How To Properly Teach Youth Basketball

By Jashua Moses


Coaching a basketball team can be rather difficult to manage successfully. The difficulty lies in the fact that the coach walks the line between friend, boss, and mentor. On one hand the coach is a comrade-in-arms working to help the team succeed. On the other hand the coach is the task master that must keep their players focused and working hard. On top of that the coach is often looked to as a mentor and a reliable person for the players to turn to when they are struggling. There is little doubt that coaching a basketball team can be very tough, but there are a few things a new coach should keep in mind to help with the process.



First and foremost the coach needs to have a good understanding of each position on the floor and specifically the capabilities of their players within those positions. Take for example the center. Two of the main jobs of a center is to defend the rim and to grab rebounds, but if the center is below average at rebounding then the coach will need to make adjustments to compensate for this.

Footwork - footwork drills are something that can be taught from a young age, and something that can be developed as the players age. These skills are vital for a successful team, and they will be the foundation of a good player. You can setup drills that focus on stopping quickly on the court, as well as pivoting on the spot. These are directly transferable to the court.

History - think about how the team has done over the last few games, and focus on how the team played when they won the game. Also think about the areas of the game that they were outplayed by the opposition team. Knowing these things will help you to develop plays and drills that will improve the weaknesses of the team, while also solidifying the strengths.

Another thing that new coaches need to realize when they are just starting out is that they will have little success if they are trying to be micro managers. Conditions are always changing on the court and a team that is incapable of naturally adjusting to these conditions will not be successful.

The coach needs to build a framework for the team to function within, but then leave the players empowered with the ability to make adjustments within that framework. This is one of the hardest balances for a coach to manage. Coaching a basketball team can be a lot of fun, but it is also a lot of work. If you take the tips talked about above then you will be well ahead of the curve.




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