PRESEASON CHECKLIST

The Coach

Derek Sheridan Rustbelt Basketball Coaches' Network

Retired High School Head Basketball Coach

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Looking back at my 27 years in coaching basketball, one of the aspects that I felt was over looked was the importance of preseason organization.  It is a large task, but when completed properly the time saved was invaluable.  Additionally, coaches who "have it together" in regards to organizational skills are thought of more highly by their administration, players, assistants, and players' parents'.  This checklist will ensure that your preseason will be as organized as possible.  I have 11 ex-assistants who are now head coaches & a vast majority of them still use this checklist to prepare for their season.  Work smarter, not harder.

Coach Derek Sheridan’s Credentials & Information:

My name is Derek Sheridan & I coached basketball in the great states of Indiana & Ohio.  I began my coaching & teaching career as a PE teacher & 6th-Grade basketball coach.  Over the years I worked my way up to becoming a head boys’ basketball coach.  My coaching career spanned nearly three decades; & I’m still teaching PE classes for Maumee City Schools, located in Maumee, OH.

I recently retired from coaching, due to health reasons; but stay closely connected to our game.  Currently, I am the clinic director for the Northwest Ohio District VII Basketball Coaches’ Association (NOD7BCA), a staff member for the newly formed Rustbelt Basketball Coaches’ Network, a high school basketball game color-analyst for Buckeye Cable Sport Network (BCSN), and creator & lead author for “In Ted’s Honor” weekly, free basketball coaches’ newsletter.  Additionally, I am mentoring basketball coaches from America & Serbia.

Derek Sheridan Honors & Awards Earned:

• 1999 Midland Athletic Conference Season and Tournament Champions

• 1999 Midland Athletic Conference Coach of the Year

• Led our program to Maumee’s first winning seasons in 6 years

• 2010 District Seven Co-Coach of the Year

• 2010 District Seven All-Star Game Coach 

• 2012 Selected as the Ohio coach for the “PostyourT” OH v. IN All-Star Game

• 2012-2022 Selected to work the OHSBCA Top 100 Workout in Columbus, OH

• 2013 Boys’ Division I Rep for District VII Basketball Coaches Association (NOD7BCA)

• 2013 Selected as an Assistant Coach for the Ohio team for the Ohio v.  Indiana Border War Indiana All-Star Team

• 2014 Selected as the Vice President of NOD7BCA

• 2014 Selected as the Head Coach for the OH v. IN Border War All-Star Game

• 2015-2017 President of NOD7BCA

• 2017-Present Clinic Director for the NOD7BCA

Clinics & Podcasts:

1. Podcasts:

   1. Championship Vision Podcast: Coaching the Underdog & Program Building Ideas

   2. Coaches’ Edge Podcast:

      1. Practice Planning & Evaluating the Effectiveness of Practice Sessions

      2. 32 Zone Defense

2. Recent Consultations:

   1. Central Catholic HS, Springfield, MO / Teaching the Princeton Offense

      1. In-Person

   2. Fannin Co. HS / GA / Teaching the Blocker/Mover Offense

      1. Online

3. Clinics & Presentations:

   1. HUDL Clinic: Coaching the Underdog & Program Building Ideas

      1. Online Presentation (Contact me if you’d like to receive)

   2. TX Hardwood: Teaching the Blocker/Mover Offense

      1. Online Clinic 

   3. Marc Hart’s The System: Teaching the Blocker/Mover Offense

      1. Online Clinic (Contact me if you’d like to receive)

   4. Scott Peterman’s The Coaching Accelerator:  Blocker/Mover Offense for Football First Communities

      1. Online Clinic (Contact me if you’d like to receive)

4. For more information regarding Rustbelt Basketball Coaches’ Network, our services, & products; please contact Derek Sheridan.

   1. Cell:  740-572-6733

   2. Email:  rustbeltbasketballcoaches@gmail.com

   3. Email: derek.sheridan44@gmail.com

5. TESTIMONIALS FROM OUR PURCHASERS:

“Just wanted to let you know we used your “32” zone offense last night against a top rated team in our classification that runs a very good 1-3-1.  They have the perfect pieces to make the defense work.  We were able to attack them and get great shots.  Their pressure normally bothers people but we were able to handle that.  We just didn't make shots.  I am definitely keeping this addition to our playbook.  Thanks again for sharing it with us - much appreciated!”

-Coach Darren Crumrine, Sedgwick High School, KS

“We had Coach Sheridan drive out to our high school & work with two of our shooters on a Saturday afternoon, during the second week of our season.  His workouts are practical.  The progressions in the warm-up session allows players to focus on certain fundamental aspects of shooting (from the feet up) that are often overlooked, or not emphasized enough.  The warm-ups also emphasize proper shooting mechanics vs. making shots, so the players don’t have to worry about missing shots & being constantly corrected - which if you work with teen aged boys; this avoids the anxiety of being corrected as soon as they enter the gym…especially when working with someone new.  Derek’s ball handling games were different from what our players were used to.  His ball handling session allowed them to improve their skills in a competitive way while having fun at the same time.  The kids didn’t view the games as work, so they loved them.  I’d highly recommend having him & his Rustbelt staff work with your players; you won’t regret it & nor will your players.”

