Coaching Youth Basketball: A Baffled Parent's Guide (Baffled Parent's Guides)

"An excellent guide to teaching kids about the game. There's something here for veteran coaches as well as beginners."--­­Larry Bird

"Whatever your teaching credentials, your greatest responsibility is to give each player a positive learning experience."--David Faucher

Coach. You thought you were just going to sign up your child for the youth league. Now here you are, a newly anointed coach. You didn't ask for it, but it happened anyway. Now you need help.

Don't despair. This complete guidebook will not only get you through it but will help you become the coach you'd like to be--the coach who can give your kids the sports experience they deserve. You've already taken a big step: you said "yes" to this important commitment. Congratulations. You'll have a great time, and Dave Faucher is here to help.

• Survive your first practice and first game
• Win over problem players--and parents
• Know what to do in game situations
• Reach all your players
• Work with girls and boys
• Match your drills and strategies to age and ability
• Make it fun and rewarding
• Be the coach you never had
• Generate enthusiasm
• Improve your players and your team

"Here's a book I would recommend to all youth coaches." --­­Jill Kearney, recreation director, Norwich, Vermont

"I like Coach Faucher's philosophy, his approach to coaching kids, and his enthusiasm." --­­Jeffrey Thomas, youth coach, Richmond, Virginia

"Easy to follow and comprehensive. A clear and inspiring picture of how to play basketball and how to coach basketball." --­­Tom Bertocci, youth coach, Thomaston, Maine

This text is aimed at the unprepared parent who is unwittingly thrust into the role of coaching his or her child's basketball team. It provides the fundamentals a coach needs to control, motivate and encourage a disparate group of boys and girls of varying skills and dispositions.

David G. Faucher shares his successful "full-participation model" of coaching youth basketball in this Baffled Parent's Guide. Faucher, the head coach of the men's basketball team at Dartmouth College, covers creating good habits, offensive skills and defensive basics, dealing with parents, first aid and safety, and game rules.

David G. Faucher, head coach of the NCAA Division I Dartmouth College men's varsity basketball team, began his coaching career at a junior high school. He honed his positive, learn-by-doing approach to coaching basketball over a career that spans 25 years. Dave is also director of the Dave Faucher Basketball Camp, a nationally acclaimed summer youth basketball camp, which he founded in 1984. Dave lives in New Hampshire with his wife and three sons, all successful basketball players.

Introduction: So You Said You'd Be the Coach, Huh?

Part One Coaching 101: The Coach's Little Instruction Manual

1. Creating an Atmosphere of Good Habits

The Essentials

Drills That Promote Teamwork, Concentration, and Good Habits

Questions and Answers

2. Before Hitting the Court: Basketball in a Nutshell

The Court

Basic Rules

3. Setting Up the Season

A Checklist for the Season

Equipment

Questions and Answers

4. Essential Skills--and How to Teach Them

The Fundamentals

Offensive Basics

Defensive Basics

5. The Practice

Preparation is Key

Format for Practice

6. Sample Practices

Basic Beginning Practice

Intermediate Practice

Advanced Intermediate Practice 1

Advanced Intermediate Practice 2

Questions and Answers

7. The Game

Rules to Live By

Taking Stock after the Game

Questions and Answers

8. Dealing with Parents and Gender Issues

Perspective on Parents

Addressing Gender Issues

Questions and Answers

Part Two Drills: The Foundation for Growth, Happiness, and a Coach's Peace of Mind

9. Fundamental Drills

Warming Up

Dribbling

Passing

Catching

Stopping and Pivoting

Shooting

Rebounding

10. Offensive Drills

Shot and Pass Fakes

Two-Man Options to Teach Cutting and Moving Strategically

Drills for the Fast Break

Putting It All Together

Drills Using Formations

11. Defensive Drills

Defensive Position

Tracing the Ball

Defensive Slide and Defensive Footwork

Teaching Defense

Appendix

Referee Signals

Glossary

Resources

Index

Acknowledgments

About the Author