Coaching Youth Basketball: Create Individual Award Certificates

Youthbasketball123 is a website designed to provide ideas, drills by grade, books, teaching tools, basketball jokes, guest blogs, basketball quotes, and so much.

If you are coaching a kids’ sports team, you might be thinking about how to make the season successful and that be defined in many ways both through statistics and through emotional connection. I wanted to offer Free Awards Certificates as an easy way to end the season on a high note because I think there is one great way to define a successful season and that is to have every child on the team wanting to return!

Wise Owl Factory created free editable award certificates that can be used to award every member of a sports team.

free award certificates for sports teams

Here’s how to customize the award certificates with your player’s name, your team name, and the date.

Here is the PDF of different awards to give out to every member of your team: EDITABLE-for-girls-sports-teams-PDF-free.

These 35 award certificates are for:

    • Most Positive Player
    • Best Free Kick
    • Best Assist
    • Best Goal
    • Best Penalty Kick
    • Best Throw In
    • Best Save
    • Best Passer
    • Best Attitude
    • Hardest Working
    • Most Dedicated
    • Best Award for Defending
    • Best Cheerleader
    • Most Responsible
    • Most Inclusive
    • Most Motivating
    • Fashionista
    • Never Gives Up
    • Coolest Cleats
    • Fastest Runner and Highest Jumper
    • Most Passionate
    • Most Improved
    • Most Knowledgeable About the Sport
    • Last One Off the Field
    • Always Willing to Help Out
    • Most Supportive
    • Most Focused
    • Performance Under Pressure
    • Risk Taker
    • Not Afraid to Try
    • Fun Award
    • Clutch Award
    • Award for _____________

Mia Wenjen Pragmatic Mom

Mia Wenjen is the co-author of How to Coach Girls and The Elusive Full Ride Scholarship: An Insider’s Guide. She blogs on parenting, education, and children’s books at PragmaticMom.com and is the co-creator and President of Multicultural Children’s Book Day, a nonprofit that gives away free diverse children’s books. With 70% of all kids quitting organized sports by age 13 AND girls quitting at 6x the rate of boys, she considers it a win that both her college-aged daughters participate in organized sports.

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1st Grade Basketball: Weekly Shooting Progress Chart

Youthbasketball123 is a website designed to provide ideas, drills by grade, books, teaching tools, basketball jokes, guest blogs, basketball quotes, and so much.

The goal of teaching 1st grade basketball is to help players improve. A weekly progress chart is a great way for a coach to evaluate the team’s progress. Often at this age, a team will only meet once a week so to have the same routine is easy for the coach and probably best for the players in this age group.

Each week the teams will compete in “AROUND THE WORLD.” Each team will start at one basket and complete one of the drills. The teams will shoot for 1:30. Coaches should record the scores and hopefully see some very good improvement.

There can be competition between the teams to see the high score, but we discourage this at this age level. Tell the team that you want to break the record of last week. Create a team from Ohio that beat your total by TWO! Try to beat THAT team, not the players shooting at the other basketball. With all the hard work throughout the season, we beat the fake Ohio team by the end of the season.

The ultimate goal should be for all the teams to improve the number of made baskets. After completing the drills, have the teams sprint to the next baskets. (This is more fun than shooting for some of the players.)

Shooting Progress Chart

Week12345678910
Left Block 
Right Block 
Right baseline
Center
Left baseline 
TOTAL

How It Works
  1. Divide the team into even groups with at least one adult at a basket.
  2. Set up two cones at each basket. Place the cones wide enough for the players to shoot comfortably. All players should shoot from directly between the cones.
  3. The coach will rebound and pass it to the next player in line.
  4. The coach at each basket will count the made shots.

  5 spots 90 seconds  7:50 plus time for scores Shot

  1. Right block bank shot: This is the million dollar shot for this grade. The goal is the ALL the players to make the majority of the shots from this spot.
  2. Right wing shot:
  3. Straight on shot:
  4. Left wing shot:
  5. Left Block shot: This is the million dollar shot for this grade. The goal is the ALL the players to make the majority of the shots from this spot.

Additional Spots: I found these spots to be too much. The players seemed to lose focus with 7 spots.

  1. Right baseline shot
  2. Left corner shot optional

When the around the world shooting is complete, it is a great time to move to

Basketball Jokes for Halloween

Youthbasketball123 is a website designed to provide ideas, drills by grade, books, teaching tools, basketball jokes, guest blogs, basketball quotes, and so much.

