NT Coaches Thread (Will Be Updated Regularly)

nice thread
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Originally Posted by Seymore CAKE

I just got signed up to coach 5th and 6th grade basketball so i'll definitely be checking this out.
Wassup Cake? I started my career with the 5/6th grade team. I had a ton of fun and my patience increased a great deal. Let me know if you need anyhelp with drills or plays. I'm hoping to get back in the system next year.

Are you in the CPS system?
 
i'm currently a student assistant coach for women's volleyball and i'm also a club director (club = aau in volleyball, kinda) and i coach one ofthe teams. nice to see this thread, even though i'm probably alone on the volleyball end. its still nice to see what other coaches do to motivate and teachtheir sports.

just some things i have posted in my office

Pat Summit's Coaching Philosophy: The Definite Dozen
1. respect yourself and others
2. take full responsibility
3. develop and demonstrate loyalty
4. learn to be a great communicator
5. discipline yourself so no one else has to
6. make hard work your passion
7. don't just work hard, work smart
8. put the team before yourself
9. make winning an attitude
10. be a competitor
11. change is a must
12. handle success like you handle failure

Ten Characteristics of Highly Successful Coaches
1. committed to individual integrity, values and personal growth
2. profound thinkers who see themselves as educators
3. well educated (formally and informally) in a liberal arts tradition
4. long run commitment to their athletes and institution
5. willing to experiment with new ideas
6. value the coach-player relationship, winning aside
7. understand and appreciate human nature
8. love their sport and work
9. honest and strong in character
10. human and therefore imperfect

i have TONS of stuff on my other computer...just have to find it. great thread
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Good stuff Big Ashley, be sure to post whatever else you have. Love Coach Summit. Interested in her approach to preferring to recruit kids from single parenthouseholds. She says they usually have a toughness about them they she doesn't have to try to teach.
 
[h3]POINT GUARD TIPS[/h3] Thanks to Coach Duane Silver for passing on this list from Sheridan Junior College Coach Steve Smiley. We have posted several things from Steve on our site. He is a former player of Coach Don Meyer at Northern State University where he wrote a great book, "Playing for Coach Meyer." This is a great list:


Here are the key things that I can think of that are crucial for PG play (in no particular order).


1. Vocal Leadership - If your PG isn't vocal, they can't command the team. It's not enough to just "lead by example" on the court; the PG must be able to control the game and keep their team organized (calling out sets, etc)…

2. Lead by Example - We all expect our PG's to be leaders, so they must lead by example on and off the floor. They have to have leadership qualities to be able to run a team. One good "on-the court" example would be their defensive stance and on-ball pressure as the ball moves up the floor. If they are a ball-hawk and showing extreme pressure to the ball, there is a good chance the rest of the team will also buy in to being in a stance.


3. Have a good relationship with the coach - We all say that the PG must be an extension of the coaching staff on the court, so there must be a solid relationship between the coach and PG so they can always feel comfortable communicating with each other.


4. Not a "Shoot-first" player - They don't necessarily need to always be a pass-first PG, especially in high school where the PG might also be the best scorer, but they can not be a player that typically will bring the ball up the floor looking to go one-on-one and creating shots just for themselves. The offense will become stagnant and other players will shut down, because they know their chances of being involved offensively are low.


5. Have a high IQ for the game / feel for the game - They have to understand special situations, the flow of the game, the time & score, when to attack, when to pull it out, etc.

6. Have a high conditioning threshold - if the PG isn't in shape and is expected to play big minutes and minutes at the end of the game, they will break down mentally once their body breaks down, so it is huge for them to be in great shape.

7. Make the easy pass, and not always the "assist" pass - Sometimes PG's make foolish passes because they know the ball will be in their hand much of the time. Have them keep it simple. The reason Steve Nash can make the passes he can make is because he works on it every day and he is the best in the world. There aren't a lot of Steve Nashes out there, so use the KISS principle - "Keep It Simple, Stupid".


8. Be able to knock down the open shot - I couldn't shoot, and I played a lot of minutes, and it definitely hurt my team at times. The PG typically won't get a ton of shots off of set plays or screens because he or she is setting up others, but the PG must be able to hit the open shot in transition, on post-feed kick-outs, etc.

9. Have "Gears" - I'm talking about a change of pace in their game. The toughest PG's aren't the ones who are extremely fast, but the ones that are always playing at different speeds. They have deception in their game.


10. Have a "Motor" - summarizes a lot of the points already made, but the PG has to play extremely hard, and be eager to do all of the dirty jobs. The PG must be willing to guard the full length of the court, push the ball in transition, be vocal, and play with a tremendous amount of energy.

