PRINCE EDWARD HIGH SCHOOL

PE PANTHERS Basketball

2016-2018 Coaches
Manual “The is Fun
in the RUN”
Coach Andrew
Chitauro

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P R I N C E E D WA R D H I G H S C H O O L – PA N T H E R S B A S K E T B A L L

2016-2018 Coaches Manual

 PANTHERS Basketball
Harare, Zimbabwe
Phone +263777449408 • www.pe.ac.zw
Table of Contents
Section 1 – PE Panthers Basketball------------------------1
Play Hard--------------------------------------------------------1
Play Smart------------------------------------------------------2
Play Together---------------------------------------------------2
PE Panthers Coaching Responsibilities-----------------3
Scheduling Notes---------------------------------------------4

Section 2 – Offensive Philosophy----------------------------5

PE Panthers Break--------------------------------------------6
Initial Break----------------------------------------------------7
Offensive Philosophy-----------------------------------------11
“4-Out” Set---------------------------------------------------11
“Open” Set – Passing & Screening---------------------15
Zone Motion-------------------------------------------------17
Common Threads---------------------------------------------20

Section 3 – Defensive Philosophy---------------------------22

Defensive Fundamentals------------------------------------22
Defensive Coverage-------------------------------------------24
Defensive Playbook-------------------------------------------27
“50” Series---------------------------------------------------28
“40” Series---------------------------------------------------29
“20” Series---------------------------------------------------30
“10” Series---------------------------------------------------30
Special Defenses--------------------------------------------31
Implementation-----------------------------------------------31

Section 4 – Putting it all Together--------------------------33

Practice Organization----------------------------------------33

Section 5 – Coaching Expectations and Conduct-------35

Appendix A – Forms and Documents

Appendix B – Plays and Drills

T H E R U N I S F U N !

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Section

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PANTHERS Basketball
“Play hard, play smart, and play
together.” Dean Smith

I
have always loved this slogan and never really put a lot of
thought into it. However, I read Coach Smith’s book this off-
season and truly learned what it means to play hard, play
smart, and play together. If we can focus on improving our entire
program in these three areas, I believe that the wins will be a
byproduct of that effort. First, we need to define what it all
means. Then we need to put it all together.

Play Hard
We need to be competitors without equal. The PE Panthers
Basketball Program needs to develop a reputation of being the
hardest working team from November to March and from June
to July.

This means that our practices need to increase in intensity. We

need to leave the gym and basketball court every night knowing
that we have worked harder than our opponents who were
preparing for us. We have to learn to enjoy the hard work and to
be proud of it. We need to take pride in hard work.

For our Senior team, this means we will be productive from the
moment we arrive. I am guilty often times of having one player
working while four or five are observing. This season,
incorporating ball handling or conditioning drills will increase
our efficiency as well as our intensity.

For our PE Panthers “B” team – the under 17’s level, we need to
be mindful of their capabilities, yet at the same time increasing
them. Let’s try to really increase our practice intensity. All of our
drills and practices should be at a stress and intensity level that
is far higher to our game situations so that game situations will
seem easier and more comfortable.

For all PE Panthers Levels, playing hard means incorporating

drills and activities that maximize their allotted practice time. We

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need to begin instilling a work ethic in them even at the earliest
of practice days. Challenging our student athletes at all levels
will allow us to make great strides in our competitiveness.

This is not to say that practice should be all work and no play. It
is imperative that athletes desire to practice. To desire practice,
athletes need to enjoy it. Providing enjoyable practices that tap
out our effort potential is what we all need to accomplish. If we
can figure this out, there will be a wealth of success to enjoy.

Play Smart
We need to understand the game of basketball better, not only
the game and its nuances, but PE Panthers Basketball. Every
player in our program should know the difference between our
“52” defense and our “44” defense. Every player should know
our fast-break and philosophy.

Last season, there was a lack of consistency in our program.

While offensively we were similar in some of our patterns, there
were critical elements that were not practiced throughout. Our
defensive system, fast-break mindset, and non-negotiable items
need to be preached at every level.

For our Senior team, we will again be working on our Run &
Jump, and will also add a Match-Up Zone. We will not play static
zone and we will not use set alignments on our defensive
pressure. This takes a lot of time to teach. It is imperative that
our PE Panthers under 14, 15, 16 and 17 levels teach our Run &
Jump from day 1.

Quite simply, if our athletes understand our man-to-man defense

and our fast break system at an early stage, it will pay dividends
in the season to come.

Play Together
Players are funny! They are sometimes too consumed with
getting along that they loose accountability between one another.
Successful teams are those that understand that holding each
other accountable for the success and failure of the team can be
accomplished without hard feelings.

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For our Senior team, that means we need to make sure that we
get players input. We need to create an environment that makes
the team accountable for the cumulative actions of the
individuals. We need to make sure that all players understand
that the name on the jersey is more important than the number.

For our PE Panthers under 14,15,16 and 17 teams, we need to

make practices competitive. Our players have to learn to play
hard for one another and to learn how to get that competitive
spirit. We should set benchmarks at practices in our everyday
and every-other day drills to get the team to challenge and
encourage one another. Everyday we should see our players
encouraging and challenging themselves and their teammates. If
we run a drill on a Monday and score 25 points, we should be
working for 26 points on Tuesday. This may mean that coaches
need to carry a notebook with benchmarks and records at
practices.

For our younger players, they need to play more. A once a week
competitive “open game” will be offered for the first time this
year. Playing games that are competitive and posting and
rewarding our top competitors will give us substantial
improvement.

PE Panthers Basketball Coaching Responsibilities

PE Head Technical – This is the Main Coach’s Title. With it
comes the responsibility of overseeing the entire basketball
program. The Head should try to do their best to oversee every
aspect of the basketball program and to help our other coaches’
with duties that may be assigned.

UNDER 14,15 Head Coach – Arthur Mbasera will again be our

UNDER 14 & 15 Coach. Along with the duties of being the head
coach of the men’s team, the Under 14 Coach will oversee our
youth program and assist in fundraising and program
management.

UNDER 14& 15 Assistant Coaches – Ideally, we will identify

individuals to assist the head coach in matters exclusive to the
PE Panthers Basketball program. Directing the managers,
assisting in practice planning, and managing our opponent
scouting are the key elements of this position. On game day, the

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Volunteer Assistant Coach is responsible for game day setup, and
keeping the “Game Management” form.

Under 16 &17 Coach – The B Team Coach will be responsible

for the entire B team PE Panthers Basketball team and making
sure that the team is following the PE Panthers system. On game
day, the Coach is responsible for PE Panthers Basketball
statistics. Additionally, the Coach will assist in the planning and
execution of the season’s special events.

