Should I coach my daughter's 6th grade basketball team? (1 Viewer)

[Long Ball Larry]

This is a Rec league and they need a couple more coaches due to the number of girls signed up.

i have never coached basketball before, but I do know some stuff about the history of the ABA and I've watched her in this league for three years and kind of know the games of a lot of the players.

 

[GoBirds]

Yeah go for it. Sounds like you will have other coaches helping? It's amusing how serious it gets though even with the young kids but sure it will be a great experience. 

 

[IC FBGCav]

Only if you make them call you Long Ball Larry.

 

[badmojo1006]

Larry, I did it 12 years ago for my daughter. Had no experience coaching basketball (coached youth soccer before).

It was a great experience. Even though we won only 1 game, the girls had fun and I learned a lot

Go for it! 

 

[dino259]

The experience with your daughter would be great.  However, how much do you like to be in charge?  How much of an offense do you need to install?  There are plenty of drills and stuff that you can find.  Heck, I have coached my boys since they started.  They are now in 4th and 2nd grade.  I feel I am running to the end of my ability in terms of strategy and such. 

If you want some ideas I can provide some information about practice plan and drills.

 

[Zerp]

You will get back 100x what you put into it.  Do this.  I'm in my 18th season.  Several seasons and a few local shampionships at the rec level took me to travel, then club, then regionals and national tourneys, clinics, personal training, and now I've coached 8 girls playing post-HS, mostly top 25 D1.  6th grade rec is a pure, a great place to start. I can't say enough about it.  Most important, you'll have a bond with your girl that is priceless.  My girls and I have something special because of our time growing up together on the courts.

 

[ArbyMelt]

a tip for coaching defense at that age: Teach your girls to play the right hand (assuming guarding right handed girl), and force the girl left. At that age, every player goes to the right. You stop them for dribbling right, and chaos ensues. I even taught my girls to have a foot out of bounds on the right sideline.

 

[Cjw_55106]

I've coached baseball, softball, football and basketball in various forms for the past dozen years. The first thing I always do is ask my kid if they want me to coach their team. They've never said no, but I always ask them first. 

Since you are asking, I assume you aren't against it, so yes, you should do it. 

 

[Gally]

You will get back 100x what you put into it.  Do this.  I'm in my 18th season.  Several seasons and a few local shampionships at the rec level took me to travel, then club, then regionals and national tourneys, clinics, personal training, and now I've coached 8 girls playing post-HS, mostly top 25 D1.  6th grade rec is a pure, a great place to start. I can't say enough about it.  Most important, you'll have a bond with your girl that is priceless.  My girls and I have something special because of our time growing up together on the courts.

Parents are a lot different now than when you started - as I am sure you have seen.   The coaching part is the easy part.  If your league is having a hard time finding enough coaches you will have a difficult time with parents.  Not necessarily them being crappy about playing time or such but that they will not be very involved.  Practices work a lot better with parent involvement rather than then treating you like a free babysitter a couple times a week.  

I coached my son for a few years and didn't plan to coach last year as he was getting older and I felt a different coach might help develop him better.  I was voluntold to coach because they had nobody else and I had done it before.  It was ok but since I hadn't planned to do it I felt like I was always a little behind.  It wasn't as pleasant of a year as the previous ones when I was prepared to do it.

 

[pandora]

As long as you don't have a league commissioner that is a pain in the ###.

 

[Cowboysfan8]

My experience -

The kids will be great

At least a cpl of their parents will drive you crazy

 

[DaVinci]

All you need to know about coaching.

 

[belljr]

Absolutely

 

[Long Ball Larry]

Yeah go for it. Sounds like you will have other coaches helping? It's amusing how serious it gets though even with the young kids but sure it will be a great experience. 

That is an interesting question.  Historically, most teams have had two coaches, but the way they are making it sound, there might not be enough coaches to have one per team.

 

[Long Ball Larry]

The experience with your daughter would be great.  However, how much do you like to be in charge?  How much of an offense do you need to install?  There are plenty of drills and stuff that you can find.  Heck, I have coached my boys since they started.  They are now in 4th and 2nd grade.  I feel I am running to the end of my ability in terms of strategy and such. 

If you want some ideas I can provide some information about practice plan and drills.

I do not like to be in charge, however I do like to make many criticisms and recommendations about the way the teams are handled during games, which is my wife's favorite thing in the world...

Last year her team started implementing picks a lot more and some pick and roll.  I'd like to find the best pick and pop kids available...

they should be able to run some decent offense.  Last year, the majority of the girls were probably generally adept and aware.

 

[NutterButter]

Full court press the entire game.   Also find their worst free throw shooter and foul her constantly.   

 

[Peyton Marino]

Guess it depends. What kind of players are on the team? Is it more of a small ball team, similar to the warriors with lots of different pieces that can fit into different spots? Or is it more of a team like the Clippers - very defined roles, not much versatility therein. I know you said you have limited coaching experience, but you must have exposure to a basic pick and roll offense. What about isolation? Know how to adjust if they throw a zone? Do you foresee it being a team that pushes, content to let up more offensive rebounds, or would they do better to sit back, focusing on defense.

