Taking Over A Program

Taking over a basketball program can be a very exciting and over whelming experience.  With your adrenaline pumping and planning beginning, there are administrative duties you may want to consider in order to be completely organized when practices are ready to roll.  Listed below are 10 important questions that you may want to consider when taking over a program.  This list is for all coaches that may have just taken over a program or for coaches that may have just moved up the coaching ladder.

1. Is your schedule set for the upcoming season?
1. Who schedules non-conference games?
2. How many games are you allowed to play?
3. Do you need to schedule all the games in your program?

2. How many uniforms do you have for each team?
1. Do you have JV uniforms?
2. Do you have a freshman team?

3. How much money do you have in your budget and fundraising?
1. Do you have a fundraising account or does it all go into a budget?
2. If you want to get money to order equipment, who do you get the money from and how?

4. Coaches in place?
1. Do you have coaches in place for each team in your program?
2. If so, have you met with them on your philosophy and how you would like to see the program run?
3. How much do they make?

5. What are the rules for working with your players out of season?
1. Can you have an open gym?
2. Can you condition and weight lift with them?
3. Can you compete in a fall league?

6. How many players are returning from last year’s team?
1. How do you get in touch with them to introduce yourself before the season?
2. Do you have a program philosophy established so you can paint a picture to the returning players on how the program will be run?

7. What do you travel to the games in?
1. Do you take a bus or have to drive the team in vans?
2. Who travels with you and what time do you usually play?
3. If you have to drive vans, how many players can you fit in the vans?
8.  Have a fundraising plan?
1. Can you run clinics or camps?
2. Do you need to get fundraisers approved by the school?

9. Equipment check?
1. How many basketballs do you have?
2. Do you have a storage area?

10. Are you going to be backed by the school?
1. Does the administration have your back?
2. Do you have a documentation system in place for problems that arise?
3. Have you researched past problems on the team or with players?

This list is just some questions that I have come across in my experiences in taking over a new program.  Any time that you can save energy instead hurrying at the last moment is vital when trying to get organized before the season starts.  Organization is so important in coming into a new situation.  The old saying is so true “If you fail to prepare, you prepare to fail.”  Please feel free to contact me regarding any of the above lists.  I wish you the best of luck in your basketball program.