Coaching Girls' Basketball »

Sylvia Hatchell has been a college head

coach for 29 years and won the NCAA national championship

in 1994. She is an inductee into the Women’s Basketball

Hall of Fame.

"If you're serious about coaching girls' basketball, Coach Hatchell's book is a must-read."—Dean Smith, the winningest coach in NCAA men's basketball history

"Coach Hatchell covers everything you need to know about coaching girls' basketball."—Betty Jaynes, CEO Emeritus, Women's Basketball Coaches Association

OK, you’ve got the clipboard and the whistle, you’ve entered the gym, and twelve eager young faces turn to you. Now what? Even if you know little or nothing about the sport and even less about coaching, Coaching Girls’ Basketball will lead you step by step through a successful season, from meeting your players and organizing your team, through teaching fundamentals, to making crucial game decisions.

Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame coach Sylvia Hatchell helps you master the skills, drills, plays, and game-day tactics that will make you a great coach. She also helps you cope with important issues like treating players equally regardless of ability, unhappy parents, helping all your players experience growth and success, and recognizing the crucial differences between coaching girls and boys. Coach Hatchell shows you how to:

• Prepare for your first practice and first game
• Match drills to ability
• Promote good habits, concentration, and teamwork
• Learn what's unique about coaching girls from age 6 to 14
• Make practices fun, effective, and rewarding
• Improve your players and your team
• Reach all your players
• Be the coach your players will remember

"Learn from the best. Coach Hatchell knows basketball."—Charlotte Smith-Taylor, forward, Washington Mystics; 1995 ESPN National Player of the Year

Sylvia Hatchell has been a college head coach for 30 years, and her University of North Carolina Tar Heel teams have won five Atlantic Coast Conference titles and the 1994 NCAA National Championship. Sylvia was inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2004.

Jeff Thomas, a long-time writer and editor, coaches high school and AAU girls’ basketball in Richmond, Virginia.

Sylvia Hatchell has been a college head

coach for 29 years and won the NCAA national championship

in 1994. She is an inductee into the Women’s Basketball

Hall of Fame.

Introduction: Now That I’m a Coach, What's Next? The Coach’s Role Developing a Philosophy and a Style What Are Your Goals? Coaching Girls Versus Coaching Boys How to Use This BookPart One: Coaching 101: The Coach's Start-Up Kit1. Preparing for the Season About the Game Setting Up the Season Starting Up How to Run Effective Practices2. Teaching the Fundamentals Warming Up Footwork Pivoting Catching the Ball Dribbling Passing Shooting Rebounding Getting Open: Moves without the Ball Moves with the Ball Screens Post Play Handling Traps Individual Defensive Skills3. Teaching Team Offense Principles of Team Offense Basic Plays Man-to-Man Offense: Continuities Man-to-Man Offense: Set Plays Zone Offense Fast-Break Offense Out-of-Bounds Plays Press Break Last-Second Plays Opening Jump Ball4. Teaching Team Defense Half-Court Defense Full-Court Defense Defending Screens5. The Season Is Underway . . . Now What? Handling Your Players Motivating Your Players Building Team Unity Injuries Dealing with Parents6. Game Time Mind-Set and Expectations Pregame Routine Choosing a Starting Five Substitutions Time-Outs Halftime Statistics Assistants Creating the Best Game Plan Strategies and Tactics Postgame Routine The Season Is Over . . . Now What?Part Two: Drills: The Foundation for Development and Success Footwork Drills Conditioning Drills Stationary Dribbling Drills Other Dribbling Drills Passing Drills Moving without the Ball Drills Shooting Drills Defensive Drills Shell Drills Rebounding Drills Fast-Break DrillsAppendix Sample Tryout Evaluation Sheet Sample End-of-Tryouts Letter Sample Player-Parent Handout Sample Master Practice Plan Sample Daily Practice Plan Sample Stat Sheet Sample Scorebook Sheet Sample Game Sheet Referee Signals GlossaryIndexAcknowledgmentsAbout the Authors