receiving the ball, the first channel required is: “Is the cutter open? If so, pass him/her the ball.”
  2. If the cutter is not open, the channel should change to: “Do I want to attack 1on1?”
  3. If “Attacking 1-on-1” is not available, the channel should change to: “How do I want to exchange the ball with a teammate?” The possibilities are:
    1. Pass one spot away (and cut). Layer 1
    2. Feed the post (and cut). Layers 2 and 13
    3. Dribble At a teammate (pass if their basket cut is open). Layer 3
    4. Skip the pass (if a Pin Screen has been called). Layer 7
    5. Power Dribble to an adjacent teammate (hand-off and basket cut). Layer 15
    6. Reverse Dribble and use the Sprint Ball Screen. Layer 12

Of course, once the ball-handler passes the ball, the game immediately simplifies as the channel changes to: BASKET CUT.

The SECRET to successful Read & React programs are the coaches who realize and take advantage of this aspect. It’s not the number of layers that you have implemented. It’s your ability to teach and keep five players FOCUSED on their one required channel at a time. This keeps the team “in the moment”, organized, decisive, and aggressive.

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Rick Torbett has taught thousands of coaches to win more games through his innovative approach to the game. He has created powerful training for coaches at any level so they can coach their best and win more games.

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Read & React 5-Player Coordination Drills

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