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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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Control what you can control: practice facitities, pratice times, number of players on a team, etc.
- The job of a youth coach is to provide athletes with the opportunity to succeed.
- Attitude is everything. When players and teams have a great attitude the sky is the limit
- Remember the big picture: DEVELOP FUNDAMENTALS! WORK HARD! & HAVE FUN!
- Players want to be good – they just do not know HOW to do it.
- Coaches should develop “life skills” that can be used throughout life.
- Do the best you can with what you have.
- Developing good work habits is essential to success in basketball and life.
- A great player is made through personal hard work (along with guidance from a coach).
- Players must have the right priorities (family, school, sports).