When coaching youth basketball, the goal isn’t just to win games—it’s to build habits, teach fundamentals, and help young players fall in love with the game.

Let’s be honest—coaching a smaller team comes with challenges. You walk into the gym, and the other squad has 6’6” players in the paint, length on the wings, and a clear physical edge.

Great basketball players don’t just react—they anticipate. They don’t just see the defender in front of them—they see the help, the cutter, the next pass. They play chess, not checkers.

You can run the best drills, call the smartest plays, and break down film until midnight—but if your players don’t take responsibility for their actions, your team will never reach its potential.