YOUTH BASKETBALL COACHING TIPS: MOTIVATION

by Stanley Kowalewski

Youth Basketball Coaching Tips: Motivation

Coaching youth basketball is both rewarding and challenging. Teaching skills and drills is one thing; teaching your team how to stay motivated and focused is another altogether. Here are three tips on how to keep your team motivated:

Youth Basketball Coaching Tips: Motivation

1. Be a role model for motivation. As a coach, you have a responsibility to display the behavior you want to teach. Always remain positive and put an emphasis on having fun. Verbalize and reiterate what you expect from your players.

2. Verbal rewards are effective both on and off the court. People respond well to compliments, so make sure you praise your players when you see them working hard or improving. Try offering verbal rewards to players in front of other players; public praise further boosts motivation.

3. Teach your team how to visualize desired results. Visualization is an effective means for athletes in any sport. Before each game or practice, spend a few minutes teaching your players how to focus and how to imagine themselves performing their goals.

About the author

The Managing Director of The Argonaut Group in Pawleys Island, South Carolina, Stanley Kowalewski volunteers as a basketball coach at Waccamaw Middle School. In addition, Kowalewski is the President of the South Carolina Gators Basketball Club, where he also works as a volunteer coach.