We all know the type of youth basketball coach that stands up the entire game — every game. They shout instructions and feedback to their players constantly and at a high volume. They question every referee’s call that doesn’t go their way.
This type of coach is a dime-a-dozen at any AAU tournament nationwide.
It’s as if they’ve watched NBA games or ESPN’s Sports Center and taken their cues on how to coach by listening to the broadcasters and watching the sideline antics of some coaches.
Teaching Matters
What’s not shown during games and highlights is that there’s so much more to coaching than what happens during game time. A coach’s success at any level of play isn’t as dependent on their coaching from the bench and how well they can work over the referees during a game as it is on how they prepare and teach their players before the game begins.
In the same way that the most critical factor in determining the quality of education is the quality of the teacher, the most critical factor in determining the success of a season is the quality of the coach. Being a great youth basketball coach is all about being a great teacher.
See Ways Players Should Prepare For Practice.
What can youth basketball coaches learn from great teachers?
Great teachers understand the big picture.
My wife works at a wonderful school whose motto is “Not for school, but for life.” The school’s founders clearly understood that students’ time in school was preparation for something much bigger. Great teachers and coaches know that certain times throughout the year present great teachable moments where life lessons can be taught.
The basketball game presents some wonderful opportunities to teach the value of winning and losing with grace, understanding that hard work and purpose can lead to success, and knowing the value of teamwork – everyone can make a difference. Look for these opportunities and make a real difference in a child’s life.
See The Secret Sauce To Winning Youth Basketball.
Great teachers know that preparation is king.
There’s a reason classroom teachers plan out their year, month, week, and day. What you teach and the order in which you teach it are hugely important. Don’t wing it. Take some time to think it through. Being prepared will give coaches the confidence they need to do their best.
Great teachers are lifetime learners.
A school teacher will collect materials for their class from various sources, including training materials, other teachers, books, seminars, and materials used in past years. Likewise, a coach will use materials from coaching books, websites, other coaches, and clinics.
Others have faced many of the challenges that you’ll face. Learn from them. Know what you know, and look for outside resources to help with the stuff you don’t know.
See Never Forget They’re Kids (Youth Basketball Coaching Book).
Great teachers communicate their expectations effectively.
From grade school through college, it’s common for teachers to review their expectations with their classes on the first day of class.
It helps to have some shared understanding to get many people moving in the same direction. A successful coach will share expectations with players and their parents.
Great teachers don’t motivate students through fear.
In another era, using fear was a popular method to motivate players. If players were goofing off at practice, running killers was the solution. If a couple of players were out of line, the entire team was punished, creating peer pressure for the offenders to watch their way.
Better coaches use better methods. Motivate players to be the best they can be. It starts with players respecting the coach. That begins with the coach respecting the players. Ask yourself, Is the coach prepared? Is the coach fair? Is the coach nice?
See 55 Good Basketball Quotes (and 20 Funny Ones).
Great teachers understand balance.
By coming to class with a sense of purpose, some organization that enables them to use time well, and real enthusiasm helps great teachers get a lot out of students.
Great teachers stay positive even when dealing with the negative. They understand that people learn in different ways. Telling, demonstrating, reviewing students’ work in action, and repetition can all be keys to learning. Great teachers also read their classrooms. When kids are fidgeting too much or down in spirit, it might be time to try something new or move to an activity that is a class favorite.
Great teachers connect with their students.
Finding ways to engage students might mean being able to relate to subject matters beyond the intended course.
An English teacher might relate to students by sharing her love of movies. I’ve always found it valuable to meet 10 minutes before court time for practices to cover the practice agenda and connect with players on something other than basketball. Topics of conversation have included what’s going on at school, pop culture, and news events.
Connecting with players is also a lot about creativity. Teaching some fundamental skills with the required repetitions can get boring without adding some element of creativity, e.g. a game element with 2 teams competing.
Having themed practices ranging from “Hat Day” to “Motown Appreciation Night” helped many players look forward to our next basketball event practices.
Great teachers know the value of reviewing their student’s work.
It seems like clockwork in our community that after the first few weeks of school, a parent/teacher night is held, enabling parents to see how their child is adjusting to school.
It is also important to give players and parents an early review of how things are going on the basketball team. Usually, after the first tournament, I’ll send an individual email to each player’s parent, letting them know a few of the good things their player is contributing to the team.
I ask the parent to communicate this information to their child as well. From a player’s perspective, receiving positive feedback from both the coach and a parent can frequently boost their confidence.
Great teachers know the value of reviewing their own work.
Great teachers and coaches reflect on their work at certain points in the school year or season. What does my class or team need right now? What’s working? What’s not? Make adjustments. Sometimes, small mid-course adjustments can make a big difference.
One of my teams had a hard time dealing with presses. We had lost two close games to teams who pressed hard. In reflecting on the losses, we decided we needed more time spent in practices on breaking presses and better techniques for doing so.
These adjustments made a big difference, and we didn’t lose another game the rest of the season.
Great teachers know how to act on test days.
Think back to your school days. How many of your teachers shouted instructions at you while you were taking a test? The answer for me, as I think would be for others, is zero.
Sure, there were the pre-test instructions, but after the test was handed out, most teachers sat back at their desks and monitored the test-taking.
Compare that approach to many youth basketball coaches screaming instructions at players every 10 seconds during games. Legendary basketball coach John Wooden knew that nearly all of his work was done by the time his players prepared for the tip-off. It was all about preparation.
He could think of a few games in which his on-bench activity impacted the outcome. Success on game day is all about preparation and practice days. Today’s youth basketball coaches should be sitting down more and letting their players be the focus of attention.
Just as most great trial lawyers will tell you that cases are won or lost before they reach court in research and preparation, most great basketball coaches know that games are won based on practice and preparation.
Great basketball coaches like John Wooden, Dean Smith, and Don Meyer were all great teachers. Focus on preparation and practice, and the games will care for themselves.
By Mike O’Halloran
O’Halloran is the author of 4 basketball books.
- Never Forget They’re Kids
- Well Prepared Coach: 30 Youth Basketball Practice Plans
- MVP Offseason Workouts for Youth Basketball (with Nolan McMonagle)
- Layups and Life Lessons: 101 Coaching Tips for Youth Basketball