How to build a successful basketball program

USA Basketball - 7 Ways to Develop a Winning Program

7 Ways to Develop a Winning Program

• Author:

  Jeff Haefner

• Date:

  Feb 23, 2010

To develop a top-notch high school or summer basketball program with consistent success, you MUST develop a good feeder system. This is what the great coaches do. This will ensure that you have skilled players every single year and will set you apart from your competition.

To develop a good feeder system, getting player participation is a must, otherwise your whole feeder system is for not.

Here are some tips to improve player participation:

• Bring younger groups into some of your practices. You'll have opportunities to build closer ties with their coaches, and you'll expose them to the higher skill levels they will need to make the team later on. The younger kids idolize the high school players too.


• Bring younger groups to some of your games. Again, this will reinforce program ties and will give the kids a taste of the excitement that they could be a part of when they're older.


• Run a special event like a Christmas Vacation 3-Day Camp for your feeder community. This will give you a chance to to work more extensively with the budding athletes. The fact that you take the time and effort to do this for them will make a great impression on the kids and set them on a productive developmental track.


• Showcase younger groups in halftime competitions at your games. This gives them a taste of the spotlight and a chance to demonstrate their game to you, whose opinion they value tremendously. Be sure to give them plenty of meaningful encouragement and feedback on these occasions.


• Attend games of your feeder teams. Seeing you in the stands will let them know that you are interested in them and will give you a chance to monitor the culture that has been established.


• Build good lines of communication with the coaches in your feeder system. Before you know it, you'll have gained their respect, created allies, and found at least a few new good friends.


• Frequently and consistently talk and meet with coaches in the feeder system (this includes lower level coaches in middle school and so on). This is VERY important. You MUST develop real relationships with these people. This is the key to success. You must get to know these people on a personal level. Meet with them frequently to learn about their needs, get their opinion, and also communicate your vision. A consistent schedule is a must if you want your feeder system to be successful.

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Laying the foundation for a successful basketball program

Your resource for building powerful sports programs

April 1, 2016 • From the Bench • Winning Hoops

Whether you’re taking over a successful program or a team that has seen better days, it’s important to consider how to build a strong foundation when you step in as head basketball coach.

I took over a program several years ago that was relatively successful. However, I wanted to bring the team to the next level. In doing this, I discovered five main building blocks that have laid the foundation to our winning program. They certainly aren’t the only things necessary for building a winner, but I have found that a program is off to a great start if the following five items are addressed from the first day you step on campus.

1. Hire good assistant coaches and managers.
2. Gain the support of the administration and school.
3. Have your players buy into your program.
4. Have parents buy into program.
5. Create a vision and mission for your program.

Remember, success isn’t necessarily based on wins and losses. Success is measured on how much you as a team, and as a coach, improve each day. Not all teams are going to win a state region, or even county championship, but every team has the ability to improve while having fun. You have the opportunity to be a positive force in the lives of players for years to come. It all starts with the five building blocks to a strong basketball program.

The people you surround yourself with are the ones who make you what you are and help define you as a coach. Yes, you are the decision maker for the team as the head coach, but you need at least one other person on hand to help make those decisions by offering their own thoughts and opinions. A “yes” man or woman isn’t going to cut it. Find someone with their own ideas who understands your program’s goals and offers you a different perspective when dealing with players or situations.

Your assistants must be knowledgeable and willing to accept the responsibilities and role of an assistant coach. Let them know you are in charge, but that their input always is welcome and encouraged. Be sure to provide assistants a clear role on your team as well. Too often assistants don’t know the specifics of their job, and they become frustrated when the coach calls them out for not completing tasks.

The best assistant coaches are the ones who want to become better coaches, whether they strive to be a head coach or not.

Treat your assistants with respect. If you want your assistants to scout the opposition, be sure to give their report your attention. Sure, there are times when decisions are made quickly and all of the work of the assistants might not be able to be used, but don’t consistently ignore the hard work done by your staff.

Be sure your players and everyone else in the program treat the assistants with respect. Assistants handle a lot of the day-to-day rigors of running a team, which directly affect players. Without respect for the assistant and the work done by this person, the entire team suffers.

Communication is the key component in securing the support of your school and the administration. Part of your job is to communicate with the student body about what’s going on with your team. This is done by making morning or afternoon announcements and through special events. The more you talk about your program, the more people will be interested in your team and more than likely will attend your games.

Your players are busy working hard to become better on the court, so you owe it to them to showcase them in an off-the-court manner. Be proud of your team, and encourage students, faculty and administrators to come out and support your players.

Keeping the administration at the forefront of what you’re doing with the team is critical as well. Let the higher-ups know you’re keeping your players in line on the court and in the classroom, and that you’re running your team in a manner that makes the entire school proud. Invite administrators to games banquets or other special events. Give them T-shirts and other spirit wear so they know you’re thinking about them.

Of course, your team is the largest advertising vehicle you have. Players must communicate with students about what’s happening with the team. They also need to work on drawing more attendees to games.

