Coaching Youth Basketball: A Baffled Parent's Guide [Paperback]

David Faucher (Author)

Book Description

Series: Baffled Parent's Guides | Publication Date: August 24, 1999

David G. Faucher shares his successful "full-participation model" of coaching youth basketball in this Baffled Parent's Guide. Faucher, the head coach of the men's basketball team at Dartmouth College, covers creating good habits, offensive skills and defensive basics, dealing with parents, first aid and safety, and game rules.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

"An excellent guide to teaching kids about the game. There's something here for veteran coaches as well as beginners."--Larry Bird

"Whatever your coaching credentials, your greatest responsibility is to give each player a positive learning experience."--David Faucher

"Here's a book I would recommend to all youth coaches."--Jill Kearney, recreation director, Norwich, Vermont

"I like Coach Faucher's philosophy, his approach to coaching kids, and his enthusiasm."--Jeffrey Thomas, youth coach, Richmond, Virginia

"Easy to follow and comprehensive. A clear and inspiring picture of how to play basketball and how to coach basketball."--Tom Bertocci, youth coach, Thomaston, Maine

From the Back Cover

"An excellent guide to teaching kids about the game. There's something here for veteran coaches as well as beginners."--­­Larry Bird

"Whatever your teaching credentials, your greatest responsibility is to give each player a positive learning experience."--David Faucher

Coach. You thought you were just going to sign up your child for the youth league. Now here you are, a newly anointed coach. You didn't ask for it, but it happened anyway. Now you need help.

Don't despair. This complete guidebook will not only get you through it but will help you become the coach you'd like to be--the coach who can give your kids the sports experience they deserve. You've already taken a big step: you said "yes" to this important commitment. Congratulations. You'll have a great time, and Dave Faucher is here to help.

• Survive your first practice and first game
• Win over problem players--and parents
• Know what to do in game situations
• Reach all your players
• Work with girls and boys
• Match your drills and strategies to age and ability
• Make it fun and rewarding
• Be the coach you never had
• Generate enthusiasm
• Improve your players and your team

"Here's a book I would recommend to all youth coaches." --­­Jill Kearney, recreation director, Norwich, Vermont

"I like Coach Faucher's philosophy, his approach to coaching kids, and his enthusiasm." --­­Jeffrey Thomas, youth coach, Richmond, Virginia

"Easy to follow and comprehensive. A clear and inspiring picture of how to play basketball and how to coach basketball." --­­Tom Bertocci, youth coach, Thomaston, Maine

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: International Marine/Ragged Mountain Press; 1 edition (August 24, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0071346074
• ISBN-13: 978-0071346078
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.4 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #70,907 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #10 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Coaching > Children's Sports
  • #61 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Basketball

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

109 of 112 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A lifesaver for some and lots of ideas for the rest., February 2, 2000

By 

David C. Haraway "Blue Mojo" (Colorado Springs) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Coaching Youth Basketball: A Baffled Parent's Guide (Paperback)

I was drafted to coach a my son's basketball team a few months ago. An experienced coach, I'm not. It was an absolute delight to have a friend suggest this book. It provides everything from a great youth coaching philosophy to all the Xs and Os I could ever need. Equally important is that it provides offensive and defensive schemes that the team could understand and remember. Bottom line: these kids aren't the athletes they will be someday, but they have begun to understand how to play the game intelligently, that they are more successful as a team than as individuals, and they support one another in games and in practices. There is a David-and-Goliath element to their play now. They are usually over-matched physically, but they manage to pull most games out at the end.

This book will be great for your team and, as time goes on, for the game of basketball and the kids who play it, too. Coach Faucher really knows how to capture the kids' attention.

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a perfect book for new coaches, July 12, 2001

By 

Anthony "mrwhy" (San Gabriel Valley, CA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Coaching Youth Basketball: A Baffled Parent's Guide (Paperback)

i decided that i wanted to coach basketball at my school, i wasn't sure what i should do, how to do it, etc. this book is a real good start. it talks about what skills kids need to be taught, it gives drills on how to teach those skills, it gives you sample practice plans that show you how to organize the drills, etc. it even gives you some plays for inbounding the ball, etc. all in all the book has everything a first year coach would want. a small warning however, this book is designed for first year coaches. you are not going to find how to run a triangle offense, or how to beat a pressure defense. but if you are looking for a book to start you off, then this is the one.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Great Instructional Guide, March 18, 2001

By 

Katerina Canyon "poetkat" (Marina del Rey, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Coaching Youth Basketball: A Baffled Parent's Guide (Paperback)

When I started reading this book, I knew absolutely nothing about basketball. I was asked to coach because the girls' league in my town desperately needed a coach, and I decided to give it a try.

This book was very helpful inasmuch as it gave me a guideline on the skills to emphasize in basketball. I also appreciated how the book pretty much guided me on everything from dealing with parents to what strategies to use in the game.

I can't say that at the end of the season I had myself a championship team, but I did have a bunch of girls with highly improved basketball skills and a great confidence in their abilities.