Description:

I worked as a basketball coach for NBC (northwest basketball camps) camps for both individual players and teams during the summer months. Several hundred players come to NBC camps each week and I had responsibility for 15-25 of these players assigned to me as a team. I spent 8-10 hrs per day working with the players in a variety of settings. I taught basketball skills and drills to larger groups of 80 to 100 players as well as individual instruction with my own team. Throughout each week I led my team through traditional 5 on 5 tournaments and coached my players in a variety of other challenges including defensive drills, 3 on 3 tournaments and shooting contests.

How I got the idea / found the employment:

I really enjoy playing basketball and I actually was a player at NBC camps long before I decided to work there. After I finished high school I thought about pursuing a coaching career and I wanted a chance to get acquainted with the field. Coaching basketball in the summer seemed like a really good fit for me so I decided to give it a try.

Challenges I faced, and how I overcame them:

There were a few challenges to overcome when I started coaching. My two biggest challenges were learning to be confident during coaching and becoming a vocal leader. As a coach your players need you to be not only confident in them but confident in yourself. It is often the difference between winning and losing. I realized that if I was going to be a good coach I needed to be both confident and vocal in my approach to basketball. I watched other coaches that I admired and tried to emulate what they did. By focusing on the things that I could do well as a coach I became more confident in my ability. I realized that being a vocal leader doesn’t mean you have to be negative and so I tried to build my players throughout their games which in turn helped us to win.

What I learned:

I learned that it takes a lot to be a good coach. You need the confidence of a leader but also the wisdom of teacher. Attributes from both of these are called upon day in and day out through times of preparation and times of testing. I learned that coaching is a rewarding profession and one that I would recommend for anyone with a love for the game.