Basketball Jokes for Halloween

  1. Knock knock?…Who is there?…Boo… Boo Who?… Don’t cry! We have the best basketball jokes for Halloween.
  2. I am a big Star Wars fan and LA Laker fan… I dressed up as Kobe Wan Kenobi for Halloween. (Star Wars Jokes & Obi Wan Kenobi Jokes)
  3. Why are ghost great at playing basketball defense?… They are great at getting through screens.
  4. What would you get if you crossed a basketball and the Invisible Man?… Skills like no one has ever seen. 
  5. Playing basketball with vampires is tough… No Blood! No Foul!
  6. Why did the Harlem Globetrotters have a ghost on their team?… To add a little team spirit. 
  7. Why was Dracula get a technical foul?…He was a pain in the neck! (Top Baseball Jokes: Page #1 Google Search)
  8. Did you hear about the Ghost basketball team?… They can’t shoot or defend, but the have a lot of spirit.
  9. What do you get when you cross a basketball player with a monster?… a double header! 
  10. Why was Dracula on the 15-day disabled list?…He was a pain in the neck! (Top Baseball Jokes: Page #1 Google Search)
  11. Knock knock… Who’s there?… Canoe… Canoe who?… Canoe play basketball on Halloween? (Canoe Jokes)
  12. Why was Dracula ejected from the basketball game?… He was a pain in the neck! (Top Baseball Jokes: Page #1 Google Search)
  13. Why was the mummy sent into the basketball game as the 6th man?… Because the coach knew, once he sent the mummy in the game would be all wrapped up. 
  14. Knock knock… Who’s there?… Canoe… Canoe who?… Canoe dress up as a basketball player for Halloween? (Canoe Jokes)
  15. Orange you pumped for Halloween Basketball Jokes? (Crayon Jokes)
  16. What do you call a pumpkin that can slam dunk a basketball?… Michael Gourdan (Pumpkin Jokes)
  17. What do you call an athletic pumpkin?… A jock o’ lantern.
  18. Did you hear about the pumpkin who played basketball?… He was a point gourd. (Pumpkin Jokes)
  19. Why was Cinderella such a bad basketball player?… Her coach was a pumpkin. (Top Holiday Jokes & Top Halloween Jokes)
  20. Why didn’t the skeleton want to go to the basketball game?… Because he had no body to go with.
  21. What is the #1 Halloween costume for a Star Wars fan who loves basketball?… Kobe Wan Kenobi.
  22. Did you hear about the Ghost basketball team?… They can’t shoot, but the have a lot of spirit. (Top Basketball Jokes)
  23. What kind of mail does a top vampire basketball player receive?… Fang mail!
  24. How do point gourds to get so strong?… By pumpkin iron.
  25. Knock knock… Who’s there?… Canoe… Canoe who?… Canoe dress up as a basketball for Halloween? (Canoe Jokes)
  26. Knock knock… Who’s there?… Canoe… Canoe who?… Canoe dress up as a basketball coach for Halloween? (Canoe Jokes)
  27. Knock knock… Who’s there?… Canoe… Canoe who?… Canoe dress up as a basketball fan for Halloween? (Canoe Jokes)

Top 7 Reasons to Join a State Basketball Coaches Association  

Youthbasketball123 is a website designed to provide ideas, drills by grade, books, teaching tools, basketball jokes, guest blogs, basketball quotes, and so much.

Top 7 Reasons to Join a State Coaches Association  

The following are a few of the many reasons why coaches both young and experienced should join their state’s coaches association.  

#1 – Networking: One of the best ways of connecting with other coaches. Provides a great  opportunity to meet other coaches that are passion about the sport.  

#2 – Mentorship: Provides opportunities for young coaches to work with and study veteran  coaches. It also gives veteran coaches opportunities to mentor younger coaches.  

#3 – Awards & Recognition Programs: Coaches association typically provide awards for  coaches (Coach-of-Year, Longevity Awards, Career Success, etc.) and players (Player-of-Year,  Academic Awards, Scholarship, etc.).  

#4 – Professional Development: Most coaches association provide their members opportunities to attend clinic, webinars, virtual clinic, etc. at discounted prices. These opportunities are priceless and give more opportunities to development a network of coaching col leagues.

#5 – Information on Sport Related Issues & Trends: Most coaches association have direct  communication with the governing bodies of their sport. (Ex: state associations, NFHS,  NCAA, NABC, WBCA, etc.) Many times associations provide the most updated and accurate  information coming from these organizations.  