General / Shared Duties

 Gym Supervision – Head coaches and assistants must be

present while their team is using the PE Panthers
Basketball gym facilities. Coaches need to be in the weight
room challenging our athletes.

 Gym Prep – The first PE Panthers coach to arrive at

practice needs to make sure that the floor is swept, clock is
out and ready, and that the gym is otherwise acceptable
for practice. On days that we are responsible for gym
setup, we will need to make sure that is shared by all.

 Scouting – Each member of the coaching staff is expected

to scout/film PE Panthers Basketball opponents 3 times
over the course of the season.

Scheduling Notes
This season we will be following a similar practice schedule as
last season. We will increase the number of practices that the PE
Panthers “B” teams practice together. Our schedule will be out
by September 1 and will be distributed at that time to our
coaching staff. Any necessary changes should be made as
immediately as they are known.

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PE Panthers Offensive

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Section

Philosophy
“The Run is Royal!” Team Slogan

T
his season, we will employ an up-tempo style of offense
that is predicated on making our opponents play at a pace
that they are uncomfortable with. We intend to play a style
that could be categorized as “controlled chaos,” meaning that
while it may appear that we are playing out of control, we will in
fact be comfortable with the pace.

This is also not to be confused with a “run-and-gun” style of play.

We will be disciplined in our tempo and will look for the shots
that we have practiced and shots that are within this up-tempo
style of play.

In playing this style of basketball, we need to first make sure that

our players are able to handle this pace. Conditioning, repetition,
and reinforcement are critical in the implementation of such an
offensive scheme.

We will look to run our break after makes and misses, against
zones and man-to-man defenses, against pressure or sagging
defenses, and in the first quarter as well as the fourth. While we
need to have discipline in our shot selection in critical situations,
we still need to employ the up-tempo style and philosophy.

It is very easy for coaches to become frustrated with an up-

tempo offense after a quarter or half of basketball. However, the
success of this style is actually felt after wearing teams down
through a substantial part of the game. We need to stick with this

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scheme unless situationally disadvantageous (a 3-point lead with
1:15 left in the fourth is not the time to take the first good look!)

PE Panthers Numbered Break

Our PE Panthers Numbered Break should be run at all levels. We
will have various options and wrinkles at each level, but our
numbering and outlet system should be the same at all levels.

(1) Point Guard – Our (1)’s responsibility is as our primary ball

handler. They will be the main cog of our offense and needs to be
comfortable handling the basketball at our tempo.

(2) Shooting Guard – Our (2) is

our left-hand side wing player and
will most often be our best shooter.
We want them to run the floor wide
and look for the deep outlet.

(3) Slasher – Our (3) will generally

be our best perimeter player and
often will be our best athlete. It is
convenient if this player is
comfortable with post and
perimeter play, but not necessary.
Our best scorers should be playing
this position. He will run the right-
hand side of the floor.

(4) Trailing Post – Our (4) will be our in-bounder and trailer on
our break. He must be a solid rebounder and has to be
comfortable shooting the Long jump shots in our offense. He will
offset our (1).

An alternative here that we may explore is that our (4) will be

our “off point guard” so to speak. Putting a good ball-handler at
this position will be beneficial in both pressure and non-pressure
situations.

(5) Post – Our (5) will be our best interior player and should be
comfortable playing with his back to the basket. He will be the
interior player initially and will also run the center of the floor to
a spot directly underneath the basket before releasing to the
low-post area.

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These positions and lanes will be universal through our program
and are an integral part of our offensive game plan.

Initial Break
Outlet Pass
Our (1) needs to receive the outlet in
a consistent position. The “outlet
area” is an area that stretches from
the free throw line extended to half
court on the right side of the floor.
The outlet pass is the single most
important aspect of our fast break,
because without it, the additional
aspects of the break are useless.

We need to instruct our (1) to get his

“butt to the sideline” and show the
rebounder or inbounder a large
target.

We also want our (1) to stretch the floor as much as possible. The
further he can get up the outlet area, the more efficient our
break will be.

If our (1) is on the left side of the floor on the transition from
defense to offense, he needs to cross the floor before calling for
the outlet. This ensures that our outlet will be consistent.

While this may occasionally seem like inefficiency in particular

instances, overall it improves the speed and effectiveness of our
transition. This is important for all of our teams to outlet in the
same manner to the same position on the floor.

Often, our opponents will attempt to defend our outlet by

jamming our (1) in the outlet area or by denying them

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altogether. It is important that our (1) is aware of defensive
positioning by looking quickly up the floor. This first look will also
help themin identifying open teammates.

In the event that our point guard is denied at the outlet spot, we
will run a post player back to the rebounder. The (1) will “pin”
his defender until the relief post catches the pass, and then
releases to begin our early offense.

At no point do we expect our (1) to have to cross the floor, set up

the outlet, or receive a screen to get the outlet in our normal
transition game. In our press offense, he may need to use these
tactics.

Wings

Our (2) and (3) are the initial option

for our break. They will run the left
and right lanes, respectively. We
have experimented with a more
natural break, where our wing
players would break to the closest
lane, but we found that when we
did that, our wing players often
found themselves running in the
same lanes or would hesitate before
running to the appropriate lane.
Therefore, we will always run the
numbered break and eliminate
some of the second guessing on
some of our possessions.

Regardless of our positioning, our

(3) will always run to the right lane
and our (2) will always run the left.

It is incredibly important that our

wings sprint to their lanes and stay

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wide on the break. We often use cones to emphasize that our
players need to be wide and they need to do so prior to the
halfcourt line. Sprinting on each transition is imperative.

We tell our wing players to sprint to the opposite hash mark and
then look for the pass. If they do not expect the pass, or if the
defense has taken away their option, they should proceed to
their secondary break position.

If our wings are anticipating a pass, they should continue to the

block area, using a good lay-up angle. If the (1) does not or
cannot give them a pass, our wing players should pop out to our
standard secondary alignmnent.

Again, our (2) and (3) should determine if they have a scoring
opportunity or not. If not, they should remain at their position in
our standard secondary allignment.

Posts

For our B teams, our post players (4) and (5) are not
interchangeable. At the A level, we will use the “closest post”
practice to give our break some different looks.

Our (5) is the first post down the floor. It is his responsibility to
sprint the middle of the floor and beat his defender to the block
area. We want our (5) to run to a spot directly under our hoop
before he releases to the right block area for an early post-up
opportunity. In doing so, he needs to be aware of the ball
position so that he does not pop to the block in front of a
penetrating teammate, in which case he would clock to an
appropriate position. It is important that our posts do not
become lazy and release to the block too quickly or that they run
the lane line extended. The most
critical element of getting our posts
the basketball is that they run the
middle of the floor to the front of
the rim.

