The Essence of Team Sports
“Team sports are really difficult things. Sometimes your team wins because of you,
sometimes in spite of you, and sometimes it’s like you’re not even there. That’s
the reality of the team game. Then at one point in my career…something
wonderful happened, I don’t know why or how…but I came to understand what
“team” meant. In meant although I didn’t get a hit or make a great defensive
play, I could impact my team in an incredible and consistent way. I learned I
could impact my team by caring first and foremost about the team’s success and
not my own. I don’t mean by rooting for us like a typical fan. Fans are fickle. I
mean really care, really care about the team….about “us”. I became less selfish,
less lazy, and less sensitive to negative comments. When I gave up me, I became
more. I became a captain, a leader, a better person and I came to understand
that life is a team game…and you know what?.. I’ve found most people aren’t
team players. They don’t realize life is the only game in town. Someone should
tell them. It has made all the difference in the world to me.”
Don Mattingly
www.dowlingcatholicboysbasketball.weebly.com
All information shared today is posted on
program website. Site will be updated each
week by the coaching staff. Please use the
site as a reference for you and your son.
Varsity Staff
Mike O’Connor
Jim Nahas
Will Nailor
Head Varsity Coach
Assistant Varsity Coach
Assistant Varsity Coach
Sophomore Staff
Nick Wagner
Mike Pipho
Head Sophomore Coach
Assistant Sophomore Coach
Freshmen Staff
Kevin O’Hare
Barry Adams
Adam Riley
Head Freshmen Coach
Assistant Freshmen Coach
Vol. Assistant Coach
The Dowling Catholic basketball program is
committed to and will serve as an extension to the
mission of Dowling Catholic High School. We will
use basketball as an educational tool to help
facilitate the growth and maturity of our student
athletes physically, mentally, emotionally, and
spiritually as well as use basketball to provide our
student athletes the opportunity to practice life
skills and Christ like values. In essence, we will strive
to assist all involved to become better people.
 Create a program built on selflessness,
attitude, humility, effort, and character in effort to help
our athletes become better citizens
 Work to establish solid relationships with our
athletes and the parents of our athletes
 Emphasize communication, punctuality, and
teamwork
 Create an atmosphere of discipline,
accountability, and responsibility
 Act with class and integrity

Create a basketball program the Dowling
Catholic Community can be proud of

Form strong, long lasting relationships with
members of the program

Use basketball as a vehicle for teaching life
lessons

Create a positive experience that will be
remembered throughout life

Provide the opportunity for growth and
development through a disciplined structure

Compete for conference championships,
state tournament births, and state
championships

Assist each athlete in continuing to build
faith life
EFFORT + DEFENSE + REBOUNDING= SUCCESS
Defensive Philosophy
 Man-to-man defensive team (ball pressure and off ball positioning)
 Will mix in different defenses based upon personnel and opponent
Offensive Philosophy
 Offensively we want to run, run, run
 Our goal is to push on made and missed baskets
 Working to get a lay-up before defense sets
 Motion Offense – Great shot discipline
 Motion offense allows players to use creative abilities along with instincts
 Great deal of time will be devoted to fundamental development

Represent family, school, program, and TEAM with class
and dignity

Work hard- On/ off court

Be on time

Be responsible

Be accountable

Communicate

TEAM First Attitude
 Assist in instilling accountability, responsibility, communication, and
punctuality in student athletes
 Create an atmosphere of teamwork, discipline, and sportsmanship
 Treat each player with dignity and respect
 Represent Dowling Catholic with class
 Emphasize the importance of academics
 Reward effort and behavior
 Be demanding and intense, but keep the game simple
 Be willing to confront incorrect behavior and less than full effort
 In all times do what is best for the TEAM
 Strive to create a positive experience for all athletes involved in
program
What we need from our parents in order to be successful:
1. ENCOURAGEMENT
What to encourage:
 Hard work
 Communication
 Punctuality
 Accept Responsibility
 Accountability
 TEAM first attitude
2. SUPPORT
How to show support:
 Release your child to the coaches and the team
 Avoid questioning coaching decisions or performance of team
members
 Avoid making excuses for your son
 Accept the goals, roles, and achievements of your son
 Attend program functions (parent mtgs., games, banquet, etc.)
 Encourage and support all team members
Varsity- 15 Players

