Most people underrate the effect that coaches have on young players

As a coach, you need to be keenly aware of the impact you will have on your players -- not just in their basketball careers, but in life long after their organized playing days are over.

 

Coaching is a tremendous challenge, but it’s also very rewarding. When you see a player sacrificing personal accomplishments for the good of the team and giving the best effort they can with a smile on their face, you will know that your leadership had a positive effect not just on the court, but off of the court as well. 

 

Always be prepared. There is a fine line between pushing your players too hard and teaching them how to win. Learn the right buttons to press and when to press them. Basketball should be fun, but it also takes hard work and proper preparation to be successful. It’s your job to create the right focus for your players. 

 

The information coaches share should be designed to help you with all aspects -- from dealing with parents to teaching the fundamentals of the game. Use this experience as a road map in creating a positive and rewarding experience for your players. If you do, they will never forget you. And remember, keep them smiling and working hard! 
 

 

Do You Have the RIGHT STUFF to Coach?

The truth is, coaching young basketball players can be thrilling, exciting, absorbing and downright fun. But coaching young players requires a definite sense of responsibility and maturity. Do you have the right stuff to coach kids? Before you grab a clipboard and whistle, ask yourself:

 

1. Patience. Remember -- you’re not coaching professional players here. They’re just kids, and they have to be given the opportunity -- and freedom -- to make mistakes. Your job as the coach is to help them learn from those mistakes. So rather than expect your players to play a flawless game, give yourself -- and them -- a break. Teach and let them learn. That approach requires a substantial amount of patience. 

 

2. Emotional Maturity. Basketball games -- even at the lower levels -- can become heated. It’s your job to act like an adult. Somebody has to play the role of the grown-up at these games -- it might as well be you! That means keeping your temper under control at all times, giving the officials a break from your wrath, and leaving any profanity at the door -- away from the players.

 

3. A Knowledge of the Game. If you are going to coach, then you must have a basic knowledge of the game’s fundamentals, rules, and various offensive and defensive strategies. If you don’t - relax. a quick trip to the library or bookstore - will supply you with all the resources you need.

 

4. Time Commitment. Don’t think for a moment that being a coach simply involves showing up for the game. To become an effective coach, you will need to organize and run practices, to keep track of playing time, provide directions to game sites and much more. The game is just one small part of your commitment. 

 

5. A Sense of Priorities. The younger the player, the less important it is to win. At the recreational youth level, the top priority is that everyone plays -- and play a lot during the games. If players have fun at an early age, they will continue playing basketball as they move into their teenage years. The best way for them to have fun is by giving them a chance to enjoy playing in games.
 
 

What About SPORTSMANSHIP? Does the Coach Teach That?

Coping with winning and losing is, of course, an essential part of playing sports, and basketball is no exception. Ideally, kids first learn about how to deal with victories and defeats from their parents even before the youngsters lace up their first pair of sneakers. But as the coach, it’s up to you to reinforce the appropriate behavior for winning and losing.

 

WHEN THEY WIN  -- Every player will tell you it's more fun to win than it is to lose. But as the coach, you should strongly remind your team that “winning with class” is how you expect them to play. As such, if you spot one of your players taunting or humiliating an opponent when your team is way ahead in the game, simply call “time out” and have the youngster sit next to you on the bench. Explain to him or her that such behavior will not be tolerated by you, and unless they can learn to control themselves, they will not be allowed back into the game. Don’t worry. Because the ultimate fun is in playing, the youngster will quickly modify their ways to get back into the action. If they do happen to repeat the offensive actions again, then once again put them on the bench until they learn their lesson. 

 

WHEN THEY LOSE  ---  Many times, especially with younger kids, a loss will be accompanied by tears of disappointment. As the coach, understand that losing in basketball is, for many youngsters, a new - and painful - experience. Console them, praise them for their efforts, but never embarrass them, as in, “C’mon, what are you crying about? The players on my team don’t cry,” or “Stop your crying - that’s for babies!”

 

Tears are a normal reaction for young children who have just felt the sting of a defeat. Your job is to just reassure them that “Today just wasn’t our day,” and that “We played well, but the other team played just a little better.” Those are the kinds of thoughts you want your team to hear. 

 

Finally, bear in mind that for most youngsters, the bitterness of a loss and the tears that go with it often disappear quickly. In most cases, the kids tend to be very resilient about the defeat. Within a few minutes of their tears drying up, they bounce back quickly by asking what their next activity for the day will be. Once they start asking questions like that, you know that they have moved past the loss - and by the way, Coach, you should too. 

 

The issue of good sportsmanship always crops up with coaches. Sadly, the newspapers are filled with accounts of sports parents - and coaches - who have lost their perspective when it comes to winning and losing. The best guideline to follow is to always remember that good sportsmanship starts with you! Players carefully watch and monitor the coach’s behavior. So if you are out of control, critically yelling and singling out a member of the team when things aren’t going well, don’t be surprised when the rest of the team follows that example. 
 
