Basketball End of Game situations refer to the specific scenarios and strategies that teams employ in the closing moments of a basketball game when the score is close and every possession becomes critical. These situations typically involve various tactics aimed at maximizing scoring opportunities, managing the clock, and maintaining or gaining a competitive advantage.
It’s important to note that end-of-game situations can vary depending on the specific rules and regulations of different basketball leagues and organizations. Coaches and players often develop unique strategies and adjustments based on their team’s strengths, the opponent’s weaknesses, and the game’s context.
Here’s a look at seven elements basketball coaches should consider when dealing with End of Game situations.
7 Elements to Consider During Basketball End of Game Situations
Game-Winning/Go-Ahead Possession: When a team is trailing by a small margin or tied, they have the opportunity to execute a play to score and take the lead or win the game.
Clock Management: Teams need to be mindful of the game clock and shot clock in order to maximize their possessions and prevent the opposing team from having enough time for a comeback. This may involve intentionally fouling to stop the clock, strategic timeouts, or using quick fouls to send the opponent to the free-throw line and conserve time.
Free-Throw Strategies: Depending on the score and time remaining, teams may employ different strategies when shooting free throws or defending against them. This can include intentionally missing a free throw to create an opportunity for an offensive rebound or committing intentional fouls to prevent the opposing team from attempting a potential game-tying or game-winning shot.
Inbound Plays: Out-of-bounds situations, especially when the offensive team is near their basket with limited time, require well-designed plays to create open scoring opportunities. These plays often involve screens, cuts, and decoy movements to confuse the defense.
Three-Point Shooting: With the increased value of three-pointers, teams may strategically seek three-point shots to quickly close a scoring gap or take the lead.
Defensive Strategies: Teams may employ specific defensive strategies, such as full-court pressure, double-teaming star players, or denying certain passes, to disrupt the opposing team’s offensive flow and force turnovers.
Overtime Strategies: When a game is tied at the end of regulation, teams enter an overtime period with additional time to determine the winner. Overtime basketball strategies are similar to end of game situations, but teams need to adapt and adjust their approach based on the game’s flow and player fouls.
Prepping for Basketball End of Game Situations
Preparing for end of game situations are crucial for basketball coaches at any level. Often times, however, this remains overlooked when developing their practice plans. Coaches continually drill aspects of an offensive set or a defensive approach, but sometimes forget those end-of-game scenarios.
Competitive practice games stand as one useful tool. These drills inject energy into practice that’s usually reserved for game nights. Competitive games, especially ones where the losing team feels the consequences, allow coaches to bring a high-level of energy to the practice floor.
Another thing basketball coaches should consider is developing specific in-practice scenarios to prepare for those end of game situations. These scenarios might play out during a controlled scrimmage. But adding specific elements like time and score will aid in that preparation. Something like, asking a team to hold a single-digit lead for three minutes. Or maybe the “best” player is not available due to foul trouble. Options are only limited by the coach’s creativity.
Check out the YouTube link below for a specific discussion between coaches on how to deal with end of game situations. In this segment, coaches use real game footage to talk through the options available.
If you coach a K-8th grade team, we have hundreds of resources. All laid out in an easy-to-follow, step-by-step system to save you time and money. Check out coachingyouthhoops.com today!
In this post, we will delve into the essential skill development drills for youth basketball players on the offensive side of the ball. These drills are designed to improve their fundamental skills, boost performance, and foster their love for the game. Whether you are a seasoned coach or just starting, incorporating these drills into your practice plans will greatly benefit your players’ growth and development.
Dribbling Drills
Dribbling is a fundamental skill that every young basketball player must master. By focusing on proper dribbling techniques and ball control, players can become more confident and effective on the court.
Here are three dribbling drills to incorporate into your practice sessions:
1. Stationary Dribbling Drill
This drill helps players improve their ball-handling skills while standing in one place. Instruct your players to dribble the ball using both hands, focusing on maintaining control and keeping the ball at waist height.
Encourage them to use their fingertips, stay low, and alternate between dribbling with their right and left hand. This drill promotes coordination and helps players develop a feel for the ball.
2. Zigzag Dribbling Drill
The zigzag dribbling drill is an excellent way to work on change of direction, speed, and ball protection. Set up cones or use defenders spaced apart in a zigzag pattern. Instruct players to dribble through the course, weaving in and out of the obstacles while maintaining control of the ball.
Emphasize the importance of staying low, using quick crossovers, and protecting the ball from defenders. This drill enhances agility, quickness, and dribbling under pressure.
3. Two-Ball Dribbling Drill
The two-ball dribbling drill is a challenging exercise that enhances coordination and ambidexterity. Each player uses both hands simultaneously to dribble two basketballs.
This drill helps players develop their weak hand while improving overall ball-handling skills. Encourage players to start with simple dribbling patterns and gradually progress to more complex moves. It’s important to emphasize control, coordination, and rhythm while dribbling with both hands.
Shooting Drills
Shooting is a fundamental skill that every player wants to excel at. By incorporating specific shooting drills into your practices, you can help your players improve their shooting technique, accuracy, and confidence.
Here are three shooting drills that focus on different aspects of shooting:
1. Form Shooting Drill
The form shooting drill is a fundamental exercise that emphasizes proper shooting mechanics. Start close to the basket and have players focus on their shooting form: feet shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent, elbow aligned with the shooting hand, and eyes on the target.
Encourage them to shoot with a smooth motion, using their legs for power. Gradually move players farther from the basket as they improve their form. This drill reinforces muscle memory and builds a solid shooting foundation.
2. Spot Shooting Drill
Spot shooting drills simulate game-like situations where players shoot from specific spots on the court. This drill helps players develop accuracy and confidence in shooting from various locations. Choose five to seven spots around the perimeter or key areas and have players take shots from each spot.
Encourage proper footwork, balance, and quick release. This drill also improves players’ ability to read the court and find open spots for shooting.
3. Catch and Shoot Drill
In games, players often need to quickly catch the ball and shoot. The catch and shoot drill focuses on receiving a pass and shooting with minimal hesitation. Have players pair up, with one player passing and the other shooting. The passer should deliver accurate passes to simulate game situations.
Emphasize quick footwork, being ready to shoot upon receiving the pass, and proper shooting technique. This drill improves players’ ability to shoot under pressure and in a dynamic setting.
Passing Drills
Passing is a vital skill in basketball that enables players to move the ball effectively, create scoring opportunities, and foster teamwork.
Here are three passing drills to incorporate into your practices:
1. Two-Person Chest Pass Drill
The two-person chest pass drill helps players develop accuracy and technique in their chest passes. Have players pair up and face each other at a moderate distance. Instruct them to use both hands, push the ball from their chest with a quick release, and aim for their partner’s chest.
Encourage players to maintain proper form, follow through with their wrists, and work on passing with crispness and precision. This drill reinforces the importance of strong and accurate chest passes in game situations.
2. Circle Passing Drill
The circle passing drill is an excellent exercise to enhance passing skills under pressure and from various angles. Form a circle with your players, spaced a few feet apart. Start with one player passing the ball to a teammate and continue the pattern around the circle. Vary the passing techniques, such as chest passes, bounce passes, and overhead passes.
Encourage players to communicate, focus on accurate passes, and adjust to different receiving positions. This drill improves passing accuracy, decision-making, and adaptability.
3. Outlet Passing Drill
Outlet passing is crucial for fast breaks and quick transition offense. In this drill, players practice long-distance, accurate passes to initiate the fast break. Set up two lines, one near the baseline and the other near midcourt. The first player in the baseline line rebounds the ball and throws an outlet pass to a teammate in the midcourt line.
Emphasize the importance of accurate and quick passes, leading the receiver, and maintaining good spacing. This drill enhances passing vision, accuracy, and decision-making in fast-paced situations.
If you coach a K-8th grade team, we have hundreds of resources. All laid out in an easy-to-follow, step-by-step system to save you time and money. Check out coachingyouthhoops.com today!