#6 – Leadership Opportunities: Most coaching association provide opportunities for coaches  to get involved in leadership position. These positions can be anything for officers positions  (president, treasurer, secretary, executive board, etc.) to directors of association events (ex:  all-star game director, showcase director, banquet director, etc.)  

#7 – Resume Builder: Being a member of a professional organization is a great way to send  a message to future employers that you are serious about your profession.  

Tom Barrick (@Coach_Barrick) is a 33 year head coach from Ohio. He is the past president and the first executive director of  the Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Association (OHSBCA) as well as past president of the National  High School Basketball Coaches Association (NHSBCA). He was inducted into the OHSBCA Hall of Fame  in 2015 & the NHSBCA Court of Honor in 2018. 

#CTBBK 

High School Basketball: Create a Countdown Calendar

Youthbasketball123 is a website designed to provide ideas, drills by grade, books, teaching tools, basketball jokes, guest blogs, basketball quotes, and so much.

So you want to be a high school basketball player? We have a few questions for you.:

  1. How serious are you?
  2. How good do you want to be?
  3. What are you willing to sacrifice and do to reach your goals?
  4. What are you working for?

If you want to be a good high school basketball, the most important date on your 365 day calendar is the 1st day of tryouts. This is the day you should focus your entire year on, except when playing another high school sports, which we highly encourage. (Eight Great Benefits of Playing a Fall Sport)

When you finish your high school season, after taking a few days or weeks off, you should know when the 1st day upcoming season is. Reflect on the highs and lows of the past season, then develop a plan with an individual workout that will help you be as ready as you can be for day #1.

Fall Preseason: Each state will have a different calendar. Adjust the timetable to fit your state. In this case, we are using the 1st Monday after Thanksgiving as the starting date, November 28th, 2022.

How to Create A Countdown Calendar
  1. Print up a calendar for 1 – 3 months. The basketball off-season is very long. It can be up to 9 months, 36 weeks, and possibly 270 days. This can be OVERWHELMING! We feel that short-term goals are the most effective to pursue and that the year should be broken down into shorter segments. 3 months is the absolute longest period we recommend. Some can be as short as one week.
  2. Circle “THE DATE.” This is the date that YOU have determined to be most important to YOU. Keep it a priority.
  3. Number the Days. The date you circled is day zero. The day before is day 1, number the days all the way back to today. That is the number of days you have left until your special day.
  4. Tape it to a refrigerator, door, or ceiling. It is CRITICAL that you have a visual of the calendar. Rope up and include family members, teammates, and friends in your countdown. Everyone can get excited and support you as you edge closer to the day.
  5. Look at and interact with the calendar each day. Now that the calendar is up. Make it a part of your day. Cross off the days you have completed and see how many days are left. Before you know it, you will be there. BLINK and you will be there. Make your countdown calendar a BIG part of your day.
  6. Win the Day. You are a basketball player. You are a competitor. You will be competing against coaches, players, and teams who will not back down. Know there are players who are working TODAY! You cannot control that, but you can control if you are working. Make the days count!
  7. Win the Week. If you are like most high school basketball players, you will not workout every day. Try to win the week. Try to get 4 work days and 3 off days. If you do this you will be all-league. But on your work days you have to REALLY WORK! We challenge you to win the week EVERY week!
  8. Enjoy the Process. If you commit to the countdown calendar, basketball will be a big part of your live. EMBRACE IT! If it is not fun, don’t do it. You need be passionate and know that your hard work will pay off on the 1st day of the season and all the days that follow.
  9. No regrets. “The hay is in the barn.” Let your head hit the pillow on the night before your goal, and have confidence you do all that you possibly could do to be prepared. Sure you have missed workouts Sure your did not get enough sleep every night or eat completely healthy every day, but you did pay the price most of the time. And if you did not… tomorrow is the 1st day of the rest of you season (and life). Get up with a great attitude and do the best you can.
  10. Have a GREAT day. You earned the moment. Have confidence in yourself and give your best effort.

Good Luck!

4 Tips for Moms to Support a Youth Basketball Player

Guest Blog: By

A mom can take a handful of measures to help and support the development of a child’s s talents and passion for basketball. Once a child first starts shooting hoops, it may be challenging to figure out how to motivate them without pressuring them so strongly that they lose interest in the sport.

The intensity of the action, some things can be hard to recall. However, youngsters often pursue basketball because they enjoy it. They will quickly go from admiring the sport to loathing their games if demands are placed upon them to score every shot, grab every rebound, and commit no turnovers.

