Coaches Clinic Kicks Off at UPB on October 7th
By: Dylan Tehada
Behind the scenes of every successful basketball team is a coach who establishes a strong culture and gets their players to buy in. Coaching is as much of an art as executing plays on the court. As the game of basketball is in an everlasting state of change and progress, coaching has evolved in new and exciting ways. Whether it be implementing a more personalized coaching approach with new technology or having more access to different resources and connections who have found success in the past, coaches across basketball have more tools at their disposal than ever before.
As the art of coaching continues to evolve, UPB is at the forefront of offering the resources and connections that are vital to helping coaches hone their craft. UPB’s Coaches Clinic, taking place on October 7th, will be returning to the facility and will be a culmination of all the great coaching techniques and stories in the game of basketball hosted right here in the gym. The clinic is designed for coaches of all levels from CYO to collegiate hoops. The clinic will provide attendees with access to coaches and trainers who can further their knowledge of how to teach the on court nuances of the game and also learn the soft skills of leadership and strategy.
“Coaches can expect to come to the [Coaches Clinic] and ask any questions they have in whatever they're looking to gain information on, whether that's strategy or even how to work with different groups of athletes,” Coach Packie Turner said. “We want this to be a place for everybody who's looking to get into coaching, working with kids in basketball, and want to progress and learn some stuff on court.”
One coach who has contributed to pushing coaching forward and has even participated in UPB’s Coaches Clinic in previous years is Coach Omar Sanchez, Athletic Director at St. Mary’s College High School. Coach Sanchez has quite the coaching resume coaching at the collegiate level at Holy Name University and East Bay College. Throughout his career, Coach Sanchez has seen the evolution of coaching firshand. One of the biggest areas of change has been how players have developed a curiosity for the “why” when it comes to how they coached. More than ever before, athletes are delving into why and how different drills or tactics can elevate their game, which provides coaches with an opportunity to connect with their athletes in a whole new way.
“Coaches have to teach their athletes the ‘why’ of the game of basketball, then they're going to get less of the questions and more of the buy-in from the team. You do that through relational coaching,” Coach Sanchez said.
There is no single formula to becoming a great coach. There have been countless examples of successful teams and leaders who have all experienced different team dynamics and personnel. The one common thread that binds all great coaches, however, is having a clear vision and conviction in how they lead their team. Developing a system that athletes can rally behind and buy into is of the utmost importance when it comes to being the leader of a successful team.
“The common traits of a successful coach is a coach who is organized, who has a clear vision, and also connects and makes it fun for their team. Sure winning brings joy, but at the same time, there's a connectivity from top to bottom in those teams,” Coach Packie said.
Access to coaching resources in addition to events like UPB’s Coaching Clinic is at an all time high. While meeting coaches in person and getting answers to specific questions is indeed a great opportunity, there are other great ways to hone these leadership skills. One of the ways that can be practiced anytime, anywhere is reading books written by coaches who have found success themselves. Coach Sanchez always advises his coaches to read stories of successful coaches and to apply their teachings and leadership qualities to their coaching style.
“I'm a big book guy. I love books. Every time I get a new coach, depending on what year they're in, I give them different books…understanding how to make pivots and grow in coaching is so vital to the sustainability of you being a coach in this day and age,” Coach Sanchez said.
We are so excited to be hosting all the coaches who are passionate about their craft and seek to further their knowledge of the game on October 7th! If you are interested in joining this clinic click this link to sign up!
