On-Demand Courses

1 - Youth Development Framework

This course imparts teaching techniques and fundamental principles for all levels. Coaches will gain a better understanding of life skills taught through basketball, and how to develop their coaching philosophy based on core values & standards. The course concludes with an overview of the Player Development Model, which outlines the four levels and eight skills in the USA Basketball Curriculum, along with a progressive coaching methodology for proper skill development and a player development pathway that explains the basketball journey. Features videos with Natasha Adair, Jennie Baranczyk, Jay Bilas, John Calipari, George Raveling and Jay Wright.

2 - Building Your Program Culture

This course is centered around culture. Culture is a fundamental aspect of coaching as it defines programs and sets the tone for practice and game attitudes and expectations. In this course, coaches will learn to define culture through the four C's - choices, communication, comfort zone and competition. This course also will explain how to develop a positive culture by understanding players, building trust and utilizing positive reinforcement. Practical tips on how to spread the established positive culture also are shared, as well as how culture ties into being a leader as the coach. Features videos with Steve Donahue, Jon Gordon, Joe Mantegna, Don Showalter and Heather Stewart.

3 - Enhancing Your Leadership Skills as a Coach

This course ties together the essential skills for any leader. Coaches will learn how the foundation for leadership centers around effective coach-player relationships, which are accomplished through holistic player development mentally, emotionally, socially and physically. Learn how to build trust and respect with players, the importance of having sincere conversations and positive ways to build genuine relationships. This course also highlights key qualities of great leaders and great coaches and practical actions you can take as a coach to demonstrate positive leadership within your team. Videos featuring Clark Kellogg, George Raveling, Jay Bilas and Fran Fraschilla.

Video - Don Showalter on Top 10 Mistakes Coaches Make

2023 Cleveland Coach Academy Speaker and USA Basketball Director of Coach Development Don Showalter on the top 10 mistakes coaches make including taking a bad job, too much complaining to officials, and excessive talking at practice.

4 - Building Your Practice Plans

This course teaches coaches and administrators to plan effective practice sessions throughout a season, regardless of the level of the team. Topics include short and long-term goals, time and clock management, organization, components needed in each practice and imprinting the coach's DNA into practice planning. This course includes a template for your own practices and example practice plans at all four levels. Features videos with Troy Baker and Joanna Bernabei-McNamee.

5 - Coaching at the Introductory & Foundational Levels

This course is for coaches who work with youth at the Introductory or Foundational Levels of the USA Basketball Player Development Curriculum. Typically, these players are new or learning the game and between the ages of 3-13. This course will explain the progressive coaching philosophy critical for proper skill development. Key characteristics of Introductory and Foundational Level players are expanded upon, along with notes on appropriate equipment and fundamental principles of teaching offense to youth. This course also teaches practical techniques for building practice plans at these two levels with templates. Features videos with Matt King and Ras Vanderloo.

6 - Introductory Shooting Fundamentals

This course is intended for coaches teaching the fundamentals of shooting to Introductory and Foundational Level players. The course helps coaches frame their philosophy on how to teach shooting, before getting into progressive steps to teach the skill. Coaches will learn how to break down the shot into smaller elements of form shooting, as well as proper technique for a layup and footwork drills to make a shot live. This course will help a coach progress a player from the mechanics of hand placement and form, to shooting live from a pass. Features videos with John Calipari, Barry Hecker, Anne Renninger, Dave Schlabaugh, Don Showalter and Tara VanDerveer.

Video - Don Showalter on Developing an Offense for Any Team

Dallas Coach Academy Speaker and USA Basketball Director of Coach Development Don Showalter on how to make your practices competitive and teaching the eight skills from the USA Basketball Player Development Curriculum. He demonstrates drills and concept to teach an offensive progression from 2-on-0 to 3-on-0, 3-on-3 and 4-on-4.

