Absolute Beginner's Guide to Coaching Youth Basketball

As a parent, it is a proud day when your child joins his or her first sports team. It is important to you to be involved, which may be leading you to think about coaching. Nervous about the possibility? Don't be! With the Absolute Beginner's Guide to Coaching Youth Basketball, you will quickly and easily learn how to become a successful youth basketball coach. This comprehensive, user-friendly reference guide will help you create a fun and effective learning environment. You have limited practice time and resources, and you need to know how to make the best of them. With this book, you will cover several key concepts that often elude rookie coaches, including: Identifying your role and expectations as a coach. Tailoring instruction to meet the varying physical abilities of different age groups. Creating a safe playing environment. Knowing how to effectively coach during both practices and games. Learning how to communicate and form alliances with parents, league administrators, game officials and players. On top of all this great material, we also provide you with access to a website where you can download practice plans, emergency information cards, injury reports, awards and certificates, and season evaluation forms. Ensure that you and your child's first basketball season are a success with Absolute Beginner's Guide to Coaching Youth Basketball.

Table of Contents:
Absolute Beginner's Guide to Coaching Youth Basketball. Table of Contents. Introduction. How This Book Is Organized. Special Elements. I. COACHING BASICS. 1. Your Coaching Approach.     Your Coaching Philosophy       Physical Development       Mental Development       Emotional Development       Social Development       Some Final Thoughts on Your Coaching Philosophy     10 Attributes of a Good Coach       Take Your Role Seriously       Be Comfortable with Being in Charge       Be Dependable and Stable       Be Patient       Be Flexible       Enjoy Getting to Know Your Players       Desire to Help Kids Learn and Grow       Be an Encourager       Be Willing to Learn       Have a Sense of Humor     10 Keys to Being a Good Coach       Know the Basics of the Sport       Plan for Your Season and Practices       Conduct Effective Practices       Teach Skills and Tactics       Correct Players in a Way That Helps Them Improve       Teach and Model Good Sporting Behavior       Provide for Players' Safety       Communicate Effectively       Coach Effectively During Games       Know What Success Is       Final Thoughts on the Keys to Being a Good Coach     What to Expect As a Coach     What Is Expected of You As a Coach     Equipment and Insurance     Last, But Not Least: Why Kids Play Basketball 2. Rules of the Game.     Basic Youth Basketball Rules       Court, Equipment, and Time       Players       Scoring       Fouls       Violations     How the Game Is Played     Terms     Signals     Keep on Learning     Teaching Rules to Your Players       Situational Plays       Scrimmages       Brief Discussions       Players' Experiences 3. Communication Keys.     10 Keys to Being a Good Communicator       Know Your Message       Make Sure You Are Understood       Deliver Your Message in the Proper Context       Use Appropriate Emotions and Tones       Adopt a Healthy Communication Style       Be Receptive       Provide Helpful Feedback       Be a Good Nonverbal Communicator       Be Consistent       Be Positive     Communicating with Parents       Preseason Meeting or Letter       Preseason Call       During the Season       Be Understanding-and Set Boundaries       Challenging Situations     Communicating with League Administrators       League Information       Coaches' Meetings and Clinics Questions and Concerns     Communicating with Opponents and Referees 4. Safety Principles.     Communicating the Inherent Risks     Being Prepared       CPR/First Aid Training       Chronic Health Condition Awareness       First Aid Kit     Providing Proper Supervision       Plan Your Practices       Inspect the Court and Equipment       Provide Proper Instruction       Supervise Each Activity     Responding to Minor Injuries       Cuts and Scrapes       Bruises       Sprains and Strains     Responding to Emergency Situations       Heatstroke       Heat Exhaustion 5. Practice Plans.     Planning Your Season       Purpose       Tactics and Skills       Rules       Adjusting Your Season Plan       Sample Season Plan     Planning Practices       The Best Option: Simultaneous Stations       Player Safety       Coaching Instruction and Feedback       Sample Practice Plan     Conducting Your First Practice     12 Keys to Conducting Effective Practices       1. Be Prepared       2. Set the Stage       3. Involve Parents       4. Be Active       5. Be Active with a Purpose       6. Make It Fun       7. Provide Instruction       8. Give Feedback       9. Be Encouraging and Supportive       10. Promote Teamwork and Camaraderie       11. Discipline Players As Necessary       12. Wrap Up the Practice 6. Player Development.     