Everyone has "pet peeves." Every day online I see youth coaches asking what's the "best offense" for their ten or twelve year-olds. They're not asking about player development. They prioritize competing to win youth games.
Winning counts. But individual and team skill development matters more than winning in developmental programs.
Think back to your youth basketball experience. There wasn't enough quality instruction. If you're old, Internet video didn't exist. It wasn't anybody's 'fault'. I remember few games or our record. That doesn't matter.
What matters?
- Teach fundamentals. Basketball is a game of separation. Help players separate with and without the ball via cutting and screening.
- Movement kills defense. Teach players how to set up cuts, when to cut (the ball has to see you), and to face cut and back cut.
- Teach how to set and use screens. The screener is the second cutter.
- Teach "basketball moves" of separation footwork, like the jab series, wing series, box drills, and so forth.
- Teach against defense - 1-on-1, 2-on-2, and 3-on-3 small sided games.
- Share Kirby Schepp videos of fundamental movements in confined space.
- Teach Billy Donovan's "95" how to play without the ball, the 95 percent of the game that players (not point guards) don't have the ball.
Teach players to play and they have a chance to succeed at higher levels when it matters more.
Lagniappe. Finding competition is essential to development. Playing against "C League" competition won't prepare you to face "A" players. That often means taking a licking.
“If you’re the best player in the gym, then you need to find a new gym.’” - Cooper Flagg
— Hoop Herald (@TheHoopHerald) November 10, 2025
A lot of kids can benefit from this
(Via @BenGolliver 🎥)
pic.twitter.com/KdeWaxeK3r