Our (4) then is our trailer. It is his

responsibility to offset our (1) and
provide relief if necessary. He is
the only player that does not need

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to be in an all-out sprint, as we expect them to follow the play.
We will use them in ball reversal and as a screener in our
secondary breaks.

At the A level, we use the “closest post” practice. What we mean

by that is the closest post will outlet the basket and become the
(4) while the post who is in the best position to sprint the floor
will become the (5). This is a difficult practice, so we will add it in
over the course of the season.

Initial Break Options

Our options for our fast break are simple: the furthest player
down the floor that has beaten his defender. We want the first
shot that we can get, either off the bounce or the kick out.

(1) All the way – The (1) could receive the outlet and dribble the
length of the floor for a lay-up or kick out.

(1)  (3) For a lay-up – Our (3) is often the easiest pass and
often finds himself self open on the wing. We may sometimes
allow them to release for the break early. He can take it himself
self on the long pass/

(1)  (2) For a lay-up or jumper – Our (2) is often the most
overlooked option on the fast break. Our (1) should look to them
on the long pass for either a lay-up or spotted up for the jump-
shot.

(1)  (5) For a lay-up – We found a lot of success when our (1)
would look down the middle of the floor to our streaking post
player. It is a difficult pass and catch, but with drilling and
practice, it can be a nice option.

(1)  (3)  (5) For a post up – If our (5) comes off them break
and pops to the post area, often times he is available for a quick
post up.

(1)  (3)  (1)  (5) Sealing a fronting post – This is

incredibly effective against teams that like to front or ¾ front the
post. If our post seals the fronting post, this side-top-in, Illinois
style of post entry is extremely effective.

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These are the 5 options that we look for off of our initial break.
There are several other options and combinations, but we look to
these as our initial options, and we need to practice them
frequently.

If these options are not available, we set up in one our standard

secondary break position and run one of our secondary break
options or go straight to our zone or man-to-man offense,
depending on the situation.

Standard Secondary Break Position

We will always end up in the same

alignment. We call this our Standard
Secondary Break Position. It is a 4-
out; 1-in alignment. Whether we
face a zone or man-to-man defense
we begin our offense from here. All
of our secondary breaks revolve
around this alignment, so it is
imperative that we find these
particular spots.

We do not want our (1) to be in the

middle 1/3 of the floor. Our wing
players need to be above the second
lane line and one step off of the three-point arc. This alignment
gives us good spacing and allows for effective passing and
screening angles. Occasionally, we will allow our (4) to dive to
the weak post and our (2) would replace him, but that is about as
much as we deviate from this standard alignment.

We will have a variety of secondary break plays that we will run.

Each of the secondary breaks can be run from either the right or
left side of the floor. Please refer to the offensive playbook for the
specifics on these set plays

Offensive Philosophy
Offensively, we will be a motion team. Motion offense is a little
more challenging to teach, but it allows our players a freedom of
movement, an opportunity to learn and better understand the
game, is more difficult to scout, it can be run from a variety of

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different positions, and it flows nicely from any secondary break
or set that we attempt to run.

Our motion will revolve around spacing, screening, cutting. We

will look for specific spacing that will allow our players scoring
opportunity. We will look for specific screens in the most
opportune situations, and we will teach good cutting and reading
the defense.

We will run the “4-Out” set nearly exclusively, while also adding
an open post set as well.

“4-Out” Set

Our 4-Out set will be run out of an

alignment that is identical to our
Standard Secondary Break
Alignment. Most, if not all of our A
team set plays will be run out of this
alignment.

We will use this set to try to establish

post play. We want to get solid post
presence out of our (5) in this offense
as we work an inside-out game.
However, we want to use our post
player on the weak side as much as
on the strong side.

Again, spacing, screening, and cutting are all important aspects

of our overall motion offense and thus important in our 4-Out set.
We will use lots of post-to-guard back-screens, look for
opportunities to set double-screens, and occasionally look to set
ball-screens.

Post Spots

We identify 8 post positions on the offensive end of the floor: high

post, mid post, low post, and short corner. Our (5) will always
end up at the right low block following out PE Panthers
Numbered Break.

In our “4-Out” offense, we want to look for initial post up

opportunities, but also want to use the post flash as well. We will

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often tell our post to stay on the weak-side. This allows for
freedom of movement and penetration of our wings and creates
difficult defensive positions for our opponent’s post defenders.
Looking to pin/seal, dive, or flash are critical elements for our
posts. We can do this most effectively from the weak side block.

Penetration Spots

We want to continually stress dribble

penetration in our “4-Out” offense.
Any perimeter player should be a
threat to penetrate. However, we
need to make sure that all players
react to a penetrating teammate.

From the non-post side, we want our

post to counter the penetrating wing.
In the diagram, the wing is
penetrating outside, so our (5) takes a
position at the front of the rim. If the
wing were penetrating to the middle,
the post would clock underneath to
the ball-side block.

We also want to always make sure

that when we penetrate there is an
option low and opposite as (3) is
moving to the baseline. We also want
to fill in behind a penetrating player
as (4) is doing. Our (1) is getting to a
position where he is in sightline with
our penetrating wing.

When the ball is penetrated from the

post side, we have similar penetration
spots. However, our (5) would clock
up the lane when the wing penetrates to the outside. If the wing
penetrates to the middle, the post would clock to the short
corner

These penetration concepts are also used in our initial and

secondary breaks.

Screens and Cuts in the “4-Out”

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I believe in what I like to call the “North & South” philosophy,
meaning I want to see more vertical action in our motion offense
than horizontal action. For instance, I do not like the traditional
screen-away option. While its occasional use will give us
occasional success, the vertical elements of motion give us better
scoring opportunities.

The basket cut is the foundation of

our motion offense, especially our “4-
Out” and “Open” offenses. Anytime a
player passes the ball and is
considering a movement, the basket
cut should be one of the top
priorities. Basket cuts should be set
up well and should continue to the
NBA circle underneath the basket.
After cutting, a player can back-
screen, receive a screen, or just
simply fill an available spot.

We want to look for back-screens and

down-screens within our “4-Out” motion and all other sets, for
that matter. We can use our post players in these, typically
setting a back-screen for a perimeter player and then showing
for a mid-range jumpshot. We will use the ball screen sparingly
within our offense, using them exclusively in our set plays.

Sealing in the “4-Out” Set

I believe that interior sealing is the single most overlooked

aspect of basketball. Every program teaches their players to
bang around in the post and try to get open. When the ball
reverses, follow it. NOT US!

Rather, I want our players to develop

footwork to set them up a pass or two
in advance. Our posts should be
looking for opportunities to score in
advance of the post entry.

In this diagram, we see that the post

is on the weak side of the floor.
Rather than the post following the
ball, getting in a fist-fight for position,

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the post can stay on the weakside and get in a foot-fight for
position.

