SWENSDAY STUFF

Coach Wooden’s Season and Practice Planning
Swen Nater

“By failing to prepare you are preparing to fail.”
Benjamin Franklin

No one knew that better than Coach Wooden and he used the quote often. Coach Wooden was analytical and meticulous as he planned every detail. His exemplary preparation may be one of the main reasons for his success as a basketball teacher. I know of no other coach that prepared his team as well, nor do I know of any other team that was as well-prepared as we were.

High school basketball practice is about to begin and I’m sure you have made preparation. But have you planned to the detail and extent Coach Wooden did? Well before the first day of practice, Coach created his Season Plan and Monthly Plans. Then, each Monday, he created his weekly plan. Each day, he and his assistants created the daily Practice Plan.

1. Create a Season Plan
i. The “Season Plan” is like a class syllabus and includes the curriculum, everything that needs to be taught that season. Think of it as preparation for an end-of-year state-issued exam that measures whether or not students have learned the required material. What Coach Wooden listed in his Season Plan was influenced by the style of play he planned to use that season, as well as that of his opponents. For example, when he had Kareem Abdul-Jabbar at center, the Plan included zone offense. When he had a relatively small team (short, average height compared to opponents), the full-court press was included. His Season Plan included:
1. Defenses against (full-court, half-court, delay game, zone)
2. Offenses (full-court press, fast break, half-court vs. man-to-man, half-court vs. zone, vs. out of bounds)
3. out of bounds plays (end-line and side-line)
4. jump ball plays
5. freethrow situation
6. special plays (for specific players, for last-second shot, against creative defenses)
ii. The Season Plan was broken down in to a monthly schedule so the plan could be accomplished. Next, each month’s schedule was broken down into weeks so that month’s curriculum would be taught.  

2. Create Daily Practice Plans
a. Each “Daily Practice Plan” had one or two measurable objectives that moved the team toward reaching the week’s goal. Examples of a measurable goal are:
i. When applying the full-court press and the long pass is completed into the front court, the team should be 90% effective at preventing the high-percentage shot and making the offense set up. 
ii. Perfect the “UCLA Cut” offensive option.  
b. The Practice Session must be planned so there is maximum progress and productivity. No one was better with milking accomplishment out of a clock than Coach Wooden. Here’s how he did it:
i. Start on time and end on time
ii. Transitions between drills should be quick and seamless.
iii. Water breaks should include free throws. Include many water breaks.
iv. Integrate freethrows into the practice via water breaks and have players shoot on the side baskets to get back into a scrimmage.
v. No windsprints. Condition by drilling with the ball, working on fundamentals and game conditions.
vi. Create drills that: physically condition, mentally condition, have continuity, major on teaching one fundamental but incorporate others that have been worked on, resemble some part of the entire system, and are competitive.
vii. When working on offense, have the other group work on how to stop that offense. When working on defense, have the other team work on breaking that offense down. 
viii. Give each activity a specific duration. No drill should be longer than 15 minutes.
ix. Once the practice plan is set in motion, stay with the plan. Don’t change anything. Take notes for possible changes the next practice.
x. End with a fun and competitive activity.

“Winning is the science of being totally prepared.”
George Allen, Sr.