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Originally Posted by AntBanks81

Originally Posted by Seymore CAKE

I just got signed up to coach 5th and 6th grade basketball so i'll definitely be checking this out.
Wassup Cake? I started my career with the 5/6th grade team. I had a ton of fun and my patience increased a great deal. Let me know if you need any help with drills or plays. I'm hoping to get back in the system next year.

Are you in the CPS system?



I'm coolin ... I"m cutting my teeth in the suburbs, a little rec league, 1st before I take it back to the essence which is where I will be headed.. But yea after that practice I was both a little frustrated and crazy excited.
 
You need to show them some clips of Thrill and Sherron. Show them what they can be if they work hard
 
No need, everyone from the city knows them, what they did and what they are... Hell half these kids think they're already Sherron and Will
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Good thread I coach right now in Orange County and it's my first season so I need all the advice I can get.
 
Not to change the subject but how big is Sherron in the city? No where near the level of Thrill is he? Folks talk about them like that?
 
Originally Posted by DCAllAmerican

Not to change the subject but how big is Sherron in the city? No where near the level of Thrill is he? Folks talk about them like that?


Sherron is big in the city, basically because he's been labeled the next Will since he was a freshie at Crane and he did work in h.s./KU... But Will isthe biggest mog in the city in terms of hooping G. I mean Mike is that _ cause Mike is that _ you know... but in terms of boys from the city... This isWill's city. He sells out Pro-Am by himself G. We have a gang of boys that go and every year we have nba stars (this summer OJ, Gilbert, Julian Wright,Shawn Marion and a few other mogs) and everyone just wants to see Will.
 
I'm currently a 7th grade Select Bball Coach.... and future Middle/High School Coach
Great thread first of all.
I love all the websites DC posted, but would add this one www.basketballcoach.com
which has great deals on DVDs...copped these last yr. for 100$ total....
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they also have extended streams of drills for members (which is free)
If any of you are considering investing in some DVDs .... anything Ganon Baker is GREAT for the kids to watch
I'll be keeping an eye on this thread
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Originally Posted by DCAllAmerican

How involved are their parents? This will become a BIG issue man.

We had one dude on our HS team's mother basically cuss us out for a whole half because her son wasn't playing enough. Her son shut her up because she was so damn embarrassing.� That lady cussed me the HELL out after the game man. Hahahahaha


REAL TALK..... this is THE biggest issue in youth ball
EVERY PARENT THINKS THEIR KID IS A STAR!
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Even the best coach will have someone not happy.... thats why you base everything on effort in practice
 
I coached kindergarten and 4th grade girls basketball for a season each. It was so difficult to try to teach the kindergarten team, I always had to have atleast 3 parents stay for practice to help me out.

The 4th grade girls were awesome though. None of them knew anything about basketball, and seeing them progress as the season went on was a sight to see. Havingto teach positions and spacing the floor and where to be at on defense was challenging but they wanted to learn.
 
[h3]TEN TIPS FOR TAKING CRITICISM[/h3] 1. Understand the difference between constructive and destructive criticism. To determine the motive behind the confrontation, ask yourself some questions. First, in what spirit is it given? Look beyond the words and determine the motives. Second, when is the criticism given? Times of confrontation must be shared privately, not within public view or hearing. Third, why is the criticism given? This question deals with the attitude of the critic.

2. Don't take yourself too seriously. If you can develop the ability to laugh at yourself, you will be much more relaxed when given or giving criticism.


3. Look beyond the criticism and see the critic. When someone comes to me with news about another person, I am more interested in the person who said it than what was said. Keep in mind certain considerations regarding your critic: First, is it someone whose character you respect? Second, is this person frequently critical? Is criticism a pattern?


4. Watch your own attitude toward the critic. A negative attitude toward criticism can be more destructive than the criticism itself.


5. Realize that good people get criticized. Jesus, whose motives were pure and character was spotless, was called a glutton (Matt. 11:19), a drunkard (Luke 7:34), a Samaritan (John 8:48), and a friend of sinners (Matt. 11:19 and Mark 2:16).


6. Keep physically and spiritually in shape. Physical exhaustion has a tremendous effect on the way we act and react; it distorts the way we see and handle life.


7. Don't just see the critic; see if there's a crowd. I'm suggesting that you expand your vision; go beyond the critic and see if he has a cheering section. Consider the possibility that you are hearing the same criticism from several people. If this is the case, and the critics are reliable, you need to realize that you have a challenge to work on. If, on the other hand, you're dealing with a pocket group of negative people, your challenge is to not be affected by them.


