Fall Youth Coaches Clinic 2015

Agenda  What We’re About (and NOT About)  Why?  Coaching Strategies + Tips

Real Talk

Feeder System Purpose  It’s not about…  The Coach’s Ego  The Short Term “Win Now” Mentality  Get the Ball to “____”  Suzie is a “POST” and Sally is a “GUARD”  Schemes (zone defenses, traps, lots of set plays, etc…)  Avoiding Mistakes

Feeder System Purpose  It is about…  #1 Nurturing a Passion for Basketball + Providing a Positive Experience

Purpose #1: Ignition

The Role of the Youth Coach 1. No matter what the stage, there are three things we must do as coaches:  Make each individual player better — basketball skills, physically, emotionally, mentally, fitness, and socially. Develop the whole child.  Get all those individuals to work together as a team.  Build dreams. 2. Measuring Success: “Never be a child’s last coach”

Feeder System Purpose  It is about…  #1 Nurturing a Passion for Basketball + Providing a Positive Experience  #2 Fostering Long Term Athletic + Life Skill Development

Purpose #2: LTAD  The Stages of Development  Windows of Optimal Trainability  Specialization: The 10 Year Rule

Windows of Optimal Trainability

Purpose #2: LTAD  The Stages of Development  Windows of Optimal Trainability  Specialization: The 10 Year Rule (Wait Until Late Adolescence: yrs old)

Feeder System Purpose  It is about…  #1 Nurturing a Passion for Basketball + Providing a Positive Experience  #2 Fostering Long Term Athletic + Life Skill Development  #3 Teaching Fundamental Skills + Basketball Concepts

Purpose #3: Teaching  Always Start with Why?

Purpose #3: Teaching  Always Start with Why?  Focus on the Process (Not Outcomes)

Purpose #3: Teaching  Always Start with Why?  Focus on the Process (Not Outcomes)  Skills NOT Schemes, Concepts NOT Plays

Skills Not Schemes, Concepts Not Plays  General Understanding vs. Depth: We’re building PLAYMAKERS not Robots.  There are a few skills and concepts that dominate the game. By learning these skills/concepts generally, players can adjust and adapt to almost any situation or system.  You could almost grab any group of kids with average athleticism, play a half court trap, work on lay ups and offensive rebounding, and you'll win a high percentage of your games against similar competition. I can guarantee that. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that out and it doesn't take a good coach to do that. I can also guarantee that they won't develop the necessary basketball skills to be successful at the higher levels.

Purpose #3: Teaching  Always Start with Why?  Focus on the Process (How You Do Things)  Skills NOT Schemes + Concepts NOT Plays  Position-less Basketball

Position-LESS Basketball

Purpose #3: Teaching  Always Start with Why?  Focus on the Process (How You Do Things)  Skills NOT Schemes + Concepts NOT Plays  Position-less Basketball  Train Ugly!

Train Ugly  “Well intentioned and even trained coaches enter gyms all over America, and train their athletes the way they were trained. The fact that the science of sport, biomechanics, motor learning and other disciplines, have researched and found better, more efficient and more successful ways of training, simply seems not to matter.” - John Kessell, USA Volleyball

Motor Learning  Random vs Block Practice: Practice to Look Good or to Improve?

Random vs Block Practice 1. Game Skills Are Complex2. It’s All About Transfer

Motor Learning  Random vs Block Practice: Practice to Look Good or to Improve?  Decision Training: Total Skill vs. Part (Skills + Mind)

Decision Training  Basketball is a game of problem solving (skill + decisions) that requires total skill: This means that we train the mind and not just the physical skill. Players must learn not just what they need to transfer to games, but also how they transfer those skills to games.

Motor Learning  Random vs Block Practice: Practice to Look Good or to Improve?  Decision Training: Whole Skill vs. Part (Skills + Mind)  Specificity: Game Specific + Small-Sided Games (SSG)

Specificity + Small-Sided Games (SSG) Monopoly Junior vs. Adult Monopoly

Yeah, well that’s just like, uh… your opinion, man. 1. These are Facts, NOT Opinions. 2. Real World Proof:  USA Volleyball  Canada Basketball  Brazilian Soccer

Teaching Strategies + Tips  Coaches:  1) Figure out how to create a growth mindset mentality within yourself and your team.  2) Then think about ways to make your practices as game-like as possible, and how you can maximize the time and reps that your players get in these situations. Put your players in various game- like situations, focus on your teaching points, and let the game teach the game.

Teaching Strategies + Tips  Planning, Organizing, and Leading Practice  Practice Plan Design (Always have a typed plan)  Use a Clock or Watch  Shooting Mechanics EVERY DAY!  Maximize Player Touches! (Minimize Lines + Waiting)  Keep the Pace Up + Let Them Wobble – Coach using “Bandwidth Feedback”  Build from Individual to Team Concepts  The Art of Coaching:  Proper Progression + Loading/De-Loading Complexity (not adding drills)  Be a Great Learner

Coaching Resources    Basketball Manitoba Videos from…  Brian McCormick, Mike MacKay, Kirby Schepp 