I’ve coached almost 15 seasons of youth basketball. It’s one of the most rewarding (and challenging) things you can do. You’re shaping young athletes, building confidence, and hopefully creating a love for the game that lasts a lifetime. That’s an amazing payoff.

The challenge is trying to do those things while coaching players with short attention spans, who have huge differences in experience and ability, and dealing with limited practice time.

Even 15 seasons in, it still overwhelms me at times. For those of you who are just starting out … your first season can feel like a firehose of whistles, questions, and chaos.

And that’s okay.

Every coach makes mistakes. I’ve made more than my fair share. But over the years, I’ve noticed that there are a few common traps that almost every new youth coach runs into — and most of them have nothing to do with X’s and O’s.

If you can avoid these early on, you’ll save yourself a lot of frustration… and your players will thank you for it.

Mistake #1: Trying to Teach Too Much, Too Fast

It’s tempting to treat your team like they’re playing in the Final Four — teaching advanced offenses, defensive schemes, and every skill under the sun.

But less is more. Especially with younger kids. IT WILL ALWAYS TAKE LONGER THAN YOU THINK IT WILL! If you do too much, too soon, you’ll leave your players feeling overwhelmed and yourself feeling frustrated.

What to do instead:

• Pick 1–2 skills per practice, and keep it simple

• Focus on spacing, passing, footwork, and layups early in the season

• Use small-sided games (1v1, 2v2, 3v3) & platform drills to reinforce learning

  “Master the basics first. You’ll be amazed how much better your team gets by doing the simple things well. Thing like passing & catching, making layups, and dribbling with eyes up win at the youth level.”

Mistake #2: Not Managing Expectations (With Parents AND Players)

One of the biggest surprises for new coaches isn’t on the court — it’s in the bleachers.

If you don’t clearly communicate your coaching philosophy and team expectations early, you’re setting yourself up for unnecessary conflict.

What to do instead:

• Hold a parent meeting before your first game

• Explain your approach to playing time, substitutions, and development. Be positive but clear on how things will go. Set up proper channels for them to reach out to you with questions.

• Be clear that the goals are fun, growth, and fundamentals, not trophies

  “A 5-minute parent talk in week one will save you 50 headaches by week five.”

Mistake #3: The 3 L’s - Laps, Lines & Lectures!

Young players come to practice to play basketball — not to stand in lines, listen to long speeches, or run for conditioning like they’re in college.

What to do instead:

• Keep lines short (2–3 players max). Have every player bring their own ball to allow for more reps

• Give quick, clear instructions and get reps going fast

• Build conditioning into drills and games - it saves time and is more enjoyable for your players

  “If they’re not dribbling, passing, moving, or laughing… you’re probably losing them.”

Mistake #4: Focusing More on Winning Than Development

We all want to win. But at the youth level, winning can’t be the main thing. Even though the games seem huge now, no one is going to care about the 7th grade championship in 5 years.

Keep the big picture (development & fun) in mind . . . If your team runs one perfect play but can’t make a layup, you’re coaching backwards.

What to do instead:

• Track effort, improvement, and sportsmanship as much as scores

• Praise players for hustle, good decisions, and unselfishness

• Rotate players through different positions so they learn

  “A 10-year-old learning how to correctly shoot a left hand laup is more important than whether you beat the Cyclones by 6.”

Mistake #5: Trying to Coach Alone

A lot of coaches try to do everything themselves — planning practices, managing games, handling communication — all while trying to coach effectively.

It’s too much.

What to do instead:

• Delegate: Ask parents to help with logistics, snacks, scorekeeping. Most are happy to help . . . and it makes them feel like a part of the team, which is important

• Find an assistant or volunteer to help with stations and substitutions

• Use templates and resources (like The Youth Coaching System With Jim Huber (ages 9-14) or Jim Huber Beginner Basketball Ages 5-9) to save time

  “You don’t have to be a superhero. Surround yourself with a small team so you can actually enjoy the season.”

Final Thoughts: Focus on What Matters Most

If you’re coaching youth basketball for the first time, give yourself grace. You won’t get everything right. But if you can avoid these common mistakes, you’ll be off to a strong start.

Here’s what really matters:

• Keep it fun

• Keep it simple

• Keep the kids learning and moving

Do that — and you’ll be the kind of coach players remember for all the right reasons.

Comments Most Likes First   Oldest First   Newest First Stephen Horvat says: 9/9/2025 at 12:48:06 PM Spot on coach. Love your system! Other things I made mistakes on and learned: -Definitely ONE skill per practice. Then integrate that skill in scrimmage; 2pts per assist, only assist baskets score, fast break worth 3pts etc. -scrimmage is useless unless you teach through it and emphasize something. -each player needs something different. Like     login   register

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