Coaching

"My coaching? I want to be known just as a guy who did his job. I have no great aspirations. When you finish coaching you finish coaching. But I would hate to have someone think I never did my job well. The thing is that I always have this idea that if I get arrested for being a professional basketball coach, I just want to make sure they have a lot of evidence. " -Jack Donohue, legendary basketball coach.

Thank you for taking an interest in coaching.  Coaching can be one of the most rewarding and enriching experiences someone can have.  A good coach can also be someone that can help have a lasting positive impact on a child’s life.  Most often, children play sports for the love of the game and to develop a myriad of athletic and social skills.  For many youth, winning is an added bonus to having a good time and feeling safe and comfortable.  Coaches need to be careful not put too much focus on winning and ensure that every member of the team is engaged and working towards a goal.

Emily, 11, said a good coach is "someone who is firm, but not strict, who respects our privacy, and feelings and teaches us good things." If she's a coach someday, she says: "I would encourage everyone, treat everyone equally and make sure everyone comes to training, but if they didn't I wouldn't be harsh."

Cobi, 10, said a good coach would "be nice even if the team wins or loses. Still be happy, the game is supposed to be fun." The best lesson he learned from a coach is: "If I lose, it does not mean I am no good or lousy. And I do not need to get mad or upset if I lose." If Cobi was a coach he'd let everyone play, even the players who are not the best. "That's how they will become better."

Everyone remembers their favourite coach.  This person is often someone we may still keep in touch with or at least feel influenced by.  As coaches, we are lucky to have stood on the shoulders of giants as we teach and explain the game to another generation of eager athletes.   While we acknowledge the successes and best aspects of what our coaches taught us, it is important to build upon that foundation using up-to-date coaching techniques and methods.

Ontario Basketball, with Canada Basketball and Sport Canada will continue to be on the forefront of developing and administering cutting edge coaching information and resources.  Please use this section as a guide to coaching and don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.

“It is hard work to be an elite athlete or coach. Not everyone is cut out make it. The problem as I see it is that we have watered down the meaning of elite. Coaches and players want to be called elite without having the effort required to achieve this standard. Coaches and players at the highest level need to produce wins. Coaches and players at the development level need to develop. Coaches and players at the active for life level need to remember it is about recreation. Our focus on competition at the development and recreational levels has greatly reduced our ability to develop players who can produce wins at the highest level or enjoy a recreational experience”. – Mike MacKay, manager coach education and development.

Important points from the Coaches Manual:

3.3   Coach Contract
All coaches signed to a team roster form and a member of Ontario Basketball must sign a coach contract. The coach contract provides guidelines to abide by to ensure a positive development experience for all athletes they coach. It is the club’s responsibility to distribute and collect contracts from all coaches within their club. All contracts are to remain on file with the club. 
 

Coaches Behaviour Guidelines
Definition: Anyone who particiaptes as a teacher, leader or instructor to train, educate or motivate athletes to compete in an athletic activity is a coach.

Goal Statement: Any coach participating in Ontario Basketball sanctioned events will be expected to adhere to Ontario Basketball’s principles of Fair Play and the Coaches’ Behavioural Guidelines.

Action:  Always model mature behaviour consistent with that of Ontario Basketball’s Guidelines for Behaviour.
• Be a leader, a positive influence and role model.
• Reward effort, Fair Play and commitment.
• Recognize and respect the differences in your athletes.
• Demonstrate respect for all individuals involved in the game.
• Communicate in a positive and rational manner.
• Respect and coach within the spirit of the game.
• Always attempt to contribute to the betterment of the game.

To download the complete Coaches Manual, please go to the Resources and Links page by clicking here.