We tell our posts to look for position “two passes ahead” not
necessarily just on direct post entry. By pinning the /5\ defender,
who is in weakside, our (5) is gaining valuable post position. We
want our post players looking to post to the midline. We may
even have to use floor markings to help our posts understand the
location of a good post up. We may occasionally get called for “3-
seconds,” but we are prepared at running that risk if we
consistently set up in good post position.

When our posts anticipate this opportunity, they are to call “line”
indicating that they are going to post their player to the midline,
not the low block. This will increase communication and give our
guards and wings an opportunity to enter the ball to a post in
scoring position.

This sealing action is not limited to

just the top-to-top pass, either.
Against a fronting or ¾ fronting
team, sealing the defender leads to
side-top-in post entry opportunities.

When our posts anticipate this

opportunity, they are to call “Illinois”
to indicate that they have their player
sealed on the high side.

Additionally, not only our posts need

to be good at this sealing action. It is
important that all of our players know
and understand sealing. It is a skill
that each player needs to develop, because running a motion
offense; all players will have the opportunity to use the skill.

Here is an example of a guard sealing

their defender two passes ahead of
the entry. The (1) passes to the wing
and sets a down-screen for the post.
The (1) pins their defender /1\ on the
high side. The wing initiates the side-
top-in entry to the (1). We simply call
this action “big.”

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 The 3:3 and 2:2 concept

Our “4-Out” motion can be described easiest by saying that we

play 3-on-3 on one side of the floor and 2-on-2 on the other. Our
odd numbered players play 3:3 on the right, while our evens are
running 2:2 on the left.

I have limited our floor space for a number of reasons. It is easier

to teach, offers great floor balance, is easy to practice, and offers
more favorable screening and cutting options.

Our (1), (3), and (5) play 3:3

basketball on the right side of the
floor. There are several options for
this floor space. Down-screens, back-
screens, corner cuts, penetration
lanes, and seal opportunities are all
available on the 3:3 side.

We allow our players their entire side

of the floor along with the paint and
one step off the paint for cutting and
flashing from the weak side.

Generally, we do not set ball screens

on the 3:3 side unless they are part of a set play.

Also, it should be noted that good basketball decisions trump

offensive sets, rules, and plays. So if a player makes a good
basketball decision to go to the opposite side of the floor, it is
more than acceptable; it is encouraged!

If the ball were passed from the 3:3 side to the 2:2 side, we like
our posts to stay weak side and look for seal opportunities and
weak side screening. This allows our opposite wings the
opportunity for driving lanes.

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 On the opposite side of the floor, the
(2) and (4) are playing 2:2 basketball.
This allows for passing and diving to
the post, ball screening, penetration
lanes, and weak side flashing.

Now, we do allow our players the

opportunity to cross the floor, but we
do so cautiously. One cross is
permitted per possession. However,
more than that could cause
confusion. For example: our (1) could
pass to the wing and cut to the
opposite corner, making the (3) and
(5) play 2:2. Or, our (5) could follow the ball on a flash
opportunity and stay on the left block, playing 3:3 with the (4)
and the (2). Again, we ideally would only have this type of action
once per possession.

“Open” Set – Passing and Screening Game

Last season we added our “Open” set. The “Open” set is an open
post offense which has two distinct looks within it, the passing
game and the screening game. Our younger levels used these
offenses as a patterned offense. We would like to see them use a
more motion philosophy to each this upcoming season.

Passing Game

The Passing Game simply refers to a

series of cuts in the “Open” set. After
passing, players make basket cuts to
receive a give-and-go pass. Their
teammates then rotate to fill their
position.

The most important player in the

offense is the player behind the
cutter. In the diagram it is the (4).
The player behind the cut needs to
read her defender and either make a
“pop” cut to the top of the key or a

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“backdoor” cut to the basket. It is imperative that the player
makes it to the midline before making their cut. Too often
players simply replaced without setting up their cut to the
midline.

It is also extremely important to have quick ball reversals in our

Passing Game. Ball movement should catch the defenders in a
closeout situation that will either lead to open jumpshots or
dribble penetration opportunities. Additionally, when we reverse
the ball quickly, we might catch defenders reacting to the ball
and our initial basket cut might very well be open.

Again, we want our players to look for scoring opportunities, and

not necessarily be pre-programmed to go to their next spot.
Adding some flexibility to the offense next season will be
important.

Screening Game

Our screening game was an effective

offense last season. However, some
additional tweaks and wrinkles are
necessary. We have two screening
options for the initial passer: “Cuba
City Screen” and the “Villanova
Screen.”

As in the Passing Game, our players

need to work on reading the defense.
In Screening Game, the player
receiving the screen will either
choose the “curl” to the basket, the
“flare” to replace the screener, or the
“backdoor” to beat cheating defenders. This screen is the “Cuba
City” screen

We really need to drill this offense and

help our players in setting good
screens and reading the screen
properly and making the appropriate
cut. Our other players need to
respond to the cutter’s action and
make the appropriate reads.

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Additionally, we have added the “Villanova” screen. The passer
would actually make a basket cut before setting a pin-down
screen for the opposite corner player. We added this screen at
the PE Panthers Basketball level and saw some definite
advantages to it.

As with our “Cuba City” screen and our Passing Game, our
players need to fill and space as necessary following the
screening and cutting action.

As with the Screening Game, we want the ball to be quickly

reversed. On the swing of the ball, we can reset our initial screen
and read our options. Players must make reads and decisions on
all other passes, but with these principles in mind.

Break to “Open” Set

To get into our “Open” set from our

standard break alignment, we need to
use a push and drag. The (1) will push
the (4) and (2) to their “Open” set
positions while dragging the (3) and
the (5) to theirs. Again, we want to run
the break on every possession and
then get into our set.

Zone Motion – Dedicated Flasher

We will use motion concepts for our zone offense as well. All our
players should be able to run motion as an exclusive offense
against a zone.

19
 The zone motion is based on having
one player as the dedicated flasher.
Harry Paretta, the longtime coach at
Villanova came up with this concept.
His reasoning was that if you give a
player several options (flashers) they
are less likely to see them than if
there is only one option (flasher.) We
have adopted that philosophy.

The flasher’s responsibility is to

occupy the middle of the zone,
flashing from inside to out,
occasionally used for ball reversal.
They should occupy no space longer than a two count before
they flash to another spot. We ideally want to keep the flasher
high on the court, as the diagram indicates, but we also see the
need for the flasher to occasionally drift to the lower wing or
even the corners to set up a re-flash.

Our guards then occupy the

perimeter, making sure they move
after every pass. Against any odd-
front zone, they should use the
entire three point arc as their guide,
but against a 2-3 zone, they should
stay higher in most cases.