Defense is a critical component of basketball success, and in this blog, we will provide you with valuable insights and effective drills to enhance your players’ defensive skills. From mastering defensive stance and closing out to excelling in rebounding and pressure defense, we have curated a collection of individual defensive drills to help your team elevate their game.
Whether you’re a coach looking to sharpen your coaching strategies or a player seeking to improve your defensive prowess, our blog is your go-to resource. Let’s dive into the world of individual defensive drills for better basketball performance!
Essential Individual Defensive Drills for Better Basketball
To maximize our practice time, it’s crucial to allocate the first 3-5 minutes to warm up our athletes mentally and physically while focusing on fundamental techniques. By repeatedly executing and reviewing the basics throughout the season, we can build a solid foundation for continuous skill development. Here are the skills I plan to emphasize during these individual defensive drills:
Stance
Closing out
Chinning a rebound followed by a good outlet pass
For the initial week and a half to two weeks, I’ll prioritize these drills daily. Building upon the previous segment, let’s move on to the next set of drills:
Defensive Drill: 1-on-1 Box Out
Coach starts with the ball on the wing, offense on the opposite wing, and defense in helpside.
The coach shoots, and the defense boxes out, pursues the ball, and rotates to offense. Intensity increases gradually as defense improves.
Defensive Drill: 1-on-1 Full Court – Force Sideline
Start in the baseline/sideline corner, with the ballhandler attempting to beat the defender to the middle of the court.
The defender’s task is to stay on the inside hip of the ball handler, forcing them up the sideline. Proper positioning is vital.
Defensive Drill: 1-on-1 Pressure the Passer
Offensive and defensive players positioned on wings, with the remaining players forming lines on the blocks.
Defense applies pressure without fouling for 5 seconds as the offense holds the ball. The offense then attempts an entry pass into the post while the defense aims for a deflection.
Defensive Drill: 1-on-1 Jump to the Ball
Offensive and defensive players start on each wing, with a coach at the top of the key. The offense passes to the coach, and the defense jumps towards the ball.
The offense then V-cuts down to the block while the defense prevents them from cutting in front of their face. Intensity increases progressively.
By incorporating these individual defensive drills into your practice routine, you’ll lay the groundwork for better basketball performance. Remember to focus on technique, gradually increase intensity, and provide feedback to enhance your players’ defensive abilities. Stay tuned for more valuable basketball insights and drills!
If you coach a K-8th grade team, we have hundreds of resources. All laid out in an easy-to-follow, step-by-step system to save you time and money. Check out coachingyouthhoops.com today!
Building a solid foundation in basketball skills is crucial for any player’s success on the court. Whether you’re a coach looking for fresh drills or a player eager to improve, these basketball skill development ideas will provide the tools needed to excel. From shooting techniques to defensive strategies, get ready to elevate your game with these practical and effective practice tips. Let’s dive in!
5 Skill Development Ideas for Basketball Practice
Believe it or not there used to be only one basketball season every year. Those players who had some extra time on their hands and wanted to play a little more would go to the closest park or city gym and play in pickup games. Sometimes those games were five-on-five full court but more often than not they would be half court three on three or four on four. Since only a relatively few players actually played in the off season, those that did were noticeably better than their peers when the official basketball season eventually started up again.
Of course, now things are noticeably different. There are two separate and distinct basketball seasons – school season and club season – and it seems that as soon as one ends the other begins immediately. As a result it’s very common for players to compete in upwards of 80 games a year! Some players benefit greatly from so many games while others just end up reinforcing already bad habits without improving at all.
If you are playing game after game after game and not improving like you want to or need to then it might be time to reevaluate your training schedule. Here are 5 things to consider when working out in the offseason. They are ideas adapted from Doug Lemov’s book for classroom teachers called “Practice Perfect.”
1. Encode Success
Fighting through adversity might make you mentally tougher and much more resilient but it’s not always the best way to develop basketball skills. I’m not saying everything you work on should be easy but instead of doing flashy, complicated drills focus on those things that are simple and game like.
Train yourself to be successful and once you have mastered a skill or movement then and only then move on to something more complicated. If possible, constantly look at pictures or watch videos of someone correctly executing the skill you’re trying to perfect. Think of it as “positive brainwashing.”
2. Practice the 20
The Pareto Principle states that 80 percent of your results will come from 20 percent of your actions.
Assuming that this principle is true, if you are serious about becoming a better player you should focus on getting real good at those things which produce the most results. If it doesn’t happen in a game – and often – why are you practicing it?
3. Objectives before Drills
The majority of young players that I know prepare for an individual skills workout by thinking: “Today I want to play these two shooting games and then do these ball handling drills, and then if somebody else is in the gym maybe we can get in a few games of one on one or two on two.”
Advanced players think something like this, “I’ve been missing slightly to the left lately so I need to work on my follow through and I can correct it by using this particular drill. Then since my crossover needs to be a little tighter I’m going to get out the cones and place them really close together so my ballhandling has to be tighter and quicker. I want to improve my attacking and finishing moves from the wing so I’m going to get someone else to come to the gym and defend me 25 times.” Notice the difference? It’s huge.
4. Make Your Strengths Even Stronger
The summer is a great time to add new skills and dimensions to your game but just make sure you don’t neglect the things you already do well.
I know a local high school girl who was an outstanding shooter but didn’t drive very well or very often. She evidently worked all summer on her attacking and finishing skills because when I saw her in college she was relentlessly attacking the rim. However, she never looked for her outside shot and when she did her shot looked completely broken. After an entire summer of working out she wasn’t a better player, just a different one!
5. Drill to Develop Skills
Scrimmage to Evaluate. Playing 60 games a summer is not going to help you develop a new skill or improve a weak one. What the games will do is give you the opportunity to implement those things you’ve been practicing.
If you’re not practicing during the week then you’re just playing on the weekends! Fun? Absolutely! But not necessarily conducive to becoming a better skilled and talented player.
Ep 1759 Five Skill Every Player Should Work on During the Summer
Youth Basketball Coaching Made Easy
If you coach a K-8th grade team, we have hundreds of resources. All laid out in an easy-to-follow, step-by-step system to save you time and money. Check out coachingyouthhoops.com today!
As a coach, you understand that developing your players’ physical skills is only part of the equation for success on the court. The ability to navigate through challenges, overcome setbacks, and maintain focus in high-pressure situations is what sets truly exceptional athletes apart. Basketball is a sport that demands players be mentally tough. Mental fortitude shines through split-second decisions and relentless competition can push players to their limits. However, it is in these crucibles that champions are forged. Whether you’re a seasoned coach or a passionate player seeking personal growth, this comprehensive guide will equip you with 20 invaluable strategies to cultivate mental toughness and resilience.
In his book, Training Camp: What the Best Do Better Than Everyone Else, author Jon Gordon presents Twenty Ways to Get Mentally Tough. This book is a valuable resource for coaches, but here’s a look at the strategies to develop that necessary mental fortitude.
20 Ways to Get Mentally Tough
When you face a setback, think of it as a defining moment that will lead to a future accomplishment.
When you encounter adversity, remember, the best don’t just face adversity; they embrace it, knowing it’s not a dead end but a detour to something greater and better.
When you face negative people, know that the key to life is to stay positive in the face of negativity, not in the absence of it. After all, everyone will have to overcome negativity to define themselves and create their success.
When you face the naysayers, remember the people who believed in you and spoke positive words to you.
When you face critics, remember to tune them out and focus only on being the best you can be.
When you wake up in the morning, take a morning walk of gratitude and prayer. It will create a fertile mind ready for success.
When you fear, trust. Let your faith be greater than your doubt.
When you fail, find the lesson in it, and then recall a time you have succeeded.
When you head into battle, visualize success.
When you are thinking about the past or worrying about the future, instead focus your energy on the present moment. The now is where your power is the greatest.
When you want to complain, instead identify a solution.
When your own self-doubt crowds your mind, weed it and replace it with positive thoughts and positive self-talk.
