OPEN PRACTICE with Ryan Looney: Swing-Offense Set Plays, Attacking The Press, Skills, Drills & More!

with Ryan Looney,
Idaho State Head Men's Basketball Coach;
Point Loma Head Coach from 2016 to 2019;
2019 NCAA D II National Championship Runner-up;
Seattle Pacific University Head Coach from 2009 to 2016;
2x Sweet Sixteen appearances;
3x Great Northwest Athletic Conference Tournament Champions;
2x Great Northwest Athletic Conference Coach of the Year;
3x NABC Team Academic Excellence Award;
Eastern Oregon Head Coach from 2004 to 2009

Viewing an open practice always offers coaches an opportunity to learn and glean ideas that can be used in their own program. This video is no exception, as watching the intensity and coaching knowledge brought by Ryan Looney as he guides his team through an informative, competitive practice is sure to be a treat for basketball coaches of all levels of competition.

This jam-packed, open practice session also provides invaluable lessons and practical examples to improve a coach’s organization, the drills he or she uses and game-tested plays that provide something for everyone! 

Pre-Practice, Warm-Ups and Shooting Drills

Looney begins practice with a player warm up before diving into press offense work that flows into half court sets. After this segment, players run through their sets in a 5-on-0 scenario in the half court. Even if you do not run the swing offense, these plays will provide viewers with innovative ideas to create great movement and an inside-out style of basketball.

Following the 5-on-0 portion of practice, Looney has his players work on shooting during a segment that features his ‘Full-Court Shooting Drill’ – which pits players against a clock and simulated game-score to keep them focused and moving quick and hard. Passing, layups, and three-point shots are all showcased in this fast-paced drill. 

Keeping the focus on playing full court, players then move on to the ‘Break-to-Offense D’ – which showcases 8 different sets as players, all going through a wide variety of scoring options that present themselves throughout any possession or during the course of a game.

Another full court drill, the ‘Block-Out Conversion Drill’ has players working on converting from half to full court and from offense to defense. This drill is scored, which keeps players focused and playing hard throughout each possession. An offensive rebound and score, a foul or score ends the drill – all of which begins off a free throw. 

Defense and Maximizing Controlled Scrimmages

Moving on to defense, viewers are treated to segments where players work on closeouts and help-and-recover techniques. A team drill is shown which stresses the techniques needed for defending the two of the most common offensive actions in basketball today: the dribble handoff and ball screen. Afterward, from the same drill set up, Looney instructs his players on how to guard pin-down screens, as well as provides great coaching points on how to switch on ball screens.

The ‘Ten-Minute Shell Drill’ is shown next – which amps up the intensity of this practice as players fight to get stops and defend different offensive actions. This drill is competitive and scored, giving the drill a definitive winner and a loser to increase the competitive aspect of the work. Players then participate in a ‘Partner Shooting Drill’ and the ‘Peer Pressure Shooting Drill’ followed by ‘The Swish Drill’ – which requires a certain amount of consecutive makes from players at different baskets and is a great drill for increasing focus and shooting under pressure.

To conclude this practice, Looney runs a controlled scrimmage working on a variety of different scenarios – including baseline out of bounds plays, free throws and press situations.

This open practice session is a rich opportunity to see deep inside a successful practice run by a highly successful coach. The organization and outline provide great tools for all coaches to mold and adapt to their own styles and preferences. 

85 minutes. 2022.