If you’re a youth basketball coach—new or experienced—you know how easy it is to overlook preseason planning. But the truth is, this is where your season is won or lost. That’s why smart coaches focus on basketball coaching strategies that go beyond the playbook and lay a solid foundation before the first tip-off.
Coach Steve Collins’ “Win the Season” Masterclass isn’t just another coaching clinic. It’s a deep dive into the strategies, systems, and habits that turn average teams into competitive programs.
Why Preseason Planning Matters More Than You Think
Too many coaches dive into drills and plays without first setting expectations. But as Coach Collins puts it, you have to “pour the concrete” before building anything else. The preseason gives you the chance to create structure, culture, and clarity.
Most importantly, the right basketball coaching strategies help you save time during the season. You’ll spend less time scrambling and more time focused on development and team chemistry.
Culture Is Your Foundation
Strong culture doesn’t happen by accident. It’s built intentionally, and preseason is the perfect time to do it.
Coach Collins recommends:
Morning team meetings to test player commitment
The “Foxhole Test” to identify true leaders
Creating player-led traditions that outlast a single season
When your culture is strong, your team runs itself—even when you’re not in the gym.
Smart Basketball Coaching Strategies Win Games
Great basketball coaching isn’t about memorizing drills. It’s about knowing what to teach and when to teach it. That’s what separates winning programs from the rest.
Use your preseason to:
Develop your offensive and defensive philosophies
Plan practices backwards from the first game
Identify which drills deliver the biggest return on time
Coach Collins warns: “Don’t build the plane while flying it.” If you prep with purpose now, you’ll avoid panic later.
Practice Plans That Match Your Team
Every team is different. So, your practice plans should reflect your current roster—not last year’s strengths.
Build better habits by:
Tracking time spent on key skills (like free throws or turnovers)
Prioritizing player development early
Adjusting your plan to fit your personnel
The best coaches adapt. But first, they plan.
Join the TeachHoops Community
TeachHoops.com offers a unique platform for coaches to share experiences and gain new insights. Learn from others who have navigated similar challenges. It’s an invaluable resource for those looking to:
Unlike most basketball coaching clinics, Win the Season gives you behind-the-scenes access to a coach who’s still in the game. You’ll see real footage, live strategy calls, and even team meetings.
Here’s what’s included:
Weekly Zoom calls with other coaches
Full season documentation from Coach Collins’ program
Templates, drills, and plug-and-play resources
Personal mentorship for those who want more access
These aren’t just tools. They’re basketball coaching strategies that have been tested over 25 seasons.
Who Is This For?
Youth coaches building from scratch
Experienced coaches needing a system reset
Programs with talent but no identity
Anyone tired of wasting time and losing close games
Basketball coaching clinics are still one of the best ways to grow—no matter how many seasons you’ve coached. They give you fresh tools, sharpen your philosophy, and remind you why you coach in the first place.
But let’s be honest—not all basketball coaching clinics hit the mark. That’s why Win the Preseason stands out. It’s packed with strategy, culture-building, and tools you’ll use all season—not just in November.
What Is the Win the Preseason Masterclass?
Win the Preseason is a free 90-minute online masterclass designed for youth and high school coaches. Led by Coach Steve Collins, it walks you through how to win the season before the season even starts.
But it doesn’t stop there. Unlike other basketball coaching clinics that only cover preseason ideas, this one dives deep into what it takes to manage your program in-season too.
You’ll learn:
How to design strategic practices
How to handle team and parent challenges
How to plan for momentum shifts, foul trouble, and game-ending situations
Plus, you’ll get downloadable tools and handouts used in real championship programs.
The Three Frameworks That Set This Basketball Coaching Clinics Apart
Coach Collins doesn’t just throw drills at you. He delivers a complete coaching blueprint that’s built on three clear frameworks:
1️⃣ In-Season Management
Adaptive Coaching: Handle foul trouble, manage timeouts, and prepare for chaos.
Roles & Rotations: Use midseason evaluations, player role check-ins, and touchpoints to guide your rotation.
Momentum Maintenance: From student sections to rest periods—everything matters.
2️⃣ Game Planning
Practice Structure: Run practice like game day, complete with pregame routines and halftime adjustments.
End-of-Game Execution: Develop situational plays like “WIN” and “SCORE” that players actually remember.
Scouting & Film Prep: Give players focused keys, while you handle the deeper 20-page scout.
Academic Accountability: Weekly teacher reports starting in 6th grade.
Motivation Techniques: Weekly player “grades” based on hustle, leadership, and locker room presence.
These are the things most basketball coaching clinics never get into. And they’re exactly what win programs—not just games.
Join the TeachHoops Community
TeachHoops.com offers a unique platform for coaches to share experiences and gain new insights. Learn from others who have navigated similar challenges. It’s an invaluable resource for those looking to:
Coach Steve Collins is the creator of Coach Unplugged, Teach Hoops, and Coaching Youth Hoops. He’s a veteran head coach in Wisconsin with over two decades of experience—and 14 straight conference titles.
He’s built a winning program from scratch. And now he’s sharing every piece of that journey—from preseason to postseason.
His philosophy centers on three things:
Culture matters more than schemes
Touchpoints build trust
Your program is more than the scoreboard
He still teaches full-time, coaches his team, and mentors coaches through his Championship Access program.
Bonus: A Look Inside Championship Access
Want more than one webinar? Coach Collins offers Championship Access, a full-season mentorship program. It includes:
Weekly Zoom meetings with other coaches
Practice footage, film sessions, and locker room talks
One-on-one mentorship via Voxer and email
All the tools, templates, and handouts featured in the masterclass
Think of it as your behind-the-scenes pass to a real high-level high school program.
Basketball Coaching Clinics Final Thoughts: Stop Winging the Preseason
Basketball coaching clinics should give you more than buzzwords and generic drills. This one delivers real answers, real systems, and real inspiration.
Whether you’re entering your first season or your fifteenth, the Win the Preseason Masterclass is a chance to level up.
