I remember my first year as a youth basketball coach. I was coaching 3rd grade girls. We were halfway through the season and still couldn't run an out of bounds play correctly.

My prideful side kicked in. I was determined that after the coming week's practices, we would be able to run the play right.

We had 2 one-hour practices each week. I'd be embarrassed to say how much of the two hours that week we spent on our out of bounds plays. Needless to say, it was a lot!

Fast forward to the following game. We get a baseline out of bounds situation. The moment of truth had arrived.

I called the play. We ran it perfectly... and then missed a wide open layup. The next time, we ran it perfectly again, and fumbled the pass.

My initial reaction was something along the lines of, 'that's not my fault.' I put them in position to be successful. From there, it's on them.

How ignorant I was! I was the #1 person to blame.

Why? Because I had become so consumed with the play that I forgot about the players.

Learn from my mistake.

Your Youth Offense's Success Has Nothing to do With X's and O's

I'll let you in on a secret. Your 3rd/4th/5th grade offense - it's never going to be very good. That's the nature of working with that age of kids.

So to spend the majority of your practice time trying to perfect your offense (or plays) is largely a waste.

Am I saying you shouldn't teach team concepts? Absolutely not. It's important that players start to understand general principles of play (spacing, help defense, etc.).

However, strategy shouldn't be the focus of your coaching. There's a saying that goes, 'it's not about the x's and the o's, it's about the Jimmy's and the Joe's'. That's spot on. Helping your players improve is the primary goal.

It doesn't matter how great your play is if your players can't make the layup. Or dribble without traveling. Or catch the pass.

Devoting extensive time to plays and offenses also doesn't aid long-term player development. A player doesn't become better by learning your offense. They become better by increasing their skills and basketball IQ.

Design your practices around that! I am not telling you never to work on your out of bounds plays. But I am saying that is pretty far down the list of priorities.

I'm also telling you that if your players continually improve their basketball skills, it won't matter that much what plays you run. In fact, you may not even need any plays at that point.

Finally, don't forget about player satisfaction. What do you think players enjoy more - running through plays or seeing themselves improve by working on their skills?

The Tough Choice: Development vs. Instant Success

I learned from my mistake. In the past few years, our practices have been centered on player development. I am confident that's the right choice.

That said, it's not always an easy choice. We play teams who run their offense and their plays better than us. There's a small part of me that's still insecure about that.

I know I'm doing the right thing. However, I also know others might look at it and think the other coach is doing a better job because their team runs their plays better.

Then I take a deep breath and zoom out. It's not about today. It's not about this game. It's about creating the best developmental experience possible for my players. And there's no doubt that making them the best players they can be is the way to do that!

Ready To Start Developing All Around Players?

For those coaching true beginners, consider Jim Huber Beginner Basketball Ages 5-9. This is a great resource to help those new to the game. Coach Huber provides a number of games and age-appropriate drills that result in rapid improvement and a good experience for young players.

The Youth Coaching System With Jim Huber provides an entire blueprint for coaching a youth team. It's a one-stop shop for all youth coaching needs. If you're looking for a proven system to get the most from your team, this is the resource for you!

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