The guards are allowed to cut

through the middle, but should not
stay as though flashing. Constant
guard movement will stress and
stretch the zone. Continuous ball
movement is also critical.

There are no prescribed perimeter spots because the spacing of

the zone dictates the location of the guards. We need to preach
to our guards that they need to find gaps in the zone. They must
be in a position that requires that two defenders guard them.

Our post player (5) needs to play behind the zone. The back
player(s) of the zone should have to constantly look behind them
to see Post players. Post player should look for duck in
opportunities as well as flare opportunities to the deep corner.

20
Our posts like to drift too high in this offense. It is important to
keep them low and behind the back of the zone.

The (5) also becomes a passer in this offense. Anytime they

receive the ball behind the post, there
should be cutters to the front of the
rim.

This offense can be run against either

an odd-front or even-front zone.
Against the even-front, the guards
find spacing and the dedicated
flasher would find the middle of the
zone.

We can also look to screen the zone.

Ball screens are very effective. So are
slide screens, where our players
screen the slides of the zone. We have
two very effective set plays that we use as shot opportunities
against the even-front zone, “Hoosier” and “Loop”

Against an odd-front zone, we simply

adjust for the gaps. Our (5) should
look to set up on the opposite side
block and duck in from that area. The
dedicated flasher in this instance
should distort the zone by their
presence. They should be
continuously flashing in and out of
the middle to continue to cause
defensive problems.

The main thing with any zone offense

is rapid ball movement combined
with good shot selection. Inside looks can be achieved, but only
after a couple of ball reversals. Too often, the offensive settles for
an outside shot because of the notion that zones eliminate inside
play. Patience in zone offense will pay off.

21
 Teaching Our Motion Offense –
“Open” and “4-Out”

Motion Offense is one of the more

stressful offenses to teach.
Because there is no pattern, we as
coaches cannot simply tell our
players where to go; we must
teach our players options to let
them decide.

Teaching the “4-Out” set is

relatively easy. Have the players play 3:3 basketball on just
the right side of the floor, using cones or tape as their out of
bounds for the left. Encourage good basketball decisions:
cutting, screening, and moving. Utilize a coach, manager, or
player as a passer to get the players used to being 3:3 on the
weak side.

Similarly, have other players playing 2:2 from the left side of
the floor. Use a passer in this as well.

It is very important to make sure all players practice both the

3:3 side and the 2:2 side. Players need to practice both
because some game circumstances may find them on either
side. Also, they should understand that the 3:3 side and 2:2
side have different movements, cuts, and screens.

Common Threads – Offensive Priorities

There are a few ideas that we have that are consistent

throughout both our player-to-player offenses and our zone
offenses, as well as our press offense and situational offense.
These common threads are:

 Eliminate turnovers – This is easier said than done.

However, we need to preach and practice sureness with
the basketball
 Move the basketball hard – We want to stress the
defense by swinging the basketball hard. The faster and
harder we move the basketball, the more the defense

22
 plays close-out basketball. The more they do this, the
more advantageous it is for our offense.
 Cut to score – We should move with a purpose on the
basketball floor. If we are going to make a cut, we
should expect the ball for a score. This means we must
always be ready for the ball and make sensible cuts.
 Draw a man and a half – Anytime we look to penetrate
the basketball, we should draw not only our defender,
but at least one “half” of a player in help. Then look for
the kick to the open player.
 Good shots, bad shots, tough shots – Our players should
know what good shots, bad shots, and tough shots are.
Additionally, what is a bad shot for one player may be a
good shot for another. We need to take more good shots,
eliminate bad shots, and put the basketball in our best
player’s hands for the tough shots.
 When in doubt; make something up! – Often times our
players forget the set, get out of position, or find
themselves otherwise lost. In those situations, it is
imperative that we make good basketball decisions.
Cutting or screening is never wrong.
 Basketball decisions trump all else – Even when we are
in our sets, or if our players have a specific task to
accomplish or area to be in, good basketball decisions
trump them. Our players need to feel comfortable
playing the game and comfortable freelancing our
offense, so to speak.
 Pressure the defense – We can say this all we want, but
we need to accomplish this. We need to react to what
the defense shows us and attack their weakness rather
than letting the defense dictate our movement.

23
PE Panthers Defensive

3
Section

Philosophy
“Our defense is our offense,” Forrest
Larson

T
he PE Panthers Defensive Philosophy is actually quite
simple; we will play better defense than any team we will
face. If we are able to play better defense than our
opponents, we will have the opportunity to win basketball
games. If we rely only on our offense, there are too many
variables to be concerned with. We can control our defensive
game.

We need our players to take pride in our defensive system and

our defensive effort. We need them to value defensive statistics
more than offensive ones. We have to like to play defense.

To accomplish this is not simple. First and foremost, the

coaching staff needs to prioritize our defensive effort. We need to
emphasize our defense on a daily basis and reward good
defensive play. We need to be extremely precise in our teaching
and very picky in evaluating our performance. Defense needs to
be our priority before it is our players’ priority.

Defensive Fundamentals

For many years I was of the defensive mindset that denial was
the only way to defend. Deny every pass and you will win
ballgames. However, denial basketball makes it hard to be in a
help position. Without help, the game becomes a 1:1 match up.

24
1:1 match ups always favor the offense. Defensive help in the 5:5
game is what gives the advantage to the defensive team.

So, over the course of my coaching career, I have slowly

eliminated all denial situations. First it was the wing denial, then
the post, and now the reverse. While not quite a Dick Bennett
“Pack Line” defense, the PE Panthers defensive scheme will be
predicated on help side positioning and ball pressure.

Our defensive objective list is relatively simple:

1. Keep the ball out of the paint

2. Cover the ball, post, and elbow

3. Ball pressure, shot pressure, no foul

4. Secure the defensive rebound

Keep the Ball Out of the Paint

We will full front any post threat. Any non-post threat, we will
establish position and play behind in the post. When we are
fronting, we want to completely eliminate the post feed. When
we play behind, we want the post to
catch outside of the post area.

When we dead front or full front a

post threat, we need to establish
position directly between the ball and
the post player. We need to keep
contact on the post and maintain a
good defensive stance with high
hands and a low center of gravity.

Communication here is essential.

Fronting defenders need to hear that
there are teammates in proper help
position.

We may also employ this defensive tactic with our shorter guard
players who switch to post players.

25
 When we play behind in the post, it is
important that our defenders
establish themselves outside of the
block. We cannot allow offensive post
players to back us down in the post
area and receive the ball in a
favorable location.

When playing behind in the post, we

want our defenders to have one hand
and foot on the low side of the
offensive player. Any move that the
post player might have on the post
catch should be to the inside. No
player defending the post should get beat to the outside. We do
this because this is the one instance where our help is located
toward the middle.

