COACHES HUB

Coaching Resources

Great coaches are always learning. Whether you're coaching your first 2nd-grade team or preparing an experienced Athletic team for the season, we've gathered resources to help you plan practices, teach fundamentals, understand the game, and create a positive experience for your players.

Planning a Great Practice

START HERE

Come prepared with a plan and give players as many opportunities as possible to touch the basketball. A simple practice might include:

Get players moving while incorporating a basketball whenever possible.

Warm-Up & Movement

Build confidence dribbling with both hands and changing direction.

Ball Handling

Teach players how to move the basketball and play together.

Passing & Catching

Shooting & Finishing

Develop proper fundamentals close to the basket before gradually increasing distance.

Team
Concepts

Introduce age-appropriate offensive and defensive concepts.

Competition & Games

Finish with small games or scrimmage situations where players can apply what they've learned.

Coaching Education Resources

We've gathered trusted basketball education resources covering player development, practice planning, coaching philosophy, communication, and more.

Breakthrough Basketball

Cramer
Basketball

Easy-to-follow basketball instruction featuring drills, skill development, shooting, ball handling, footwork, and offensive concepts.

Get Ideas

Basketball for
Coaches

A comprehensive coaching library with drills, strategies, practice ideas, and age-appropriate guidance for developing youth players.

Learn

Coach Allen Basketball

Visual coaching tutorials covering drills, plays, offensive concepts, and practical ideas coaches can use in practices and games.

Explore

Knowing the rules helps coaches teach the game correctly—and helps make game day better for everyone.

Little Miami teams participate in the Cincinnati Premier Youth Basketball League (CPYBL). Coaches are responsible for understanding the current rules for their team's grade level and division.

Rules of the Game

Explore

Coaches should pay particular attention to age- and division-specific rules involving playing time, defense, pressing, game timing, free throw distance, and other developmental modifications.

When you're unsure about a rule, ask before game day.

Your players will take their cues from you.

Stay composed. Encourage your team. Respect officials. Treat opponents well. Focus on the next play.

Coaches set the tone for players—and often for the parents in the stands.

How you respond teaches your players far more than any play you draw on a clipboard.

Game Day

Some of the most important things you'll teach this season won't show up in the box score.

Teach your players to:

Work hard. Effort is always within their control.
Be coachable. Listen, learn, and keep improving.
Be a great teammate. Celebrate each other's success.
Respond to mistakes. The next play matters more than the last one.
Respect the game. Respect teammates, opponents, coaches, officials, and facilities.

If players leave your team as better teammates and more confident young people, you've had a successful season.

Coaching Beyond Basketball

Need help?

You're not coaching alone. Reach out to Little Miami Youth Basketball Board members or experienced LMYBA coaches when you have questions, need advice, or are looking for additional resources.

We're all working toward the same goal: creating a great basketball experience for our kids.

Contact LYMBA