Basketball Philosophy

Coaches must think about what is important to them (and why) and develop their philosophies. For most coaches, philosophies develop over time and are not made the instant that they coach their first team. The approach that a coach takes in any given season is usually based upon a mix of what is at the heart of their personal philosophy as well as the type of team that they have. Some components may be deemed essential while others may have some flexibility. For example, pushing the ball, trapping, and full court pressure may be how a coach likes to play but the type of players they have that season may play a role in the decision of how the team will actually play.

Some general suggestions and comments regarding coach philosophies and the management of teams:

• ask your team to meet without the coaches and discuss what will be necessary in order that their team can achieve success
• when coaches add, they must also subtract - it is okay to add new plays and systems but consideration should be given to removing some at the same time
• one of the greatest compliments to a coach is having one of their players coach younger athletes
• the most impressive players I have coached are the ones that are committed to excellence both on and off the court - we encourage and try to teach a commitment to excellence in academics, athletics, socially, and life in general
• you get what you accept (if a C is okay with you then a C is what you will get) - we try and get our players to work towards A's knowing that, while there is no guarantee of achieving an A, at least they will still be improving rather than settling