Practice Made Perfect: Rouse Presents at WBCA
The Women's Basketball Coaches Association held its annual national convention last weekend in Minneapolis, Minn., and Westcliff women's basketball head coach Kyle Rouse was asked to present a panel on creating effective and engaging practices. Coming off a season in which Westcliff qualified for the NAIA national tournament in its first year of eligibility and claimed its first ever All NAIA national recognition for a player (Trinity Vasquez), it was the proverbial cherry-on-top when Rouse was asked to present.
by BRANDON PETERSEN
The Women's Basketball Coaches Association held its annual national convention last weekend in Minneapolis, Minn., and Westcliff women's basketball head coach Kyle Rouse was asked to present a panel on creating effective and engaging practices.
Coming off a season in which Westcliff qualified for the NAIA national tournament in its first year of eligibility and claimed its first ever All NAIA national recognition for a player (Trinity Vasquez), it was the proverbial cherry-on-top when Rouse was asked to present.
"It was such an honor to be asked to speak and teach in this capacity," Rouse said. "As far as I could tell from the list of speakers, I was the only speaker at the convention who is from the NAIA level."
That's high praise for Westcliff's fledgling program as Rouse presented in front of over 200 coaches during the roundtable, the vast majority from the Division I level.
"These conventions are so incredibly beneficial," Rouse said. "Having a large number of coaches there all trying to continue to make our game better as well as increase our ability to be solid leaders for our players."
Westcliff went 10-2 in Cal Pac play last season. The Warriors beat La Sierra in the first round before falling to UC Merced in the Cal Pac championship game.
Westcliff was then honored with a 16th seed in the NAIA national championship tournament, and a chance to take on the reigning national champion Westmont.
The Warriors hung tough through the first half before Westmost pulled away down the stretch.
Nevertheless, Westcliff's first season of Cal Pac play was an extraordinary success.
Rouse says that success has translated to exposure for the program.
"Our staff and players have increased our exposure greatly," he said. "Most people I ran into or talked with knew of us, which was never the case two years ago. Being able to get a national tournament bid in our first year eligible has greatly helped our exposure as well. We look forward to continuing the momentum as we head into the summer and next season."
Rouse's practice philosophy revolves the ethos that coaches are teachers, and likewise, athletes are students in the classroom known as the practice gym.
Rouse has a checklist for running effective practices.
"First, coaches need to be prepared and come with enthusiasm and energy, similar to what we expect from our players," Rouse said. "After that, it's about having an emphasis every day for practice, delegate and use your other coaches and staff and compete!
"If you want a high-energy practice, put your team in situations where they can compete."
Rouse said the final marker of an effective practice is creativity.
"Don't be afraid to try something new in order to spark variety and try to make yourself better in different areas," he said.
Rouse said that being surrounded by so many DI coaches was a blessing, as was putting together the coaching presentation.
"It was really helpful," he said. "Specifically this time of year, because this time of year is all about review and finding was to be better for next year.
"Having this opportunity really gave myself and our staff some great things to improve and elevate for next season."
To read more about the WBCA Convention, visit https://wbca.org/learn/convention/2022-wbca-convention.
To contact Brandon Petersen, e-mail brandonpetersen@westcliff.edu.