When you feel distracted, focus on your breathing, observe your surroundings, clear your mind, and get into the The Zone. The Zone is not a random event. It can be created.
When you feel all is impossible, know that with God, all things are possible.
When you feel alone, think of all the people who have helped you along the way and who love and support you now.
When you feel lost, pray for guidance.
When you are tired and drained, remember to never, never, never give up. Finish strong in everything you do.
When you feel like you can’t do it, know that you can do all things through Him who gives you strength.
When you feel like your situation is beyond your control, pray and surrender. Focus on what you can control and let go of what you can’t.
When you’re in a high pressure situation and the game is on the line, and everyone is watching you, remember to smile, have fun, and enjoy it. Life is short; you only live once. You have nothing to lose. Seize the moment.
If you coach a K-8th grade team, we have hundreds of resources. All laid out in an easy-to-follow, step-by-step system to save you time and money. Check out coachingyouthhoops.com today!
Long gone are the days when a basketball player could take the summer off and then worry about getting in shape once school starts. Now, if you’re not in decent shape when school starts then you are already behind. The following summer running program will let you start school physically ready for your team’s Fall workouts and will also increase your speed, stamina, and mental toughness.
All sprints are to be done with 100 percent intensity. You can rest longer between sprints if you need to but don’t reduce your intensity level! This is very important!
Variation: Every other Tuesday change directions on your sprints. For example, instead of sprinting 20 yards in a straight line, sprint 10 yards down, turn around and sprint 10 yards back.
If you coach a K-8th grade team, we have hundreds of resources. All laid out in an easy-to-follow, step-by-step system to save you time and money. Check out coachingyouthhoops.com today!
The pick and roll (PNR) is one of the oldest and most popular plays in the history of basketball. Teams that master the skills involved in the pick and roll can become virtually unstoppable. However, a huge difference exists between mastering the required skills and just running through them.
There are four main reasons why the pick and roll has been so effective for decades:
Creates size and/or speed mismatches
Forces two defensive players to defend one offensive player which causes defenses to rotate and cover up
Gets opposing defenders in foul trouble
Lets you play your best offensive players regardless of “position”
5 Phases of the Basic Pick and Roll
Now most players think there are only two steps involved in the PNR – the pick and the roll – but in reality there are five separate and distinct phases. These phases include:
Set up
Pick
Drive
Roll
Pass
Phase 1: Set Up
The set up required in executing an effective pick and roll on a stationary defender is much different than executing one on a moving defender.
If the defender is stationary, such as when the offensive player catches the ball on the wing, the picker must initiate the set up. However, if the defender is moving, such as when running a pick and roll in transition or out of the Horns set, it’s crucial that the ball handler initiate the set up by taking the correct angle.
Phase 2: Pick
The pick should be set with your knees bent and your feet wider than shoulder width. Guys should have their arms extended down over the groin with one hand placed over the other. Girls should have their arms placed in an “X” so that each hand is placed on the opposite collar bone and the chest is protected. Either way all hands and elbows need to be positioned and kept inside the body to reduce the risk of getting an offensive foul.
Don’t lean into the defense, If the ball handler does not take a good angle and drive his defender into the pick, the picker should never overcompensate by moving.
Phase 3: Drive
A pick and roll is only going to consistently work if the ball handler has the mind set of driving to score first and passing second! A driver who is not a constant threat to score will never force two defenders to guard him which will greatly reduce the effectiveness of the play.
The biggest mistake players make is driving too early before the picker has come to a complete stop and established a legal position. When this happens it almost always results in an offensive foul called on the picker.
Get as low as possible on the drive. Work on getting your inside shoulder as low or lower than your teammate’s (Picker) hip. Drive so close to your teammate that you actually make contact with his hip.
Once you clear the pick, the goal is to execute a straight line drive to the basket. The defense may hard hedge to throw you off line but you should keep your dribble alive, recover as soon as possible and attack the rim. Remember, the shortest distance between two points is always a straight line!
Phase 4: Roll
Once the ball handler has cleared the pick, the picker should open up to the ball and roll in the same direction as the drive. The key to a highly effective roll is to maintain contact with the defender as long as possible.
Many on ball defenders, especially younger ones, will usually take the path of least resistance and try to slide underneath the pick. When this happens a quick and physical roll will essentially serve as a “moving screen” and keep the ball handler’s defender completely out of the play.
Phase 5: Pass
The first four steps can be executed perfectly but if the ensuing pass is thrown poorly the entire sequence becomes a total failure. Since the pass must be thrown quickly and accurately a one handed bounce pass thrown right off the dribble is usually the best option. Chest passes are usually deflected or stolen in this situation and lob passes are often thrown too short or behind the roller.
Pick and roll duos like Stockton & Malone and Parker & Duncan have made this play look much easier than it really is over the years. Don’t let its simplicity fool you into thinking than anyone can do it by just walking out on to the court.
Each of the five steps takes hundreds of repetitions to master but once you do you will be able to impact every game you enter.
If you coach a K-8th grade team, we have hundreds of resources. All laid out in an easy-to-follow, step-by-step system to save you time and money. Check out coachingyouthhoops.com today!
There are a variety of different basketball sets that a coach can run. Some like the 1-4 high looks, some like Box sets, and some like to change it up through all their sets. If a coach has been leading a team for any length of time, they have tried a variety of different set options. Some coaches change them from year to year. This article is going to be looking at three different Point Motion basketball sets that a coach could implement with their team.
We implemented these sets last season for a few reasons. First of all, we had 2-3 players who were really strong with the ball in their hands and going downhill. These sets got our best players in positions where they and our team could be successful.
Second, it clears the lane up for those players to drive. Third, it allowed us to put players who may not be the best ball handlers but are good shooters, defenders, or valuable in other roles for us and keep the ball out of their hands as these drives.
Lastly, we had a solid 5 who could play on the perimeter, shoot the ball a little, and drive to the basket as needed. As you will see in these sets, it helped having a skilled 5 who could do a variety of different things of things on the court. The 3 sets are described in detail below.
Basketball Offense: Point Motion Away
Point Motion Away allows any basketball coach to get a great cutter cutting to the basket and looking to make plays off the catch. This is a really good action if you have a player is great at the LeBron-Catch-and-Go idea that you are starting to see make the waves on attacks.
If the cutter isn’t open, the 1 could be open on a screen and pop or the 5 could do some dribble handoff actions on the strong side of the court.
Basketball Offense: Point Motion Middle
This is a great set if you have a guard (especially a 1) who is a skilled post player. It starts with the 5 flashing and the 1 going into the lane for a cut/post opportunity. If that is not open, it continues with a down screen for the 1 to the corner and the screener could slip.
If neither of those are open, the play wraps up with a dribble handoff with 1 going downhill. The 5 needs to be able to be adaptable to many situations in this set.
Basketball Offense: Point Motion Over
This is quite possibly the most simple of the sets. This is a great opportunity to get the ball into your 1‘s hands. It gets them going downhill and make reads. They could go to the basket or hit a corner shooter for a 3.
A counter to this play would be the 5 keeping the ball and spinning and going opposite. This is a great example of why you need a 5 the opposing team needs to respect because if they don’t the lane will be clogged for the 1.
Kyle Brasher | Gibson Southern High School
Lady Titans Basketball Coach
If you coach a K-8th grade team, we have hundreds of resources. All laid out in an easy-to-follow, step-by-step system to save you time and money. Check out coachingyouthhoops.com today!
As a youth basketball coach, one of the most important skills you can develop is effective communication with your players. Good communication can help your players feel more confident, engaged, and motivated, while poor communication can lead to confusion, frustration, and disengagement. Communicating with youth basketball players remains key to any team building and development.
Here are 10 tips to help you communicate effectively with your youth basketball players:
10 Tips for Communicating Effectively with Youth Basketball Players
Be clear and concise: Use simple language and avoid jargon or complicated instructions. Make sure your players understand what you are asking them to do.
Use positive language: Focus on what you want your players to do, rather than what you don’t want them to do. For example, say “keep your elbows in” instead of “don’t let your elbows stick out”.
