What is the KISS Philosophy for Coaching Youth Basketball?

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KISS is an acronym for “Keep It Simple, Stupid.” In this post, we will substitute “youth coach” for “stupid.” Based on my 8 years as a youth coach, I wished someone had share this with me in on my 1st day of coaching.

When you coach youth basketball, keeping it simple can make for a less stressful season for coaches, players, and parents. What are some ways you can keep it simple?

HAVE FUN: This is youth basketball. It has to be fun – for you (and your family), for the players, and for the parents. Keep this a priority at all times. When people are having fun, they can’t complain. With a competitive travel team, this can be a bigger challenge, but with a recreation / in-town team, this has to be your #1 priority! (And it should be for competitive teams too!)

Focus on age-appropriate skills: This is simply putting players in a position that will allow for success. There are many great websites that will provide useful drills for the age group you are coaching, but if you use common sense, you will find what works for your team!

Ask for Help: This is the easiest one. Ask your league director. Ask the coach 1-2 grades ahead of you. They have been in your shoes. Ask the middle school or high school coach. Basketball coaches love to share their advice and experiences. You can analyze it, evaluate it, process it, and determine if it is a good fit for your philosophy and team.

WRITE IT DOWN: Write it down with a pen and paper. Write your thoughts, analyze the practice. See what the “next level” skill is. Write, write, WRITE! When you put your thoughts down “on paper,” it will help you be a better coach the next time you step on the court.

Consult the GM: Remember we substituted “stupid” for “youth coach?” The GM is your significant other. I know the BEST GM in the world and the advice this person has shared with me since the day we met has been invaluable. You probably live with the GM, so keep this person involved and value any advice or feedback this person shares.

Consult the “franchise player”: If you are like me (and most coaches), there is a player you have a particular interest in (your child). Consult that player on matters where the advice could be helpful. Whenever I coached a youth team it was because it had a great “franchise player.” In my opinion, the player on my team was the best “franchise player” in the league. The advice could be helpful, but above everything else, if you are coaching your child, it MUST be a positive experience.

Don’t worry about playing time: Do not spend hours figuring out a rotation, because there will be a player who does not show up, gets injured, or is foul trouble and all your effort and time will be thrown out the window. USA Basketball is an an incredible resource that ONLY focuses on basketball. Take a look at the “game tactics” sessions to see if these playing time guidelines could fit into your philosophy

As always this is ONE person’s thoughts on coaching youth basketball. Visit some our Top Websites for Youth Basketball coaching to see if this site is worth visiting again.

Thanks for reading!

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