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March 20, 2017
Letters to live by: Acronyms and initialisms to help coaches communicate
You may have heard the phrase "words to live by," used when someone says something particularly profound. But when it comes to communication in our basketball program, we like to use the phrase "letters to live by." I have often said that it’s muc...
March 20, 2017
Seven strategies to a long-term coaching career
Coaches that reach longevity in coaching have learned to deal with stress, obstacles and implement improvement strategies. Using Andy Carrier’s experience as the men’s basketball coach at a small liberal arts college for 25 years, these seven str...
January 22, 2017
1-on-1 with skills guru Ryan Goodson
Since 2009, Goodson has traveled worldwide and trained more than 15,000 players from the youth to the professional levels. He even worked with two-time NBA MVP Stephen Curry and directed Curry’s Skills Academy in 2011. Winning Hoops recently caugh...
January 13, 2017
12 rules for new coaches
As a former athletic director and coaching educator, I have seen many young coaches enter and leave the coaching ranks. I thought a few simple rules might help them survive their first years on the job. Coaching is a great profession, and the opport...
September 1, 2016
‘Fanorak’ app promotes fan attendance
Athletic director Ryan Anderson has big, interactive ideas about growing high school fan support. And with the help of a few of his students at Menomonee Falls High School (Wisconsin), he's been able to do just that. Students Connor Schmidt, Jonatha...
September 1, 2016
Training Never Ends
Across the country, countless players have been putting in work to prepare for the upcoming season. Meanwhile, coaches are eager to see how all the pieces will come together to develop their teams. A new season is an epoch of sorts. It marks a very ...
September 1, 2016
Creating the master practice plan
How a structured, organized blueprint can improve team performance Few things are more important than planning an effective practice session. Legendary coach John Wooden once said, "Failure to prepare is preparing for failure." Obviously, the level ...
July 22, 2016
Managing the final minutes with a lead
Sooner or later, every team faces a single "moment of truth." A close game, a slim lead, a minute on the clock and possession of the ball combine to create a pressure situation that's the difference between winning and losing. You want your team to ...
July 15, 2016
How scripts can help basketball coaches
There are not many things that transfer from the gridiron to the basketball court. But using a script at the start of a game, quarter or half is something used in football that basketball coaches should consider. As basketball coaches, we pride ours...
July 13, 2016
Dealing with parents and playing time issues
Parents and the problems they cause due to their children's playing time is the No. 1 issue coaches face. While the vast majority of parents are good positive and supportive, the issue of playing time and why their child is not a starter is a consta...
Injury management should not involve complete restriction of all activity but should facilitate healing, restoration of motion and function, and maintenance of cardiovascular fitness.
SportsMed: Dealing with overuse injuries
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Overuse injuries are common in a variety of sports. Here are some thin...