Coaches Corner

Abstract: I've created this section of the website to directly collaborate with my youth coaches and to improve relationships with basketball for players at a younger age. On this page you will find instructional drills that we use at the high school level. You will also find videos of our players doing these drills to help you become a better basketball player and/or coach. If you have any questions, please contact Coach Sonnentag.

Research:

• Simon Sinek Ted Talk - How Great Leaders Inspire Action

  • In this Ted Talk, Simon Sinek showed me how great leaders start with the "why". The "why" of my project is creating and improving relationship with basketball for players at a younger age. Everything about this website is based upon that vision.

• 4 Steps for Creating Stronger, More Collaborative Teacher Teams

  • Our basketball program has not been a collaborative team. We have been disjointed in our instruction, common vocabulary, and we haven't had a shared mission. The steps in this article helped me put together Action steps for the creation of this website.

    • Praise the Effort, not the Achievement - We often look at the scoreboard at the end of the game to determine if we were successful. We need to praise the process and not the results.

    • Ensure Teachers feel valued - Leaders and educators thrive in an environment where there is mutual respect. To put it simply, I need to make my coaches feel valued so they stay motivated. I can do this through effective feedback and celebrating small successes.

• National Youth Sports Strategy - Chapter 7(pdf)

  • Quality coaching promotes positive youth development. Participation numbers locally and nationally are in a decline for all sports, not just basketball.

Timeline & Action Steps

Summer 2021 - Numbers in our basketball program have been linear from year to year, but show a decline within the season, especially at the high school level. This told me there was a disconnect between what was expected and taught throughout our program. I needed a platform to communicate, collaborate, and create a positive culture for our student athletes to stay motivated both in-season and out of season.

Fall 2021 -

• Website created. Consulted school IT department to help with basic construction and flow.

• "Coaches Corner" section created with links to drills and descriptions for coaches and players.

Winter 2021-22 -

• Videos uploaded of practice drills throughout season through Arcadia Basketball YouTube channel.

• Communicated with youth coaches about creation of website; got input on what they felt was important

Spring 2022 -

• Website published

• Summer camp information page created

  • Attendance at Summer Camp - Survey

  • Site interactions: YouTube Views - 15 views in the last month (see chart below)

Future Implications - As this site continues to grow and adapt to the needs of our basketball program, more accessible content will be available. This website meets the needs of our program and makes a difference in the development of our youth players and coaches. The next step involves tracking participation data in the coming years to see how big of an impact it is making. I will also be in communication with my youth coaches and parents to find out how they interact with the website and what parts they find useful and suggestions they have.