How to be a good coach in basketball

9 Techniques of Successful Basketball Coaches

In the world of sports, there is always room for improvement—not just for athletes, but also for coaches. Many coaches could profit from a little fine-tuning. Having an impact on players requires more than deep knowledge of the game. Successful coaches help athletes reach their potential by building relationships based on trust, confidence and  communication. (Read about David Jack’s Training Philosophy.)
Here are nine techniques that can help coaches have more impact on their players and result in a more successful season. I discuss them in a basketball context, but the techniques apply to coaching any sport.

As a coach, you need to set an example if you expect your players to put in the time to improve. Coaches should constantly be learning, practicing and planning. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking you know enough. At Coaching U Live, Boston Celtics assistant coach Kevin Eastman and former Chuck Daly assistant coach Brendan Suhr not only run the clinic and present, they also take notes throughout. Other NBA head coaches do the same, even when they are not presenting. If these guys are still learning, you should be too.

For your players to get quality repetitions, they need to understand what they look like. The smallest fundamental of form or technique determines how well an overall exercise is done. If you let players cross their feet on defense in practice, you can be sure it will happen in a game. You have to slightly over-exaggerate the small details in practice to get what you want when the game starts.

A popular saying is that “you get what you accept.” This can be applied to skills, execution and discipline. Don’t let your players fall short of meeting the standards you set. Know what you want and determine what is acceptable. Not everything will be perfect, but that doesn’t mean perfection shouldn’t be a goal. Know what is realistic in the circumstances, and enforce all team rules consistently.

Bringing intensity doesn’t mean you have to be loud and crazy. What it does mean is that you must do everything with purpose and focus. Your team will take on your personality and, hopefully, your mentality. Personally, I am not loud, and I am always pretty calm. I have been called “the cool coach,” because my temperament doesn’t change. To some, I may seem to lack intensity, but my teams play with confidence and focus, train hard and smart, and carry these traits with them beyond basketball. We win a lot, too. The players understand that when they are on the court, they have a job to do. They enjoy working hard and they expect to win.

Being positive produces longer lasting results. Negativity wears off, because it acts primarily on external motivators. Players who are, or learn to be, internally motivated go farther. If players don’t buy in to the team’s goals, there is only so much you can do. But creating a positive environment is crucial. This means ruling out negativity, not just from your players, but also, insofar as you can control it, from your fans. In partnership with leaders among your players, it is important to be firm and in control, but in a way that brings people in. Never sacrifice discipline. But when correcting mistakes, use the “sandwich technique”—give a positive comment, make the correction, and follow it up with another positive comment. (Check out High School Basketball Coaches: Be Flexible When Implementing a System.)

Employ the two “cons”: always be confident and consistent. They will be contagious (another “con”), and your players will buy in much faster. If you are unsure, your players will be too. Without consistency, your players will never know what to expect from you. You will lose them if you don’t enforce the same rules for everybody, or if you accept different behavior from one day, or year, to the next. Players need to know who you are and have full trust in you.

This is part of being consistent. If you are not a screamer, don’t become one just because something upsets you. Honesty works better, even when it’s hard to do. There are times to build confidence, but still be honest, just positive. There are also times when, if you are not honest, players will know. Athletes don’t want to play for Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

Most of all, your players need to know that you care about them. They will do more for you, and for themselves, when they know that you care. How you communicate shows how much you care and determines how well they learn. Part of communication is listening. When you listen, you learn more about your players; and the better you know them, the easier it is to teach them. (Read How Sport Psychology Improves Athletic Performance.)

A winning culture includes the previous techniques, but also dedication, commitment, competitiveness, and high standards. Don’t settle for less than you expect. Don’t let players cheat themselves or the team, and don’t do it yourself. Team success must come before anything else. Make all coaching decisions in the best interests of the team. Leave your ego and emotions out of it, and don’t put any player above the team. You want your players to put the team first and make winning their priority. That starts with the example that you set every day.
Want more coaching tips? Check out Building A Better Young Athlete, Part 1: Laying the Foundation.

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In the world of sports, there is always room for improvement—not just for athletes, but also for coaches. Many coaches could profit from a little fine-tuning. Having an impact on players requires more than deep knowledge of the game. Successful coaches help athletes reach their potential by building relationships based on trust, confidence and  communication. (Read about David Jack’s Training Philosophy. )
Here are nine techniques that can help coaches have more impact on their players and result in a more successful season. I discuss them in a basketball context, but the techniques apply to coaching any sport.

