During the off-season, basketball coaches and parents alike put a majority of their attention on helping their players develop and get better. While player development is at the top of the priority list, coaches should still be taking the time to reflect, grow, and prepare.
Now that we’re in the dog days of summer, things may feel slow but now is the perfect time to reset, focus, and put in the work that will elevate your program this upcoming season.
Here are 7 things basketball coaches can do during the summer to stay productive, even when it feels like you’re just waiting for the season to start.
1. Evaluate Last Season
If you haven’t done so already, look at what worked, and what didn’t, this past season. Watch some film, assess your team’s identity, and pinpoint areas for improvement in your system or culture. This reflection will help you have clarity and purpose going to the next season.
If you’re looking for some organizational help, we created a FREE Post-Season Coach Evaluation sheet. Download it here.
2. Get Ahead on Practice Planning
Definitely still enjoy everything summer has to offer, but if you have a lot of free time, starting your practice planning might not be a bad idea. Instead of scrambling once the season starts, start mapping out tryouts and your first few weeks of practices. Think through offense and defense, progression drills, and how to structure practices to incorporate player development time.
If you need some drills that focus on development, game-like reps, and competition, check out 30+ Small Sided Games from Coach Tony Miller.
3. invest in yourself
Use this time to dive into coaching philosophy, attend coaching clinics, listen to a podcast, or even take some online courses about leadership and culture. Here are a few favorites from other basketball coaches:
- “The Culture Code” by Daniel Coyle
- The Basketball Podcast with Chris Oliver
- Online clinics from USA Basketball
- Dr. Dish’s Coaches Corner
4. network
Summer is a great time to build relationships with other coaches in your conference or state. Whether it’s a quick coffee, Zoom call, or attending a team camp together, these connections are important because they can lead to new ideas, scrimmage opportunities, or career advice down the road.
5. Organize Your Space + Materials
From team handbooks to playbooks and parent information and pre-season forms, get ahead of the organizational work now. Have some templates ready to go so you can save major time during the school year. Consider using Google Drive to digitally organize everything so you don’t have extra clutter, and everything is easier to find during the season.
Don’t forget about your office or dedicated space either. Even simple cleaning like dusting can increase productivity and focus.
6. Build Your Team Culture Plan
Strong culture doesn’t happen by accident. This slow point in the summer is a great time to plan intentional moments: team dinners, service projects, leadership talks, or pre-season retreats that align with the values you set for the program.
Check out Coach Steve Collins’s All-In Coaching Guide packed with 15 FREE pages of:
- Tips for Building a Winning Culture
- 50+ Team Building Activities
- Downloadable Worksheets
- Leadership Development
7. Research Equipment
Start looking into training tools and equipment that make your job easier, and your practices more efficient. Dr. Dish shooting machines are specifically designed to help teams get in more game-like shots in less time, maximizing the time spent in the gym while giving real results.
Learn more about what Dr. Dish basketball shooting machines can do for your team, and see what other coaches have to say about being a part of the #DrDishFam here.
Summer may feel like a long stretch of “waiting,” but it’s one of the most valuable opportunities for preparation. Whether you're reflecting on last season, building toward the next, or simply working on yourself—every moment counts.