8. Wait for a time to prove them wrong. Time is your best ally; it allows you to prove yourself right. Often, as events unfold, the cause for criticism is eliminated and you will be vindicated. Abraham Lincoln, perhaps the most loved president of the United States, was also the most criticized president. Probably no politician in history had worse things said about him. Here's how the Chicago Times in 1865 evaluated Lincoln's Gettysburg Address the day after he delivered it: "The cheek of every American must tingle with shame as he reads the silly, flat, and dish-watery utterances of a man who has been pointed out to intelligent foreigners as President of the United States." Time, of course, has proved this scathing criticism wrong.

9. Surround yourself with positive people. When you have optional time, spend it with people who will build you up. Enough quality time with positive people will minimize the effect of negative criticism. It will also discourage you from being critical.


10. Concentrate on your mission-change your mistakes. Most people do exactly the opposite-they change their mission and concentrate on their mistakes. If you run from your task each time you make a mistake, you will never accomplish anything. You will always be in a state of frustration and defeat. The only real mistakes in life are the mistakes from which we learn nothing. So instead of dwelling on them, count on making them, learning from them, and moving on you finish the job.

From "Be A People Person" by John Maxwell

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I just thought caught this thread so I thought I would give my input. I played basketball in college and have coached JV high school basketball for 4 years.

If you are going to coach kids that are in 8th grade or lower, your focus has to be on development. You should have a meeting with the parents to let them knowyou are willing to sacrafice wins to better prepare kids to succeed at the high school level and beyond.

For example, you will probably have a better chance of winning a game coaching 6th graders by playing zone, but it is more important that a kid learns thebasic principles of man to man defense first. A kid has to know how to play on the ball, what position he has to be in when he is one pass away, two passesaway, etc. A kid has to know he has to jump to the ball on every pass, see and point to his man and the ball, and be ready to rotate. He has to know how toopen up and let his teammate though on a screen, how to properly play the passing lanes, how to get in a stance, etc. I can't tell you how many 9th graderswe get that come into our program and have no concept of basic man to man defense. They just hug their man and think they are doing a good job. So a lot oftime that could be spent doing other things is being used to teach kids the basic fundamentals of man to man. Its not that middle school coaches areintentionally trying to hurt the kids development, it is just that some don't understand. Then you have the middle school coach that understands but justwants the wins. If you teach kids how to play defense the right way, the winning will take care of itself.

Fundamentals are obviously very important to focus on at a young age. Again I have seen a lot of middle school programs that will have the kids do lay-ups, runa few plays, and scrimmage. If you have an hour practice, 50 minutes should be used for skill development and defense, and the other 10 should be used forscrimmage. You can actually do drills like 4 on 4 "shell drill" which incorporate the scrimmage but still have a man to man defensive emphasis.

Last point for know is that coaches should always have a practice plan. Kids should be in and out of drills, and coaches should incorporate drills where everykid is active at all times.

I had the opportunity to play for and coach under a gentleman who went to Princeton and played for Pete Carril and it has been a great learning experience forme. Hope some of that helps.
 
[h2]Essential Reflection Questions for PracticePlanning[/h2]Posted by bruchu Labels: Motivation and Leadership
Throughout the year, I think its important to constantly assess how well your practices are being executed. Making adjustments along the way, and findingout what your players can do well, what they need to continue working on, and in which ways do they respond best to. Mostly obvious stuff, but sometimescoaching, teaching, family, etc... can get in the way of reflection. Here are some essential questions based on some notes I dug up by Mike Dunlap on practiceplanning and assessment:

Time Allotment and Tempo

Do you have a practice schedule worked out for the year?

It's important for your players, parents, other teachers, and administration to know when practices are taking place. In the 24/7 world we live in now,this is a must. Do your players respond better to morning, afterschool, or evening practices? Be prepared to adjust to your team's needs.

How efficient are your practices?

As coaches, we often complain about the lack of practice time, but have you asked yourself exactly how you are utilizing the practice time you have? How manytimes are players standing around waiting in line? How much time are players simulating the tempo of real game situations? Lastly, but most importantly are yousetting aside enough time for teaching?

Process and Emphasis

What is your process for teaching?

Dunlap's 5 laws of learning: 1) Tell them 2) Show them 3) Have them show you 4) Correct the demonstration 5) Repetition. What is your methodology, whole orpart? Whole at the beginning of the season, part at the end, according to Dunlap. Is your process the best way to reach your players, could there be a betterway?

What do you emphasize?

You can't be everything, you are what you emphasize, simplicity with detail. You should develop your own vocabulary with your players to help with the keyconcepts you want them to grasp. Test your players every day, do they get what you are trying to emphasize and why?

Why are you doing what you are doing?

As a coach, you need to have a vision, a credo, a mission statement. Know where you are going as a team, then ask yourself "where are we at currently, andhow do we get to where we want to go?"

