How to Scout a Basketball Team

It is a good idea to know what you are getting yourself into. When you are a basketball coach, it is never a good feeling to go into a game with no idea what the other team likes to do. You might be throwing your players' to the wolves and end up with parents and fans wondering why you did not do this or that to make things better. The best way to avoid that scenario is to be prepared and know how to scout a basketball team.

Instructions

    • 1

      Watch their pace. Do they like to run? Do they play a slow, half court game? Can they play both up-tempo and grind-it-out style? One of the easiest characteristics you can determine when you scout a basketball team is their style.

    • 2

      Observe their style of offense. Do they run a basic, popular offense or do they have a unique compilation of sets? Even if you do not track every motion they make, have a general idea of what they try to do in order to get good shots. Do they rely on quick passes and constant movement, a series of picks or isolations? When you scout a basketball team you need to have a good idea of what they try to accomplish on offense.

    • 3

      Figure out what type of defense they like to run. Do they play man to man or a zone? If they run a zone is it a 2-3, 1-3-1 or 2-1-2? Do they run a half court trap or a full court press? Every defensive system has a weakness: when you scout a basketball team you need to know what they are trying to accomplish on defense.

    • 4

      Scout their players. Know who the key scorers, defenders, passers and rebounders are. You will not be able to get a complete grasp of their players' strengths, weaknesses and abilities, but you should be able to know which players you need to prepare for.

    • 5

      Look at the team's collective personality. If they get behind, do they hang their heads? Do they fight until the final buzzer no matter what the score is? Are they front runners?

    • 6

      Formulate what your team can do to expose the other team's weaknesses and counter their strengths. The primary reason you scout a basketball team is to develop your strategy as you prepare to play them.