Cover ball, post, and elbow.

These are three points of emphasis.

We should have aggressive ball
pressure, good defensive post
position, and a defender at the ball
side elbow.

We will no longer deny ball reversal,

rather we will cover the elbow to help
defend middle drives, help down on
the post catch, as well as clog up the
elbow to help eliminate the elbow
flash.

Ball Pressure, Shot Pressure, No Foul

26
We want to pressure the ball at all times. Anytime a player has
the basketball, regardless of where she is on the floor, we will
have a defender closed out on her. Regardless of our player
personnel, we will put a tremendous amount of pressure on the
basketball.

We want to close out to every shot. No shot should be

uncontested. While we are aware of shot fakes, we should
assume shot on all closeouts. If we err on the side of a shot, we
should be able to have help and recover to penetration.

Fouling negates hard work. We are notorious for fouling

throughout our league. We need to drastically cut down on the
unnecessary fouls. Reaching fouls can no longer be allowed. We
need to make sure all of our players are in the proper stance and
position.

Secure the Defensive Rebound

Too often a solid defensive possession is negated because of a

lack of commitment on the defensive rebound. Our defensive
effort is not complete until we have secured the turnover or
defensive rebound. Because of its importance, we need to stress
rebounding and practice it daily.

Defensive Coverage

There are so many unique situations in basketball that we cannot

simply have a coverage set for all of them. We want to have some
guidelines for our players to have that simplify their decision
making process and make coverage more universal and effective.

Defending Most Screens

Generally speaking, we will switch all screens, the only

exceptions being our (5) players. Our (5) will not switch unless
completely blindsided by a screen. We want to switch every well
set screen. If a screen is poor, we will fight over the screen and
stay with our own player.

Defending the Flex / Swing Screen

27
 Many of our opponents run the Flex
or Swing offenses. Due to that fact,
we must make sure that we
aggressively defend this screen and
try to disrupt the offensive flow.

In non-switching situations (where

our (5) is involved) we want to have a
strategy to “bump high and beat low.”
This strategy means that the
defender being screened needs to
steer the offensive player to the high
side of the screen. There the awaiting
defender, in this case the /5\, can
bump the cutter (technically displacement, so the bump needs to
be almost a jamb.) The screened defender then would slide off of
the screen to the low side to again force the offensive player to
the middle off of the catch. The screened player /5\ also needs to
slide in to provide a little show of help to the inside.

Defending Ball Screens

We should be doubling all ball

screens except in the rarest of
occasions. We call this a smothering
action. But the smother needs to be
set up properly to work. We call the
setup “high, big, and early.”

The most important aspect is that the

defender on the ball makes her
player use the screen. Nothing is
worse than setting up a trap only to
have the ballhandler slip the screen
to get an easy layup.

Secondly, the defender of the screener needs to be on the high

hip of the screener. She needs to be in an excellent defensive
stance, maintaining a large horizontal and vertical area. Active
hands are essential. We want this player to steer the ballhandler
wide around the screen giving the on the ball defender a chance
to “catch up” to the trap.

Weakside Help

28
Weakside help is essential in good position defense. Any player
that is not a scoring pass away needs to be in good helpside
position. We identify this position as the exact midline of the
floor. We should be quick enough to close out to any pass even
from this “heavy help” position.

In this diagram, we see our weakside

defense against a 3-2 set. Our /1\ has
dropped off to the elbow, there is
good ball pressure, and good post
defense. Our help side should be able
to close out and contend any shooter.

Ball pressure should always force the

ballhandler to the outside. In past
years, we intended to confine the
ballhandler by completely shutting
down middle and channeling to
sideline, now we aim to simply
influence to the outside. We tell our
players to put a nose on the offensive players inside hip.

All help situations need to be addressed with proper footwork.

Help is always given with the closest foot. We do not want to help
by swiveling our hips and shoulders to the ball because it
lengthens our recovery time. Rather, we should slide to any help
opportunities. The only exception is on outside drives.

Outside Drives

When a ballhandler beats our ball

pressure to the outside and is
penetrating to the basket, quick and
efficient helpside is necessary. We
want our helpside to beat the
ballhandler to the block. Ideally, the
help is given outside of the paint,
prior to the offensive player reaching
the block; help must be quick.

In the diagram, the /4\ is meeting the

offensive player outside of the paint.
The helper must jamb the

29
ballhandler, not stand straight up. We tell our players to “be the
fence not the fencepost.” Good defensive posture is the
difference between a layup and a forced turnover in outside
drive situations.

Post Slides & Doubles

We always want to hassle post players receiving the basketball.

We do this by sliding down to the post. We will only double when
the post is a definite threat to score or if she is a liability under
pressure.

There is definite footwork to the post

slide and double. First of all, as in any
help situation, we want to slide our
closest foot rather than swivel our
hips and shoulders. On a direct pass
from the wing, the defender would
have her but toward the baseline and
slide with her inside foot so as to
maintain visual contact with her
offensive player. We should drop to
about halfway between our player
and the post player who has received
the ball. We will dig only when the
post has made her initial move,
always from the bottom up. Swiping from top to bottom is a sure
foul.

Remember to emphasize proper footwork and positioning. Do

not allow players to turn their shoulders and hips to the post
unless we are in a definite double situation, in which case, the
double will always come from the 1X or opposite post position.

Defensive Playbook

We will play combinations of full-court and half-court defenses along with different styles of
zone and man-to-man defenses. We use a system that identifies what defense that we are in
and where the defense begins. (Thanks to Coach Dean Smith for pioneering this system!)

30
 50 40 20 10
Defense Defense Defense Defen
PE Panthers Defensive Playbook
Player to Run and Matchup
Player Jump Zone
Level 54 – Full 44 – Full 24 – Full
4 Court Court Court
Denial Run and Matchup
Jump Zone
Level 53 – ¾ 43 – ¾
3 Court Court
Player to Run and
Player Jump
Level 52 – ½ 42 – ½ 12 – ½
2 Court Court Cour
Base Run and Diam
Defense Jump Trap
Level 51 – ¼ 21 – ¼
1 Court Court
Sagging Matchup
P2P Zone

We may run a defensive scheme where one player is in “54”

and the rest are in another set. This is done to deny the
opponent’s point guard the basketball. We call this “54 Blue.”
In this case, the person who is matched up with the
inbounder would face guard and deny the point guard while
the person matched up with their point guard would be behind
that player, in essence double teaming the point guard. Once
the ball was inbounded, the defense would fall back to its base
defense while the defender matched up with the point guard
would continue to deny that player.

