Ideas for Coaching Basketball

Coaching basketball takes time and patience, and the results can be very rewarding. Whether you are coaching young children in a recreational league or future professionals in college, there are many aspects to basketball that demand attention. Players of all ages need direction on the basketball court. Through practice, players should be taught a combination of fundamentals and offensive and defensive skills.

  1. Fundamentals

    • If you are coaching young children, a key part of your job will be to teach them the fundamentals of basketball. This includes all the rules of basketball and the basic skills needed to thrive on the court. Children should get familiar with how to properly dribble (use fingertips, not palms), pass (elbows out, finish with thumbs pointing down) and lay the ball in (raise the knee opposite of your shooting hand). Older players may know the basic skills, but practicing them will help improve their game.

    Offense

    • Basketball players need direction on offense, no matter how experienced they are. For kids, it is a good starting point to get them familiar with the different positions on offense. For example, a point guard serves as the main ball-handler and distributor, and a center typically plays around the basket. As you progress, you can institute offensive plays, such as the pick and roll, where one player sets a screen to free the dribbler up for a shot or pass. At the most advanced levels, coaches incorporate full offensive systems. These systems feature players in particular spots on the court to maximize offensive success.

    Defense

    • Advanced coaching techniques, including full-court pressing, can turn the game in the players' favor.

      Defense is key to basketball success, and as such, should be a topic of focus for coaches. Children should be familiar with basic man-to-man defense, in which each player is assigned an opponent to guard and must stay between him and the basket. The next level is incorporating various zones, such as the "2-3," where players defend a particular spot on the court. When players have mastered the basics, coaches can implement defensive plays. Full-court presses, for example, are meant to put pressure on the offense in the back court in hopes of causing a turnover.

    Practice

    • Basketball practices should be organized to instill the discipline needed to succeed on the court. Start with a basic warm-up involving light running and stretching. Many teams begin practice with a simple lay-up line, in which teams break off into two lines, one player shoots and one player rebounds. Follow that up with organized drills that have clear goals. Children may participate in passing drills to improve that aspect of their game while older athletes may work on offensive plays. Coaches should always be preparing their teams for games.

    Where to Coach

    • Youth leagues, such as the Junior NBA, are always looking for volunteer coaches. This is a great way to start your coaching career and develop your coaching ideas and techniques. As you get more comfortable, pursue jobs at middle and high schools. Working as an assistant for a more experienced coach is another way to broaden your skills.