MEET THE PRESS / 444 Drill by Trey Watts

Written by Coach Peterman

I have coached at the NCAA Division 2 (Southwestern Oklahoma State University), NAIA (USAO), and JUCO Levels (Blinn College and Carl Albert State College) as well as high school. I just felt that fellow coaches especially young coaches need to constantly work on their “game”. Just like the basketball players that we coach. We as coaches need to improve ourselves. That is my story and why I do this blog.

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Basketball Coaching | Basketball Coaching Clinic Notes

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November 12, 2013

MEET THE PRESS / 444 Drill

If there was only one drill that a coach could run at practice, this would be that drill. It is a drill that I first saw Rick Pitino utilize while he was the Head Coach at Providence University. It is a very versatile drill that a coach can individualize and adapt to fit his or her situation.

This drill is a great multipurpose drill. Every coach is faced with the task of working on countless aspects of the game. This drill puts players into a competitive situation, while still allowing a coach to dictate what the point of emphasis is offensively and defensively. Every possible press and half-court defense that a team may face can be covered in one complete drill. This allows a coach to optimize his time. Every good coach knows that fundamental drills are not good unless they can translate to a competitive situation. This drill provides that competitive controlled environment. A coach can have full court pressure in this drill. He can vary what type of pressure each team works on. The presses can range from man to man, to even front press, and odd front press. The half court defenses can also be changed during the drill. A coach can work on man, even front zone, odd front zone or a gimmick half-court defense.

This drill can be as competitive as a coach wants it to be. With three different teams competing against each other, it offers the opportunity to have numerous players competing at one time. The players are also working on transition opportunities during the drill. We are constantly and quickly changing from offensive to full court defense and half-court defense to offense. Each half court possession starts with a 4 on 2 advantage to the offense, with two defenders trailing the play. Defensive teams are working on scrambling and communicating matchups in a disadvantage situation.

Name: Trey Watts Years in Profession: 18 years Years as Head Coach: 16 years Current position: Head Boys at Wall High School – Have coached 12 playoff teams – Have coached 2 regional tournament teams – Have coach 2A, 3A, 4A and 5A teams – Lead Clinician at Texas Prep Basketball School – Co-Founder and Director of Overtime Hoops Academies – Served as Chairman of Texas High School Coaches Association All-Star Selection Committee – Served on All-Region and All-State Texas Association of Basketball Selection Committee

Click on the pdf link to download the basketball drills: