Blueprint
Scout
blueprintbasketball.com
Blueprint Scout
OVERVIEW
Every successful program must have a coaching staff that is willing to give
their players and teams the greatest chance to win games. Blueprint Scouting
Plan is a series of coaching tools and templates that I have used over the years
and tailored them so that you and your staff can be more effective as coaches.
There are a variety of phases in a Scouting Plan. Blueprint’s Plan will guide you
through the breakdown of a solid plan for scouting your opponents along- with
taking a closer look at player match-ups, player and team tendency, goals,
special situations, defensive breakdowns, self-scouting, shot charting, and
rolling play calls. Considering all of these things prior to playing an opponent
will get you more buckets, stop some buckets, and most importantly, help you
win games.
The Blueprint Scouting Plan Includes 10 Templates:
1. Team Scout and Game Planning Sheet
2. Individual Player Scout and Starters Breakdown Sheet
3. Individual Shot Charting Sheet
4. Advanced Rolling Play Sequence Sheets
5. Self Scouting and Rolling Play Sequence Charts
6. Defensive Breakdown Charts for Your Defense
7. Game Coaching Call Sheet
8. (3) Stat Sheets for Assistant Coaches or Statisticians
a.
Shot Chart and Time Chart
b.
Assists, Rebounds, Steals, Turnovers, Post Entries.
c.
Totaling Stat Sheets
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Keep in mind that you will be able to use these templates and at the same
time make your own personal additions or subtractions to each. The ability to
customize our templates will allow flexibility according to your personal wants
and needs as a coach.
Team Scout and Game Planning Sheet
The first template in the Blueprint Scouting Plan is the Team Scout and Game
Planning Sheet. This is your overall plan for the game that helps breakdown
your opponent. Each category is designed for you and your coaching staff
to type in or fill in the information you feel is most important to emphasize in
preparation for your next opponent.
This information will be shared and copied for each player on the team and will
be discussed in the days leading to your contest. You will also use this in your
practice, during a pre-game meeting, video sessions, and on the day of the
game in the locker room.
I always had a large 4 x 8 white board made for our locker room with this
information and another 4 x 8 white board with many half and full courts on
it for pre-game review. This template could also be used in coaching staff
meetings, video breakdown, or as a live scout tool.
Individual Player Scout and Starters Breakdown Sheet
The second template in the Blueprint Scouting Plan is the Individual Player
Scout and Starter Breakdown Sheet. This template, which you and your staff
can type in or write in, is a detailed breakdown of the opposition’s starting
lineup and includes significant statistics that can be highlighted, individual
strengths and weaknesses, tendencies by position and favorite moves.
This template will show your players how you are going to defend each particular
player and what the match ups are. It can be used in a “pecking order” fashion
to notate which players need the most attention and are most key in stopping
on the defensive end.
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The Individual Scout is your individual plan of attack and personnel match up
page. This can also be used by the coaching staff during a video session, as a
tool in practice, during a live scout as a rough draft, and in pre-game meetings
to familiarize and prepare your team for the starters and key reserves that
come into the game.
Individual Shot Charting Sheet
The third template in the Blueprint Scouting Plan is the Individual Shot Charting
Sheet. This will allow you to chart shots taken by each individual player and
noted during a video session or noted by the coaching staff during a scout.
This would be handed out to players when the assigned coached goes over
the report.
The shot chart is a template that will allow you to type or write down each
opposing player’s name and number along with charting their shots. You can
designate your own key for set shots, shots off screens, shots off cuts, offensive
rebound buckets, and post scoring opportunities, etc.
These can be reproduced and run off for your players, included in your
preparation meetings and video breakdowns. In addition, you may want to
keep track of free throws at the bottom of each of the individual shot charts,
both attempted and made for each player.
Opponent Advanced Rolling Play Sequence Chart
The fourth template in the Blueprint Scouting Plan is the Advanced Rolling Play
Sequence Chart. This is a template used to chart every offensive possession
by your opponent, including the time the play was called or signaled.
