Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Coach's Code of Conduct
by Rick Wolff, Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Youth Sports Expert
RESPECT THE GOLDEN RULE - Treat your players, their parents and the officials in the same manner that you want to be treated. That means no yelling, no sarcasm, and no embarassing anyone in front of others if they happen to make a poor play, a controversial call or say the wrong thing. To gain respect, you must first give respect.
BE EVERYONE'S COACH - As the saying goes, "there is no I in TEAM." Try and make the team experience good for all the players by letting everyone contribute. That goes for your own kids, too. If you coach your own child, don't shine the light on them too much (or for that matter, too little). Treat everyone as equals.
APPRECIATE YOUR ASSISTANTS - No youth basketball coach can do it all. Find a good assistant or two, give them responsibility and never stop thanking them. Remember that the more help you get, the more help your players get.
FOCUS ON THE FUNDAMENTALS - Help your players master the basketball basics. Wins and losses come and go, but you only get one chance to develop a player's fundamental skills. Don't waste that opportunity. Develop the best dribblers, shooters, passers, rebounders and defenders that you can. And remind your players that hustle is a fundamental skill as well.
TEACH - AND ENFORCE - GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP - Spend time at practice and before games explaining to your team how to behave afer a win or a loss. Explain that good sportsmanship means no trash talking or taunting an opponent. Teach your players to develop a positive relationship with the officials. Then, have the courage to enforce your rules of sportsmanship if one of your players misbehaves. That's the key.
UNDERSTAND THE RULES OF THE GAME - Buy a rulebook and read it. Identify any special policies that your league has adopted. Master the way the game is officiated. You can't expect your players to know the rules if you don't.
HAVE A POSITIVE RAPPORT WITH THE OFFICIALS - Officials will not respond in a positive way to you if you try to bully or intimidate them. If anything, they'll just develop an intense dislike for you. Instead, act like an adult. Ask questions if you need to. Seek clarification on a call if it's warranted. Always set the right tone for your team by never arguing a call or disparaging an official.
PROMOTE FUN - Avoid getting too serious. Don't get crazy about winning. Make sure you smile. Teach the game and good sportsmanship, but above all else, make sure the kids are having fun. If they aren't, then you are doing something wrong.
BE PATIENT - Young players are going to miss shots. They're going to make crucial turnovers. They're going to commit needless fouls. Your players need the freedom to make mistakes on the court and it's your job to help them learn from those mistakes so that they won't repeat them again and again. That takes time - and patience.
TALK TO THE PARENTS AND UNDERSTAND THEIR GOALS - From the very first day of practice, talk with the parents. Explain your coaching philosophy. If a parent has a particular concern about their child, give them the opportunity to talk with you about it. Keep in mind that parents come to games to see their kids play. Don't blame a parent if they are unhappy that their son or daughter didn't get in the game, blame yourself.
