Greg Bach 
Coaching Basketball For Dummies 

So you’re thinking about volunteering to coach youth
basketball? Great! You’re in for a fun, rewarding experience.
Whether you’re new to the sport and looking for some guidance
or you’re a seasoned coach hunting for some fresh tips,
Coaching Basketball For Dummies will help you command the
court with confidence.

Each friendly chapter is packed with expert advice on teaching
the basics of basketball–from dribbling and shooting to
rebounding and defending–and guiding your kids to a
fun-filled, stress-free season. You get a crash course in the rules
and regulations of the game, as well as clear explanations of what
all those lines, circles, and half-circle markings mean on the
court. You’ll assign team positions, run great practices, and
work with both beginning and intermediate players of different age
groups. You’ll also see how to ramp up your players’
skills and lead your team effectively during a game. This book will
also help you discover how to:

* Develop your coaching philosophy

* Understand your league’s rules

* Conduct a preseason parents’ meeting–crucial for
opening the lines of communication

* Teach offensive and defensive strategies

* Keep your kids healthy and injury-free

* Encourage good sportsmanship

* Make critical half-time adjustments during a game

* Help struggling players

* Address discipline problems and handle difficult parents

* Coach an All-Star or Travel team

Complete with numerous offensive and defensive drills and tips
for helping your kids relax before a game, Coaching Basketball
For Dummies is the fun and easy way to get the score on this
worthwhile endeavor!

Table of Content

Introduction 1

Part I: Getting Started Coaching Youth Basketball 7

Chapter 1: Teaching Basketball to Children 9

Chapter 2: Preparing for a Successful Season 17

Chapter 3: Covering the Basketball Basics 31

Chapter 4: Getting to Know the Parents 51

Part II: Building Your Basketball Coaching Skills 67

Chapter 5: Evaluating Your Team 69

Chapter 6: Running a Great Practice 85

Chapter 7: Game Day 103

Chapter 8: Refining Your Coaching Strategies 121

Part III: Working with Beginning and Intermediate Players 131

Chapter 9: Teaching the Offensive Fundamentals 133

Chapter 10: Teaching the Defensive Fundamentals 155

Chapter 11: Fundamental Drills for Beginners 177

Chapter 12: Coaching Offense 101 195

Chapter 13: Coaching Defense 101 213

Chapter 14: Taking Your Drills to the Next Level 231

Part IV: Moving On to Advanced Basketball Strategies 247

Chapter 15: Coaching Offense 201 249

Chapter 16: Coaching Defense 201 265

Chapter 17: Zoning In on Advanced Drills 281

Part V: Shooting for the Extra Points 291

Chapter 18: Keeping Your Kids Healthy and Injury Free 293

Chapter 19: Challenges Every Coach Faces 311

Chapter 20: Coaching a Travel Team 327

Part VI: The Part of Tens 337

Chapter 21; Ten (Or So) Things to Say to Your Team before the Game 339

Chapter 22: Ten Ways to Stay Realistic When Coaching Children 343

Index 347

About the author

Greg Bach is the communications director for the National Alliance For Youth Sports (NAYS), a position he has held since 1993. Before joining NAYS, he worked as the sports editor of the Huron Daily Tribune in Bad Axe, Michigan, where he captured numerous writing awards from the Associated Press, Michigan Press Association, and the Hearst Corporation. He has a journalism degree from Michigan State University, which he earned in 1989. He’s an avid sports fan — particularly of his beloved Spartan basketball team — and has coached a variety of youth sports. He’s also the author of Coaching Soccer For Dummies, Coaching Football For Dummies, and Coaching Baseball For Dummies.

The National Alliance For Youth Sports has been America’s leading advocate for positive and safe sports for children for the past 25 years. It serves volunteer coaches, parents with children involved in organized sports, game officials, youth sports administrators, league directors, and the youngsters who participate in organized sports. The Alliance’s programs are utilized in more than 3, 000 communities nationwide by parks and recreation departments, Boys & Girls Clubs, Police Athletic Leagues, YMCAs/YWCAs, and various independent youth service groups, as well as on military installations worldwide. For more information on the Alliance’s programs, which appear in the following list, visit www.nays.org.