The mentor who coaches young players in basketball for the first time can have a dramatic influence on their career. Good coaching is important because it can lead to the development of fundamental skills while instilling a devotion to the sport. The greatest basketball players in history achieved their success partly because each of them had a coach early in life that instilled in them the values that are needed for success. Here are some tips that youth sport basketball coaches can use:

Emphasize On The Fundamentals Of The Game

It is critically important for coaches to begin with the fundamentals of basketball. The child should start by learning simple defense and plays and they should spend a considerable amount of time in practice, especially in basketball camp. Some of the core skills that a child will need to develop includes learning how to shoot, pass and handle the basketball. Once a young player develops these basics, it will build the confidence which is needed for them to progress rapidly.

Be A Positive Role Model

Children watch and emulate the adults around them. Therefore, it is important to be mindful of how you conduct yourself, especially in their presence. Referees, parents and players should all be shown respect, even when you don’t agree with their views. A coach who is a good role model will do more than just enhance the athletic skills of his players; he will also help them become responsible adults.

It is also important to maintain a positive attitude. While a coach should be willing to critique players when necessary, they should also provide proper reinforcement. Young players should never be belittled when they lose, but should instead be taught that overcoming losses is the key to success. When a player does something wrong, the coach should never yell at them, and when they need to be reprimanded this should be done privately, while praise should be given publicly.

Teach Them Great Sportsmanship

A young player can master every basketball technique in the book, but if he doesn’t learn good sportsmanship all this knowledge is meaningless. Sportsmanship means respecting the game and its rules. It means showing respect to the officials, as well as opposing players, coaches and teammates. A player who doesn’t have good sportsmanship will not work well with a team, which is a necessity in basketball. When each player on a team practices good sportsmanship, they will coordinate and work together in a manner that makes them a force to be reckoned with.

Keep It Simple Yet Effective

Young players are not yet pros, and should not be put under the same level of pressure, nor should they be expected to replicate what is seen in the NBA. The offensive/defensive sets which are used in the NBA are too advanced for most young players. The key to success when dealing with youngsters is to begin with basic fundamentals and then slowly build from there. Complicated plays will usually confuse young players, and their inability to perform them will lead to frustration which will cause a lack of confidence. A child that is serious about playing professionally will need 8 years, or 10,000 hours of practice to achieve mastery; so the earlier you start, the better.