Provide feedback: Let your players know what they are doing well and what they can improve on. Be specific and provide examples.
Use demonstrations: Show your players what you want them to do. This can be especially helpful for younger players who may not understand verbal instructions as well.
Use visual aids: Use diagrams or videos to help explain concepts or strategies.
Be patient: Youth players are still developing their skills and may need more time to understand what you are asking of them. Be patient and offer additional explanations or demonstrations as needed.
Ask questions: Encourage your players to ask questions and clarify their understanding. This can help them feel more engaged and invested in the process.
Use positive reinforcement: Praise your players for their efforts and progress. This can help build their confidence and motivation.
Give players ownership: Let your players have a say in the team’s goals or strategies. This can help them feel more invested and engaged in the process.
Listen to your players: Pay attention to your players’ feedback and concerns. This can help you identify areas where you may need to adjust your coaching style or strategy.
By using these tips, you can improve your communication skills as a youth basketball coach and help your players develop their skills and confidence on the court. Remember, effective communication is a key component of successful coaching at any level.
If you coach a K-8th grade team, we have hundreds of resources all laid out in an easy-to-follow, step-by-step system to save you time and money. Check out coachingyouthhoops.com today!
As a youth basketball coach, I’ve seen players of all levels and abilities. While there are many skills that can be valuable for players to learn, there are five essential skills that every youth player should focus on. In this post, we’ll discuss these five skills, along with specific tactics and reasoning for each one, and explain how they can be helpful for youth basketball players.
Essential Youth Basketball Skills to Develop
These five essential skills are critical for youth basketball players to learn. Ball handling, shooting, defense, passing, and rebounding are fundamental skills that players will use in every game.
Ball Handling
One of the most fundamental skills in basketball is ball handling. Without good ball handling skills, players will struggle to move around the court, protect the ball, and make passes.
To improve ball handling skills, coaches can encourage players to practice dribbling with both hands, practice changing direction while dribbling, and incorporate cone drills to work on agility and control.
Shooting
Shooting is another essential skill that all youth basketball players should learn. Accuracy is critical for players to contribute to their team and score points.
Coaches can help players improve their shooting skills by encouraging proper form, incorporating shooting drills, and helping players develop a consistent shooting routine.
Defense
A good defense can make a big difference in a basketball game. Youth basketball players should learn how to play good defense, which includes staying low, moving their feet, and keeping their eyes on the ball.
Coaches can help players improve their defensive skills by incorporating defensive drills, practicing closeouts, and encouraging communication on the court.
Passing
Passing is another essential skill that all youth basketball players should learn. Good passing skills can help players move the ball around the court, find open teammates, and create scoring opportunities.
Coaches can help players improve their passing skills by practicing different types of passes, emphasizing the importance of accuracy and timing, and incorporating passing drills.
Rebounding
Rebounding is an important part of basketball and can help a team gain an advantage on both ends of the court.
Coaches can help players improve their rebounding skills by teaching proper technique, encouraging box-outs, and incorporating rebounding drills into practice.
As coaches, we can help players develop these skills by incorporating specific drills and exercises into practice, emphasizing the importance of good technique and consistency, and providing positive feedback to encourage improvement. With these skills, youth basketball players can improve their performance and make valuable contributions to their teams.
If you coach a K-8th grade team, we have hundreds of resources all laid out in an easy-to-follow, step-by-step system to save you time and money. Check out coachingyouthhoops.com today!
As a youth basketball coach, it’s essential to design drills that help your players develop the skills they need to succeed on the court. These drills should be challenging, fun, and age-appropriate. In this post, we’ll discuss the top 10 drills for youth basketball players, along with specific tactics and approaches coaches can use to ensure their players get the most out of each drill.
10 Youth Basketball Drills
Designing effective drills for youth basketball players is essential for helping them develop the skills they need to succeed on the court.
3-on-3 Half-Court Scrimmage
This drill is excellent for improving team play, communication, and defensive skills. Divide the team into two groups of three and have them play a half-court game with no dribbling. Encourage players to communicate with each other and work together to defend and score.
Full-Court Layup Drill
This drill helps players develop their speed and agility while practicing their layup technique. Have players line up at one end of the court, then sprint to the other end while dribbling and finishing with a layup. Repeat this drill several times, alternating which hand the players use to dribble.
Shooting Relay
This drill helps players improve their shooting accuracy and speed. Divide the team into two groups and have them stand at opposite ends of the court. Each player takes turns shooting and running to retrieve the ball. The first team to make all their shots and return to the starting line wins.
Zig-Zag Dribbling Drill
This drill helps players develop their ball-handling skills and improve their footwork. Set up cones in a zig-zag pattern on the court and have players dribble the ball through the cones while maintaining control and speed.
Defensive Slide Drill
This drill helps players improve their lateral movement and defensive skills. Have players start at one end of the court and slide laterally to the other end while staying low and keeping their eyes on the coach. Repeat this drill several times, alternating the direction players slide.
Basic Rebounding Drill
This drill helps players improve their rebounding skills and timing. Have one player stand under the basket while the coach shoots the ball from various angles. The player must jump and grab the rebound, then quickly pass the ball back to the coach.
Two-Ball Dribbling Drill
This drill helps players improve their ball-handling skills and coordination. Have players dribble two balls at the same time, alternating which hand each ball is in. Encourage players to keep their eyes up and maintain control of both balls.
Line Passing Drill
This drill helps players improve their passing accuracy and speed. Have players line up facing each other, then pass the ball back and forth while walking down the court. Encourage players to use different types of passes, such as chest passes and bounce passes.
Pick and Roll Drill
This drill helps players improve their teamwork and pick-and-roll skills. Have two players set up a pick-and-roll, with one player setting a screen and the other player dribbling and using the screen to get past a defender. Encourage players to communicate and work together to execute the play.
Hot Potato Drill
This drill helps players improve their reaction time and hand-eye coordination. Have players stand in a circle and pass the ball quickly to each other, trying to keep the ball away from a defender in the middle. The defender tries to steal the ball, and if they do, they switch places with the player who lost possession.
If you coach a K-8th grade team, we have hundreds of resources all laid out in an easy-to-follow, step-by-step system to save you time and money. Check out coachingyouthhoops.com today!
Basketball is a physically demanding sport that requires strength, agility, and endurance. As a youth basketball coach, you know that your players need to be physically prepared to compete at their best. Strength training is a crucial component of physical preparation for basketball players of all ages. In this post, we’ll discuss the importance of strength training for youth basketball players and specific tactics and examples coaches can use to incorporate strength training into their team’s practice and games.
Benefits of Strength Training for Youth Basketball Players
Strength training offers a range of benefits for youth basketball players. It can improve overall strength and power, increase endurance, reduce the risk of injury, and enhance agility and coordination.
Strength training can also improve confidence and self-esteem, which can translate to improved performance on the court.
Incorporating Strength Training into Practice and Games
Coaches can incorporate strength training into their team’s practice and games in several ways. One way is to include strength exercises as part of the warm-up routine. Dynamic warm-up exercises that focus on balance and stability can also help to improve overall strength and reduce the risk of injury.
Another way to incorporate strength training into practice is to use bodyweight exercises such as push-ups, squats, and lunges. These exercises can be modified to suit players of all ages and skill levels and can be done without the need for specialized equipment.
Coaches can also incorporate strength training into their team’s games by using drills that require strength and power, such as rebounding drills or defensive drills that focus on quick lateral movements. These drills not only improve strength and power but also help players develop basketball-specific skills.
Building Team Culture through Strength Training
Strength training can also help to build a positive team culture and foster a sense of cohesion among players. Coaches can use strength training as an opportunity to encourage players to support each other and work together towards a common goal.
Strength training can also help to build confidence and self-esteem, which can improve players’ attitudes and approach to the game.
Incorporating strength training into youth basketball practice and games offers a range of benefits for players. It can improve overall strength and power, reduce the risk of injury, enhance agility and coordination, and build confidence and self-esteem.