Here are 4 simple tips for moms who want to support a youth basketball player.

1. Support the Child Unconditionally

As a mother, your love and support shouldn’t count on what the child can do for you.

Let them make mistakes and learn things on their own.Your child may not grow up to be a professional NBA player. Probably, they might not even make it into the school’s basketball. The love and encouragement should be there even if your kid likes to play the sport for fun.We have forgotten that not all things should be monetized. The modern-day world is on a quest to make a profit. This has blindsided us against the joys of having hobbies. If your child genuinely enjoys the sport, it doesn’t matter if your child becomes a professional player.

If you’re not very sure how to be motivating, here’s a guide by thequeenmomma.com.

2. Be Present at Every Game

Today, many women work in addition to running a household. Single mothers share many of the same responsibilities and are doing it alone. There are parents to spend time with and often care for, but hear us out. 

At every game, there should be at least one parent or family member for moral support. If possible, the whole family should go to the game and cheer on.

After the final game is played and the final shot is taken, our child will not your the commitments. They will remember looking at the empty seats in the stands where their family should’ve been.

Sometimes, children play because they like to impress their parents. Children often do not know how to express their feelings, but they care about your opinion about them. Being there to show them that you are taking an interest in what they do goes a long way.

3. Learn to Play the Game Yourself

What better way to show a child that you care than sharing a passion, in the case basketball? Shooting hoops together can help strengthen a relationship and improve the quality time you might never get otherwise. Be a Basketball Buddy!

Children grow up in a split second. Before you know it, they’d be all grown up and too embarrassed to be seen playing basketball with you.

Adults need good memories with their parents to reflect on when life gets tough. Play the game with them while you still can. They may not know it yet but playing basketball with you will become your children’s fondest memories years down the line.

Who knows? Maybe you’re a better basketball player than you think, and you might develop a passion for this sport.

4. Don’t Try to Live Vicariously Through Your Kid

Remember your glory days are over. Your child pursuing his / her dream. You child is not a vessel for your dreams. Children are allowed to have their own dreams, make their own decisions, and lead their own lives.

Pressuring them to be good at basketball because that’s your dream would only push them away from the game that you can help them develop a passion for..

It is important to remember that even if the child decides to quit basketball, it is okay. Sure, you put in a lot of effort, but do it because you love your child, and you should support them without expecting an end goal. 

You had time to pursue your dreams, and maybe you did or didn’t. Possibly you never got the chance to do what you wanted. This is why it is even more important that you give the next generation a chance.

Summary

We already know that you love that kid if you’ve made it here. And that’s the most crucial part. Remember that words of encouragement, presence and involvement mean a lot.

 

At https://www.everythingmom.com, you can find a few great tips for parenting.

J.J. Redick Basketball Shooting Drills

Youthbasketball123 is a website designed to provide ideas, drills by grade, books, teaching tools, basketball jokes, guest blogs, basketball quotes, and so much.

JJ Redick is an amazing shooter..he has great form and shooting mechanics. Since he has achieved shooting success at the high school, college and NBA levels, it makes sense to use some of his drills.

Five from five (25 shots total) A player starts in the right corner, directly in front of the basket. The player will make one shot from the spot, and then take a step back. The player will make a shot from five spots. 

The player will then move onto spot to which is the right wing. The player will repeat the process making five shots from the right wing. And then will move on to straight away, left wing, and finally left baseline.

Know you range: divide by 5

Challenge: make all five shots without missing. When a player misses, he must go back to the 1st spot.

Next level challenge Ray Allen drill

A player will shot from 5 spots. Each spot will have 5 different spots ranging from 2 feet to a players range. Total shots 25

Youth variation have 3 or 4 spots since range is not developing.

This drill is very simple

4 minutes 9 spots

JJ Redick Shooting Drill #1: 

JJ Redick Shooting Drill #2

The 2nd drill builds on the 1st one. In this drill the player will start at spot #3. The player will make five shots from the spot. After making five shots, the player will advance to spot for. The player will make five shots in advance to the final spot where he will also make five shots. 

Like in the previous drill, the player will shoot from five different spots right baseline, right wing, top of the key, left wing, and left baseline.

Total shots made 225

Challenge: a player must make five shots in a row before moving to the next level.

Point Guard College Video & JJ Redick Shooting Drills Google 

Basketball Shooting: Form Shooting is a MUST!

