Odds-On Basketball Coaching

This book presents an innovative system for coaches to prepare for basketball games. It challenges coaches to think differently about what they emphasize in practice, placing greater value on preparing for specific game situations, crafting strategies by assessing the odds, and creating a culture that elevates how players think about the game.

Michael J. Coffino was a basketball coach for twenty-four years. He coached primarily at the high school level at public and private schools and won six league titles in his time as a head coach. Coffino has also assisted professional basketball teams. Now retired from coaching and from his position as a trial and litigation attorney, Coffino continues to consult at high school basketball programs across the region. Coffino is the co-author of the book Play if Forward (2016).

Acknowledgments Preface Introduction: The Four Ps of Situational Basketball Chapter 1: Timeouts Chapter 2: Foul Situations Chapter 3: Substitutions Chapter 4: End-of-Quarter Situations Chapter 5: Protecting a Sizable Lead: A Long-Term Game Strategy Chapter 6: Catch-Up Situations and the Long-Term Comeback Strategy Chapter 7: End-of-the-Game Situations (Minimal Possessions Left) Chapter 8: End-of-the-Game Situations (Final Possessions) Chapter 9: Game Matchups Chapter 10: Managing the Blowout Game Chapter 11: The Jump Ball Chapter 12: Overtime Chapter 13: Out-of-Bounds Situations (SLOB and BLOB) Chapter 14: Practicing Special Situations Conclusion Appendix A: Game Assignments for Coaching Staff Appendix B: Game Signals Appendix C: Specialty Lineups and Player Roles Appendix D: Special Game Rules Appendix E: Situational Play List Appendix F: Possessions Chart Additional Resources About the Author