How to Use the Grinnell Basketball System

The Grinnell basketball system is named after Grinnell College in Iowa. Coach Dave Arsenault developed the system to help the team get a winning season for the first time in over two decades. Coach the Grinnell system by emphasizing speed and shooting.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Grinnell system instructional video

1. Forget traditional basketball. Coach the Grinnell system by choosing players who are very fast, have a decent shot and think quickly to make the best of transitions.
2. Coach two or three press combinations for defense. One of the key components of the Grinnell system is to force turnovers of the basketball (aim for 32 turnovers per game). Players should transition to the press quickly and play it as tightly as possible.
3. Coach shooting from all angles and all spots on the floor. The object of the Grinnell system is to take at least 100 shots per game, with over half of these being three-pointers.
4. Run and rotate players on quick shifts. The success of Grinnell basketball depends on speed of the kind that wears out and dazzles the opponent. Rotate five fresh players every one-and-a-half to two minutes.
5. Work on offensive rebounds. Because the system emphasizes so much shooting, players need to follow their shots and others on the team need to re-bound.
6. De-emphasize traditional defense. This means the other team scores a lot, but your team scores more. You want enough players out of the key, even on defense, to be in place for the long shot when your team gets the ball.

Tips & Warnings

• Coach Grinnell by implementing one part of the system at a time, but get all the pieces in place before the season begins. A partially implemented system can result in a blowout that brings your team down.
• Use an instructional video when implementing the system. Since Grinnell is a complicated system that looks simple, the video can help break down all aspects of the game for the players.