Three Simple Steps to Success for Young Coaches

Starting a basketball coaching career can be an intimidating experience. A game that once was thought to be easy as a player becomes much more difficult from the bench. Three simple but imperative steps can be followed by any rookie hoop coach to get off to a good start in coaching.

The learning curve is very sharp for the first time basketball coach. The inclination is to give the players a lot of drills and information, thinking they can handle it. In time though, your players will be confused and you may be a basket case. These three key steps apply not only to the roookie coach but the seasoned coach also.

1. Teach only what you know. If your are not able to teach a concept in basketball, don't consider it until you have mastered it. Some coaches think that coaching is making kids go through drills and yell directions at them. That is not teaching, that is not having a clue. Remember, the best coaches are the best teachers. The best coaches also present basketball as an easy game and one that all players can grasp from an individual and team standpoint. The best way to minimize a player's play is to confuse them.

2. Keep the game simple for the players. It doesn't basketball how much you know as a coach but it does matter how much the players know and UNDERSTAND. Players must first know what to execute before they can actually perform on the floor. Good coaches explain why certain skills and drills are used and make up the team's style of play.

3. Be on a constant search for information from other coaches, go to clinics, read and find things on the internet. You can be the best coach that you want to be! As the saying goes, "When you are done learning, you are done." Growing as a coach depends on a constant desire to improve and analyze your own coaching. Some coaches get set in their ways and style of play after a few years. A growing coach will always look to tweak, refine, and adjust his or her coaching to maximize their effectiveness as a coach.

In my extensive college coaching career I can say that the best coaches I've every seen are the coaches that teach a simple game. Clarity is the goal for players and coaches and cannot be understated. Less is more when it comes to effective coaching and is the ultimate challenge of all basketball coaches.

Randy Brown has passion for the game of basketball. He works as a basketball consultant and mentor for coaches. Visit him at http://www.coachrb.com for free resources, Q & A, newsletter, and coaching programs. A speaker and writer, he has authored 75 articles on coaching and is nationally published. His 18 years in college basketball highlights a successful 23-year basketball Mentored by Basketball Hall of Fame coach Lute Olson at Arizona. Resume includes positions at Arizona, Iowa State, Marquette, Drake, and Miami of Ohio, 5 Conference Championships and 5 NCAA appearances. His efforts have helped develop 12 NBA players including Steve Kerr, Sean Elliott, and Jaamal Tinsley. To contact Randy, email him at rb@coachrb.com.