Ultimate (and Simple) Guide to Coaching Youth Basketball

I created the Ultimate (and Simple) Guide to Coaching Youth Basketball to:

• help simplify the process for coaches (regardless of experience) of coaching a youth team
• help coaches organize their teams and seasons with forms, templates, and ideas
• help coaches keep the main thing the main thing
• provide a simple, no-fluff guide from someone who has actually done it (and helped others do it)
• give coaches the best chance at having a fun, productive, fruitful, and enjoyable experience coaching a youth basketball team

I tried to make this something you can print out (at least the stuff you like), put in a binder, and take with you to every practice and game this season.

Here's what's inside:

• Clear practice and game-day plans
• 40+ drills and plays made simple
• Plug-and-play templates, rosters, and stat sheets
• Communication tools and culture builders to keep parents, players, and YOU sane

We've got chapters on the following topics:

• The Coaching Mindset – What youth coaching is really about, building your philosophy, and leading with patience and clarity.
• Season Planning – Reverse-engineer your season with calendars, priorities, and a clear roadmap.
• Practice Planning – Sample 60/90/120-minute plans, first practice checklist, and templates to maximize reps and fun.
• Drills Library – 40+ youth-appropriate drills designed for small teams, limited space, and gamelike decision-making.
• Offense & Defense – Simple frameworks for teaching man-to-man defense, breaking a press, and running basic offenses.
• Game Day Coaching – Substitution systems, communication tips, halftime/postgame strategies, and keeping calm under pressure.
• Skill Development – Checklists to track player growth: dribbling, shooting, defending, spacing, and more.
• Communication & Leadership – Parent meetings, culture builders, and handling tough situations with players and parents.
• Stuff They Don’t Tell You – The hard truths about coaching youth basketball that nobody prepares you for.
• Forms & Templates – Practice plan sheets, rosters, calendars, parent sign-ups, notes sections, and stat sheets.

Maybe you've volunteered for a youth team (or voluntold) and you're clueless about where to start.

Maybe you've coached before and want to make the process a simpler and easier one.

Maybe you're experienced and you just want to get more detailed and organized this season.

Whatever you need, it's inside the guide - get one for yourself or the coach in your life!