How to Teach High School Basketball

Basketball, which has been played on the high school level since the early 20th century, continues to thrive among high school students. More than 979,000 boys and girls competed in U.S. high school basketball in the 2009-10 school year, according to the National Federation of State High School Associations. Teaching basketball to high school students can be challenging because of the varying skill levels among the players, but it is also a rewarding endeavor for a coach or educator.

Instructions

    • 1

      Instruct your players on team fundamentals, which include plays such as the pick-and-roll, the scissors cut, the shallow cut, the give-and-go and the guard around. Focus on basketball fundamentals, the essential building blocks of the game, before moving on to any fancy moves.

    • 2

      Tell your players what you expect from them from the first day of teaching, even before practice begins. Demand concentration, respect and hustle from your players. Instruct them to run or sprint whenever possible during and between drills. Be fair but firm.

    • 3

      Teach shooting form and shooting mechanics of offensive fundamentals. Instruct the players on how their feet should be aligned and how their legs should be bent on offense. Have them concentrate on the position of their hands while shooting along with the angle of their arm and proper follow-through technique.

    • 4

      Train your players on defense to react to the start of their opponent's passing motion rather than waiting until the ball is in the air or caught. This is the basis of building a successful defense. More advanced techniques will follow later. Instruct your defensive players to always remain alert with their knees bent, poised to move.

    • 5

      Pay equal attention to every player on the team rather than spending extra time with the stars. Do not neglect anyone, even those players who lack apparent skills. Basketball history is filled with examples of late bloomers such as Hakeem Olajuwon, who did not start playing until he was 15 but went on to a successful professional career.