 

The Most Important Aspect of Coaching the Game - PLAYING TIME

The most important rule to bear in mind is that every member of your team wants to play in the game. That’s why the players joined in the first place. You must never ever lose sight of this reality.

 

You might notice that the parents come to many of the games. Don’t fool yourself - the reason why parents come to watch the games is to see their son or daughter play. As a secondary consideration, parents will tell you it’s nice the team wins, but their number one priority is to see their child participate. 

 

If you keep this simple principle of equal participation in your mind when the game begins, you’ll be on your way to a very successful season - regardless of whether the team wins or loses. 

 

That means not letting the less talented players play in the last quarter when the score is lopsided and the game already decided. Sprinkle in all of your players throughout the game. That way, every youngster will come out of the game knowing - win or lose - they helped contribute to the team’s effort. Now, that’s coaching! 

 

Of course, only five players can play at a time, and you have as many as 12 players on the team, it can be a little confusing as to who has played a lot and who has been on the bench. This is where an assistant coach can be a great help. Before the game, give one of your assistants a chart broken down by quarters with every player listed.   Have your assistant mark down each player that plays& when. It’s your job to get all of them into the rotation.
 
 

COACHING TIP  --- Dealing with Officials

As a coach, you have to remember that in any game involving human judgment, there are going to be errors and mistakes. Occasionally officials will be involved in a close, controversial call. If you erupt from the bench and throw a tantrum, understand that you’re not only sending a message of poor sportsman- ship to the officials, but you’re also reinforcing exactly the type of behavior you want your players not to exhibit.

 

 

COACHING TIP  -- Be Appreciative of the Parents

Most parents provide positive support to their kids as they participate on the team. From rides to games and practices to words of encouragement from the stands, a player’s parents are their most important asset. Keep parents engaged and make sure they see how important the support is. A happy parent makes for a happy player and vice versa. 
 
 

Dealing with PARENTAL BEHAVIOR During Games

Unfortunately, there are more and more reports of parents exhibiting poor sportsmanship at kids’ games. Whether it’s verbally abusing officials, or taunting other players, or even trying to coach players from the stands, there are times in which the coach has to intervene. 

 

This isn't what you signed up for. Most youth coaches feel they signed up to coach kids - not police the parents. But if it becomes clear that a parent is becoming too much of an interference during a game, you’re going to have to go over to the Mom or Dad in question and, as gently but firmly as possible, tell them to tone down their act. If you want, you can bring along an assistant coach to help calm the situation.

 

If the unsportsmanlike behavior becomes worse, you can ask the referee to stop the game until the offensive parent is removed from the stands. This kind of “zero tolerance” is becoming popular in youth leagues. In effect, it gives the referees the power to stop a game and call for a parent’s immediate removal; otherwise, the game is forfeited to the other team. This sounds harsh, but it works quite well. 

 

 

Dealing with PARENTS

Coaching kids does involve consideration of Moms and Dads. Make it clear in your first meeting that you want to establish guidelines on how parents interact with you. 

 

But it doesn’t hurt during the course of the season to occasionally - and gently - remind parents that your top priority is the welfare of the kids. The major purpose of the season is for the kids to learn the game, play the game &  have fun doing both. 

 

There will be times, however, when parents will approach you directly with a concern about their child. The issue might be anything from playing time, to the position their child is playing, to questioning your offensive or defensive game strategies. As the coach, you have to let these parents voice their concerns. However, you also can let parents know there are right - and wrong - times to approach you. 

 

For example, tell the Moms and Dads that it really isn’t fair to the players if parents try to corral you before or during a game. After all, you’re trying to focus on all the players, not just one of them. As for chatting with parents after the game, that’s up to you. Some coaches prefer not to talk after games as parents might be too emotional. Others feel post-game conversations are fine. 

 

Some coaches ask parents to call between certain hours on certain nights during the week if they have questions. These guidelines allow the coach freedom from calls at all times during the week. Also, by having the calling time a day or two after the game, there is a built-in “cool off” period for the parents. 

 

Give parents at least 5 to 10 minutes of uninterrupted time to present their concerns. In other words, don’t feel compelled to challenge their thoughts, or make your case. Most parents have already planned what they want to say, and they want the opportunity to voice their concern. If nothing else, they’ll feel better once they have had their say. 

 

When they have finished, you should respond in a positive, non-confrontational manner. The absolute last thing you want is for the conversation to develop into a highly-charged debate. It’s up to you to make sure this doesn’t happen. Why? Because you have the position, authority, and perspective to make sure that things don’t get out of hand. 

 

The best way to end these potentially volatile situations is by telling the parent, “Well, thank you, Mrs. Smith. I hear your concerns about Jody, and I’ll see what I can do to help improve the situation. I can’t make any guarantees, mind you, but I’ll definitely look into it.” 

 

That’s all you have to say. And of course, check into what you can do to help Jody.

 

 

REMEMBER..... “The Best Way To Predict Our Future Is To Help Create It." 
 
 

MISSION STATEMENT

" If you believe it, you can achieve it!"