As a coach, you need to set an example if you expect your players to put in the time to improve. Coaches should constantly be learning, practicing and planning. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking you know enough. At Coaching U Live, Boston Celtics assistant coach Kevin Eastman and former Chuck Daly assistant coach Brendan Suhr not only run the clinic and present, they also take notes throughout. Other NBA head coaches do the same, even when they are not presenting. If these guys are still learning, you should be too.

For your players to get quality repetitions, they need to understand what they look like. The smallest fundamental of form or technique determines how well an overall exercise is done. If you let players cross their feet on defense in practice, you can be sure it will happen in a game. You have to slightly over-exaggerate the small details in practice to get what you want when the game starts.

A popular saying is that “you get what you accept.” This can be applied to skills, execution and discipline. Don’t let your players fall short of meeting the standards you set. Know what you want and determine what is acceptable. Not everything will be perfect, but that doesn’t mean perfection shouldn’t be a goal. Know what is realistic in the circumstances, and enforce all team rules consistently.

Bringing intensity doesn’t mean you have to be loud and crazy. What it does mean is that you must do everything with purpose and focus. Your team will take on your personality and, hopefully, your mentality. Personally, I am not loud, and I am always pretty calm. I have been called “the cool coach,” because my temperament doesn’t change. To some, I may seem to lack intensity, but my teams play with confidence and focus, train hard and smart, and carry these traits with them beyond basketball. We win a lot, too. The players understand that when they are on the court, they have a job to do. They enjoy working hard and they expect to win.

Being positive produces longer lasting results. Negativity wears off, because it acts primarily on external motivators. Players who are, or learn to be, internally motivated go farther. If players don’t buy in to the team’s goals, there is only so much you can do. But creating a positive environment is crucial. This means ruling out negativity, not just from your players, but also, insofar as you can control it, from your fans. In partnership with leaders among your players, it is important to be firm and in control, but in a way that brings people in. Never sacrifice discipline. But when correcting mistakes, use the “sandwich technique”—give a positive comment, make the correction, and follow it up with another positive comment. (Check out High School Basketball Coaches: Be Flexible When Implementing a System.)

Employ the two “cons”: always be confident and consistent. They will be contagious (another “con”), and your players will buy in much faster. If you are unsure, your players will be too. Without consistency, your players will never know what to expect from you. You will lose them if you don’t enforce the same rules for everybody, or if you accept different behavior from one day, or year, to the next. Players need to know who you are and have full trust in you.

This is part of being consistent. If you are not a screamer, don’t become one just because something upsets you. Honesty works better, even when it’s hard to do. There are times to build confidence, but still be honest, just positive. There are also times when, if you are not honest, players will know. Athletes don’t want to play for Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

Most of all, your players need to know that you care about them. They will do more for you, and for themselves, when they know that you care. How you communicate shows how much you care and determines how well they learn. Part of communication is listening. When you listen, you learn more about your players; and the better you know them, the easier it is to teach them. (Read How Sport Psychology Improves Athletic Performance.)

A winning culture includes the previous techniques, but also dedication, commitment, competitiveness, and high standards. Don’t settle for less than you expect. Don’t let players cheat themselves or the team, and don’t do it yourself. Team success must come before anything else. Make all coaching decisions in the best interests of the team. Leave your ego and emotions out of it, and don’t put any player above the team. You want your players to put the team first and make winning their priority. That starts with the example that you set every day.
Want more coaching tips? Check out Building A Better Young Athlete, Part 1: Laying the Foundation.

Share This Story!

USA Basketball - 5 Keys to Being a Great Basketball Coach

If you want your youth basketball team to have an All-Star experience all season, there are a wide range of ideals you need to focus on to make the experience as positive as possible.

Here are five ways that you can be an All-Star basketball coach.

All-Star Qualities

• Sportsmanship - Remember basic courtesy and good manners? Use your practices and games to reinforce these basic principles. Make sure your players can give a firm handshake with eye contact to officials and opposing coaches, as well as a high five to opposing players.
• Teamwork - Teach your players that "we over me" is what most often leads to "us over them," in team sports competition. Encourage your players to be selfless and supportive teammates in both losing and winning efforts.
• Positive Attitude - Life is not fair and basketball is worse. Help your players get over it and still do what they need to do to succeed. Playing sports is one the best ways to practice overcoming adversity and preparing to handle tough times in life. Humor helps!
• Respect - Pay it forward and get it back. How a coach interacts with other adults--coaches, parents and officials--will naturally influence the behavior of your players. Be mindful that you are a role model and are always being watched. Insist that your players respect coaches, officials and opponents--like you do. Have the courage to enforce your rules with every player and parent involved with your team.

