Coaching Youth Basketball - Chapter 22

Chapter 22 - Did you pack your socks, your toothbrush, your ...........
Let me explain something about my lack of organization, then you will understand this chapter. I started out thinking I would do an internet posting on Chalk Talk. It was titled, The Never Ending Story. This was meant to be a continual listing of ideas for new coaches by a variety of experienced coaches. For some reason, it didn't take off, it flat out flopped.

I had a bunch of different ideas I had already written down, so I started to put it together as an article. Problem was, it never seemed to end. (I guess I like the sound of my own keyboard.) Finally, I decided to put it together as Coaching Youth Basketball blah-blah-blah.

So where am I going with this? The way I started this has definitely controlled the way it's organized, or disorganized. So last night I'm reviewing what's posted so far. It's kind of like going on vacation. My wife, Jennifer, always asks the same questions: Did you pack your socks, toothbrush, dental floss, Billy Bob Teeth, 10 cartoons of cigarettes, etc. She knows me real well because I always forget something. The same is true with me posting this for you folks. I have totally left out a few minor details that I need to correct. I'm being sarcastic when I call them minor.

As you can tell, this is taking a while to get this all posted when I do it one chapter at a time. Some of you may have already started your league play, and are a little lost. So here's where I pray you haven't had your first game yet, because if you have, I let you down, and for that I am sorry. Let's make up for it here.

Preparations Before Your First Game
In every one of your LS's you have given your kids water breaks. They're not camels, so they need them, right? Now the same is true during a real game, they need water. During every time out, 1/2 time, and even when they are just sitting on the bench, your players are going to lose their focus on the game and focus in on Fort Knox, the water fountain!!! They would give up chocolate dipped cones for a month for just one good slug off of that fountain.

There's a major downside to this, water first, everything else second. They could care less about the game unless they get those precious body fluids. This is not a good thing, it's a bad thing. So how do you solve this? Team Rule # 5 = Everyone brings a water jug to the game. This will solve your problem. By the way, for those of you who are anal retentive, you are correct - you haven't been given Riley's Rules yet.
Uniforms - Normally your school will refer you to a company they use. Some leagues distribute their own. If none of this applies to you, go to your yellow pages and look under sporting goods stores. You'll find some this way.
$$$$$ - Make sure you don't pay for everything. Let your players and PARENTS know that they are responsible for any expenses incurred. Tell them there will be league fees, uniform costs, tournaments , and other misc. expenses. As you find out what the costs will be, collect your money from them up front.

I have always thought I was a pretty shrewd businessman. When I was 17 I had over $50,000 in the bank, and I had earned every penny. I knew all about money, until I started coaching. In the summer of "99" I started an AAU basketball club. I had 238 kids play ball for me. It cost me over $11,000 out of my pocket, that's how savvy I was.

Trust this ole dawg, collect the $$$$ up front.
GENERATE ENTHUSIASM - Enthusiasm is a good thing. During every competitive team drill in your LS's *** MAKE THE KIDS YELL, SCREAM, AND CHEER FOR THEIR TEAMMATES *** If a team doesn't cheer enough, they do 2 laps. This will teach them to cheer and be enthusiastic. It will carry over into your games, especially when you tell them to do it as loud as they can in a game.
PICKING THE RIGHT PLAYERS FOR THE RIGHT POSITIONS - This is where I may deviate from most youth coaches. Don't stereotype your kids! Here's what most people do, the short kids are guards and the tall kids are forwards. WWWWRRRROOOONNNNGGGGGGGG!!!!!!!!

You should have a good feel for what your kids strengths and weaknesses are. Take your best ball handlers and they are your guards. Your worst dribblers should be your forwards. The last thing you need to worry about is height. You have to get the ball down the court and if your tallest player is your best ball handler, they are a guard.
RILEY'S RULES
Every player must be there at least 20 minutes before game time. If they don't, then they sit on the bench for the first half. I don't care what useless excuses the parents come up with, the rules apply to everyone unless they call you in advance. You don't want to be worried about where your team is 5 minutes before game time, that's not a fun thing.
Make sure you have a good enough ball that can be used for a game ball, most leagues require this.
Make sure you bring a bag of balls that your team can use during warm ups. It's kind of embarrassing when you have to borrow a ball from another team. The end result is that you have 8-12 players trying to warm up with one ball, and that's not cool.
Make sure you are dressed semi-cool, no geek look. Leave the leisure suits at home. It's very important to your kids that they not be embarrassed by their coach's appearance. Don't ask me, it's one of those un-written laws of kid land.
This is the water jug rule.
Everyone gets equal playing time. You are just flat out stupid if you don't follow this rule in the beginning. Some kids don't shine until it's show time. This means they suck in practice, but are one of your best in a game. The reverse can be true as well. Even if you plan on breaking this rule because you go to the dark side and worry about winning your 3rd grade league, it's too early to be able to tell who will end up being your best. Given time, you will be able to tell, but not at this stage in the season.

Another angle is that today's best, may not be tomorrow's. Don't lose your future Michaels because of today's yearning for a win. Play your kids equally, at least for a while.
SUBSTITUTIONS - If you don't control this, you will dream about these words, "When do I get to play?" "When do I get to go in?" "Is it time yet?" You pant leg will be tugged to death. Your shirt will be half ripped off because of tiny little hands tugging at you. You will promise yourself, never again!

Here's how to control it, K.I.S.S. = KEEP IT SIMPLE, STUPID!! You will find that your games will consist of 3-6 minute quarters, or 6-12 minute halves. At the older ages, the length of a game is longer. Tell your kids that you are going to substitute every 3 minutes and that they all get to play equally. During the game, show them where the clock on the wall is, and tell them to stand up when 3 minutes are up. This way you can watch the game, yet when they stand up you know it's time to sub. Your players just became your sub clock. SIMPLE IS GOOD !!

I was so frustrated when I started coaching because of all the nagging about PT, or playing time, that I finally talked my wife into video taping the games just so I could watch the game at home. And with this in mind, let me give you a Kodak moment. Tape your first game, years later you'll enjoy it more than anything else you own.
At the beginning of the game tell them that you know they are going to make mistakes, and that's ok. The most important thing is to play as hard as they can, AND TO HAVE AS MUCH FUN AS THEY CAN. THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS TOO MUCH FUN!!
Yell nothing but encouraging things to your kids, no negatives. Directions are ok to yell out, but watch the tone in your voice . Remember, they signed up to play a game, and games are supposed to have fun.
At the end of the game, win or lose, line your players up to congratulate the other team on a great game. Then have a quick team meeting. Tell them how proud you are of each and every one of them, and mean it. These kids just played their hearts out for you, appreciate it. If you can't mean it, find someone else to coach the team, because you need to quit. These aren't NBA players, they are kids. Remember, COACH = TEACHER AND ROLE MODEL. This is your turn to be the role model, a fun one.
I AM SORRY THAT THIS IS SO DISJOINTED, BUT I NEEDED TO GET YOU THIS MISCELLANEOUS INFO, HOPEFULLY BEFORE YOU PLAYED YOUR FIRST GAME. If you like this book, please visit this website again because there are more chapters to come.