featuring:
Drew Cooper,
Kentucky Wesleyan College Head Coach;
former Thomas More College Head Coach; 2x PAC Coach of the Year
Scott Ruthsatz,
Covington Catholic High School (KY) Head Coach;
2014 & 2018 State Champions, 2014 Courier Journal Coach of the Year
former St. Anthony's High School (NJ) Assistant Coach under Bob Hurley; 2011 National High School Championship
Dwayne Murray,
Bowling Green High School (KY) Assistant Coach;
former Monroe County High School (KY) Head Coach;
2x State Champions
Produced at the 2018 Kentucky Basketball Coaches Association Clinic, this content-rich package of presentations featuring three veteran coaches will give you plenty of ideas for practice planning, drills, and player development!
Coach Drew Cooper
The beginning of practice can be one of the toughest areas for a coach because players have to get loose and bring their energy to set the tone for the day. To kick off his segment, Drew Cooper demonstrates his Assumption Drill, which ensures players get loose and mentally focused right away.
Teaching your players appropriate reads can be a challenge. Coach Cooper puts players in a half court setup in order to get them many reps. Starting with a block screen, players learn how to read the defense to look for an open curl shot or flare shot. Cooper demonstrates how you can move athletes around the floor and create any "read the screen" situation. Your players will learn how to look for multiple scoring options coming off of pin down and cross screens away from the ball.
In 5v0 half court build up, players learn the continuous motion where the concepts have been coached and plays have been put in based on the breakdown action. In 5v5, athletes use their knowledge to prepare for your opponent's defense, as well as how the opposition will scout your motion offense.
Rounding out his practice planning demonstration, Coach Cooper explains a free throw focus drill that will help players stay on the line and make both free throws instead of checking out during game situations. Players shoot a 1-and-1 and sprint for how many shots they missed. This is a great conditioning and mental toughness drill that will push your players to focus and stay locked in until practice is over.
Coach Scott Ruthsatz
Scott Ruthsatz provides a basic outline of what a typical Covington High School practice would look like. From the warm-up to position-specific breakdown drills, full and half court drills, to the traditional shell drill with a few variations, Ruthsatz shows what has helped his team win two state championships.
Ruthsatz keeps everything competitive to ensure his teams play hard. This is evident with his full and half court team drills. With the Kings 1-on-1 drill, players have to continue playing until they get a defensive stop. The 3-on-3 Full Court Drill teaches players to play to the whistle and shows how restrictions create defensive intensity and teach athletes how to develop ball security.
No practice would be complete without the Shell Drill. Coach Ruthsatz shows how you can revitalize your shell with different variations and advantages or disadvantages that foster competitiveness and hard-nosed defense.
You will also get the added bonus of a specialty play that Ruthsatz loves to use in crunch time.
Coach Dwayne Murray
Dwayne Murray presents some of the practice drills that he uses religiously and credits for his success as a basketball coach. He brings a variety of drills that develop ball handling, dribbling, rebounding, defense, shooting, and press break.
Coach Murray shares his belief that practices should start with some sort of ball handling drill, and shares "7-Ball", which is one of his favorites. It is a comprehensive ball handling drill that is efficient and works a variety of skills and finishes.
Transitioning from ball handling to defense, Murray shows a great closeout drill, rebounding drill, his take on the Shell Drill, as well as a transition defense drill. The rebounding drill is a simple, yet highly effective drill that teaches boxing out in transition. His version of the Shell is also a great way to make your players battle, leading to a highly competitive practice.
Coach Murray also shows several shooting drills that allow players to get a high volume of reps during practice. He also models his "Transition Shooting" drill that he uses at the end of practice to get conditioning and game-like shots in when players are tired.
2 Videos (166 minutes). 2019.