Customer Reviews

Coaching Youth Basketball: The Guide for Coaches & Parents (Betterway Coaching Kids Series)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

A woderful book. Short (156 pp.) and highly readable, McCarthy makes it all very simple. McCarthy covers the fundamentals (footwork, dribbling, rebounding, etc.) but intersperses his text with invaluable practical advice -- e.g., "I always say to drive as close to a defender as possible. If he reacts and moves back into that lane, he will commit a foul." There is also a great emphasis on team play, and how to encourage kids to pass and play a team game. I have played and coached basketball for twenty five years. While this book covers enough basics for a novice, it also contains many valuable insights that I use in coaching a 12 and under youth program today.

This book does a good job of covering the basics, including the fundemental of shooting, dribbling, passing, pick and roll, give and go, fakes,etc. with good photos. Good section on defense fundamentals too. There are also sections on offense and defense (both man-to-man & zone) with diagrams. There are sections for coaches including running a practice complete with a check list. A good section for parents is added complete with motivational phrases.

I have coached kids (boys and girls) in basketball of ages 4-12, this book provided the best information on what to do and what to expect. Particularly, the part of patience, repetition/reinforcement, and the fundalmentals. The recommended offensive plays (post interchange, wheel, shuffle, etc.) and defensive strategies (whether man-to-man or zone) are excellent. Additionally, the chapters on vision, motivational phrases, and running a practice are worth reading. The author recommends the use of parents during practice time, called "stations" to maximize proper skill development. This book is a must for those interested in coaching youth basketball.

Great tool for first time coaches. I'm coaching 7 year olds that never played basketball before and this is helping me coordinate my practice and game plans.

I was asked to coach my son's basketball team for the YMCA. Not being a big fan of the game, I needed a good introduction and skill fundamentals for third and fourth graders.

The book covered all aspect for someone new at coaching basketball.

I've read many basketball books. This book, along with Coaching Basketball Successfully by Morgan Wooten, are my favorites.

He covers all the individual basics that your player needs to works on like ball-handling, layups, jumpshots, passing, defense, and rebounding. These are things they need to do on their own, else they won't develop the skill.

He covers team offense and defense. He provides simple basic concepts. These are applicable to recreational leagues that have limited practice time.

The book by McCarthy is probably the worst sports book ever writtne. I had no idea the guy is a lawyer and never plaeyd sports. that explained the extreme trivialities covered in the book and the lack of insight concerning the game. He spends moret ime covering what he calls little differences between girls and boys. He even makes a case for girls and boys playing on the same team, perhaps professionally whihc is clearly absurd for anone who has played the game. McCarthy's digram of the basketball court is horrible and difficult to construe. the msot important point,t he distance from the floor to the rim is not even provided. The drills, all drills are simply regugitated from other sources without freshness or improvisation. The high school coach of Pete Maravick would love this book as it is so trivial that freshman in high school would know everythin in this book. If a person has to use this book to coach then DO NOT COACH as you are already incompetent. Some specifics: McCarthy says short jump shots get blocked because they are shot close to the hoop. No one shots a short jump shot 4-5 feet from the hoop except centers and forwards underneath the basket. He says the hook shot is a big players shot. Ever hear of Micharl Jordan, Pistol Pete, Bob Cousy?? Dribbling is done with the palm; really..fingers control the ball fella. take a look at some players. In essence, the book is filled with such nonsense. If I could give it a negative 5 stars I would. Then this guy writes about football, and other sports. It is hard to belive the publisher would print this garbage...I sent it back.