A great way to do this is to have your players go to the middle schools to volunteer at some of their events. This shows that your players are involved in the school system, which typically translates into more people wanting to attend basketball games.

Players must share your thoughts and vision for the team, otherwise your team is destined for failure. Get them to buy into your program by sharing your vision of the program.

Provide players with responsibility of looking out for each other. The only way your players are going to buy into what you’re doing is to have them take responsibility for everyone within the organization, and to take ownership in their every action. Players need to understand that everything they do is setting a standard for the future classes to follow.

Also, allow players to have a voice in your organization. Don’t allow them to set the rules and policies, but do allow them to add additional rules and procedures to the base ones you establish. Players take pride in setting rules and following them. Plus, it shows that you care about your players and want them to be an integral part of the program.

This helps everyone on the team understand their role and what they need to do to perform their best. Define each player’s role within the team. If a player shows he or she can handle that role, then provide that player more responsibility at an expanded capacity within the team framework.

Dealing with parents is a tricky situation for most coaches. Let the parents in too much, and they become unbearable, but close them out completely, and you’re taking away an opportunity for them to be involved in their child’s life. Plus, parents can serve a vital role on your team if you don’t have the budget for several assistants. Parents are great at tying up some of your loose ends, volunteering at events or helping you organize those events.

Take advantage (in a good way) of the parents’ desire to be a part of the children’s lives. Provide them with the responsibility of organizing events, such as the banquet senior night, pasta parties, etc., and watch them take a sense of pride and ownership in the program.

It’s also a good idea to allow parents to watch practices. Of course, this only works if you lay down ground rules from the start. Do not allow parents to interject or speak with their child during practice — they are only there to silently observe.

The very first thing a coach should do when taking over a program is to establish a vision for where you want the program to head within a specific time period. This vision must involve all aspects of running the program. It does not include winning a certain number of games or championships. Every team wants to win but may not have the opportunity to win.

Your vision needs to focus on putting your team in a position to win while being realistic and honest with yourself and players. Having a false sense of hope is not a good thing.

Next, look at what it takes to move your program toward your end goal. Work with assistant coaches and administrators to develop a plan of action. Use all resources available to you to be sure you have a wealth of input into your vision.

A great starting place for your vision is to ask yourself what you want players to accomplish during their four years in your program. When players graduate, what do you want them to say about playing for you and your school?

Also, set up a values system for your program. Be mindful of your core values, then come up with the team’s core values. Both sets of values may be different, and that’s fine. The point is to work with players in having a say in how they conduct themselves on and off the court. How players act on the court is in direct relation to how they will act off it.

The final point is this — every coach is in a different situation. There’s no one way to run a program, but if you utilize these five building blocks, you are off to a good start to molding your team into what you hope it can be.

basketball, foundation, program

How to Become a Basketball Coach and Succeed was published in Russian / Russian Basketball Federation

The Brooklyn Bridge Project translated into Russian the popular book by Morgan and Joe Wootten.

It is the most complete body of knowledge about the work of a basketball coach with young players. The book contains not only recommendations on how to teach young basketball players to play defense and attack, but also detailed scenarios of all the main areas of coaching. In particular, how to build a successful basketball program, how to plan work and evaluate results, how to recruit and work with the coaching staff, how to raise funds for development and build relationships with players' parents, and many others.

Morgan Wootten is one of the most respected professionals in the history of American basketball. For 46 years, he led the basketball program at the DeMata High School in Hyatsville, Maryland. More than 160 of Wootten's men have played college basketball, and dozens have played in the NBA, including Kenny Carr, Danny Farry, Adrian Dantley, Keith Bogans. Wootten was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2000 and retired from coaching in 2002.

The third edition of the book, which was translated into Russian by Brooklyn Bridge, was published in 2013. In it, Morgan Wootten's experience is complemented by an overview of the latest trends in coaching by his son Joe. Wootten Jr. worked as an assistant to his father in DeMata, and is now the head coach of the O'Connell School team in Arlington, Virginia.

The importance of this book in their own development was emphasized by experts respected in our country, including the coaches of the Russian national team Sasha Gruich and Denis Godlevsky.

The circulation of the Russian-language book "How to Become a Basketball Coach and Succeed" is 200 copies and is free of charge. It was released specifically for basketball professionals. The first batch was handed over to the coaches of the Russian reserve teams. The other day it was decided that the remaining circulation will go to the coaches of those teams that will become participants in the Final stages of the Russian Championship (teams born in 2000-2004). There will be 156 of them in total (in 9Finals - 16 participants each, girls born in 2000 - 12). The gift set will include both the book itself and the tablet.

Sergey Ivanov, Chairman of the RSE Board of Trustees:

— For many thousands of sports professionals around the world, the book "How to Become a Basketball Coach and Succeed" has become a real educational tool and a faithful assistant. And it is no coincidence that in the corporate environment it is called "the best book written by a coach for other coaches." At the same time, it should be especially noted that on the pages of “How to Become a Basketball Coach and Succeed,” one of the most successful basketball coaches not only talks in detail about all the details of his professional activity and thoroughly describes the methods of training athletes, but also frankly shares his own experience in solving problems, with which he had to face - including, and "outside the parquet". Dear coaches, I am sure that in the new edition, which was released thanks to the Brooklyn Bridge program, carried out under the auspices of the RSE Board of Trustees, you will find answers to many questions, gain new knowledge, which you will then successfully implement in your difficult mentoring field.

