For better or worse, high school coaching is now a 12 month a year job.

Long gone are the days when you got your team in November, coached them through February, and then sent them on their way.

While some might argue the pendulum has swung too far in the opposite direction, that is the reality you are operating in. It’s important to make the best of it.

Different states have different rules in terms of what you are allowed to do with your team. Of course, you must operate within those rules.

That said, the ideas below will serve you well in almost any situation!

A Baker’s Dozen Ideas To Make This The Best Summer Ever

1. Prioritize player development

   During the season player development often has to take a backseat to team concepts. That’s not the case in the summer.

   Really hone in on the skills that players need to succeed in your program. Tailor your workouts to those attributes. Examples could be weak hand finishing or using protection plans.

   While you could focus on defense development, you may want to prioritize offense. Players tend to enjoy it more. They are more likely to want to come to your workouts if they are fun.

   If they see themselves becoming better offensive players, they will be excited to continue to work.

   To get a FREE PDF of 3 Attack & Counter Skill Development Drills, click the banner below!

   

2. Let your assistants coach

   Many coaches are control freaks. This is a bad quality at any time, but especially in the summer. Part of your responsibility is developing your coaches.

   Allow them to coach some summer league games. Let them run some workouts.

   There are a couple benefits to this. It is good for your players to hear a different voice. They hear enough of yours during the season!

   It also helps your assistants become better coaches. You can and should give them feedback on the tasks you assign them.

   In doing so, they become better coaches. That, in turn, makes your program better, as your players are getting better coaching!

3. Emphasize athletic development

   The summer is a great time to add strength. Almost all players will benefit from getting stronger.

   Obviously, you want your players to get better at basketball. But even if they didn’t, they’d be better next year just for being stronger and more athletic.

   During the season, it is easy to overlook the weight room. The summer offers an opportunity to prioritize it.

   While I would really push the weight room, you don’t need to go as hard on conditioning. You have time to do that in the preseason.

   The summer should be about improving overall strength and athleticism.

4. Build culture

   While the summer is more relaxed, don’t let your culture slide. If communication is important, make sure players are accountable to letting you know if they’ll be out of town.

   If respect matters, make sure players pick up after themselves at summer leagues and team camps.

   When it comes to culture, everything matters! Don’t just maintain your culture, enhance it!

   The summer is also a great time to do a service project as a team. Consider finding a way to help out and give back in your community!

5. Experiment

   Maybe you want to try a new offense. Maybe you want to try a player at a new position. Maybe there are some new 3v3 drills you want to incorporate. During the season, it can be harder to make those changes.

   The summer is a great time to experiment. If there’s something you’ve been wanting to try, do it! See what works and what doesn’t.

   Contrary to what some coaches think, your summer league record isn’t going on your resume! Remember the goal of the summer - to improve. Be willing to branch out and try something new.

6. Learn something new

   This is a natural follow up to experimenting. Challenge yourself to learn something new! Even if you feel solid in your coaching philosophy, you can also learn more.

   Pick an area of the game you’d like to improve in - out of bounds play, zone offense, press defense, etc. Study it during the summer. Really deep dive into the topic.

   In doing so, you are practicing the growth mindset you want your players to have. You also might stumble across something your team can use. At the very least, you are enhancing your knowledge of the game.

7. Go camping

   Not literally, although you might. I mean use camps to your advantage. There are two main ways to do this

   • Youth camp - hold a youth camp. This is a great way to connect with your next generation of players. You can start to teach your principles of play. You can start to build relationships.

     Your camp should be instructional and fun. Get your high school players involved. It can also be a good fundraiser for your program.

   • Team camp - if possible, take your team to an overnight team camp. It’s a chance to get away as a group. It’s a chance to spend quality time together. It’s a chance to play a lot of basketball in a short time.

     All of those things are valuable. Your team will enjoy the experience and be better for it!

8. Have some fun

   Make sure to do some fun things with your players. There are endless ways to do this.

   Play some wiffleball. Go putt putting. Have your players over for a cookout and cornhole tournament. Plan a fantasy football league.

   Yes, you want to have a good team next year. But you also want your players to enjoy the experience. Doing things away from the court is fun and helps you get to know your players better.

   Speaking of that . . .

9. Get to know your players better

   Because the summer is more relaxed than the season, you have a great chance to build relationships with your players.

   Hang out after the open gym and talk. Play “HORSE” with one of your players. Heck, play some open gyms with them.

   However you do it, prioritize relationships. Start making deposits now. That way, when you have to be tough on them later on, the relationship can withstand it.

10. Start developing leaders

    You might know who your leaders are going to be. You might not. Either way, leadership development should be part of your summer program.

    You can do this multiple ways. Have your leaders handle communication over the summer. Give your leaders a unit of 3-5 teammates to be responsible for. Read a book with them.

    Leadership is hard. Players need practice. Don’t wait until the season to get your leaders’ reps.

11. Play. . . a lot

    Kids like playing. So play a lot. Find competitive summer leagues and shootouts to participate in. The game results don’t matter. But how you play does.

    By playing a lot, you see what works and what doesn’t. You can see who’s improved. You can see who plays well together. All that information is valuable in guiding your planning for the season.

    Related to this, play outside. I heard this idea from Marty Plum of A Pen and A Napkin. At least once during the summer, have an open gym at an outdoor court.

    If there's a playground where people play, have your players meet there. It’s a fun way to change things up!

12. Shoot

    This builds on where we started - development. There may not be a coach in America who thinks they have enough shooters. So prioritize shooting during the summer!

    Give your players chances to get in the gym and shoot. You might consider doing a 10,000 Shot Club. That encourages players to track, which is an important skill.

    Whether you do that or not, make sure shooting is a core element of your summer. If you do, you’ll be thanking yourself come January!

    For 5 Drills That Will Help Your Players Make More 3’s, click the banner below!

    

13. Take a break

    You need it. Your players need it. Get away from the game for a little bit.

    Don’t fall prey to the comparison trap. Just because another program is doing something all the time doesn’t mean you need to.

    If you never take a break, you risk burning yourself and your players out.

    So take a break. You’ll be happy you did. You’ll come back more refreshed. So will your players.

Make The Summer Season Your Team’s Improvement Season!

The summer is a great time for a basketball coach.

You get to be around your team in a more laid back setting.

You get to help your players improve.

You get to see your team begin to come together.

Maximize all those opportunities with the tips above. In doing so, you’re setting yourself up for a great season!

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