If you can't set or read a screen, you can't run an offense

This week's email from Coach Duane Silver included Coach Dave Stahnke's notes from West Virginia University's recent Coaches Clinic, which featured WVU women's coach Mike Carey, strength and conditioning coach Andy Kettler, and Coach Bob Huggins.

Some highlights from each coach:

Coach Carey:

-- On your offensive script, think about color coding your Quick Hitters based on who you want to get the shot (positions, not individuals); this helps keep you better organized in games.

-- All coaches should consider having a binder to carry to all games that contains their team’s End-of-Game/Situational Quick Hitters that has the plays diagrammed for immediate reference; this is a reference to eliminate confusion and defuse the emotion of the situation. Helps players and coaches.

-- "If you can't set or read a screen, you can't run an offense."

-- Coaches cannot be bashful about telling their players their roles.

-- "All screens must be set in scoring range. It's a waste of time setting screens out of scoring range."

-- Bad things happen when you take the ball to the baseline (7 times out of 10). Good things happen when you attack the elbow with a drive (7 times out of 10).

-- "Guarding the ball is the primary purpose of defense."

Coach Kettler:

-- Put your players in "Compromising Positions" in conditioning and training, so when they're stressed in a game, it's not foreign to them.

-- In a workout, lift first; run second.

Coach Huggins:

-- In 3-on-2 situations, if you are the offense, make the top guy play you; you can’t over-penetrate and get into the waving arms amongst the trees; utilize the jump stop when needed. If you are the defense, #1 rule, no lay-ups.

-- "To be good defensively, you have to be able to read screens just as much as the offense. Get wide, feel the screens, and recognize what the offense is doing.