Your core beliefs, values, ethics and morals are at the heart of who you are as a person and therefore are foundational principles of your basketball coaching philosophy as well. Your offensive and defensive principles and system are based upon your experiences as a player and coach, as well as the interactions that you have had with other coaches and mentors. Your systems should be in alignment with the fundamental beliefs, values, ethics and morals that are part of your general coaching philosophy. As a starting point in this course, I would like you to write an APA formatted paper involving 3 specific topics:

1. Developing a Basketball Program – Describe what type of program you would like to run as a head coach. Evaluate what is important to you and what you have learned from other coaches. Discuss what type of goals you would set for your team (long term, short term, on the court, and/or off the court). What is the environment like within your program? Are players held to a certain standard? Your program should be closely related to the fundamental principles that make you who you are

2. Offensive Principals/System- Describe your basketball offensive principles/system. Describe the offensive style of basketball that you believe in. Include tempo (fast break, ball control, etc.), specific offensive structure (continuity, set plays, motion, etc.) and the fundamental methods of teaching your offense (how do you teach your offensive system?). How did this offensive style evolve for you? Have you changed or adjusted your offense over the years?

3. Defensive Principals/System-. Describe your basketball defensive principles and system. Describe the defensive style of basketball that you believe in. Include basic defensive alignment (man, zone, combo, etc.), changing levels (full court, quarter court, etc.) changing tempo (traps, presses, etc.), specific defensive alignments (out of bounds under, out of bounds sideline, etc.) and the fundamental methods of teaching your defense (how do you teach your defensive system?). How did this defensive philosophy evolve for you? Have you changed or adjusted your defensive philosophy over the years?
Take an Inventory: “Who Am I?” – Use the guide/thought questions below will help you in exploring these topics. The questions do not need to be addressed individually, but moreover to serve as “thought provokers” for you to ponder as you formulate your paper.