Youthbasketball123 is a website designed to provide ideas, drills by grade, books, teaching tools, basketball jokes, guest blogs, basketball quotes, and so much.

To be really good at shooting the basketball is a long process that requires shooting the ball correctly. Once a player has good shooting mechanics, the player must repeat that form over and over to be a consistent shooter. The following drill is the starting point to becoming a great shooter.

One hand form shooting is the key to developing proper shooting form. Dave Hopla the world’s top shooting instructor starts every workout with one hand form shooter. Steve Alford NCAA champion, all American, and amazing shooter included one hand form shooting in his all American work out. JJ Redick also includes one hand form shooting in his workouts. It’s safe to say that many of the worlds best shooters and shooting coaches place an incredible amount of value on one hand form shooter. That is the reason that it should be incorporated into ever use practice and in all individual shooting workouts.

The best thing about one hand form shooting, is the moment that the player realizes hey this stuff really works. When they play it gets to that point he will embrace the drill, just like David Ortiz for his entire career embraced hitting a baseball off of TT. Yes drill is a great opportunity for a basketball buddy to help the basketball player have a more enjoyable journey. Shooting the basketball although practiced by everyone, it’s mastered by a rare few. Attend a local high school game and of the 16 to 20 players that enter the game, there are likely to be no more than two or three players really can shoot the basketball. And if you’re lucky enough you can find the top shooter in your area and watch him play, to see what a difference being able to shoot the ball can make.

It really is a matter of having many repetitions read the ball set your elbow finish your follow through these all are simple tasks that can be mastered by using one hand form shooting.

A recommendation for this drill is to start in close and make 10 shots. The shots do not have to be in a row. After making 10 shots the player must then make five in a row. This is a working definition of a players range. A spot where he can he or she can make five shots in a row. The player should take small steps back and continue the process until he or she can no longer make five in a row. As a player increases skill the distances between spots can be greater.

High School Basketball: Top Reasons To Take the PSAT

Youthbasketball123 is a website designed to provide ideas, drills by grade, books, teaching tools, basketball jokes, guest blogs, basketball quotes, and so much.

October of  junior year is a great opportunity for students to really start to think about what will happen after graduating high school. The PSAT exam is regularly given at many schools around the country the week of Columbus Day. Taking th PSAT is a great opportunity for a student athlete to see how well he/she can do on a standardized test. The PSAT booklet provides sample questions, test taking tips, and guidelines for how to take the test. It is recommended that a student prepare for the exam by reading the information and answering a few of the questions. Motivated students can complete the entire timed practice test. Reviewing the information will help alleviate anxiety and can help the student feel confident on the actual test day.

Reasons to Take the PSAT

  1. The Unofficial Start of the College Process: Not all student athletes will have the opportunity to play basketball in college, however, most student athletes will have the option of attending college or junior college. The PSAT is the first step in the college process. It is a good reality check that can serve as the starting point for students to seriously begin their college search. Some students may have already begun the college process, however, the majority of students do not begin to look at colleges seriously until the spring of junior year.
  2. Helpful Feedback: Feedback is very important to high school students. In terms of basketball feedback comes in many forms. Team placement (freshman, JV, or varsity) is the immediate feedback players receive during the 1st week of the season. Playing time is also another example of feedback a player receives. Academically, the PSAT is probably the best form of feedback a student can receive in relation to standardized testing. The college board has provided this opportunity to help students prepare for the actual SAT which is used by many schools to determine acceptance. A rare few students will be happy with the score they receive. Most will see there is room for improvement. The question now is what can you do to improve.
  3. SAT Test Prep: there are many ways to prepare for the SAT exam and fortunately many require no payment, they are absolutely free. Khan Academy is a great resource for teachers and students they provide free SAT prep online. So all a student will need is access to a computer or electronic device where the exam can be taken. Khan Academy will provide feedback to answers so students can understand the reason for a correct choice. Much like being a very good high school basketball player, being a solid standardized test taker requires practice and skills. If a student is willing to put in the time, there should be some very positive results over time. Like basketball it is a process that needs to be followed.
  4. Make it a Priority: if college is truly important to a player, it will be a top priority to do all that is possible to increase the chances of attending the best academic institution possible in to attain as much scholarship money as you can. Most students in America receive academic scholarships then athletic scholarships. It is likely if you are reading this you to have a better chance of an academic scholarship than an athletic scholarship, regardless of your GPA and SAT scores. If you are a high school basketball player, as a junior, you likely have developed a workout routine that helps develop your basketball skills. The one amazing thing about basketball is you develop life skills that can be transferred into other areas of your life. Develop a routine like you would develop a work out. Set aside time each week for your SAT workout. Attack the workout like you were attack the basket in offensive transition. Be relentless. Be focused. And be self aware.
  5. It’s All about You: not every basketball player understands this concept. But the reality is basketball is about you and being a better player today than you were yesterday. If you can make and embrace this process, you will have a very good high school career. The same is true in terms of SATs. Many students take SATs several times.