Morgan and Joe Wootten, authors of the book:

– We are pleased that the Brooklyn Bridge Project has chosen our book for translation into Russian and distribution to Russian coaches. For us it is a great honor. We hope the book will be helpful to coaches who are developing their basketball programs and impacting the lives of young people on their teams. We believe that basketball is a wonderful environment, which, above all, allows us to give our students the most important life lessons. And we are grateful to everyone who shares our beliefs and chooses this life path, dedicating themselves to the team and its players.

Strong books for strong basketball players

Basketball is one of the most exciting sports games. The art of possession of the ball in the team has a large audience of fans, including both fans and players.
Books about basketball and basketball players are a real find for those who live in sports. That is why we invite you to familiarize yourself with some of them.

1. "Michael Jordan and the World He Made" by David Halberstam. Everything you need to know about the best player in basketball history in one place. The story ends with the last Bulls title in '98.

2. Michael Jordan. His Airiness" author: Roland Lazenby. Another 2017 book about Michael Jordan, whose achievements are firmly inscribed in the history of basketball. The reader will learn about all the milestones of his career and life outside the game.

3. "How to play basketball" author: Gomelsky V.A. The book of the multiple champion of the Soviet Union, the famous basketball coach and the legendary sports commentator. Here you will find valuable tips for quickly learning the basic skills of the game, learn about common mistakes and how to avoid them.

4. Basketball. Steps to Success by Vissel Hall. The author is an experienced NBA coach who has led more than one team to victory. Players of any skill level will be curious to learn not only about the technical subtleties, but also about the personal qualities necessary for success.

5. Basketball. 10 questions for a children's coach" author: Vsevolod Golovanov. The book is addressed to both parents and children. Moms and dads will be interested in the opinion of a basketball coach who works with children's teams. For children who dream of playing this sport, the book will help you understand the rules of the game and learn about the most famous players.

6. Basketball Bible. 1000 Basketball Exercises” author: Gomelsky VA The publication describes in detail the system of basketball players' training. The text is illustrated with illustrations to make each exercise easier to understand.

7. "The path to the dream" author: Vasiliev A.V. Talented Andrey Kirilenko's first mentor, Honored Coach of Russia A. Vasilyev, tells about the sports career.

8. NBA Coaches Book. Published by the NBA Coaches Association, it includes a wide range of workouts and advice, from proper body positioning for shots to motivating your own team after a crushing loss. The book will teach you to think on the floor, make instant decisions and carry out the most complex combinations.

9. "English-Russian Dictionary of American Basketball" author: E.R. Yakhontov. Honored Coach of Russia and Honored Worker of Higher Professional Education of Russia - Evgeny Rafailovich Yakhontov put together the basketball terminology of the founders of basketball, based not only on generally accepted concepts, but also on unique American slang. Without this manual, it is very difficult to understand the specific descriptions and recommendations of overseas trainers.

10. "Michael Jordan: Lessons from a Champion" by Janet Lowe. Unlike the publications we have already mentioned, this book, published by Alpina Publisher, is a biography of the Chicago Bulls star in the form of articles and press interviews. It reveals very interesting facts that were not previously presented in Russian.

11. "Movement up" author: Sergey Belov. The book is dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the Moscow Olympics. In it, Sergei Belov recalls the Munich final and much more from the life of a basketball player and coach. The book is written in a lively bright language and is designed not only for specialists, but also for the widest range of readers.

12. The Great Coach Manifesto: How to go from a good athlete to a great champion by Tim Grover. The book of the NBA physical training coach who trained Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade, in which Tim Grover first spoke about all the psychological techniques that allow you not to break yourself and reassemble a completely new, perfect person.

13. "Encyclopedia of Basketball from Gomelsky" author: A. Ya. Gomelsky. The book will tell many stories from the life of the author himself and his inner circle, about professional successes and failures, as well as about the secrets of the world of big basketball, famous coaches, titled players, the intricacies of the rules of the game and the principles of refereeing.

14. Beyond Basketball: A Dictionary of Success by Mike Krzyzewski. An ingenious book by one of the greatest coaches in the history of basketball talks about the simple things without which a team does not exist. For anyone who plays basketball or coaches a basketball team, this is a must read!

15. Champions Basketball Basics by Lee Rose. This book is considered to be the best guide to the technique and tactics of basketball. It discusses the basic principles that help coaches and players focus on the essentials, presents attack and defense schemes, exercises to develop the necessary skills, and offers a rating system for evaluating the effectiveness of games and training. The book is intended for coaches of all levels and players who want to improve their performance.

16. Basketball Skills and Drills by Jerry W. Krause, Don Meyer, Jerry Meyer. This book will help you quickly master all the necessary skills for playing basketball by studying and practicing the 59 exercises presented in it.

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