Coaches can use strength training as an opportunity to build team culture and foster a sense of cohesion among players. By incorporating strength training into their team’s practice and games, coaches can help their players develop the physical and mental toughness they need to compete at their best.
If you coach a K-8th grade team, we have hundreds of resources all laid out in an easy-to-follow, step-by-step system to save you time and money. Check out coachingyouthhoops.com today!
As a youth basketball coach, you know that parents play a critical role in their children’s development as basketball players. However, many parents may not realize the importance of their role in building a positive team culture and fostering a sense of cohesion among players. In this post, we’ll discuss some specific tactics and examples of youth basketball parent involvement. These roles parents can use to support youth basketball team building.
5 Roles for Youth Basketball Parent Involvement
For any youth basketball coach, getting the right mix of parent involvement remains important. And for parents, sometimes it’s hard to find the line between support system and nuisance. Here’s a look at five roles any parent can play in their athlete’s youth basketball team.
Encourage Positive Attitudes
As a parent, your attitude can have a significant impact on your child’s experience as a basketball player. Encourage a positive attitude by focusing on your child’s effort and improvement, not just the outcome of the game. Avoid criticism or negative comments about other players, coaches, or referees. Your child will pick up on your attitude and approach, so modeling positive behaviors is crucial.
Volunteer and Get Involved
Volunteering your time and getting involved in your child’s team can be an excellent way to support youth basketball team building. Offer to help with team events, organize team snacks, or assist with transportation. Your involvement can help build relationships with other parents and players and foster a sense of community among the team.
Support Your Child’s Coach
As a parent, it’s essential to support your child’s coach and the team’s goals. Avoid questioning the coach’s decisions or criticizing their strategies in front of your child. Instead, offer constructive feedback privately and communicate any concerns directly to the coach. Supporting the coach creates a sense of unity and shows your child the importance of respecting authority figures.
Model Good Sportsmanship
Good sportsmanship is a crucial component of youth basketball team building. As a parent, model good sportsmanship by showing respect for opposing teams and their players. Avoid gloating or celebrating excessively after a win, and encourage your child to do the same. Teach your child to play with integrity and respect the rules of the game.
Celebrate Team Success
As a parent, it’s essential to celebrate your child’s team’s successes. Celebrate not only when they win but also when they demonstrate good teamwork, effort, and improvement. Focus on the positive aspects of the game, and avoid dwelling on mistakes or losses. Celebrating success builds confidence and reinforces positive attitudes and behaviors.
Parents Play a Key Role
Parents play a critical role in youth basketball team building. By supporting positive attitudes, volunteering and getting involved, supporting the coach, modeling good sportsmanship, and celebrating team success, parents can help foster a sense of community and cohesion among players. Remember that your role as a parent extends beyond your child’s individual performance on the court and that your support can make a significant difference in the success of the team.
If you coach a K-8th grade team, we have hundreds of resources all laid out in an easy-to-follow, step-by-step system to save you time and money. Check out coachingyouthhoops.com today!
As a youth basketball coach, you’re responsible for not only teaching the game but also helping your players develop the skills they need to succeed both on and off the court. One of the most critical factors in building a winning team is the ability to foster a positive team culture and create a strong sense of cohesion among players. In this post, we’ll discuss some specific tactics and examples you can use to build a successful youth basketball team.
5 Tips for Youth Basketball Team Building
Here’s a look at five specific approaches to youth basketball team building for any coach to incorporate.
1. Define Your Team Identity
To create a strong team culture, you need to define your team’s identity. Ask yourself, “What do we want to be known for as a team?” Whether it’s a fast-paced offense or a relentless defense, defining your team identity will help your players understand their roles and work together toward a common goal.
2. Set Goals and Expectations
Setting clear goals and expectations is critical for building a successful youth basketball team. Make sure your players understand what’s expected of them both on and off the court. Create team goals that are challenging but achievable and track progress regularly. Celebrate when milestones are met, and adjust when necessary.
3. Encourage Team Bonding
Team bonding is an essential part of youth basketball team building. Encourage your players to get to know each other outside of practice and games. Consider organizing team dinners, movie nights, or other activities to help build camaraderie and foster a sense of belonging.
4. Practice Good Communication
Effective communication is crucial for building a winning youth basketball team. Encourage your players to communicate with each other both on and off the court. Teach them to listen actively and speak respectfully. Good communication builds trust and understanding, both of which are essential for team success.
5. Build Mental Toughness
Basketball is a physically and mentally demanding sport. To develop a winning team, you need players who are mentally tough. Encourage your players to stay focused, even when things get tough. Teach them to bounce back from mistakes and setbacks quickly. Help them develop a growth mindset that embraces challenges and sees failure as an opportunity to learn and improve.
Building a winning youth basketball team requires more than just coaching skills and strategy. It requires the ability to build a positive team culture, foster strong relationships among players, and help your team develop the mental toughness they need to succeed. By using these specific tactics and examples for youth basketball team building, you’ll be well on your way to developing a winning team that not only performs on the court but also supports each other off the court.
If you coach a K-8th grade team, we have hundreds of resources all laid out in an easy-to-follow, step-by-step system to save you time and money. Check out coachingyouthhoops.com today!
As a coach, I have learned that the value of teamwork in youth basketball cannot be overstated. In basketball, as in life, success is rarely achieved through individual efforts alone. It takes a team working together, sharing the ball, and supporting each other to achieve victory. When players trust each other and understand their roles, they can accomplish great things on the court.
Beyond the game of basketball, the lessons learned from teamwork are invaluable. They can be applied to any aspect of life, from the workplace to personal relationships. As a coach, I strive to instill the value of teamwork in my players, knowing that it will serve them well both on and off the court.
Developing Teamwork in Youth Basketball
1 – Establish Clear Roles: Each player on the team should have a clear understanding of their role and responsibilities. This will help ensure that players are working towards the same goal and minimize confusion and conflict during games.
2 – Encourage Communication: Effective communication is crucial for any team to function successfully. Encourage your players to communicate on and off the court. This can be done through drills, team meetings, or simply setting aside time for players to chat before and after practices.
3 – Build Trust: Trust is essential for effective teamwork. You can build trust by being transparent with your players, encouraging them to be honest with each other, and holding team-building activities that help players get to know each other better.
4 – Foster a Positive Environment: Creating a positive environment can help your players feel more comfortable and confident, which can lead to better teamwork. Encourage positive reinforcement, set realistic expectations, and celebrate successes, both big and small.
5 – Emphasize Collaboration: Collaboration is the cornerstone of teamwork. Encourage your players to work together to achieve a common goal. This can be done through drills, team-building exercises, and encouraging players to support each other on and off the court. By fostering a culture of collaboration, you can help your team achieve success both on and off the court.
Teamwork Must Come from the Team
In the book Game Plans for Success by Ray Didinger, Coach Marty Schottenheimer talks about how coaches can only do and say so much when it comes to instilling values such as teamwork.
“That direction is much more effective coming from a player that coming from a coach. Players get tired of listening to coaches. When the guy at the next locker verbally kicks a player in the butt, it makes an impression. . . . .
A coach can scream and holler about teamwork, but the teams that really have it are the ones on which the players live it and demand it every day. It comes with a mutual respect and internal leadership.”
I would have to completely agree. Teamwork that is “forced” upon the players is usually short lived and insincere. The only enduring and effective form of teamwork must be genuine and must come from the players.
If you coach a K-8th grade team, we have hundreds of resources all laid out in an easy-to-follow, step-by-step system to save you time and money. Check out coachingyouthhoops.com today!
In his book, Game Strategy and Tactics for Basketball: Preparing to Win the Sideline Battle, coach Kevin Sivils discusses how to plan strategy and tactics for basketball for an entire season or an individual game. Coaches often focus on X’s and O’s and overlook how and when a particular offense or defense should be applied and used during a game. Sometimes, though, getting a win comes down to making the right calls when substituting your basketball team’s reserves.