“53”

Our “53” Defensive set is when we pick up our defensive

assignments as early as possible. We do not deny the ball to
the offensive player. Rather, this defense is designed to make
the offense work to bring the ball up the floor, not to make the

31
steal or prevent the pass. All of our position defense
principles are to be followed when defending in the “53.”

“52”

“52” is our base defense. Our defensive principles are

position defense as described in this manual.

“51”

Our “51” defense is often described as a zone. This defense is

what we use to defend against a team with a strong inside
presence or a team that likes to penetrate. I instruct our team
to have everyone put one foot in the lane unless they are
defending on the ball. When on the ball in this defense, we
exaggerate the closeout and ball pressure.

40 Defense

“44”

This is a full court run-and-jump defense. I allow my players

to determine whether they will double the jump or just rotate
to a switch situation. The defense starts with no denial on the
inbounds pass and loose defense on the inbounder. Once the
ball is in the hands of an offensive player, our run and jump
initiates. Defenders sag off their players so to be ready for the
rotations, but not so much as to be out of position for a long
pass.

I do not have a “thumbs up” or “thumbs down” variation,

rather, I allow my players to determine good jumping
situations. Our players are instructed that the speed and
control of the ball-handler. If the ballhandler is in an out of
control or speed dribble, we leave to jump the ball handler
early, perhaps 15 feet or more away. If the dribbler is in a
controlled state, we do not jump him or her until the defender
is closer than 10 feet away.

If a team clears out on us, we try to initiate a speed dribble by

playing very tight defense on the ball-handler and force them
at a 45 degree angle to the baseline. This may allow us to get
a jump in the offenses’ backcourt.

32
If we are unsuccessful in our “44” defense, we will
automatically fall back into our “42” defense which is
described next.

“42”
Our “42” defense is the same as our “44” except by where we
initiate it. In the ½ court we must be especially careful to
communicate our intentions to our teammates and must be
active in our stance and aggressiveness.

20 Defense

Our “20” Series is new for 2007-2008. It is a matchup style of

zone defense with man to man principles.

“24”

Our “24” will be reserved for missed shot opportunities and

will need to be utilized with our personnel in mind. Basically,
we will have our (5) rotate deep and all other players will pick
up the closest offensive player. We will then use our Run and
Jump strategies, when appropriate.

In our “24” defense, we may also pressure the rebounder to

slow the advancement of the basketball. One call out of this
defense is that our best defender may be assigned to the
opponent’s point guard to “blue” them on a missed shot.

“21”

This is the only zone defense that we play in the half court. It
is a 1-2-2 matchup zone. We can fall back to it in some
situations, but it may be better served as a deadball or special
circumstance defense.

10 Defense

“12”

33
Our “12” defense is a half court trap defense. We will utilize it
occasionally as a wrinkle to our other trapping pressure
defenses. We will not go into much depth with coverage and
rotation, as we will only use it in unique circumstances.
However, it will be a nice alternative to our other defensive
schemes.

Special Defenses

“99”

Our “99” defense is our 54 defense except we foul our player

when he or she gets the basketball. I must add that when
fouling, we tell our players to make an honest, aggressive
move for the ball.

“77”

Our “77” defense is our anti-stall defense. We play tight to

our own defender and switch all screens. We may double as in
our 40 defenses, but ONLY when close and the ball is being
dribbled. We DO NOT leave a player to double a player who
has picked up their dribble or not yet started.

Implementation

Under 14
 54
 52 – base defense
 44
 24
Under 15, 16 and 17
 54
 53
 52 – base defense
 44
 24
 22
 12

34
Senior
 54
 53
 52 – base defense
 51
 44 – base defense
 42
 24
 22
 12

It is important that our program follows these guidelines

closely. No other defenses should be implemented, as they do
not follow our program philosophy or vision.

For the senior team, we want to play a 70 possession

basketball game. Of those 70 possessions, 46 of them (or 2/3)
we want to play full-court pressure defense. That means we
need to press on makes, misses, and deadball situations.

At the under 14,15,16 and 17 levels, even with limited

numbers, we want the opportunity to press and run the
basketball. A 55 possession basketball game is in our best
interest. Of those, 28 (or roughly 1/2) should be full-court
pressure defense. This means our student athletes must be
supremely conditioned.

At the under 14 level, we want to fully engrain the idea of full-

court pressure defense. We want a 50 possession basketball
game at this level. Of those, 42 (or better than 4/5) of them
should be full-court pressure. We want our young players to
fully develop these concepts at an early age.

35
 4
Section

Putting it all Together

“Tradition Begins Today!” – Notre Dame
football lockerroom

W
hat we do is not as important as how we do it. There
are an infinite number of basketball “systems” out
there and no one is the right way to play. We could
decide to be a Flex offensive team and run a 1-3-1 zone, and that
would be okay – boring to me, but okay! What is far more
important is how we prepare.

Over the past few seasons, there have been some variations to
our program. While these variations might see some small
measure of immediate success; a score here, a stop there, they
have not led to any measurable long term success. In fact, the
argument could be made that any deviation from our “system”
deters from future successes because it robs precious time away
from the most fundamental elements.

36
We need to do our best to streamline this process. We need to
develop our strengths and completely engrain a tradition of
basketball at St. Mary’s Springs. Our program needs to be
widely known as one of the toughest games on our opponents
schedule, whether win or lose.

Some of what was contained in this manual was vague and may
lead to questions or concerns. Please contact me if you have any
questions. We will be reviewing this manual in October at our
coaches meeting(s) to make sure that all of us are on the same
page.

Practice Organization

This season, I am mandating that all coaches use our practice

plan (see appendix.) All of our practices should be fairly
consistent. While our individual drills and points of emphasis
are going to vary, our overall organization shouldn’t.

Here is a breakdown of our practice organization.

Set – Lifts

All practices should begin with “Set – Lift” repetitions. These

are commonly referred to as “Reggie’s” among our players
and coaching staff. As soon as players take the floor, they
should be working on their isolated shooting form. This is
essential in developing consistent form.

Sequence

One of our biggest faults over the last three seasons has been
the lack of attention to individual fundamentals; passing, ball
handling, and footwork have been overlooked and we have not
been diligent in shooting practice. We need to reprioritize our
practices, and individual fundamentals need to be near the top
of the list.

For this reason, I have reorganized our practice plan to

include a thirty minute block of time to work exclusively on
these fundamentals. This will be expected at all two hour, and

37
one-and-a-half hour practice sessions. We will call this block,
“Sequence.”

