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Coaching Youth Basketball
As a youth basketball coach, you have one of the most important and exciting jobs in the world!
You'll be teaching habits that will stick with these kids for the rest of their lives. And whether you like it or not, you'll be setting an example and teaching kid's lessons about life (good and bad). Kids are impressionable. They pick up on things.
You have an obligation and responsibility to teach them the right things - in both basketball and life.
When you think about it, teachers would do anything to get the enthusiasm that you get from your players. Kids actually like and want to play basketball.
Your players look up to you. They listen to you. And you have an amazing opportunity to make a POSITIVE impact on their lives!
You have a very important and rewarding job!
In this section of our website, we'll provide you with links to a variety of youth coaching tactics, plays, drills, and tips that will help you become a better youth basketball coach.
Here are some very important articles that apply to coaching youth basketball:
The articles discuss very important concepts to help you succeed. So read through each article, starting with the first one at the top.
Establishing Your Philosophy and Priorities
Establishing Discipline and Getting More From Your Players
Communicating With Your Players
10 Tips to Keep Players Focused, Motivated, and Playing Hard
8 Ways to Earn Your Player's Trust
IMPORTANT: Focusing on the Fundamentals
Simple Tricks to Optimize Basketball Practice Time and Get More Done
Handling Game Situations
What defense should you teach youth players (zone, man, press)? What age should you start man to man?
Interview that All Youth Coaches Should Hear
Youth Basketball Drills
If you don't have our free eBook yet, the first thing you should check out is our FREE Basketball Drills ebook. It includes 72 of some of our favorite basketball drills and it includes youth section so you can easily find the drills that apply to you.
We also offer an eBook with 60 FUN Basketball Drills and Tips to Make Practice Fun. This particular eBook is geared specifically towards making your drills and practices fun.
In addition, here are a few more youth basketball drills that are not published in our eBook:
Form Shooting
Jump Stops
No Dribble Keep Away (FUN Drill)
Basic Offensive Spacing
Pair Passing
Middle Man Passing
Pass & Switch
Pivot 21 (FUN Drill)
Elbow Shooting Drill
Rebounding/Block Out Drill
Diamond Agility Drill
Rebounding Drill: Reverse Pivot Technique
Chair Changes
Two up - Two back
Low Post Chair Pivot
Split Post Chair Pivot
Rapid Fire Post Moves
Important Tips:
When working with young kids and running basketball drills, there are three very important concepts you need to consider:
1 - Kids need to be highly active!
Just by using fast paced drills and keeping things moving, your players will have more fun and get in better condition. Your kids should be breathing hard and their hearts should be pumping. It's good for them!
Avoid standing in lines as much as possible and keep the ball in their hands as much as possible.
2 - Kids want to feel successful!
With very youngs kids, competition doesn't always serve as a motivator. You should always provide activities that help them build their skills and confidence. Strive to focus on the learning process instead of measuring up to those around you.
You'll want to avoid adding pressure and competition until the players have developed their skills, confidence, and become proficient with the basics.
Put them in situations where they can succeed.
3 - Kids want to have lots of fun!
This is an important stage for young players and your actions could determine whether they enjoy sports or not.
It's important to make things fun so they can improve and become confident.
Youth basketball drills don't have to be boring. Almost any drill can be modified to provide high activity, high success, and high enjoyment.
Youth Basketball Plays
1-3-1 Cutters
Rolling
Swing Variation
Zone Shallow
Zone Overload
Youth Basketball Offenses
I believe that using a very simple motion offense is the way to go for youth teams because it teaches them how to move and the players will begin to learn how to get open and play the game.
The worst part about motion offenses is that there are SO many options that it's hard for players to know what to do. But you can easily solve that problem by making simple rules and starting with the basics.
For example, you might want to just with just a couple simple options for your motion offense. You could start by teaching the players proper spacing, away screens, and v-cuts. Once they master those skills and get VERY proficient at cutting properly and setting good away screens, then you can start adding more options and building on your foundation.
You can add ball screens, rolling, and so on. Just don't go too fast! Make sure they have good fundamentals before you start adding stuff.
You can learn about developing motion offenses by looking at our "Offensive Theory" article at this link:
http://www.breakthroughbasketball.com/Offense/offensiveTheory.html
You can also try this very simple patterned offense that you can use as a play or your entire offense:
http://www.breakthroughbasketball.com/plays/youth-offense-2.html
Best Overall Advice for Youth Basketball Coaches
1) Keep things fun!
60 FUN Youth Basketball Drills and Games
2) Allow your players to be successful!
Sometimes competition is not a motivator for young kids. However ALL kids need to taste success (and hopefully lots of it). Now this doesn't mean winning. It means getting better and succeeding in practice. Allow your players to run drills that they can succeed at and feel good about. Celebrate small accomplishments and successes with your players.
3) Teach life lessons in your practices!
Read this article about teaching life lessons and improving team bonding.
4) Don't worry about winning!
You don't have time to worry about winning. There's only time to do the right thing... If you do things "right", winning will eventually be a by-product of your actions. Be patient. True success takes time to do things right. It doesn't happen overnight.
You must first build a SOLID foundation for these kids to build on. Taking the time to build that foundation will cause you to sacrifice winning some games. Trust us. This is better for your players in the long run.
5) Don't press or play zone defense!
You can read why and get advice here.
6) Use small basketballs and lower rims!
Using rims that are too high and basketballs that are too big will RUIN your players shooting form. They are NOT strong enough yet.
Do we send 6 year olds to Yankee stadium and start throwing from the big mound? No, we start with tee-ball, then parent pitch, then little league (close bases), and move up.
It's ridiculous to throw 5-10 year olds on a full size court with 10 foot rims and youth basketballs that are way too big! It's no wonder so many kids have horrible shooting form when they get to high school!
7) Teach the right things!
Just keep in mind that if you can teach your young players the following skills, then you should feel good that about what you accomplished and know that you're teaching your player the right things (that they need to be successful)!
Your young players should be able to:
- Dribble with their left and right hands equally well.
- Make lay ups with their left and right hands equally well -- and jump off the proper foot (left foot when shooting with right hand, and vice-versa)
- Perform a jump stop without traveling.
- Pivot on their left and right foot without traveling.
- Perform accurate chest, bounce, and overhead passes.
- Perform a defensive slide (feet wide, good balance, staying between the offensive player and the basket).
- Shoot a basketball with proper form.
These simple skills should be your number priority and your goal should be to help your players master these skills. Once they have truly mastered these skills, you can start building from there.
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1765 Bellboy Dr, Marion, IA 52302
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