The time between SAT exams can be viewed like a basketball off-season. Some players take incredible advantage of this time. While others just watch the time away and make very little progress.

Good luck on your basketball and academic journey.

Top 10 Things to Remember About Coaching 1st Grade Basketball

Youthbasketball123 is a website designed to provide ideas, drills by grade, books, teaching tools, basketball jokes, guest blogs, basketball quotes, and so much.

Coaching youth basketball can be an extremely challenging, yet rewarding task. In addition to the actual coaching time involved in practices and games, it is also important to look at the overall goal of youth sports, especially in 1st grade.

Below are some ideas to consider with coaching youth sports:

  1. You never get a 2nd chance to make a 1st impression! This is probably the 1st introduction to basketball. Make having FUN the #1 priority.
  2. Get to know each player’s name ASAP! It is strongly encouraged that you have each parent write the players name on a name tag to place on the front of the shirt. Players respond so much better to being called by name. The name tags may not be necessary after a few weeks, but this will help your assistants too.
  3. This is REALLY an organized play date. The goal is to make this an event that each player wants to return to each week. Make sure players are nice to each other, take turns being 1st, include every player, and are respectful.
  4. Keep it Simple Stupid: ALWAYS remember this is first grade basketball. No one will be evaluating how well your team does or how effective you are at teaching fundamentals. In most cases, you will be a parent of a player. This can be extremely challenging for you child. As a result this will a challenge for you. Ask any of your family or friends who have coached this age group. It is best to keep it simple, try not to do too much, and recognize that this is not rocket science.
  5. Find Your Favorite Resources: There are so many resources available to youth basketball coaches. A “coaching youth basketball” search can be overwhelming. Unfortunately, the majority of the websites DO NOT focus on the 1st grade. We do! We have an entire page devoted to coaching 1st grade basketball. Another great website for all things basketball is USA basketball. We also have a list of other youth basketball websites we have researched and believe will be a good resource for 1st grade coaches.
  6. Focus on Age-Appropriate Drills: We cannot stress this enough. There is no need to introduce a euro-step, a double crossover, or any other fancy skill at this age. Keep the instruction to drills that are easy to explain. Keep the players moving as much as possible, And, if possible, include some skill development. It is important when planning a practice session to understand the facility and what resources you will have available to you.
  7. Repetition, Repetition Repetition: The key to mastering any skill is repetition. Once you have selected the age-appropriate skills you will be focusing on, try to maximize the repetitions of every player. It is very useful to have an age appropriate basketball for each player. One way to do this would be to speak with your Program Director and add an additional $15 to the program fee and purchase an appropriately sized ball for each player that can be distributed at the first practice. With each player having a basketball, players can maximize repetitions, especially dribbling and ball-handling drills. Read why we feel it is important to teach dribbling at an early age.
  8. Exaggerate the Difficulty of the Drills: Tell the players that you went to www.basketball123.com and looked at this drill which was two grades higher. Explain to the player how nervous you are about trying the drill. Tell them your significant other said you I should not attempt this drill. And then tell the player you are going to introduce the drill anyway because the players are so good and will be able to compete the drill. As always, tell the players to just do the best that they can. And these drills can be a little more advanced like a stationary two ball dribbling drill which many if not all of your players can complete.
  9. Control what you can control: practice facitities, pratice times, number of players on a team, etc.
  10. The job of a youth coach is to provide athletes with the opportunity to succeed.
  11. Attitude is everything. When players and teams have a great attitude the sky is the limit
  12. Remember the big picture: DEVELOP FUNDAMENTALS! WORK HARD! & HAVE FUN!
  13. Players want to be good – they just do not know HOW to do it.
  14. Coaches should  develop “life skills” that can be used throughout life.
  15. Do the best you can with what you have.
  16. Developing good work habits is essential to success in basketball and life.
  17. A great player is made through personal hard work (along with guidance from a coach).
  18. Players must have the right priorities (family, school, sports).