Coaching

• Philosophy - Want a surefire way to be a great youth coach? Lighten up! Here's a tip. Not one of your games will be Game 7 of the NBA Finals. Billions of people don't even know you exist, let alone feel that your practices and games are important. Recreational league and even elite travel team coaches should understand that kids want to play sports and to have FUN! Let your players figure things out. Ask questions, but don't give instruction or answers. Stop teaching so much and give your players a chance to learn. Watching them grow will be fun for you too!
• Communication - Have a team meeting to start the first practice of the season, or as soon as possible thereafter. Limit your postgame analysis to positive things that occurred in the game and deal with what went wrong by establishing a specific goal to work on starting at the next practice. Ask parents to delay or even eliminate the dreaded postgame interview with their child. When you need to correct a player, use the "compliment sandwich" State something positive the player did well, give a very specific correction, then restate the first positive thing.
• Continuing Education - All-star coaching requires continuing education. I have been privileged to learn the game of basketball from seven coaches who are in the Basketball Hall of Fame. Each one of them was always striving to learn more. In your efforts to learn, make sure the substance of the material is appropriate for the skill, age and maturity level of the players that you coach.
• Use Resources - There are several organizations that offer assistance to youth coaches. Do an online search for youth coaching information sources. Read books, watch videos and attend coaching clinics in-person whenever possible. One hour online could make you a better coach.

Practices

Play to learn, play to practice, and you will win when you play in games. Remember how much fun you had growing up when you used to just go outside and play with your friends? We advocate using the "compete to learn" approach to practice--it lets kids play and have fun while competing. This type of practice, using competitive drills, does a better job of preparing players to compete in real games. Technically, this is called transference. What you do in practice carries over into what you do in games.

• Individual Skills - Want to improve your team's ball handling? Games like dribble knockout are very popular. Every player must have his or her own basketball. Coach starts the game. Every player must dribble constantly, stay in-bounds and try to knock the ball away from all other players in the game. Lose control of your basketball or go out-of-bounds, and you're eliminated. Boundaries for 10-12 players could start as half the court. After several players are eliminated, the boundary is reduced to only inside the 3-point area. Boundary is reduced again to the free-throw lane. Finally, when there are just two players left, they play the "finals" in the free throw half circle.
• Team Concepts - Run half your offense by playing 2-on-2 or 3-on-3 restricted to one side of the floor. For example, make even (by size/ability) teams and conduct a 10-minute tournament using an action like the pick and roll. Allow for 20-second timeouts and allow players teach themselves how to make the play work.

Game Strategy

• Keep It Simple System (KISS) - Basketball is a simple game. Keep it simple! If you are a regular reader of instructional material, you might think that you need to have lots of practice drills and a complicated or intricate system to win games. No, you don't. Establish one or two alignments and three or four actions, and that's it. At the youth level or even in the NBA, most successful coaches try to have their team master a few simple things. 8-10 year olds can do this successfully. Try KISS at your next practice and even in your next game, your team will show instant improvement!
• Simple Transition Offense (Fast break/press break) - Score a lay-up in less than five seconds without dribbling.
• Simple Half-Court Offense (Ball movement/teamwork) - Everyone must catch and make a pass before anyone can shoot!
• The Best Offense Ever Designed - Give the ball to Michael Jordan and get out of the way. You can't get much more simple than that! However, that is an actual "play," as it is part of the "complicated" triangle offense. The triangle is a patterned motion offense that has several basic actions such as give and go, pick and roll and give the ball to Michael and get out of the way -- otherwise known as a clearout. By the way, that offense has won nine NBA championships and you, even as a youth recreational league coach, can run some of its actions to win games in your league.

Make All-Star Memories

The experience of playing on a youth sports team can affect a child's development as a person. How will you affect your player's communication, cooperation, goal setting and work ethic? How will your players remember this experience 10 years from now? Most won't remember the score.

If your team employs the ritual of getting together after every game for ice cream or pizza, takes a field trip to a college or pro game, or attends a movie together, your players will remember those good times long after they forget the score of the game. Parents sometimes enjoy these social events more than the kids.

Online Basketball Coach Profession

• Basketball Coach Highlights
• Responsibilities of a Basketball Coach
• Where you can learn the profession of a basketball coach

What is a good coach? This is a mentor who is able to teach the player not only the necessary motor skills and theoretical knowledge, but also develop confidence, the will to win, and team spirit in him. It depends on the coach whether basketball becomes a pleasure or turns into an ordeal. A good basketball coach is also an inspiration, a friend, and even a psychologist.

