Program Checklist
1. Program Leadership & Administration
☐ Establish program mission, vision, and philosophy.
☐ Define success beyond wins and losses.
☐ Develop short- and long-term program goals.
☐ Establish program-wide expectations and standards.
☐ Coordinate with athletic director and administration.
☐ Understand school, conference, and state regulations.
☐ Develop an annual basketball calendar.
☐ Coordinate facilities, gym schedules, and equipment.
☐ Establish a program budget.
☐ Maintain program records and historical information.
Southside Hoops: The Titan Way, Program Records, Team Expectations, Titan Timeline, etc.
2. Coaching Staff Leadership
☐ Recruit and select quality assistant coaches.
☐ Define responsibilities for each staff member.
☐ Establish a common coaching philosophy.
☐ Coordinate varsity, JV, reserve, and freshman programs.
☐ Conduct regular staff meetings.
☐ Develop and mentor younger coaches.
☐ Establish consistent teaching terminology.
☐ Evaluate staff performance and effectiveness.
Self-Reflection Questions: Why do I coach? Why do I coach the way I coach? What does it feel like to be coached by me? How do I define and measure success?
3. Youth Program Development
This is one of the most important responsibilities that many aspiring coaches overlook.
☐ Establish relationships with youth basketball organizations.
☐ Develop a youth-to-varsity teaching progression.
☐ Provide resources and clinics for youth coaches.
☐ Organize youth camps and skill-development opportunities.
☐ Encourage age-appropriate player development.
☐ Promote participation and enjoyment of basketball.
☐ Build relationships with future players and families.
☐ Create a sense of belonging to the high school program.
Southside Hoops: Jr. Titans Playbook, Coaching Resources, Camps, Core Four, etc.
4. Player Development
☐ Establish a comprehensive skill-development philosophy.
☐ Develop individual player improvement plans.
☐ Evaluate players' strengths and weaknesses.
☐ Develop physical preparation and conditioning programs.
☐ Teach basketball IQ and decision-making.
☐ Coordinate offseason player development.
☐ Establish measurable improvement goals.
☐ Provide meaningful player feedback.
☐ Monitor academic progress and eligibility.
☐ Develop leadership skills.
Southside Hoops: The Art of Shooting, Individual Workouts, Decathlon Testing, Goal Cards, etc.
5. Culture & Character Development
☐ Define the program's core values.
☐ Establish standards of behavior.
☐ Teach accountability and personal responsibility.
☐ Develop team unity and trust.
☐ Create opportunities for player leadership.
☐ Establish a fair and consistent discipline process.
☐ Teach players how to respond to adversity.
☐ Recognize and celebrate behaviors that reflect program values.
☐ Develop people, not just basketball players.
Southside Hoops: Five Pillars, E+R=O, Strong R's, ACE, Team Covenant, Team Discipline, etc.
6. Parent Communication & Relationships
☐ Establish clear communication expectations.
☐ Conduct preseason parent meetings.
☐ Develop a parent handbook.
☐ Explain playing-time philosophy.
☐ Establish procedures for addressing concerns.
☐ Communicate schedules and program activities.
☐ Maintain professional boundaries.
☐ Build positive relationships with families.
Southside Hoops: Parental Support, Parent Game Day Game Plan, etc.
7. Practice Planning & Teaching
☐ Establish a teaching progression.
☐ Develop daily practice plans.
☐ Identify practice objectives.
☐ Balance individual, small-group, and team development.
☐ Incorporate competitive learning activities.
☐ Teach offensive and defensive concepts.
☐ Prepare players for special situations.
☐ Evaluate practice effectiveness.
☐ Adjust instruction based on player needs.
Southside Hoops: Best Practices, Practice Plan Drills, Practice Plan PDF, etc.
8. Offensive & Defensive Philosophy
☐ Establish offensive principles.
☐ Establish defensive principles.
☐ Develop transition offense and defense.
☐ Establish rebounding responsibilities.
☐ Teach special situations.
☐ Develop scouting and game-planning procedures.
☐ Establish statistical measures of success.
☐ Adjust systems to personnel.
☐ Develop players who can make decisions independently.
Southside Hoops: Offense Behind the Offense, Pack-Line Defense, Special Situations, etc.
9. Team Selection & Player Management
☐ Develop fair and transparent evaluation criteria.
☐ Organize tryouts.
☐ Make roster decisions.
☐ Communicate difficult decisions respectfully.
☐ Establish player roles.
☐ Conduct individual player conferences.
☐ Develop leadership within each team.
☐ Address conflicts and disciplinary issues.
☐ Monitor player well-being.
☐ Help players navigate disappointment and adversity.
Southside Hoops: Criteria for Evaluation, Player Conferences, etc.
10. Game Preparation & Management
☐ Scout opponents.
☐ Develop game plans.
☐ Prepare personnel and matchups.
☐ Establish pregame routines.
☐ Manage substitutions and playing time.
☐ Make in-game adjustments.
☐ Manage timeouts and special situations.
☐ Communicate with officials.
☐ Conduct postgame evaluations.
☐ Review film and statistics.
11. Program Operations & Community Relations
☐ Coordinate transportation and travel.
☐ Organize uniforms and equipment.
☐ Coordinate fundraising activities.
☐ Organize youth camps.
☐ Communicate with media and community members.
☐ Promote the basketball program.
☐ Recognize seniors and program contributors.
☐ Maintain relationships with alumni.
☐ Coordinate volunteers and game-day responsibilities.
☐ Represent the school and community professionally.
12. Personal & Professional Growth
☐ Develop a personal coaching philosophy.
☐ Continue studying the game.
☐ Attend clinics and learn from other coaches.
☐ Build a professional coaching community.
☐ Seek feedback and mentorship.
☐ Evaluate personal leadership effectiveness.
☐ Maintain balance between coaching and family.
☐ Protect personal health and well-being.
☐ Remember why you entered coaching.