Sunday, July 19, 2009

Discover The Secrets of Coaching Basketball

By Faisal Naser

While Coaching Basketball, one of the first things that should be addressed is conditioning. The ability to out hustle, out work, and have more stamina, could be the difference between winning and losing. This is especially the case towards the end of a hard fought season when your team is making a championship run.

Therefore, one of the very first things a coach will do, even before touching a ball, is a week of calisthenics. This can be monotonous for the players during this week of heavily concentrated specialty training. However, although the players may dislike it, it will benefit each and every one of them later on in the season.

Being prepared toward season's end will promote more success for you and your boys or girls. Not only does conditioning help get a team in shape, but it also helps prevent injuries as well. Being in shape and completing drills such as running, wind sprints and sit ups will help maximize their efforts on and off the court.

Once this week is in the books and the team in shape, most coaches are ready to move to the simple fundamentals of basketball. While this is true, conditioning still be a large part of Coaching Youth Basketball, even though the coach can now focus his attention on other areas of the game.

These drills will start with ball handling and will typically begin with basic dribbling. This dribbling will include both hands and two basketballs at the same time, butterfly dribbles which, is the passing and dribbling back and forth between the legs, and would even entail the use of a tennis ball. This tennis ball would be used to pass and catch between players while continuing to dribble with the open hand. Occasionally, hands will change and it will be required to throw with the opposite hand. This is the funny part of the drill-watching players throw the tennis ball with their other hand.

When your team gets used to this portion of your practice, you'll definitely see an improvement in their game. Up until now, the coach is probably the most disliked guy on the floor, but he or she is well respected. This is where players may not like the coach, but definitely will listen and can be taught. Just remember that the coach is no longer just someone on the floor yelling, instead he or she becomes a teacher and sometimes even a mentor.

Once the relationship has reached this pinnacle, it gets a bit more fun. Most coaches will then introduce, offensive and defensive drills allowing a player to shoot and have fun. One of the biggest things coaches try to teach is for a player to have fun. Players who enjoy themselves are those who know where to go and what to be doing on the floor at all times. Obviously you want to win more games, but it's not the main objective.

While Coaching Basketball, you have to have desire, patience, and understanding in what it takes to make a championship team. This alone will help you become a better coach and benefit your kids tremendously.

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