Here’s a look at two rules of substituting to win your basketball games!
Substituting to Win in Basketball
The first rule of substituting in basketball to win is that you as the coach must know your team inside and out. You must know each player’s strengths and weaknesses and how each of their skill sets mesh with those of their teammates. Without this thorough understanding, effective substituting is a crap shoot at best!
The second rule of substituting to win is easier to understand, yet for many, much harder to put into practice. That rule simply says that any and all substitutions must only be made to improve a team’s chances to win the game. In other words, until the game is decided beyond a shadow of a doubt, you shouldn’t play someone (anyone) just to play him! Stay out of the grey area!
It shouldn’t matter how much you like him or that he hasn’t played very much the last couple games. Also, it shouldn’t matter that his mom is the president of your booster club. It shouldn’t even matter how hard he has worked in practice lately. The only thing that should matter is if he can help your team win!
For many High School programs across the country, summer basketball stands filled usually with team camps, summer games and individual workouts. Many view summer as the ideal time to work on your basketball weaknesses and turn them into strengths. As such, most coaches and trainers put individual development as a top priority. This might involve strengthening their athletes’ off hands, increasing their shooting range or improving their physical strength and athletic ability. The goal evolves quickly to make as many improvements as possible before school starts.
With so much emphasis and concentration on developing top notch athletes, some coaches often neglect the importance of strengthening the overall team chemistry. The summer can often make or break a high school team and while I agree that individual development is extremely important, I’m convinced that coaches should also give equal attention to the meshing and bonding of their team.
Summer Basketball: The Perfect Time for Team Bonding
One common myth is that team chemistry is best built during the spring because it allows the kids to interact everyday with each other at school. However, there are many others that argue this is not true. Here are two reasons why the summer may be the best time of the year to develop team chemistry:
Because school is out, many of the everyday distractions such as homework, teenage social drama and “non teammate” friends will be out of sight and out of mind.
Summer is also a time when it is easier for your athletes to view you and your staff as being coaches and friends who have their best interest at heart rather than teachers and authority figures. In other words, kids seem to bond better and quicker in more relaxed atmospheres.
10 Options for Team Bonding
Because of the current economy, many coaches are hesitant to promote team bonding with the use of expensive activities may prevent some athletes from participation. Here are several inexpensive yet fun and effective activities that you and your team can do this summer.
Overnight camping trip
Team hike
Day on the river or lake
Pizza Party and watch the big game (NBA playoffs, Major League baseball, World Cup soccer, WNBA)
Video game competition
Conduct a clinic or summer camp for younger kids
Play city league softball or soccer
Movies
Frisbee Golf
Service project for boosters (yard work, painting, hauling debris)
The possibilities here are endless. The important thing is to spend some time together and to have fun. Guaranteed it will pay off next winter!
Failing to prepare is preparing to fail! Quickly create, organize, & manage your practice plans all in one place to help win games.
Create detailed practice plans! Add drills, notes, diagrams, videos, & groups with an easy-to-use interface to create a detailed practice plan in no time!
Other than parents, coaches have a bigger impact on the lives of young people than just about everyone else. As coaches we know and understand that fact and are often quick to point out to others how our influence has helped the weak become strong, the average become good, and the good become great. Even though we don’t publicly keep score, many of us take detailed mental notes of how many athletes are obviously better off both on and off the court because they participated in our program.
However, what many don’t realize or admit is that there have also been some athletes who are not better off because they were coached by us. In fact, some of these players leave us worse off than when they started!
How does that happen? The answer can often be found in the principle of self fulfilling prophecy which basically says that when someone strongly believes something about themselves, they often adjust their behavior to make those beliefs come true. Because of our position and influence, we as coaches often play a huge role in the development and nurturing of these beliefs even if we don’t realize it at the time.
How We Sabotage the Success of Your Own Players
We usually do this in four incremental steps. The results can either be an upward spiral that leads to improvement, fun, and success or a downward spiral that leads to stagnation, frustration, and failure.
Step 1: Early Impressions
The first step takes place when we form our early impressions and expectations of each of our players. Sometimes this is done during tryouts and other times it takes several days and even weeks of careful observance. Occasionally we even form our impressions and expectations based on the information given to us by others.
Regardless of exactly how and when it is done, we eventually establish a mental picture of the potential value and corresponding expectations of every one of our players.
Step 2: Revealing Our Expectations
The second step occurs when we both directly and indirectly reveal those expectations to our players. This happens directly by telling each player what you expect his or her role to be. Then, constantly telling them specific ways to expand those roles. Expectations can also be indirectly revealed as well by spending more time coaching the better players and less time with the others.
Many coaches also seem to naturally develop stronger, more personal relationships with their top players. That leaves more casual, business like relationships with the bottom of their roster. Soon, players know their worth to the team by how their coach interacts with them.
Step 3: The Weight of Those Expectations
The next step in the cycle finds the athletes responding either positively or negatively to the way they are treated. The special few, the ones author Tim Grover calls “relentless,” ignore the expectations and treatment of others because they have such high expectations of themselves.
However, the majority of players gradually start to mirror whatever the coach expects of them. Those with great expectations become great. Those with lesser expectations seem to get worse as the season progresses.
Step 4: Confirmation Bias
The fourth step takes place when the coach tells himself something like “I knew he would become one of our best players.” Or, “I’m not surprised. I knew she would never amount to much.” Once that happens, either higher or lower expectations get re-established and then revealed by the coach. The behavior of the athletes then adjusts to reflect the new expectations, and the entire four step process is started over.
Obviously not every player can be the team’s leading scorer or rebounder. But every player can be treated with respect and given the necessary support and encouragement to maximize his talents and to reach his full potential. Like it or not, nearly everything you say or do influences your players in one way or another.
Don’t be satisfied that you’ve had a positive impact on some of your players or even most of your players. Make the commitment that you won’t be satisfied until you’ve made a positive impact on all of your players.
Failing to prepare is preparing to fail! Quickly create, organize, & manage your practice plans all in one place to help win games.
Create detailed practice plans! Add drills, notes, diagrams, videos, & groups with an easy-to-use interface to create a detailed practice plan in no time!
There are thousands of basketball drills available in videos, books, and on the internet these days. But how can you tell which one’s a good practice drill and which one isn’t? That’s among the most difficult aspects of practice planning for new basketball coaches. Sometimes, though, it’s as easy as finding a veteran coach and building off what they used to be successful.
Here are 9 tips to recognize a good basketball practice drill that I learned from ultra successful coach Burrall Paye.
Practice Drill Tip 1: Make It Game-Like
When I was in school I was always frustrated by the teacher who would teach us tons of stuff only to find out that none of it was on the test. The gym is your classroom and the games are the test.
Help your students (players) pass the test (win the game) by teaching them what they need to know and giving them a preview of how to apply it. If it doesn’t happen in the game don’t do it in your team practices.
Practice Drill Tip 2: Make It Relevant
There are a lot of coaches who fill their practices with drills that they ran when they were in high school or college or with “favorite” drills that they have picked up along the way – even though those same drills have absolutely nothing to do with their current offense, defense, or coaching philosophy.
If a drill is not applicable or transferable to what you are trying to teach your current teams then don’t do it!
Practice Drill Tip 3: Make It Progressive
If you can lift 10 pounds in September and are still lifting 10 pounds in August you might be lifting all the time but you’re not getting any stronger. The same is true with your drill work in practice.
The best drills grow right along with your players and give them the opportunity to improve over the course of the entire season.
Practice Drill Tip 4: Make It Competitive
One of the most important and productive things you can teach your players is how to be competitive and the use of competitive drills is a great way to do this.
Whether your players are competing against another player or team, competing against themselves or competing against the clock they will benefit from increasing their competitive level as well as their skill level. Most non competitive drills are useless.
Practice Drill Tip 5: Incorporate Conditioning
Ask yourself this – how much does your team have to run at the end of practice to improve their conditioning? If it’s a lot then you are not using enough drills that contain a built in conditioning component.