7 - Developing an Introductory Defense

In this course coaches will learn how to teach the basic fundamentals of individual and team defense. Beginning with defensive form, the course breaks down the defensive stance, the close out and varying defensive positions and responsibilities on and off the basketball. The course progresses to the half-court team defensive concepts of help side and help-and-recover defense, as well as drills to teach defensive footwork, slides and guarding the dribbler. Features videos with Alex Lang, DeLisha Milton-Jones, Don Showalter and Mark Slessinger.

8 - Teaching Through 2x2 & 3x3

This course highlights short-sided drills and competition, explaining the philosophy, benefits and practical incorporation of 2x2 and 3x3 into team practices for any level. Players benefit from short-sided play with increased repetitions, more decision-making opportunities and by practicing every skill and every position. Coaches will learn multiple breakdown drills featuring 2x0, 2x2, 3x0 and 3x3 to build up offensive and defensive skills as players learn the game. Features videos with Ed Hall, Joe Lewandowski, Don Showalter, Mark Slessinger and Sharman White.

Video - Jay Demings on Implementing Olympic 3x3

Boston Coach Academy Speaker and USA Basketball 3x3 National Team Director, Jay Demings on implementing Olympic 3x3 basketball, including rule highlights, strategies, benefits and a demonstration.

9 - Coaching at the Advanced & Performance Levels

The course is for coaches working with youth at the Advanced or Performance Levels of the USA Basketball Player Development Curriculum. Typically, players have ample experience on school and club teams at high levels and are between the ages 12-18+. This course explains the progressive coaching philosophy for proper skill development, with coaching tips that include holding players accountable to the things they can control and how to coach players to their full potential. Also teaches techniques for building practice plans with templates of early, mid and late season plans with drills. Features videos with Brandon Osborne, Don Showalter and LaChina Robinson.

Video - Carol Callan on the Journey to Gold

Las Vegas Coach Academy Speaker and former USA Basketball Women's National Team Director, Carol Callan, on the journey to a gold medal, whether that is literal at the Olympics or in regards to you as a coach. In terms of a pursuit of excellence, Callan speaks on core values, three things that motivate players and the qualities of a champion.

10 - Advanced Shooting Skills & Fundamentals

This course is intended for coaches teaching the fundamentals of shooting to Advanced & Performance Level players. The course helps coaches frame their philosophy on how to teach shooting, before breaking down key actions to developing effective shooting form. Coaches will learn drills to teach and improve on shooting technique and the follow-through motion, as well as varying footwork options to catch and shoot. This course also provides a variety of competitive shooting drills to incorporate into practices and explains the importance of adding competition to drills. Features videos with Sam Allen, Drew Hanlen, Dave Schlabaugh, Tara VanDerveer and Sharman White.

11 - Developing an Advanced Defense

This course is designed for coaches working with advanced level players and focuses on the key defensive principles to perform effectively as a team. On-ball defensive principles addressed include the defensive stance, close outs and obligations when guarding from varying positions, as well as common defensive scenarios and strategies for guarding the ball screen. This course also explores transition defensive principles and multiple effort defensive drills to incorporate into practices. Features videos with Frank Allocco, Carla Berube, Howard Moore, Scott Spinelli and Mike Thibault.

Video - Don Showalter on Movement & 3-on-3 for Skill Development

Orlando Coach Academy Speaker and USA Basketball Director of Coach Development Don Showalter walks through drills and concepts on how to teach spacing, movement, the five aspects of teaching and playing 3-on-3 for skill development.

12 - High Percentage & Efficient Shooting

This course focuses on three specific elements of the shooting skill: how to finish shots from the paint, how to use a pull-up jump shot and how to add competition to shooting drills. Coaches will learn drills to teach quick finishes of layups, power shots and floaters and the key principles for these finishes. This course also will explain a jump shot and how to teach this variation to players using progressive teaching. Finally, the course addresses the benefits players receive from adding competition to drills and provides examples of drills that use time and score. Features videos with Sam Allen, Drew Hanlen, Tina Langley, Sue Phillips, Tara VanDerveer and Sharman White.