Playing basketball as a team is not an easy feat, it requires hard work, discipline and desire. I have been a coach for several years and I believe that the team’s ball starts from the top. The coach is the team leader. Players play for the coach and watch his every move. Coaches’ actions speak louder than words.

After the coach, the team play trickles down to the parents. It is a very good idea to have great parents on the team. Usually, if you have wonderful, disciplined parents, it will rub off on the child. Team synergy cannot be achieved without a great coach and great parents. There must be discipline, with the coach, the parents and the players.

In reality only the players are on the court playing. The coach and parents are on the sidelines and in the stands. Over the years I have coached many different players. I have learned that some things can be taught, while many things cannot be taught. When you have a player who wants to walk into the gym, strutting around in their basketball warm-ups, Air Jordans, and fancy team uniforms, you might have a problem.

Team basketball is We, not “I”. Your players will have to be rewritten from I to We. Your boys or girls must truly believe in the unity of the team. If they don’t score a point the entire game, but they rushed in, made great passes, rebounds and steals, they should be commended. That’s team ball.

Over the years, I’ve had a few parents who made my job difficult. When his son receives the basketball, the father shouts (take it to the end or throw the ball). Now the boy has a dilemma. Do I listen to the coach or do I listen to my dad? This is a big conflict for them and can lead to indecision.

Having team laws can cure this problem. Tell the parents that during the game the child should listen to the coach. Parents should not tell their child what to do. Instead, he recommends that they encourage, motivate, and encourage. It is the positive thoughts, words and actions that must be installed in the team. With the foundation established, your team will be ready to explode on the scene.

During practice, your team wins and loses together. If a child has a bad attitude or doesn’t listen, the whole team will go upstairs together. This, I think, builds team unity. And eventually the boy will find out, as he sees how his actions are affecting everyone.

There must be team laws, written and held accountable by the team. Because the players wrote the laws and the consequences involved in breaking the laws, ownership begins to take shape. Our team has few laws. You must run from station to station, not walk. When two whistles are blown, they are to run to the baseline just below the basketball hoop and line up. During a water break there should be no shooting. We encourage each other, we motivate each other. All players who are a cancer to the team are eliminated. If there is a problem, it is discussed. These are just some of the rules.

Once these rules are established and implemented, the team begins to take shape. There will still be some problems initially, but over time the team concept will take hold.

I believe that a team plays with passion, discipline and motivation. They are there to give their best on the pitch. There has to be a great preparation, to become a great team. There are many basketball training aids available. But, proficiency comes with constant practice and improving your foundational skills.

A great team offense to run is called the Read and React offense. There is none better. This is team ball at best. It’s an ongoing offense that goes through many different layers, all with rules. This will provide a great basketball team.

There will be some difficult obstacles to overcome even for two years. But over time the team’s attitude will win. You will be beating teams with far superior talent.

This is the end of the first part of the basketball team.