Comprised of 9th grade, sophomore,
junior, and seniors

Skill level matters more than grade
level

21 game schedule + District/ State play

JV games played by members of varsity
team that do not play in varsity games

8-10 game JV schedule

Practice time- 3:15-5:15 (Week Nights)
Sophomore – 15 Players

Comprised of sophomores and 9th
graders

21 game schedule

Sophomores who don’t receive much
playing time may be eligible to play in
JV contests (Need based)

Practice time- 5:15-7:15 (Week Nights)
9th Grade- 24 Players

Two teams- A and a B

A Team comprised of best 12 players

B Team comprised of next best 12 players

Players may move to and from the A or B
team throughout the season (Performance/
Need)

Each team will play a separate schedule

Practice Time- 7:15-9:15 (Week Nights)

Tryouts will take place November 12-14

At conclusion of 3rd day of tryouts, coaches will
meet with each individual and inform athletes of their
status

Cuts will take place at every level

As a staff, cuts are dreaded- toughest thing we have to
do

If your son is cut this season, he is still welcome to
participate with us next summer and tryout again next
winter
Goal is to keep:
 Varsity 15
 Sophomore 15
 Freshmen 24
***Coaching staff reserves right to change number of kids kept***
If more than 15 are kept at varsity level:
 Uniforms will have to be shared
 We will form a rotation of uniforms for those sharing
 Suit 16 during regular season
 15 during post season (State Rule)
 Roster can be changed in post season from game to game
When evaluating your sons ability to be a member of a team,
the coaches will use the following criteria:
 Attitude, effort, trust, and coachability
 Ability to follow school/ team rules
 Basketball ability level relative to your position and your
role
 Commitment level
Things to remember:

Playing time will be earned, place to earn it is in practice
 Starting or playing major/ minor minutes in years past has
no bearing on minutes played in current year
 In all situations the coaching staff will play the players we
feel give us the best chance to be successful
 Playing time can change from game to game, week to
week
 Important that athletes stay prepared and take
advantage of opportunity when it presents it self
(Things will change throughout the year)
 Playing time at all levels will not be equal
***9th/ 10th Grade- Coaching staff expected to give each
athlete opportunity at some point throughout
season***
 Please call me with any questions or concerns you have- Happy to talk!
 Please understand that if you call you must be prepared for honesty
 I would prefer a phone call to an email
 Will not discuss other members of the team or philosophy
 Please DO NOT call me at night unless it’s an emergency- FAMILY TIME
 Best time to reach me is between 7:30-10:30 am
 If I don’t answer leave a message and I’ll get back to you quickly

1st 5 weeks captains will be selected by team on a
weekly basis

Selections will occur on Monday, and three kids
will be selected for each week

On the Monday of the 6th week of the season, the
team will select captains for the remainder of
season

Any team member can be captain

Proper game day attire is required for
all levels

Attire is to be worn throughout school
day and to and from game

Dress shirt and tie- SHIRT TUCKED IN
Varsity
 Transportation will be provided for all road games
 Athletes expected to travel to and from with the team
 JV participants will be responsible for own transportation to
away JV games
Sophomore and Freshmen
 Will travel together to all away contests
 Athletes and their families will be responsible for providing
transportation home
 Dowling Catholic will provide transportation home from games
outside the Metro area (Ft. Dodge, Marshalltown)
Any athlete who abuses the Dowling Catholic good conduct
policy will receive consequences from the school for either,
first, second, or third offense
In addition to the school’s consequences, the athlete
will also receive the following consequences from the
basketball program:



