Well I am set to start Coaching a Varsity Girls Basketball Team. They have finished the last two seasons 6-34 with 0 conference wins both seasons. That is 3-17 each season. I have not met the girls yet but know a few are athletic and participate in volleyball, etc.

I am wondering what drills aside from basics I can use to test each players all around skills so I know for sure who is going to be dependable. I have heard nightmare stories from parents and other coaches. They were taught to shoot 1 handed for some reason. They didn't run much in practice, etc etc etc.

So far I'm looking at just a few drills based on fundamentals and then seeing how they respond to trap pressure, dribbling around opponents, being chased on a fast break, etc.

Love the sport, my experience thus far is with men's travel, club, prep & aau teams. I've always done well in competition. Just trying to prepare myself and get knowledge from other coaches who have been in similar situations.

This is a tough situation... ( of course you aleady know that ) If this were me I would make sure that I am using the KISS method on everything I did. From what I am reading - you are telling us that they don't have a lot of knowledge regarding the game.

Teach a lot of fundamentals, keep your offense and defense basic for this year. Make sure that you can break a full and half court press/trap. You can always add things as you go along IF they are able to pick things up. Don't overwhelm them with a lot of stuff they cant handle.

I coached soph girls one year ( I was the varsity boys coiach ) amd I tried to teach the post players several moves.... I think that one player made ONE move the entire year. Think I wasted a lot of time? I do! Don Kelbick said, don't spent 80-90% of your practice on something you use 5-10% of the time.

Make good practrice plans and re-evaluate them every day to make sure that you are going in the right direction.

You are now the manager/head coach of this program, you need to start at the bottom and make sure the freshman & sophomores are being taught a lot of fundamentals and your system. You will need to build a good foundation through them and your program will flourish. IF you don't, you will be experiencing exactly what you are facing now.

Don 't worry about the Ws & Ls this year, it should be more about moving from point A to point Z at the end of the year. Are your kids improving the way you want them to. Look at the Cubs ( I cant LOL ) they are backing up the bus and pretty much starting over. Thats where you are with this program... starting over. JMO

Coach,

Congratulations on your new gig.

Patience is what you need most along with a plan.

We have a local coach who is reaching out to the younger kids some as young as 10 through the locial clubs and cosches. He wants them to stress more fundamentals.

You'll need a good piipeline.

Coach Sars points are great.

Good luck

Wowzer,
Just wondering how your team has done this season?
What did you do that worked?
What would you have changed?