Comments on: How Do You Always Keep a Positive Attitude as a Coach?

By: Turner

Turner — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 13:39:37 +0000

This is a good point not to correct too much. However, if you don’t correct enough, they will end up getting wild on you. I was a little more lax this year with my 8th grade team. We ran a motion offense, and after going over the rules with them, I let them play and gave them more freedom in their offense. I soon discovered that without a lot of direction, they basically ended up playing street ball.
What do you think is the right combination of correction and freedom?

By: jr cadigan

jr cadigan — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 14:49:38 +0000

I went to DeMatha and had Morgan Wooten as my history teacher. A great man and a great coach

By: Phil Gantt

Phil Gantt — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 14:35:10 +0000

Great article…
In the many seasons that I have been a coach (39 @ 6th through varsity assistant) I’ve learned that too much correcting (over coaching) can be a setback.
I do a lot of the same thing - asking questions instead of barking at the guys.

By: ariel rabe

ariel rabe — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 06:12:22 +0000

Just recently, in form shooting, starting with their left non-dominant hands, I reminded the kids to focus on the form, angles, feel the ball. Telling them, if you can make the shot it’s excellent. if it hits just the rim, it is very good. Most often than not after several repetitions, shots were perfect - 4 feet away spot shooting. Excitement was evident on their faces.

By: Dave Paul

Dave Paul — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 01:33:34 +0000

I use the same technique as Bob in games. I don’t talk to a player that just came off the floor other than saying good work as they come off
. I let him think about it, get them to sit next to me. Lean over smile and ask “well?” They usually answer right away and more importantly correctly. If they don’t I draw the situation on the board, explain what happend and ask them if they could have done anything better, if they still dont know I provide the options better choices.

By: Dr. Rob Walsh

Dr. Rob Walsh — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 17:11:49 +0000

Nice article: During the course of this season, we have found many ways of losing close games, and it is very frustrating, because it is usually due to one or two bad decisions at critical times. As of late I find myself “over correcting” to the point now where my team seems to be afraid to try and do something.

Dr. Rob

By: George Monroe

George Monroe — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 15:19:17 +0000

With young kids I focus on what concepts they understand and is demonstrated on a court and use that has positive feedback and be patient on the rest. Some of your efforts wont be seen until much later. In some cases after they have left your team and moved up. My goal is to give them an understanding of the game and improve there basketball skills.

By: Matt

Matt — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:09:51 +0000

Great article I have been using the “sandwich” method for some time now also.

Sort of along the same lines as the first comment, I use what I call the “you blow it, you show it method. In practice I am constantly talking to my kids about raising their basketball IQ. I tell them my goal is to have what we call “smarter ballers.” If someone makes a mistake in practice and they know what they did wrong and how to fix it they simply put their hand up in the air signaling to me that they know whats wrong and how to go about correcting it. Thanks to this I am able to continue on with a drill rather than stopping to fix little things that the kids can fix on their own.

I coach girls and they really seem to like and respond well to this. In fact the other night in a game I had a girl who did not rotate down in help defense at the end of a quarter. When they came over to the bench I started to say something to her about it when she promptly told me “I know coach dident you see my hand up? I’ll fix it”

By: Joe Haefner

Joe Haefner — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 19:43:54 +0000

Great point!! That’s something I did not mention in the article.

Instead of pointing out an error, use questions to help the child think about other possible alternatives that may have been better. “Guided Discovery” is great for teaching & learning in sports.

I have also found it extremely effective when teaching shooting.

How does that feel? What fingers did that roll off of? Which fingers should it roll off of?

Are you gripping the ball with the thumb? What should you do instead?

By: Bob

Bob — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 21:31:41 +0000

For what it is worth. The last couple of years I have done something more and more and I really like it. If I see a mistake, I stop play. I slowly walk toward the player I am going to coach, (giving him time to process what just happened) smile slightly, and say “Now what am I going to say to you or coach you on?”

It is too the point now when I do it in practice, even my 8th graders will say what I am going to say before I can even ask.

I like it because it makes them look good. At the same time, they are coaching themselves.