Hi,

This is my first year in a high school coaching environment. My school has a reputation of being bad at basketball. I coach JV girls and one thing that i notice is bad attitudes with each other and they don't pay attention when trying to be shown drills and correct fundamentals. Do you have any suggestions? thanks in advance

I have only one suggestion, since the school is bad at basketball to begin with, then winning isn't a high priority. Those young ladies that are showing bad attitudes need to be gone. I would simply start over again with a good group of kids. You need to enjoy your coaching if you are to be successful. One of the best years I had was with a high school team many years ago in a small town in Canada. We went 1-22 and I coached my heart out and my kids played their hearts out. And that one win...wow..what a party that started..six years later, we went to the Provincial Championships.....coach Mac

Amen to that Coach Mac....

I know what that's like... lost my two best players ( 36-40 ppg ) cant replace that... one was the point guard and the back up tore the ligaments in his thumb... out for 10 weeks.

We went 1-26, they played so hard... I coached my butt off and we had a good time... get rid of the mal contents and build the program from the ground up.

Its time to sit down with the head coach and find out where he wants to take the program - this is HIS call.

I told one entire sophomore team NOT to come out for the Varsity...on top of NOT being very good players they were jerks... as coaches we don't need to deal with that garbage, the job can be hard enough... Don't get me wrong... I loved teaching and coaching.

Ken

Mac and Ken...as always great insight!!


Start with a parent meeting to introduce yourself, your experience, your coaching philosphy, and goals. Include rules which should cover bad attitudes and how it may affect playing time.

Have a team meeting. Communicate what you expect from the girls, team goals, team rules and again.......how bad attitudes, disrespect toward fellow players and coaches can negatively affect their playing time.

Most times when you take away playing time...it can serve as a strong motivator to behave properly, hustle and be a team player.

Lastly, try to get the team together for off-court team-building gatherings. Maybe getting together with you and the other teammates, having some laughs, off-court can generate mutual respect and commraderie.

Here are a few suggestions:

-Invite them over for a high carb pasta dinner the night before a game
-Treat them to a local college basketball game
-Treat them to a night of bowling (this i have done and it was fun)
-Organize a mandatory team gathering to do charity/volunteer work
-Conduct a one night basketball clinic at the high school for young girls in town. Have your team help out, demonstrate skills and coach and work with the young girls.

Good Luck,

Coach A

First, I would like to thank you for all the help. coach A ,I will be using alot of your ideas, they were great. Thanks again to all the coaches for taking the time to give advice to new guy in the coaching field!!!

Welcome to the ranks of the greatest profession in the world... what a great thing... we get to do something we love to do and some one pays us to do it! :-)

Great Ideas Coach A - I did most of that stuff with our entire program one week after we picked our teams... had a Blue - White game and parent/player meeting..

That solves a lot of problems. We are always here if you have any other questions.

Ken

Bigrob909: This forum obviously has some great coaches because the advice I've seen on this page shows it. You can't go wrong with any of their advice. I would like to add that the setting of standards is a direct responsibility of the head high school coach, however, you may have to run his offense or defense ( which I think you should ) but you can instill your own values and standards about team play, effort, conduct, intensity etc. I've never had a player quit or that I kicked off that it didn't help me, my coaches or the players on the team in some way no matter how many points or rebounds they get. If you start to waiver just ask yourself this question - What am I willing to sacrifice just to win a game ? meaning integrity, progessional standards and team rules. Hope this helps.

Coach West...

You make some great points here... everything has to go through the Head Coach.... its his job to set the rules / standards of his/her program. I've been in both roles and I know how important it is to show LOYALTY ... in the open you have to back him to the enth degree, behind closed doors you can disagree all you want.. bottom line, he makes the final decisions.

I would hope that you could sit down with him and discuss this problem and come to a mutual understanding about how these kids should be handled.

When I was the sophomore coach I only had one rule... its my way or the highway.... do it my way.. and I won't have any in fighting, we are a team... you want to get at someone... get mad at me, come and discuss it with me and we will work it out. IF you don't want to be part of a team.... then go play in the parks.

Just to add to this... you can say things like this while interjecting a little humor.... that way you can still make your point ... another thing I used to say was - "IF you want it your way, go to Burger King!"