Shakopee leverages USA Basketball resources to coaches
By: Nyala Pendergrass
Original link: https://www.usab.com/news/2024/01/usa-basketball-e-learning-program-supporting-youth-basketball-coaches-across-the-nation
Mike Lindahl knows basketball.
He grew up in Minnesota with a father who coached high school ball for more than 30 years, worked as a student assistant coach for the basketball team at Minneapolis Community College and filled the role of video coordinator for the Minnesota Timberwolves for nine seasons. When he stepped in as the president of his son’s youth basketball organization, the Shakopee Boys Basketball Association, he knew he needed to find programming to help set the foundation for his coaches and players.
He found the USA Basketball E-Learning Program six years ago and hasn’t looked back.
“I align my beliefs and I really, really like everything that USA Basketball has done and put out there for youth coaching,” Lindahl said. “I thought it would be beneficial to have all of our coaches and our association see those values and make sure that what they're doing aligns with it as well. So that way our community can build our program and advance our players together as they grow.”
The USA Basketball E-Learning program is an online certification program that helps organizations provide education and training for their coaches who are teaching the game of basketball to young players. Any organization with five or more coaches can sign up and design a custom learning plan, selecting online courses from the USA Basketball course library, to create learning plans to distribute virtually to their coaches. Plans can consist of two, three or up to six courses and, upon completion, coaches receive a certificate co-branded by USA Basketball and their affiliated organization.
Lindahl and the Shakopee Boys Basketball Association utilize several custom e-learning plans that are tailored to their administrative needs: 2nd-5th grade recreation learning plan, 6th-8th grade recreation plan and the travel coaches learning plan.
They appreciate the flexible planning, tracking features and consistent messaging throughout. There are 12 courses available that span from introductory fundamental, such as learning how to properly catch and shoot the ball, to building an advanced defensive system and implementing life skills through the game, including confidence, relationship building and sportsmanship.
Lindahl noticed that the programs are very thorough and address even the smallest of details like proper basketball sizes for players in 4th grade and below.
“This was a few years ago when USA Basketball released recommendations based on a player’s age and skill category: how much you practice a week, what height the hoop is at and what size basketball in the state of Minnesota,” Lindahl said. “We never used a 27.5-inch basketball until USA Basketball advised it...we adopted that here and now largely the whole state does it as well for that age level."
Along with the player development model, the E-Learning Program also focuses on constructing a positive culture inside a team or organization and training for coaches to develop and improve their leadership abilities.
More than 25 coaches in the Shakopee Association from grade levels 2nd-8th have completed E-Learning and the feedback from them has been nothing but positive, especially from those who are new and have less experience with coaching basketball.
“All of them said it was really beneficial and gave them some ideas and structure for their practices,” Lindahl said. "Those that had more experience and have coached basketball before, even at youth levels, said it was good because it aligned what they already were doing and made sure that they were in in alignment with our association’s direction.”
With the help of the program, the Minnesota organization has set in place concrete processes and milestones for every grade level to ensure that each player is progressing appropriately before reaching the next age level.
“I think they’ve done a really good job of setting a foundation for all programs across the country to follow and partner with,” Lindahl said. “I feel like watching the kids play and compete, it does seem like there’s more organization. The games are cleaner and kids are understanding the rules at a younger age. So, I do believe I’ve seen a lot of benefits from it.”
USA Basketball E-Learning is available to organizations nationwide. For more information about how to create a custom learning plan and align with the USA Basketball curriculum and standards, visit www.usab.com/coaching/e-learning.