Keep everyone moving, reduce standing around and remember that just about every half court drill can be turned into a full court drill with just a little tweaking.
Practice Drill Tip 6: Don’t Be Too Complicated
Great drills should make your players stretch their levels of skill, concentration and teamwork and in many cases should be tougher than an actual game situation.
However, the drills should not be impossible to master, especially at lower levels where constant perceived failure could permanently damage a player’s confidence.
Practice Drill Tip 7: Keep Groups Small
We all know and accept the fact that repetition is the mother of all learning. Then why do we run drills where lots of players are standing around watching and then only get a few repetitions when it is finally their turn?
Instead, divide the team in half and run the same drill at both ends of the court so there is less standing and more practicing. Better yet, utilize all your assistant coaches and managers and organize a series of timed drill stations where every player is constantly working and learning.
Practice Drill Tip 8: Incorporate Decision Making
If you can teach your players to be competitive and make good decisions you’ve already won half the battle. This is difficult for those coaches who want complete control over every possession and every player. That said, teaching kids how to make good decisions is synonymous with teaching them how to play.
Since there are a limited number of timeouts, at some time in every game your players will need to make some decisions on their own. It’s better that they learn how to do that in practice instead of “winging it” when the game is on the line.
Practice Drill Tip 9: Keep It Fun
Granted, not all drills need to be fun but at least they should be interesting and challenging. This is especially true with younger players and as the season progresses. LA Clippers assistant coach Kevin Eastman says that fatigue and boredom are the two biggest practice killers.
Be creative. You wouldn’t want to eat chicken cooked the exact same way every single night for 6 months! So of course, your players don’t want to run the exact same closeout drill every single night of the season!
Don’t fall into the trap of drilling just for the sake of drilling. Make sure each drill is run with a purpose and fits into your practice objective for that particular day. If you follow the 9 tips above you can become what Kevin Eastman calls a “skill coach not a drill coach.”
Failing to prepare is preparing to fail! Quickly create, organize, & manage your practice plans all in one place to help win games.
Create detailed practice plans! Add drills, notes, diagrams, videos, & groups with an easy-to-use interface to create a detailed practice plan in no time!
At the end of the season as coaches prepare for the upcoming season, there may be some changes on a coaching staff. When that happens, the opportunity to interview potential new coaches presents an opportunity to interview coaches in an attempt to find a good candidate to fill that open basketball assistant position.
Basketball Assistant Interview Questions
When interviewing potential assistant coaches, I want to avoid asking surface level types of questions. I want to try to dig deep to see what kind of person we are interviewing for the open position.
The types of questions I am interested in asking interested applicants center around two main things: 1. Their philosophy in the game of basketball, and 2. Their values that could rub off onto our young players.
Question 1: What is your offensive development philosophy?
Rationale: I really enjoy asking this question to ensure the applicant we are interviewing is going to fit in with our philosophy as a program. We are a program that likes to spread the ball out and into the hands of as many people as possible. If they believe in isolating and only having one true scorer, this could be a potential issue down the road.
Question 2: Why do you want to help coach in our program?
Rationale: As a coaching staff, we are very protective over our players and the people we introduce into their lives. I want to know exactly why this individual has expressed a desire to become a coach in our program. Are we a potential springboard for another job they are truly after? Are they just looking for a resume builder? Or are they genuinely interested in our players not just as basketball players but invested into the future of America? Those are the types of people I want to have on our staff.
Question 3: What’s the most important part of a player/coach relationship?
Rationale: This question ties in with question 2 but gets a little more specific into the player and coach dynamic. As a head coach, it is vital to have assistant coaches that can develop positive relationships with your players. There is a ton of day to day activities that a coach has to take care of, and unfortunately a byproduct of that can be difficulty in chatting with each and every player on a regular, consistent basis. That is where you need quality assistant coaches to develop these relationships with your players. This question will really get into the heart of how they envision themselves developing that relationship.
Question 4: How will you go about developing trust with the players?
Rationale: This is the final piece of the puzzle in coaches developing quality relationships with their players. Trust is hands down one of the most important things in any relationship. We need our players to trust the entire coaching staff and we need the entire coaching staff to trust each other. Hearing how the applicant will go about developing this trust is something I really need to hear.
As I stated at the beginning, I feel like if someone is applying for a basketball position, they have some basketball knowledge. That is why I only had 1 question on here that I was truly interested in asking in regards to basketball. The most important thing I am looking for in an assistant coaching is someone that is going to develop positive, trusting relationships with our players. That is why I always like to ask those final 3 questions.
Having coached for forty years and looking back to those beginning times, I wish that I had had an article with tips for basketball coaches that would warn me of some of the pitfalls that were ahead of me.
However, at the time, I am pretty sure I wouldn‘t have read it and if I did, I would have thought that none of it applied to me. With that in mind, I decided to jot down ten thoughts for beginning coaches. The word beginning can be crossed out. That‘s because I think these thoughts can be useful for any coach. What do you think?
Not every player will be interested in every practice.
No matter how much experience you have or how great you are at teaching, you will encounter times in the gym when players are just not interested. Don‘t give in to the temptation to scold or yell. Instead, try changing your tone of voice. Try moving around. Try both. You can even switch from talking to a physical activity, like a scrimmage. The process of the scrimmage may increase the players‘ understanding and, possibly, their level of interest.
Teach them anyway.
If a practice is going badly, stop and regroup.
Even if you have planned a detailed practice and have a clear goal in mind, if your approach is not working – for whatever reason – stop! Regroup and start over with a different approach, or abandon your planned practice entirely and go on to something else. Afterward, be honest with yourself as you examine what went wrong and make plans for the next day.
Do it. Do it right. And do it right now.
Coaching will get better.
Maybe not tomorrow or even next week, but at some point, as you keep at it, your job will get easier. Do you remember your very first practice? Were you nervous? Of course. So was I.
See how much your coaching has already improved? By next year you will be able to look back on today and be amazed at how much you have learned and how much more easily you do your job.
You do not have to say yes to everything.
Do not feel that you must say yes each time you are asked to participate. Know your limits. Practice saying: Thank you for thinking of me, but I do not have the time to do a good job with another commitment right now.
Of course, you must accept your responsibility as a professional and do your fair share, but remember to be realistic about your time..
Not every player or parent will love you.
And you will not love every one of them, either. Those feelings are perfectly acceptable. We coaches are not hired to love players and their parents. Our job is to teach players and, at times, their parents as well.
Players do not need you to be their buddy. They need a facilitator, a guide, mentor, a role model for learning and for character.
You cannot be creative every day.
When those times happen, turn to outside resources for help. Coaching books, teaching guides, clinics, professional organizations such as high school associations and the NABC are designed to support you in generating well-developed practices.
When you come up with your own effective and meaningful practices—and you will—be sure to share your ideas with other coaches. And do so with both veterans and newcomers to the profession.
You can’t do it all, all the time.
No one can manage classes, students, players, recruiting, media and – oh, yes, coaching – all at the same time and stay sane. A little multi-tasking can be good, but you must know your limits. Beware of burnout.
You will make mistakes. That’s life, and that’s how you learn.
No one can undo their mistakes. And berating yourself for mistakes is counterproductive. If the mistake requires an apology, make it and move on. Mistakes are life. Life is not a game. No one is keeping score.
Some days you will cry, but the good news is that some days you will laugh. Learn to laugh with your players and with yourself.
This is the best job on earth.
Stand up straight. Hold your head high. Look people in the eye and proudly announce: I am a Basketball coach!
Hand painted jersey portraits make a great gift for Senior Night or Banquets. They have worked hard and pushed themselves to the limit physically and emotionally. Give them a gift that will be cherished long after they graduate.
This much we know is certain: winning teams have common characteristics that separate them from losing teams. It’s no secret. As a matter of fact, I would say they are not just characteristics; they are actually high character-driven traits. Perhaps among the most important of these winning basketball traits is sacrifice.
