Basketball Coaching Certification

Basketball coaching certification allows individuals to improve their level of expertise and add credibility to their status as a coach. Whether coaching recreational youth sports, high school basketball or collegiate level teams, earning a basketball coaching certification helps increase a coach's knowledge base and better equips individuals to teach players to improve their performance. Classes can be taken on college campuses that offer these certification courses, or coaches may enroll in an accredited program online.

  1. Significance

    • Although certification may not be required at the recreational or high school level, earning a coaching certification adds credibility to a coach's skill, teaching approach and philosophy. When applying for jobs, the certification helps strengthen a resume if the coach has little or no experience. In addition, athletic directors may lean more toward hiring a coach with certification because it demonstrates a higher level of commitment and sense of authority in that field.

    Basics

    • Accreditation courses cover a variety of topics that help coaches improve, no matter how many years they've been on the job. Accreditation courses include topics such as teaching methods, offensive and defensive strategies, basketball fundamentals, coaching philosophy, player communication, ethics, injury prevention, physical conditioning techniques, growth and development, organization and evaluation. In order to gain accreditation, students must demonstrate proficiency in each subject matter.

    Locations

    • Some community colleges and universities offer accredited coaching certification programs sanctioned by National Association for Sport and Physical Education. Some of these educational institutions are Brigham Young University, Georgia Southern University and Western Michigan University, to name a few. These structured class settings usually last about 12 months. However other alternatives--such as the American Council on Coaching, American Coaching Academy, and the American Sport Education Progra--offer comprehensive online certification courses that individuals can complete at their own pace.

    Types

    • Three levels of accreditation exist. Level 1 focuses on knowing how to successfully teach basketball fundamentals such as shooting, passing and dribbling at the recreational or youth level. Level 1 also explores the social, emotional and developmental aspects of instruction, in addition to knowledge of basic safety and risk management. The Level 3 credential, which is geared toward personnel coaching in a structured team setting such as schools, goes beyond the basics to include conditioning teaching methods, motivational techniques, and intermediate basketball skills such as plays. The Level 5 credential, often sought by coaches teaching elite athletes at the highest level of amateur competition, concentrates on advanced training methods, tactical offensive and defensive plays, and professional development sessions.

    Cost

    • Basketball coaching certification programs vary in cost depending on the college or online organization offering the courses. Tuition prices range anywhere from $100 to $400, and includes materials with the cost.