I’ve been coaching for fourteen years overall and for ATX Ballers Basketball Club for the last two years. I include basketball history in my coaching routine.
Coaching includes the obvious topics, but the history of the game isn’t always one of them. As I see it, to really enjoy whatever you are doing, you need to know history, and it amazes me how little youth know about the history of the game in which they seek to learn and excel.
For example, I ask them about Michael Jordan. Who did he play for? How many championship rings did he win? Because I live and teach in the Houston area, I’ll talk with my players about Hakeem Olajuwon. I also talk about how the NBA and WNBA started, about Larry Bird, what a great player Bill Russell was and how many rings he won with the Celtics (it’s 11, by the way). I also talk about Wilt Chamberlin and how he scored 100 points in one game, and how Cheryl Miller did that five times during her high school career.
The players appreciate learning about the history of the game, and I’ve found that many parents do, too, often surprised when their sons or daughters bring up basketball history at home.
Sharing history with young players elevates the game in their minds. They feel pride about being part of something that’s bigger than themselves. They love learning about it, too. So, if your coach doesn’t include history in what he or she is teaching, you can fill that gap.
