Coaching basketball

I know a lot of people think that coaching basketball is just a matter of rolling out a ball and watching kids play during practices, and then showing up and standing on the sidelines for games. Allow me to dispel that notion.

Right now, I am checking grade reports to find out who is going to pass the 2nd 6 weeks and who's going to fail. An ineligible player will not make the team, so I have to double-check and make sure no one slips through. Earlier, I had to send out an e-mail to set up workers for the games. I have to find someone to run the clock, keep the official book, and take tickets for every home game. I have to evaluate the talent that we have, invite players for both the A and the B team, and then set up the teams according to district guidelines. I have to have a practice plan published for each practice and, once the teams are established, I have to double-check ages to ensure that they are not too old to play in the 7th-grade, publish a roster for each team, and send it out to every other school in the district with player birthdays and student ID numbers. Teaching basketball to guys who've never played real basketball before is fun, but tiring. Many of them THINK they know how to play, but they really have no conception. Those are the ones who are more difficult to teach because it's much tougher to unteach a previously ingrained concept and install a new one than it is to merely write on a blank slate.

Coaching in our district is a little strange. 7th-grade rules are mind-boggling! We used to have to run nothing but man to man defense, but we were given a reprieve last year when they decided that it would be okay for us to press whenever we wanted, run any defense we like, and teach real basketball to our 7th graders. However, we STILL have silly substitution rules! We have to have 1st and second quarter teams set up, with dedicated subs for each team. We split the 3rd quarter; the first quarter team starts and the second quarter team plays the second half of the quarter. FINALLY, in the fourth quarter, we can play whoever we like! We do have the stipulation, however, that any player suited up MUST play. I'd rather just play basketball and worry about an 8 or nine man rotation, but I know it's supposedly for the benefit of the kids. 8th-grade teams play just regular basketball; I don't see why it's different from one level to another, but I guess I never will!

In any case, coaching 7th graders is a whole lot more than just "rolling out a ball!" I hope anyone who reads here will try to catch a game or two this season. The kids love it when there's a big crowd and there's nothing, and I mean NOTHING, more entertaining than watching a 7th grade B team trying to make a layup! It's great fun! - Dan