101 Tips for Youth Basketball Coaches, is available from http://HelpWith1Life.home.comcast.net/1013.html.

You've signed up to be a youth basketball coach in your local community. You have experience playing basketball and believe that you can help developing players acquire new basketball skills. Practices and game schedules have been set. You've already given kids their uniforms, Picture Day monies have been collected, and the parent phone tree has been drawn.

So what does a youth basketball coach focus on during the season? Usually practices stress running drills for offense plays and helping youngsters to develop better defensive skills. A general goal for the team is to win some games and maybe even the championship.

Ultimate Gifts to the Players and Families
The ultimate gifts you can give your players do not revolve around the "Coaching Basketball" section of the title of this article. The best gifts will focus around the "Elementary Children" portion of the title. Listed below are 3 ultimate gifts a youth basketball coach can give to players AND families.

[1] Be a class act.
Sometime during the season, a bad call will be made by the referee, guaranteed. Show your kids how the referee's awful decision can be handled without being a hothead or displaying a potty mouth. Tell your kids during practice that you, nor they, will ever lose their temper and use foul words during a game. Remind them that the best way to handle a bad call is to make the opposing team pay on the court the next play.

[2] Talk to parents.
Parents are entrusting you with their kids. So talk with them. The hardest question for them to answer is "what do you want to see happen this season"? Ask them about health issues the players may have, including asthma. Remind them of their duty to feed their kid before every practice and game. Remind them of their responsibility to come and participate in every game. And remind them of Gift #1.

[3] Do not gloat over winning or get upset over losing.
Winning and losing contain innate emotions that children are not yet equipped to handle. Youíve got to show them how to handle the emotional side with grace. Make sure all of your players shake hands with the opposing teamís players and coaches, win or lose. Tell your players they did a great job, win or lose. Thank that mother who rang the cowbell right behind the bench for the entire game, win or lose. Meet with your players for a quick 15 second meeting about the next practice, win or lose.

In conclusion, developing youth basketball skills should be easy for you because you're a hoop head. The success of your season relies on being a responsible adult, conversing with all stakeholders, and modeling good behavior for the children, win or lose.