I would look into what type of motion tracking technology they're using. Anything less than SportVu and you can probably be sure the school is not seriously committed to fostering a solid program. Additionally, I'd want to get a look at their advanced metrics from last season. ORTG, DRTG, basic box plus minus stats of individual players (regressed plus minus adjusted for opponent and teammates on the floor would be ideal). Coaching your daughter's team is nice, but you don't want to get stuck in the wrong situation.

Just some things to consider gllllll

 

[Long Ball Larry]

Guess it depends. What kind of players are on the team? Is it more of a small ball team, similar to the warriors with lots of different pieces that can fit into different spots? Or is it more of a team like the Clippers - very defined roles, not much versatility therein. I know you said you have limited coaching experience, but you must have exposure to a basic pick and roll offense. What about isolation? Know how to adjust if they throw a zone? Do you foresee it being a team that pushes, content to let up more offensive rebounds, or would they do better to sit back, focusing on defense.

I would look into what type of motion tracking technology they're using. Anything less than SportVu and you can probably be sure the school is not seriously committed to fostering a solid program. Additionally, I'd want to get a look at their advanced metrics from last season. ORTG, DRTG, basic box plus minus stats of individual players (regressed plus minus adjusted for opponent and teammates on the floor would be ideal). Coaching your daughter's team is nice, but you don't want to get stuck in the wrong situation.

Just some things to consider gllllll

let's not rehash the old material, GB: https://forums.footballguys.com/forum/topic/740316-set-me-straight/?do=findComment&comment=18752189

 

[Peyton Marino]

let's not rehash the old material, GB: https://forums.footballguys.com/forum/topic/740316-set-me-straight/?do=findComment&comment=18752189

Solid notebook

When you find a shtick that works you gotta ride it. I like how he responded in earnest.

 

[Judge Smails]

If you have the time absolutely do it.  It will be rewarding.  Invite other parents to help.  Hopefully a few know the game.  Learn some drills to do in practices before the season starts. Plan them out.  Keep them fast paced.  Keep it fun for the girls without getting hung up on winning and losing.  They remember all of their teachers and coaches - good and bad.  Be the former.

 

[fantasycurse42]

It would be fun leading the charge in those 12-8 barnburners.

 

[NutterButter]

Make sure you watch Hoosiers on the first day of practice.  "No team of mine will ever run out of steam before its opponents".    Translation, lots of suicides.

 

[Jaysus]

yes, someone has to.

 

[MindCrime]

Finishing up my first season as coach of my 10 year old's baseball team. Same circumstances, not enough coaches for the amount of kids who signed up, etc. I've been around this little league for about 8 years now with my older son, have helped out with every team, but never a coach.

What someone said upthread is crucial, I asked my son first, and he agreed. Big thing there was to make sure he understood that I was "coach" when on the field, "dad" while off the field. 

Parents,in general, are the worst part. Not complaining about gameplay, more of lack of involvement. As part of the league, teams are required to volunteer time in the concession stand. You'd think that out of 12 players, I could find 3(!) parents willing to volunteer two hours each over the course of 3 months. Nope. My wife has covered each shift. But of course,  the lazy parents are the first to be sitting at our game with a cheeseburger from the concession stand, #####ing that they had to wait 5 minutes because there was only one person working.

But overall, it's been a great experience with the kids.

 

[Chemical X]

omg, i know it's your daughter but, girls sports are so awful and that age is just brutal. also, parents are morons.  

 

[James Daulton]

It would be fun leading the charge in those 12-8 barnburners.

A good travel team might meet that lofty score. 

 

[mr roboto]

Full court press the entire game.   Also find their worst free throw shooter and foul her constantly.   

Hack-a-Madison 

 

[mphtrilogy]

yep, coaching your kids is one of the great things you can experience as a parent.

 

[mphtrilogy]

omg, i know it's your daughter but, girls sports are so awful and that age is just brutal. also, parents are morons.  

this is true, but your doing it for your daughter and your experience with her.  Just be a fair and nice guy and it will all work out.

 

[Chemical X]

this is true, but your doing it for your daughter and your experience with her.  Just be a fair and nice guy and it will all work out.

have set plays but name them after teen idols.....you know, have PG cross 1/2 court and you start screaming Zayn Malik, Zayn Malik!

 

[Righetti]

yep, coaching your kids is one of the great things you can experience as a parent.

I stared doing it last year (Rec basketball and soccer) and now onto travel soccer.  Absolutely great experience, was truly sad when we had our last practice of the season.   

 

[Nigel]

I coached softball and baseball when my kids were younger, had a blast. Only downside was watching longingly as the other dads relaxed along the fence on warm summer evenings, watching the games free of responsibility with red Solo cups in hands.  Never had a problem with parents though. 

I can't coach anymore since they've moved on to sports I have no business coaching (lax & hockey), and I do miss it. Go for it. 

 

[Hoh]

Do it.  Teach them something, make them laugh, make them feel like they belong, and girls that age will adore you.  Kids need positive adult role models in their life now more than ever.

 

[mr. furley]

@Mrs. BSR