• Coach Ryan Ripke, Varsity Assistant coach at Pettisville HS, Ohio

“The information & documents included in this packet are incredibly detailed & a tremendous asset in terms of program planning & organization.”

- Coach Mike McBride, Holy Cross College (IN); Head Men’s Basketball Coach

“I was fortunate to be hired by Coach Sheridan as his varsity assistant coach.  Upon being hired, I was excited to learn about how his teams’ had controlled the tempo of their games over the years using their Mover/Blocker offense & zone defense. However, learning his system of organizing and planning every aspect of our program was equally, if not more, impressive.  It didn’t take long to learn he had a system for organizing, planning, delegating, & administering every aspect of our basketball program.  The coaching materials he created not only saved us time, but kept us all on the same page.  After coach became ill, he handed our program over to me.  We still use all of his coaching aids (we called them cheat sheets), in fact, I can’t imagine not using them.  My first summer was made much easier, due to the completion of our “Summer Organizer” packet, using it ensured that each aspect of our summer was organized & ready to go!  My staff & I will NEVER plan a summer without it!  

Now that I’m entering my second year as the head coach at DHS, the pre-season checklist, & the scrimmage checklist saved us valuable time.  Now that the media is requesting their media information forms to be completed, using coach Sheridan’s “Media Info Form” makes that easy - & I only have to COMPLETE ONE FORM!!!  

Trust me, these materials will help you stay organized and save you time in the long run.”

-Coach Matt Brighton, Delta High School; Math Teacher & Head Boys’ Basketball Coach

‘I coached against Derek for nine years and can vouch for the organization and preparation of his teams each and every game.  If these are the devices that he utilized to organize and prepare his teams, then I cannot imagine that they will not help you and your program.”

-Coach Dave Boyce, Perrysburg HS (OH); Head Boys’ Basketball Coach & Assistant Principal

“Derek is a lifelong basketball junkie.  He has spent his entire career trying to find ways to work smarter, and be more prepared than the competition.  His organizational tools are tremendous.  As a Head Coach for 33 years, I only wish I had found these years ago.  If you are looking for a way to organize your entire program I highly recommend you take a look at them.  There is something here for everyone.”

-Coach Jim Rucki, Findlay HS (OH); Social Studies Teacher & Head Boys’ Basketball Coach

“These materials are very meticulous and thorough!  A great resource for coaches who want to inject organization into their programs.  These resources cover everything from the ground up.  Good stuff.”

-Coach PJ Metz, North Decatur HS (IN); Social Studies Teacher & Head Varsity Boys’ Coach

“Highly recommended.  You will not be disappointed, as these organizational tools are exceptional.  A must have for busy coaches.  I coach three (3) sports & have molded these docs to fit each sport I coach.  My life is easier due to staying on top of things through being organized.”

-Coach Troy Opperman, Perrysburg HS (OH); Math Teacher & JV Boys’ Basketball Coach

 “I Was a young basketball coach searching for my style of play.  I came across Coach Carril’s Princeton Offense and loved his philosophy.  In my research of the Princeton Offense, I came across Coach Sheridan’s book, ‘The Princeton Offense, A Simplified Approach for High School Coaches.’  This book resonated with me, as it is well written & has easy to understand diagrams.  I found Coach Sheridan’s email address on the back cover of the book & emailed him.  Within the next few days he responded to my email & soon after we became friends - speaking at least once a week.  He sent me dozens of tapes he had acquired of various teams executing the Princeton Offense, including his own teams.  

Once basketball season ended, I invited Coach Sheridan to travel to Springfield Catholic High School, in Missouri; to administer a three-day clinic for my staff & my players.  He not only taught critical aspects of the Princeton Offense, but also shared his favorite drills for ball-handling, passing, shooting, rebounding, and defense.  Coach Sheridan is a rare breed of coach, he is not only a consummate student of the game, he is also a consummate ‘share it all’ coach.  

I’ve met people who love the game as much as Coach Sheridan, but I’ve never met an advocate of the game - someone who loves the game and wants to share his love of it with others as much as him.

Although we live in different parts of the country, myself & my family in Missouri, & he & his family in his beloved ‘Rust Belt,’ I not only consider him a dear friend, but also as a mentor to my development as a basketball coach.  Please do not hesitate to reach out to me, if you’d like to talk about Coach Sheridan.”

• Josh Miller, Springfield Catholic High School, Former Head Coach (417-459-6522)

“If you're looking for a library of short clock situations like I was, this is worth the minimal cost and will leave you with plenty of options to choose from to best fit the needs of your team.”

• Coach Luke Noll, Maur Hill-Mount Academy High SchoolAP Calculus, Pre-Calculus, Algebra 2 Instructor, Head Girls Basketball Coach (KS)

“These coaching resources are absolutely phenomenal for organizing any basketball program! As coaches we want to spend our time with the gameplans, schemes, and practices. However these detailed plans help us keep everything together. The Pre and Post season checklists especially, are tremendous resources to keep all of the extra "things" organized. I will absolutely use these in our program!”

-Coach Lance Fritz, Westfield Area High School (WI); Head Boys’ Basketball Coach & PE Teacher