Developing
as a teacher is instrumental in becoming a good coach. You must learn
how to get your ideas across to your players, its not what you teach
your players its what they absorb that’s important. A common error by
inexperienced coaches is that they try to teach defensive and offensive
systems that they don’t understand and get frustrated when their
players don’t respond well in practice and in games. Make sure that you
understand a defense and offense well enough to break it down into
drills and be-able to teach with confidence.
As you grow and gain experience you will develop as a teacher as well
as a coach. This skill as a teacher-coach is developed over years of
trial and error and observation of other coaches. Developing as a
teacher-coach is on going and there are always new things to learn in
coaching. Most young coaches will teach what they know or defensive and
offensive systems they played under as players.
Remember that basketball is a simple game that is
often complicated by coaches’, fans’, media and players. Remember to
teach the fundamentals and stick to the basics and things that work for
you and your players. As you teach and coach remember that all players
learn at differently. There are no true innovations in basket only
recycled offenses and defenses so stick to the basics.
John Wooden who won ten NCAA championships said that to bring the most
out of your team is 1. Get them in shape 2. Teach them proper
fundamentals and how to execute quickly. 3. Make them play as a team.
Great advice for a young teacher-coach.
Qualities of Successful Teacher-Coaches’
1. They give direction
2. Motivate/Communicate
3. Provide leadership
4. Understands Human Nature
5. Detail persons‘, no detail too small