To start working as a coach, you need to have basic knowledge, learn the rules of the game, use motivational games for your wards, and much more. Good coaches are distinguished by love for their profession, the desire to develop, and, of course, experience.

Basketball coach highlights

A successful athlete is the main indicator of good coaching. In order to achieve good results, they start playing sports from childhood, constantly developing, not stopping at the results achieved. If an athlete stops showing good results or gets stuck at some level, the coach tries new techniques, is responsible for physical preparation, as well as for the morale before the competition. One of the most important tasks of a coach is to identify and reveal the athletic abilities of his ward.

Coaches can work in different areas:

1. Work in sports sections and schools (mass sports). Here the coach teaches the basics of sportsmanship, looks for talented children, works with pensioners. In such cases, the coach helps people maintain an active lifestyle, physical fitness.

2. Individual preparation of the athlete. The coach is responsible for his sports future, draws up a training schedule, selects training methods, draws up a nutrition plan, monitors the health of the athlete.

3. Conduct team training. The coach selects the tactics of the game, including based on the characteristics of the team members. And of course, it creates and maintains a friendly atmosphere and team spirit among the players, setting them up for victory.

The coach always knows everything about his wards, in fact, lives the life of his athletes. If he thinks only about his professional task, then he will not be able to reach an understanding with his wards. Accordingly, the work of the coach will not be one hundred percent effective.

Duties of a trainer

An individual or team coach has many responsibilities - from sports to household.

1. Decides what load to give to the athlete during training, develops a plan for the training period.

2. Solves household issues: finds a place for training, deals with sports equipment and inventory.

3. Conducts pedagogical work with athletes (this applies to those coaches who work with children).

4. Shows how to perform elements of technique, exercises, helps the student (insures).

5. Conducts psychological training of athletes, helps to cope with pre-start excitement, reveals the potential of the wards.

6. Sets goals and ways to achieve them.

7. Forms a team in a team sport.

Where can you learn the profession of basketball coach


The main thing that makes people choose the profession of a coach is the love for sports and the desire to dedicate their lives to this work.

A successful coach is distinguished by such personality traits as:

• strong nervous system;

• desire to win;

• stress tolerance;

• leadership skills;

• ability to motivate;

• the ability to use a personal example;

• desire to improve.

The profession of a trainer can be obtained in universities and secondary specialized educational institutions. For those who want to become a coach, but for some reason cannot afford to enroll in full-time or part-time education, there is a form of distance learning (online).

For example, the National Academy of Additional Professional Education offers students a distance course "Coach in the chosen sport (basketball)". On the course, you can get theoretical knowledge, master the methodology of training athletes in basketball, the biomechanics of physical exercises, and much more.

The course is licensed by the Ministry of Education, upon completion a standard diploma is issued.

The Complete Guide to Becoming a Basketball Coach

Basketball coaches play an important role in developing strong basketball teams. It is they who notice the strengths, improve the skills of the players and give them more confidence during the competition. Players will need coaches when visiting the season or preparing for the professional level.

How to become a basketball coach without experience? To learn more about the specific process of each step, keep reading this article by Scott Fujita .. We will also provide more interesting information about basketball coaches.

How to become a basketball coach

Who is a basketball coach?

Basketball coaching is a profession that guides an individual or a team of many basketball players. Their main task is to teach students how to play the game, strengthen individual skills, develop strategies in competitions and inspire.

The target audience of a basketball coach is very diverse. They can train and guide young athletes to professional athletes. Some of the qualities that a basketball coach needs are communication skills, patience, leadership skills, and deep knowledge of basketball.

Most basketball coaches teach school subjects while working in the school system. However, they may also work part-time in primary or secondary schools. Another option with coaches is to work full-time with no extra responsibilities at the college level and beyond.

Read more:

• How to throw a basketball
• How to get better at basketball
• Basic basketball skills

How to become the best basketball coach?

If you are looking to become a basketball coach, this section is for you. Let's find out in detail what you need to do to get a great job in this field.

You can also watch this video to get a better understanding of basketball coaching for beginners.

Get a high school diploma

Basketball coaching is a profession that requires a diploma. Depending on the level at which you teach, the minimum requirement is a high school diploma or equivalent. For those who do not have a high school diploma, the GED will do in most cases.