Having worked as an Advanced Scout in the NBA, this is a strategy that is
used to get the Name or Signal from the Coach or the Point Guard on the floor.
If no Hand Signal or Verbal Call can be deciphered or heard, then a coach
would write or briefly describe the action taking place.
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In this way a coach could then match up video to the Rolling Play Sequence
Chart to see specific plays or action run by an upcoming opponent and to
breakdown frequency of plays run. In addition to offensive plays, a coach
scouting would record the time and Baseline OB (BLOB), Sideline OB (SLOB),
and After Time Out (ATO) plays on the side next to the time.
Self Scouting and Rolling Play Sequence Charts
The next template in the Blueprint Scouting Plan is the Advanced Rolling Play
Sequence Chart for Self Scout of Your Own Team. Yes, this takes time but
how badly do you want to win? Do the same thing you did for an opponent’s
rolling play call, but this time scout yourself. As a coach scouting, this is a great
way to scout your opponent. In addition you should do the same thing by Self
Scouting your own tendencies and play calls after playing an opponent to help
you prepare for the next time you play them.
You will quickly see what was successful last time versus an opponent, what
they may be thinking and what counters you might want to employ. This will
require you to hand out tasks and responsibility to various assistant coaches,
but will also allow you to see what made you successful or unsuccessful versus
this opponent last time.
Defensive Breakdown Charts for Your Defense
The next template in the Blueprint Scouting Plan is the Defensive Breakdown
Chart for your team and individual defense versus an opponent.
This is a tracking template that you can assign to a coach during the game on
the bench. The coach will write down the Time, Type of Defense being run, any
Breakdowns that occurred in that particular defense, and most importantly
The Number of the Player(s) that broke down defensively by number.
Finally, you will record the result of the defensive possession. You can create
your own key to fit your own descriptions and defensive language.
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Examples of Defensive Breakdown to Record:
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No Screen Out
•
Poor or Slow Rotation
•
Poor Ball Pressure
•
Beat Middle or Baseline
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No Shot Contested
•
Split Double
•
Poor Transition
•
Blow By
Examples of Results
•
Transition Layup
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Uncontested Layup
•
Stop
•
Forced Turnover
•
Charge
•
Loose Ball Recovered
Game Coaching Call Sheet
The next template in the Blueprint Scouting Plan is the Game Call Sheet. The
Game Call Sheet is a template that allows you as Head Coach to create a
Game and Situational profile of your team and options that may be needed
throughout the game.
Instead of having to think quickly on your feet, it is simply a reminder sheet and
an organizational tool for you on the sideline. The sheet can be duplicated and
used as a reminder sheet for you or your staff on the bench.
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The Big 5 Game Keys
Go To Options for Man, Zone, BLOB, SLOB, Defense, Stop Streak
Plays, Need 3 Plays
List of Game Starters and Substitution Order
Special Situation Calls in Half Court
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Special Situation Calls in Full Court
Attack Points
Who to Foul List
When Backup PG is in Game
Go Small Options
Go Big Options
Game Statistics Sheet for Assistants or Statisticians
The final template provided in the Blueprint Scouting Plan are the Game
Statistics Sheet for Assistants or Statisticians. These sheets can be used
as tools in a live or advanced scout or on your bench for in-game stats for
information after each quarter, at the half. They can also be used to compile
game stats at your table if doing them by hand if you don’t have access to
technology systems.
Final Thoughts
Each of the Blueprint Scout Templates are tools that have made my program
successful, our staff and our teams strong, and have put our players a step
ahead of our competition.
Hopefully you will find them helpful, adaptable, interchangeable, and flexible.
If you have any questions, need any assistance, or in need of suggestions, feel
free to contact me at caurand@sbcglobal.net.
Best Swishes and Go Get Ahead of Your Competition!
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