Key to Winning Basketball: Sacrifice
The ultimate trait is that of self-sacrifice, i.e. the ability to give up one’s personal glory for the success and betterment of the team.
I’ve been fortunate to witness firsthand how critical this is to success at the highest level. Who knows if we will get to The NBA Finals, but what I do know is that the two teams that reach the Finals will have highly talented players giving of themselves so that the team can win it all. It’s a rule of success at every championship level!
Giving up touches, giving up shots, giving up personal accolades, giving up your body by taking a charge or diving for a loose ball…that’s what championships are built on. These are the ultimate player sacrifices. Knowing and believing that what we do together is far more daunting to our opponent than what we do on our own. Opponents can handle individuals; it’s the true teams that are so difficult to beat!
So each player has to have that personal talk with himself. Does he want to win scoring titles or championships? Get his name in the paper or on a championship trophy? Be the best player on the team or the best team in the nation? How much work ethic does he have?
We know how championship caliber players would answer these questions, but you need to know how your players will answer these questions! That will give you a great indication of how far you may be able to go this coming season.
Hand painted jersey portraits make a great gift for Senior Night or Banquets. They have worked hard and pushed themselves to the limit physically and emotionally. Give them a gift that will be cherished long after they graduate.
Looking for bits of inspiration for your new basketball season? Often times, the greats of the profession share their nuggets of wisdom gained throughout the years in interviews, biographies, and more. Having some compelling coaching quotes could be the very thing to reenergize you for a new season. Sometimes, the right quote might just do the trick.
Here’s a look at great coaching quotes to help inspire and motivate you and your basketball team this season!
Coaching Quotes from Coaches
Winning is the science of being totally prepared. – George Allen
It’s not what you tell your players that counts. It’s what they hear. – Red Auerbach
You have the greatest chance of winning when your first commitment is to a total and enthusiastic involvement in the game itself. Enthusiasm is what matters most. – John Brodie
The most important statistic for a wrestling coach isn’t how many dual meets the team won nor the number of state champs they produced. It’s the number of wrestlers they had in the room on the last day of practice. – Greg DeMarco
Some coaches are so busy learning the tricks of the trade that they never learn the trade. – Pete Emelianchik
I would rather be known for coaching great men then coaching great wrestlers – Howard Ferguson
Always have a plan and believe in it. I tell my coaches not to compromise. Nothing good happens by accident. There must be a plan for everything and the plan will prevent you from overlooking little things. By having that plan, you’ll be secure and self-doubts will never become a factor. – Chuck Knox
As teachers and coaches, we must remember that when mere winning is our only goal, we are doomed to disappointment and failure. But when our goal is to try to win, when our focus is on preparation and sacrifice and effort instead of on numbers on a scoreboard then we will never lose. – Mike Krzyzewski
Yelling doesn’t win ball games. It doesn’t put any points on the scoreboard. And I don’t think words win ball games all the time. Players do. Preparation does. – Jerry Tarkanian
Coaching Quotes from ‘Bear’ Bryant
Mama wanted me to be a preacher. I told her coachin’ and preachin’ were a lot alike.
Little things make the difference. Everyone is well prepared in the big things, but only the winners perfect the little things.
If you want to coach you have three rules to follow to win. One, surround yourself with people who can’t live without football. I’ve had a lot of them. Two, be able to recognize winners. They come in all forms. And, three, have a plan for everything. A plan for practice, a plan for the game. Plan for being ahead, and plan for being behind 20-0 at half, with your quarterback hurt and the phones dead, with it raining cats and dogs and no rain gear because the equipment man left it at home.
If there is one thing that has helped me as a coach, it’s my ability to recognize winners, or good people who can become winners by paying the price.
If anything goes bad, I did it; if anything goes semi-good, we did it; if anything goes really good, then you did it. That’s all it takes to get people to win football games for you.
You have to learn what makes this or that Sammy run. For one it’s a pat on the back, for another it’s eating him out, for still another it’s a fatherly talk, or something else. You’re a fool if you think as I did as a young coach, that you can treat them all alike.
I’m no innovator. If anything I’m a stealer, or borrower. I’ve stolen or borrowed from more people than you can shake a stick at.
If you whoop and holler all the time, the players just get used to it.
Great Quotes from Outside the World of Sports
There are no little things. – Bruce Barton
The fullness or emptiness of life will be measured by the extent to which a man feels that he has an impact on the lives of others. – Kingman Brewster
We make a living by what we get. But we make a life by what we give. – Winston Churchill
Children have more need of models than critics. – Carolyn Coates
Nothing is particularly hard if you divide it into small jobs. – Henry Ford
It is a fine thing to have ability, but the ability to discover ability in others is the true test. – Elbert Hubbard
Since the time of the ancient Greeks, we have felt that there was a close relationship between a strong vital mind and physical fitness. – John F. Kennedy
The happiest people are those who have harvested their time in others. The unhappiest people are those who wonder how the world is going to make them happy. – John C. Maxwell
The greatest gift you can give another is the purity of your attention. – Richard Moss
Good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment. – Will Rogers
Success … has nothing to do with what you gain or accomplish for yourself. It’s what you do for others. – Danny Thomas
You can accomplish anything in life provided you do not mind who gets the credit. – Harry S. Truman
Coaching basketball at any level requires patience and preparation, but it doesn’t have to be overly complicated to get the job done. Coach Barry Cook explains his process.
Coaching Basketball: Excel by Keeping Things Simple
I first began coaching eighteen years ago. I had gotten a late start in coaching, after playing in high school and college, and wanted to follow my father’s path. He was my High School coach for most of my career but more so he was my permanent coach. When I first told him that I wanted to get into coaching, he gave me some pointers. His style of coaching had proven successful and I have adopted many of the ways he did practices, game management and player management. There is one thing that he said that has stuck with me and I have expanded on.
The Junior Varsity level is where I first began my coaching career. I was full of ideas and presented my tediously planned offense to my father. He looked it over carefully and told me it was good. Then he said:
“You know this is all going to work until the opposing coach calls a time-out and alters his defensive strategy or his players make adjustments on the court. So teach your players to read and react.”
This led me to the belief that my offense and defense should be simple to explain and teach. Then I could design my practices to work on basketball skills.
Simplicity Is Key When Coaching Basketball
I had read and listened to coaches say that skills need to be practiced over and over and new skills need to be taught in progression. Shooting is a great example. To teach and coach shooting, a coach needs to work with his players consistently. Practice times being limited as they are; prevent some players from developing a good technique.
I was guilty at the beginning of conducting an unproductive practice. My team was spending most of their time running a complicated offensive scheme and learning a team defense. What I was finding was a revelation.
My players knew the offense well and ran it almost flawlessly but, we would miss the shot or not recognize a scoring opportunity. Why? I had not given them the time or the teaching to shoot better.
Defensively, my players were getting into their defenses well and not missing assignments, but making poor plays and getting beat. Again, it was because I was not teaching the defensive basics nor giving practice time for that. I went back to what my father was saying and I adjusted.
Use Practice Time Wisely
Practices became different. We began teaching shooting skills and devoting time to that skill. Players worked on developing proper defensive techniques, we worked on dribbling, passing, screening, and switching. Our offense was simplified and we substituted complication for proper and improved techniques.
The team began to be successful and play a fine game. I won’t say we won all the games after that, we won our share. But we DID become a better team. I decided to concentrate most of my practice time developing the skills that my offense and defense demanded from my players.
After coaching for years now, I watch our opponents and see them run a beautiful offensive play but miss the shot. They set up a difficult press only to be beat off a dribble or a good pass, or the offensive plays fail because of a terrible pass. Or a coach calls time out and designs a complicated play only to have one or two players not understand. We all know as coaches, if one player does not do his part then the play is ruined.
My thoughts are simple. Coaches, if you want the shot made then practice the shot. If you want a defensive stop made then practice how to do this. My father’s thought led me to simplify my ideas of practice but more it led me to coach and teach the skills that I want my team to possess.
Looking for some Great Team Gifts? 