Assessment and Evaluation

What are your expectations?

Assume nothing, make sure everything you are asking your players to do is exactly what you require them to do. Peer pressure is your friend, the player voiceis more powerful than yours -- "higher order of teaching". Have individual, small, and big group expectations.

How do you evaluate your players?

Everything you do in practice should be competitive, time/score, reward/punishment. Have a briefing before practices and a debrief after practices. KWL, whatthey know, what they want to know, what they learned.

How do you know your players are improving?

Skill will most likely not improve significantly over the course of the season, but you can measure their effort. Know the physical capabilities of yourplayers (heart rates, recovery rates). The toughness test, contact drills to build up physical and mental toughness.

For more great practice insights, check out Geno Auriemma's newAll Access Practice DVD. Coach Auriemma is of course the longtime head coach of the UConn women's team.

[h2]Tuesday, November 3, 2009[/h2]http://[h3]POINT GUARD TIPS FROM STEVENASH[/h3] Special thanksto Coach Eric Musselman for the following:


Words of wisdom for point guards presented by Steve Nash at the Nike Point Guard Academy:


"You should always want your coach to be critical.It gives you an opportunity to learn and to over-come adversity."

"You maximize your potential by being humble,develop a work ethic, strive to be a good person,and to be the best teammate you can be."

"Use your scoring ability to be a better passer,and your passing skills to become a better scorer."

"You can't be a point guard who gets into the lane and always passes. Capitalize on the real estate you have gained."

"Point Guard must be able to pass with both hands equally off the dribble."


'"I am always thinking how can I get myself better."

"On the fast break, after 2 or 3 hard dribbles you should see the whole floor and know where all your teammates are."
 
Awesome thread! I'm in my 5th year coaching high school basketball in California and am currently co-coaching our varsity team. My father in law is a D1head coach so ive been blessed with a great source of information close to home. The new rules proposed by the NCAA are really going to hurt prospectivecollege coaches as establishing contacts within college programs will be much harder. To all the guys coaching younger kids, please stick with it! I startedthere and this year i've been able to watch 3 of my former players compete at the D1 level! It's one of the most rewarding feelings imaginable. Letskeep this thread alive!
 
[h3]BECOMING EVERYTHING YOU ARE CAPABLE OF BECOMING[/h3]

Another great email lesson from Brian Tracy...so good I am posting it on both blogs so coaches and players but will hopefully read:

Theturning point in my life came when I discovered the law of cause andeffect, the great law of the universe, and human destiny. I learnedthat everything happens for a reason. I discovered that success is notan accident. Failure is not an accident, either. I also discovered thatpeople who are successful in any area usually are those who havelearned the cause-and-effect relationship between what they want andhow to get it.

Determine Your Personal Growth and Development Values
Torealize your full potential for personal and professional growth anddevelopment, begin with your values as they apply to your ownabilities. As you know, your values are expressed in your words andactions.

You can tell what your values are by looking at whatyou do and how you respond to the world around you. Your values are theroot causes of your motivations and your behaviors.

Clarify Your Personal Growth and Development Vision
Createa long-term vision for yourself in the area of personal growth. Projectforward five or ten years and imagine that you are developed fully inevery important part of your life. Idealize and see yourself asoutstanding in every respect. Refuse to compromise on your personaldreams.

Set Goals for Your Personal Growth and Development
Nowtake your vision and crystallize it into specific goals. Here is a goodway to start. Take out a piece of paper and write down ten goals thatyou would like to achieve in the area of personal and professionaldevelopment in the months and years ahead. Write in the present tense,exactly as if you were already the person you intend to be.

Determineexactly what you want to be able to do. Decide who you want to become.Describe exactly what you will look like when you become trulyexcellent in your field and in your personal life.

Upgrade Your Personal Knowledge and Skills
Setspecific measures for each of your goals. If your goal is to excel inyour field, determine how you will know when you have achieved it.Decide how you can measure your progress and evaluate your success.

Perhapsyou can use as a measure the number of hours you study in your fieldeach week. Perhaps you can measure the number of books you read or thenumber of audio programs you listen to. Perhaps you could measure yourprogress by the number of sales you make as the result of your growingskills.

Develop Winning Personal Growth and Development Habits
Selectthe specific habits and behaviors you will need to practice every dayto become the person you want to become. These could be the habits ofclarity, planning, thoroughness, studiousness, hard work,determination, and persistence.

Action Exercise
Decidetoday to develop yourself to the point where you can achieve everyfinancial and personal goal you ever set and become everything you arecapable of becoming. Write down your goals and make sure to look atthem every day, then ponder ways you possibly achieve these goals.
 
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