First Offense- 10 Last Gasps, 10 Rutgers, 10 Sidelines
Second Offense- 20 Last Gasps, 20 Rutgers, 20
Sidelines
Third Offense- Dismissal from program
All consequences are non-negotiable and will
be enforced in-season and during the offseason. These consequences are the
minimum each athlete could receive.
Coaching staff reserves the right to add
additional consequences.
 Doctor’s appointments, family vacations, Kairos, etc……..
 Thanksgiving Break- All practices will conclude by noon on
November 21 and will start again at 8:00 am on Friday
November 23
 Christmas Break- December 22- December 26
 Varsity team masses (School and Community)
 Fee- $170 (After Tryouts)/ Physicals (Due Nov. 1)
 Weekly grade checks / Weekly email/ Lettering Policy
At start of the year each program member will be given:
 Uniform Home and away (2)- All
 Shooting shirt (10th/ Varsity)
 Practice gear- All
 Travel Bag (Varsity Only)
Each athlete is responsible for all equipment for duration of the
season. At year’s end all equipment will be turned back into the
program.
***Team Shoe***
 Both basketball opportunities are valuable to a players development and future
opportunity
 Why do kids participate in AAU? High School?
My opinion from talking to our athletes:
 AAU (Exposure, earn scholarship, play against great competition)
 High School (Team atmosphere, win a state championship)
 Individual Mindset vs. Team Mindset (Individual Accolades/ Stats vs. Winning/
Losing)
 In AAU wins and losses really don’t mean much……in high school every game is
important….we are only guaranteed 22!!
Things to remember:
 Success in AAU does not guarantee success or playing time in the high school
program
 AAU has changed…….used to be more elite, now anyone can play as long as
they are willing to pay the money
 Style of play……..our program will typically play with more structure and
discipline than an AAU program…..kids will/ may play differently here than they
do on the AAU circuit
Practice/ Game Schedule
Program Absolutes
Football Playoff Schedule
Clothing Order
Dowling Catholic Boys Basketball
Practice Plan 2011-12
“Win Today”
Practice Number: 3
M
3
10
Time
3:12-3:15
3:15-3:25
5
5
3:25-3:30
3:30-3:35
5
12
3:35-3:40
3:40-3:52
Practice Focus: Defense, Rebounding, Shooting
Date: November 15, 2011
Drill
Announcements and Reminders
Focus
Defensive Footwork
Rutgers Footwork (3 Laps) + Mirror Drill w/ JTB + Dribble Penetration
Defensive
Footwork
Shooting
Passing, Catching,
Finishing
Stretch
Defensive
Fundamentals
Scarlet Shooting 20…20…20…20…???- Cutthroat (2 Groups)
5 Man Weave to 3 on 2 Break- Cutthroat
7 or Less Missed Lay-Ups / Defense= Make them make extra pass!!!
Stretch
Defensive Fundamentals- Penetration and Post Defense
2 on 0/ 3 on 0 Baseline Penetration Rotation (OC) –
2 on 1 Help and Recover (JN) – 1 on 1 Post Defense (WN)
4
3:52-3:56
12
3:56-4:08
10
4:08-4:18
7
4:18-4:28
10
4:28-4:38
5
10
4:38-4:42
4:42-4:52
14
6
4:50-5:04
5:04-5:10
5
15
5:10-5:15
5:15-5:30
3 Man 2 Ball Shooting- Cutthroat (2x22)
New Partners – Medium Range and 3’s
4 on 4 Shell (Regular and Diamond) w/ Switches (2 Groups)
Give and Go’s – Away Screens – Back Screens – Dribble Penetration
3 on 3 Cross Court- Cutthroat (Champion in 30)
2 Groups – Switch at 5 Min.
5 on 0 Transition Down – Motion Back
Coach Call It in Trans. – Motion = 6 Passes (Penetration, PT, BC’s,
Flares)
UNI Rebounding (4 Teams)- Cutthroat (7 in 30)
Switch Match-Ups at 5 Min. – Review Rebounding Techniques
Free Throws + Conditioning
Offensive Breakdown
Guards- Post Entry Options / Motion Shooting
Bigs- Pound Dribble/ KAJ’s and Daily 6/ Circle 1 on 1
4 on 4 on 4 (3 Teams)- Cutthroat (15 in 60)
Transition Progressions 55 in 5 + Free Throws- Cutthroat
1 to 5 – 1 to 2 – 1 to 3 (CC) – 1 to 3 (CC) to 4 – 1 to 5
Free Throws
Locker Room (Player Handbook
(Mission, Expectations) Championship Behavior)
Announcements and Reminders

Practice tomorrow 3:15-4:45….dressed and ready by 3:10 (Teacher List)

Cuts made tomorrow after practice- LAST CHANCE

Friday practice changed- 5:45-7:30 am (breakfast provided)

Saturday AM practice changed- 7:00-8:30 am (team meeting to follow)

Maroon
Danny
Hughes
Austin
Hois/
Pieper
Wiz
Shooting
Defensive
Positioning
Live Defense
CARRY OVER
Defensive
Transition
Rebounding
Free Throws
Breakdown
Defensive Stops
Transition
Progressions
Free Throws
Team Meeting
White
Skin
Geo/ Alec
Savage
Otte
Amara
Pete/ Harry
Haack
Cass
Green
Brody
Taylor