Sequence is broken down as follows:

 4:00 Ball handling – Working with either stationary ball

handling, partner ball handling, or two-ball ball handling
initially to improve hand-eye coordination.
 8:00 Shooting – This is an excellent time to work on
layups, mikans, and other finishing drills.
 4:00 Passing – Passing drills should vary from half-court
work such as post feeds, to full court drills such as
weaves and heavy ball drills.
 8:00 Shooting – These drills should focus on jumpshots.
Whether working on catch and shoot or pull-up jumpers,
or simply rapid-fire shooting, we can emphasize range
and technique.
 4:00 Footwork – Working on pivot drills, swing/sweep
drills, jab steps, and post moves during this time period
is essential.

Defensive Breakdown

Following our Sequence of fundamentals, we can begin to work

on defensive breakdown drills. We may be working on our “44”
slides, weakside help drills, shell drills, or even just closeouts. We
must also include at least 4:00 of rebounding drills here daily.
Individual and team defensive concepts will be covered here.

It is important to also include that when one group is working on

defensive breakdown, we need to make sure our offensive
players are accountable. Occasionally, at all levels, we have
forgotten that every player is working on the drill. Passers,
defenders, offensive players, and shooters need to be
accountable and practicing appropriate fundamentals and team
concepts. When available, the head coach can be watching the
defense while an assistant monitors the offense, or vise-versa.

Offensive Breakdown

As with our defensive breakdown, this time is reserved for

individual and team offensive concepts. We should be working on
screening, cutting, zone principals, break and secondary options,

38
full-court offensive principals, as well as other offensive
concepts.

During offensive breakdown drills, we may need our players to

use different defensive principals than we utilize. We may need
our players to play different zones, play our posts differently, or
even to apply different full court pressure defenses. Sometimes
in doing so, we forget to monitor their effort. Regardless of their
assignments, we should have consistent effort to challenge our
offensive players.

Sets

Too often we spend too much time working on sets. We practice

patterns or plays for a bulk of time and forget to work on
breakdown and fundamental skills. The time reserved for sets
should be used for putting our offensive breakdown concepts
together for specific plays or sets.

As the season progresses, less time can be allotted for Sets

practice. Our out-of-bounds plays and set plays should not
overwhelm our athletes, and we should only add a few over the
overall course of the season. I like the quote by Bruce Weber, the
men’s coach at Illinois, “In March, would you rather have two
good plays, or two good players?” To me, this quote emphasizes
the need for fundamental improvement over set development.

Situations

We need to practice real game situations on a more regular

basis. Our players need to be comfortable in every situation
when they face it during the games. Whether we are practicing
free-throw lane protocol, our jump ball situation, or late game
strategy, there should be no surprises during our games.

One of my biggest concerns is that our players do not

understand late-game strategy. We should be practicing these on
a regular basis. Whether we are protecting a lead or trying to
come back from a late deficit, we need to know our strategy. Lets
practice this often!

Player Development vs. Team Practice

39
There will be practices that focus more intensely on individual
fundamentals. These will be scheduled on days when our next
contest is more than three or four practices away, or they may be
our morning session during two-a-day practices. These practices
are different in that they will focus more on individual player
development rather than team concepts.

Additionally, while we are working on some of our sets and

breakdowns, players not involved will be working with our
assistant coaches on player development. Our goal is to identify
two skills to work on with each athlete to improve on. For
example, one of our posts may need to work on her inside move
and her reverse pivot. During practice down-time, our assistant
coaching staff can assist her with those skills.

40
Coaching Expectations

5
Section

and Conduct
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence,
then, is not an act, it is a habit.” - Aristotle

I
consider us all to be professionals. We may be at various
stages of our coaching careers, but we are all professionals. I
think it is an important message that we handle ourselves in
a consistent, professional manner.

Here is a brief list of expectations that I have of our coaching

staff:

 Dress every day with our players – Nothing sends a worse

message than, “do as I say, not as I do.” Everything we ask
our players to do should be things that we can do
ourselves.

 Command respect – Players need to know who is in

charge. If they call you by your first name and tease you
like one of the gang, you are one of the gang. We need to
be friendly, not friends. Kindness cannot be perceived as
weakness.

 Be organized – Every practice needs to be structured. We

can’t come to a practice and “wing it.”

 Make the difficult decisions – We are professionals. If we

are not able to make the difficult decisions, we are not

41
 doing what is best for the program. Often, difficult
decisions are not popular, but they need to be made.

 Demand perfection, but accept effort – We need to accept

the fact that we are striving for an unattainable goal.
There is always room for improvement, but we need to
acknowledge hard work.

 Represent the school – Sometimes we forget that we are

employees of a large organization. Our actions do not
simply reflect ourselves, but a community of students and
families.

 C – Y – A – This stands for “Cover Your Ass!” Make sure

you are supervising well. Make sure you are not in
situations that could be misconstrued. Err on the side of
caution. Lock up and secure school equipment and
belongings.

 Ask questions and make suggestions – I do not have the

magic formula. If you see something that needs tweaking,
speak up. If you don’t understand what or why we do
something, ask. This is not the Matt Bessen basketball
program, it is the St. Mary’s Springs PE Panthers
Basketball Program.

 Professional Development  Learn! – Learn the game of

basketball by attending clinics, reading books, and
watching videos. Learn our system by attending a PE
Panthers Basketball practice at least once every other
week.

 Have fun – This is the hardest one! Even amidst a ten

game losing streak, remember that it is a game. Have fun.
Enjoy your team and your job.

We have an excellent staff. We are fortunate to have such a

breadth of knowledge, expertise, education, and experience.
Let’s learn from one another and build this basketball program
to become a power.

Thank you for your dedication to our program. Coaching is not

easy, nor is it financially rewarding. I appreciate your
commitment and I thank you for your help.

42
PHILLIP PETERS

43
Appendix of Forms and

A
Appendix

Other Documents
The following documents are found in order in
the following Appendix

Practice Management

 Practice Plan (2 hour)

 Practice Plan (1.5 hour)

 Practice Plan (blank)

Game Forms

 Stats Sheet (blank)

 PE Panthers Basketball Bench Sheet

 Playing Time Chart

Game Prep

 Coach’s Scouting Report (Short)

 Coach’s Scouting Report (Long)

 Gameplan

Team Management

44
  Practice Policy

B
Appendix

 Equipment Check Out

 Season Stats

 Season Goals

 Non-Negotiable Items

Appendix of Plays and

Drills
The following PE Panthers Basketball favorite
plays and drills are found in order in the
following Appendix

Transition Drills

 5:1 to 5:5

 6 Trips

 Bang Bang

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  Post Finish

 Progression

Baseline Out of Bounds Plays

 Bunch

 Cardinal (zone)

 Diamond

 Ledger

 Xavier (zone)

 Triangle

Sideline Out of Bounds Plays

 Double

Secondary Break

 Charlotte

 Florida

 France

 Pioneer

 UConn

 Warrior

Zone Sets

 Hoosier

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 Loop

 Stanford

 Wakefield

47