Foundations of a Skilled Basketball Player

Written by Coach Peterman

I have coached at the NCAA Division 2 (Southwestern Oklahoma State University), NAIA (USAO), and JUCO Levels (Blinn College and Carl Albert State College) as well as high school. I just felt that fellow coaches especially young coaches need to constantly work on their “game”. Just like the basketball players that we coach. We as coaches need to improve ourselves. That is my story and why I do this blog.



Basketball Plays



0 Comments(s)



December 31, 2013

Foundations of a skilled basketball player

Notes taken from Coach Randy Brown

Today, I thought I would bring some great notes on Foundations of a Skilled Basketball Player taken from Coach Randy Brown, or Coach RB as many others refer to him. Coach Brown is the founder of CoachRB.com and host of the College Coach Now (CCN) mentoring program, where he has guided and mentored over 130 coaches to careers in college basketball. He has previously served as head coach at Stetson and as an assistant at Arizona, Drake, North Dakota, Marquette, Miami of Ohio, Stetson, and Iowa State. He has also coached in the high school ranks at Regina (IA) and Pleasant Valley (IA). Brown currently resides in Ames, Iowa. His teachings have inspired me as a future college basketball coach, because they give hope that anyone can become a division 1 basketball coach if they so desire. Coach Brown teaches the importance of networking, building your brand, and it is my firm belief that he can help any coach who is willing to learn and follow his teaching.

These notes may be seen as more so for athletes instead of coaches but coaches teach skills and it would be a tragedy for a player not to be skilled if he was never taught the basic skills. Becoming a Skilled Basketball Player is a lost art. The ten foundations are: 1. Desire to play and enjoy the game, 2. Understanding of the game and its purpose, 3. Balance, 4. Footwork, 5. Vision and awareness, 6. Decision making process, 7. Changes of speed and direction, 8. Toughness, 9. Skill level and potential, 10. Playing away from the ball on offense and defense. Coach RB implores parents and coaches to use this list to encourage the learning curve and accomplishments of any young basketball player and why they need to strive to become a Skilled Basketball Player. This list may serve youth more than an adult, college, or high school athlete but these principles can be repeated over and over to those athletes with more maturity. Becoming a Skilled Basketball Player takes patience and a lot of practice.

Coaches, I hope you learn from these notes, enjoy them, and hopefully they help you continue on your road to coaching success!

Jonathan Gatlin is a recent graduate of North Carolina State University finishing with a major in Sport Management and a minor in Coaching Education. He has worked for AAU programs, coached intramural athletics, and worked various basketball camps. He is a student of the game looking to further his coaching career as a Graduate Assistant. “Teaching the game, Training for life”. I think that you will love his notes from Basketball Coaches Association New York Clinic 2005.