The National Alliance For Youth Sports

When you’re taking on the role of a volunteer youth basketball coach, you can benefit from some inside knowledge of what it takes to be a coach that kids love playing for and learning from and what it takes to make the season one they will remember for all the right reasons for the rest of their lives. This cheat sheet provides you with a quick peek at some of the key elements of coaching youth basketball.

Playing basketball requires a broad range of skills. As a coach, being able to assess a youngster's strengths and weaknesses is crucial for determining where they best fit in your lineup. Your early practices should offer a peek at a player's ability in specific areas. Scrimmages or games involving just a handful of players and drills are ideal ways to gain a real sense of a child's strengths and weaknesses in certain basketball skills.

As a youth basketball coach, teaching kids the importance of good sportsmanship can be challenging. What makes teaching (and modeling) good sportsmanship particularly tricky is that youngsters are bombarded with images of older basketball players trash talking, showboating, and disrespecting opponents and officials.

A ball hog — a player who hangs on to the ball for extended periods of time and always looks to shoot rather than pass — creates real problems for the entire team. For instance, a ball hog ignores open teammates who have worked to get into position to score, which undermines team morale and kills your sense of unity.

Coaching a youth volleyball team is a real challenge because you want to surpass the kids' expectations (and avoid developing an ulcer). A great volleyball coach does some solid work before stepping onto the court with the team.You need to know which essential items to take to a practice, how to hold volleyball practices that keeps players engaged, and how you can deliver inspiring game talks that will motivate the team.

To help your young volleyball squad develop skills and learn key techniques of the game, you need to craft practices that the kids want to be a part of. Your practices — if they're fun and productive — are the launching pad for a truly rewarding season. Consider these tips to run practice sessions that challenge, entertain, and motivate players to reach their full potential.

What use is volleyball practice if the coach is unprepared or if the only ball is damaged? For each practice, volleyball coaches should have a solid plan and some critical supplies to ensure players get the most out of it. Here's a quick look at the essentials: A practice plan with drills broken down by time segments.

If you're a volleyball coach, strive to deliver great game talks, whether pregame, midmatch, or postgame. Two messages are critical to each delivery: motivation and positive thinking. Talk the pregame talk A great pregame speech — one that has kids on the edge of their seats and filled with excitement to take the court — is a great way to begin the game.

Showing up prepared for basketball practice is the most basic element of having a successful practice and one of your requirements as coach. You expect your players to come to practice prepared, so your kids deserve the same from you. The following list focuses on things you need to bring to practice: A practice plan with drills broken down by time segments.