How not to get your head bashed in...

[wizard]

Originally posted by Hawks Coach
First, I'm betting on the anteater, not the Bosox fan.

Where you can go wrong is if you use short-term strategies to win that hinder long-term player development. If you develop players properly, you will win, but it will take a little mor etime sometimes. Over time, you and your players will be more successful. It doesn't have to be a choice between wins and development.

Coach,
My point entirely. Kids want to win. Parents want to win, as well. But winning 4th grade basketball could mean you have one player who can make a steal then make the layup. But if that player doesn't learn how to use his teammates in the halfcourt, how to create his own shot, work with teammates to beat the press, the 4th grade championship is his highlight.

Coach,
Where I'm at, I see a push by parents to play more and more games? Do you see the same? I'm totally against this. Bad individual habits and team mistakes get imbedded when a team plays 3, 4 or more games without practices to fix problems. This is one reason that I've backed off 15+ years of coaching (I still have my daughter's team) and more officiating.