Get a bachelor's degree

Many basketball coaches need a bachelor's degree to move forward in their career. You have the opportunity to study programs related to sports and physical education. The best option is to find schools that offer diplomas that specialize in coaching

The main content of these programs is to teach students how to work with athletes, become team managers, develop training sessions and game strategies. Another interesting lesson is the skills to prevent accidents and injuries.

To be able to understand more in the learning process, you need to play basketball. Realistic experience will give you a comprehensive knowledge of the sport.

Team experience will also help you communicate better with athletes and make it easier to get a job.

Consider being a teacher in addition to being a basketball coach. Working in middle school or high school, you have a high chance of getting into a coaching position.

Many people find that state-certified basketball coaches will be more understanding and easier to communicate with. youth.

Choose your level of training

Choose your level of coaching

One of the factors you need to consider in order to become a basketball coach is the choice of coaching title. . There is a difference between a high school basketball coach and a college basketball coach. The level of athletes will significantly determine your decision.

If you have reached a certain level of skill, it will help you better define your career path or open up additional opportunities. Imagine a time when you were the coach of a team participating in a sports tournament.

Play basketball games

When you want to participate in college or professional basketball, actual playing experience is a required skill. This does not mean that you have to become a superstar. However, this experience will give you extensive knowledge and a solid foundation in the sport.

Your commonality and understanding of the game will also be of great help in your coaching career. This makes it easier to communicate with team members.

Become a volunteer trainer

Become a volunteer trainer to gain more experience. You can meet and work with many different basketball teams while at school. A good example is working as a team manager at a high school basketball club. This is the stepping stone that prepares you for the future.

It's also a good idea to volunteer as an assistant coach on your local high school basketball team. This will help you learn more about school coaches in practice.

Watch videos and basketball practices to learn how to play the game. To find the right strategy, assistant coaches and the head coach often watch video footage of the match. They will analyze the actions and strategies of the team and the opponent.

It would be useful to keep track of all the levels in every basketball tournament. It is also good practice to repeat specific offensive and defensive moves in basketball camps.

Complete education related courses

How to become a basketball coach without education? If you do not have a bachelor's degree specifically related to physical education, you will need to take the appropriate courses to work in the school system.

The main purpose of these courses is to familiarize you with the educational environment. It includes different ways to teach your students, as well as ways to create and manage a curriculum.

Become certified in your state

In some cases, you will need some certification to be able to do your coaching job. For those who work on the high school and college basketball team, the basic requirements for a basketball coach are a teaching license, additional courses, and certification in first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Since your target audience is underage, a background check is also required.

If you are unsure of the requirements for your area of ​​work and state, check with the state council. An example of a body you should work with is the Board of Education.

Learn from Experienced Coaches

At the start of your career as a basketball coach, you can gain experience and guidance from other coaches. They can provide valuable information about the training of basketball players. Ask them different questions to get a fresh perspective on work and how to succeed.

Apply for a job

Find a job in basketball

You can search for jobs as a basketball coach online. Another way is to visit coaching clinics or local centers to make sure they are not staffed. Regional tournaments are also a good option. Teen or adult basketball will require a seasonal basketball coach.

Managing a college team will be completely different from the lower levels. You need to prove your skills as well as achieve winning streaks to impress. As you enter the professional world, your path to becoming a successful basketball coach will be closer than ever.

How to become an NBA coach? To become a professional coach, you need to have a good track record and relevant qualifications. Potential college basketball coaches sometimes find it easy to get a job in the NBA.

Job Description of a Basketball Coach

There are many responsibilities that come with being a professional basketball head coach. Regardless of your level, you must meet these requirements. These include:

• Instructing team members to play basketball. These include basic game skills, various rules and strategies.
• Ensure the unity of the participants. Let your team members shine and promote team success, not individual feats.
• Explore the science of exercise and set up a basketball camp so players can practice and improve their skills.
• Listen to the player's external problems to find the best solution.
• Create strategies that match the level and skill level of the players and the team they are playing against.
• Become the driving force and leader of the team.
• Identify each person's strengths and weaknesses to find ways to overcome them.
• Make quick decisions in the game.
• Injury management, prevention and assessment.
• Encourage teamwork and sportsmanship by sharing the importance of friendly competition.
Basketball coach: average salary

The average salary of a basketball coach

The average salary of a basketball coach in the United States is $48,590 per year. Compensation may vary depending on the number of years of experience or the city/state where you work.

For example, basketball coaches in New York earn an average of $44,843 per year. At the same time, in Atlanta, Georgia, each coach is paid $61,480 per year.

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