3 answers
Hope
Student
Landrum, South Carolina
64
Questions
Asked
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how do you be come a coach in basketball?
#coach #basketball
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3 answers
Eric Stang
Director of North American Basketball for InStat Basketball
8
Answers
Tucson, Arizona
Updated
Eric’s Answer
First, I recommend looking to learn under a basketball coach that has many years of successful experience. It really doesn't matter the level. If you can I would recommend going to their practices and meeting with them to learn as much as possible. To start with, look to work as a coach at some basketball camps or as a volunteer assistant. If you live in an area with college programs, I recommend contacting them and asking to attend practices. There is a ton of good books out there on highly successful basketball coaches like a March to Madness. These books cover how these successful coaches got their start and will help give you a perspective on what you need to do to get your start. Attend coaching clinics and if you are a college student, look to see if they offer a coaching class for basketball.
Steve Wang
37
Answers
United States
Updated
Steve’s Answer
To be a basketball coach, you need to play basketball first.
Then build up the strategic plan to help your team to score.
Basketball is a teamwork game, so how to cooperate well is also the challenging part for a coach.
Third, you have to inspire your team as well.
Then build up the strategic plan to help your team to score.
Basketball is a teamwork game, so how to cooperate well is also the challenging part for a coach.
Third, you have to inspire your team as well.
Calvin Brown
Engineer
2
Answers
Jackson, Mississippi
Updated
Calvin’s Answer
Hope, good question! This depends on the level of basketball that you want to coach on. The three main levels are going to be high School, college ( Any level), and professional. To start off, if you want to coach you need to have an understanding of the game. You do not necessarily have to play basketball, but if you have never played then you have to have someone that has been around basketball a lot and understand how to put players in the correct situation to succeed.
To coach on the high school level in some situations if you reach out the current head coach of a high school team that you have some connections with he may let you assist with coaching the team especially if you are someone with a good basketball background. On the flip side their are other cases you may have to prove to the head coach your ability to coach. He may want to see and know which ways you can make the team better. Typically the bigger the high school the more basketball credentials you will need to get you on staff.
Coaching at the college level is where things get interesting. There are many paths to be taken to coach at the college level. In my experience the two easiest (which in fact are not easy) ways to get your "foot in the door" for getting on a college coaching staff is to either be a former player at the college level or being a student manager for a college team. Obviously if you are a former player you know what it takes to play basketball at the college level and in some cases you know what it takes to win at that level. You may know that type of players to make a basketball program great. Head coaches will see value in bringing on a past successful or smart player to help instill some core values into their program. Next are the student managers. More than likely individuals who become student managers have the love for being around the game and some have the capability to play in college, but choose to not play. Over time these individuals build direct relationship with coaches. They are at every practice helping to setup, run drills, and encourage players throughout practice. Being a student manager you get out what you put in. You can be one of the student managers that leave right when practice is over or you can ask the coaches is there anything you can do to learn or help the team get better. Building these relationships with coaches helps you to gain favor in their eyes and show them that you want to be apart of the staff. Even if they do not necessarily have an opening on their staff they may be able to reach out to someone they know and be your reference.
Coaching on the professional can be tough. In order to get to this level you have to be fully submersed in the game of basketball. Really successful college coaches and past professional players will often times get a chance to coach at the professional level if that is something they desire. There are coaches that have never played at the professional level and coach but these individuals worked hard to get up the latter and proved that they can lead a team. The same way I said student managers have to work hard to make it to a college coaching staff is the same way individuals that are hungry to make it to a professional staff have to be able to work hard.
All in all if you want to be a coach you need to be committed to working hard. Keep your players first and do everything you can to help make them successful on and off the court.
To coach on the high school level in some situations if you reach out the current head coach of a high school team that you have some connections with he may let you assist with coaching the team especially if you are someone with a good basketball background. On the flip side their are other cases you may have to prove to the head coach your ability to coach. He may want to see and know which ways you can make the team better. Typically the bigger the high school the more basketball credentials you will need to get you on staff.
Coaching at the college level is where things get interesting. There are many paths to be taken to coach at the college level. In my experience the two easiest (which in fact are not easy) ways to get your "foot in the door" for getting on a college coaching staff is to either be a former player at the college level or being a student manager for a college team. Obviously if you are a former player you know what it takes to play basketball at the college level and in some cases you know what it takes to win at that level. You may know that type of players to make a basketball program great. Head coaches will see value in bringing on a past successful or smart player to help instill some core values into their program. Next are the student managers. More than likely individuals who become student managers have the love for being around the game and some have the capability to play in college, but choose to not play. Over time these individuals build direct relationship with coaches. They are at every practice helping to setup, run drills, and encourage players throughout practice. Being a student manager you get out what you put in. You can be one of the student managers that leave right when practice is over or you can ask the coaches is there anything you can do to learn or help the team get better. Building these relationships with coaches helps you to gain favor in their eyes and show them that you want to be apart of the staff. Even if they do not necessarily have an opening on their staff they may be able to reach out to someone they know and be your reference.
Coaching on the professional can be tough. In order to get to this level you have to be fully submersed in the game of basketball. Really successful college coaches and past professional players will often times get a chance to coach at the professional level if that is something they desire. There are coaches that have never played at the professional level and coach but these individuals worked hard to get up the latter and proved that they can lead a team. The same way I said student managers have to work hard to make it to a college coaching staff is the same way individuals that are hungry to make it to a professional staff have to be able to work hard.
All in all if you want to be a coach you need to be committed to working hard. Keep your players first and do everything you can to help make them successful on and off the court.