The Process for Teaching Skills and Tactics       Set the Stage       Show and Tell       Practice the Skill       Provide Feedback     Six Keys to Mistake Correction       Be Encouraging       Be Honest       Be Specific       Reinforce Correct Technique       Explain Why the Mistake Happened       Watch for Comprehension 7. Game Time!     The Practice Before the Game       Game Particulars       Game Focus     Before the Game       Team Warm-up       Starting Lineups       Last-Minute Words     During the Game       Your Approach to the Game       Player Substitutions       Appropriate Behavior     After the Game       Team Meeting 8. Ingredients of a Successful Season.     A Tale of Two Coaches     Evaluating Your Season       Did Your Players Have Fun?       Did Your Players Learn New Skills and Improve on Previously Learned Skills?       Did You Help Your Players Understand the Game and Its Rules?       Did You Communicate Appropriately and Effectively?       Did You Provide for Your Players' Safety?       Did You Plan and Conduct Effective Practices?       Did Your Players Give Maximum Effort in Practices and Games?       Did Your Players Leave the Games on the Court?       Did You Leave the Games on the Court?       Did You Conduct Yourself Appropriately?       Did You Communicate Effectively with Parents and Involve Them in Positive Ways?       Did You Coach Appropriately During Games?       Did You Win with Class and Lose with Dignity?       Did You Make the Experience Positive, Meaningful, and Fun for Your Players? II. SKILLS AND TACTICS. 9. Offensive Skills and Tactics.     Triple-threat Stance     Footwork       Pivot       Cut       Jump Stop       Stride Stop       Jab Step       Rocker Step     Dribbling       Control Dribble       Speed Dribble       Crossover Dribble       Spin Dribble       Half-spin Dribble     Passing and Catching       Bounce Pass       Chest Pass       Overhead Pass       Baseball Pass       Catching     Shooting       Outside Shot       Layup       Free Throw     Rebounding       Initial Positioning       Blocking Out       Knowing Where the Ball Is Going       Hustling       Controlling the Ball     Passing Game     Screens     Fast Break     Basic Plays       Pick-and-Roll       Give-and-Go       Inbounds Plays 10. Defensive Skills and Tactics.     Defensive Concepts       #1: Get Back Quick!       #2: Apply Pressure       #3: Cut off Passing Lanes       #4: Deny the Ball Down Low       #5: Don't Commit Unnecessary Fouls       #6: Provide Help       #7: Communicate!     Individual Defensive Skills       Maintain Good Positioning       Use a Slide Step       Get Hands up on Shots       Go for the Steal       Box Out to Rebound     Team Defensive Tactics       Defend Against Screens       Double-team When Appropriate       Use a Full-court Press       Use a Player-to-Player Defense       Use a Zone Defense 11. Games and Drills.     Dribbling Games       Game One       Game Two       Game Three     Passing Games       Game One       Game Two     Shooting Games       Game One       Game Two     Rebounding Games       Game One       Game Two     Various Offensive Skill Games       Game One       Game Two       Game Three     Fast Break Games       Game One       Game Two     Special Plays Games       Game One       Game Two       Game Three     Individual Defensive Skill Games       Game One       Game Two       Game Three     Team Defensive Skill Games       Game One       Game Two       Game Three III. APPENDIXES. A. Sample Letter to Parents. B. Medical Emergency Form. C. Injury Report. D. Season Plan. E. Practice Plan. F. Season Evaluation Form.     1. Did Your Players Have Fun?     2. -Did Your Players Learn New Skills and Improve on Previously Learned Skills?     3. -Did You Help Your Players Understand the Game and Its Rules?     4. -Did You Communicate Appropriately and Effectively?     5. Did You Provide for Your Players' Safety?     6. Did You Plan and Conduct Effective Practices?     7. -Did Your Players Give Maximum Effort in Practices and Games?     8. Did Your Players Leave the Games at the Gym?     9. Did You Leave the Games at the Gym?     10. Did You Conduct Yourself Appropriately?     11. -Did You Communicate Effectively with Parents and Involve Them in Positive Ways?     12. Did You Coach Appropriately During Games?     13. -Did You Win with Class and Lose with Dignity?     14. -Did You Make the Experience Positive, Meaningful, and Fun for Your Players? Index.

About the Author :
Tom Hanlon has 19 years of professional writing experience - as a journalist, an editor of two coaching magazines, a curriculum writer for a coaching division of a publishing company, and as a book writer and ghost writer for nationally-prominent authors. Tom ghostwrote Teens Can Make It Happen (Simon and Schuster) for Stedman Graham; this book made the New York Times bestseller list in 2000. He has written all or major portions of 39 other books, including seven sport officiating guides, numerous coaches' guides (including baseball; softball; soccer; basketball; and volleyball, among others), and a wide assortment of related sports titles.