Enjoying and imparting the game

YOUTH

COACHING

HANDBOOK

By Joe Crispin

“We need to foster that love for play and to teach the game in a way that increases their desire, that encourages their love for the game.”

As a college and youth basketball coach, my vision is to help players of all ages and abilities to play the game better and enjoy the game more. This resource is designed to help you do the same for the kids you coach this season.

This downloadable workbook is a 141 page PDF of Principles, Practice Plans for various ages, Drills, Activities, Events, Game Day Resources, & Support Materials. The goal is to help coaches develop players young players who really know how to play the game.

This resource is a great start for any youth coach or parent looking to gain a better understanding into the development of their kids. This Youth Coaching Workbook is everything you need and more for a great season ahead!

VIEW PREVIEW

The Latest From My Blog

What to Call in 3-on-3?

I love the start of our 3-on-3 League in both the winter and the summer. More often than not, the kids have had either a long layoff from basketball or are just starting their basketball journey. With the various limitations of COVID, the enjoyment found in their play...

Comfort in Chaos before Great Execution

On the surface of our summer league, you may just see a bunch of kids running around at play. That’s good, because it’s exactly what we want. And yet, we want more. Ideally, I want to see a bunch of kids running around learning how to really...

Summer #6 – Let Them Get Lost (And teach along the way)

Teaching through Free Play During my playing career, I often had to get settled into a new city and/or country. One of the most difficult things about settling into those new cities was finding your way around. I would typically start with someone driving me around...

Summer League – #5 – Encourage them to Shoot it!

In everything I write, I typically point out that if we want our kids to improve, they must have opportunities to stretch their boundaries. Indeed, they must be encouraged to try new things and take new risks. Whether we realize it or not, most of our kids have been...

Summer Leagues – #4 – 4-on-4 Teaching Points

This post is specific to our 4-on-4 and 5-on-5 (w/ shot clock) leagues, which typically involved players from Grades 5-9. Learning while at play is the most powerful kind of learning. But in order to learn well, it is essential to keep it simple. Too often we overload...

Summer Leagues – #3 – 3-on-3 – Encourage the Dribble!

Developmentally, this post is specific to our younger players in 3-on-3. Grades 1-4. I find great joy in watching kids creatively and happily play the game of basketball. Capturing the imagination and getting lost in the game are the keys to a fun experience at their...

Summer League – #2 – Make More Decisions

The games you play shape you more than the drills you do. It is not that the drills are unimportant. They are very important. I give plenty of time to them as a coach, but play is the foundation. Play is the essential that makes drills worth something. The games your...

Summer League – #1 – Experiment and Stretch (especially in the summer!)

I am excited to see kids engaging with the game in our summer leagues next week. With all the "quarantining" we have had, I know mine need to do so! As we move through the summer leagues, I am going to share 1-2 emails each week with our parents/participants. I won't...

Summer League – Our History

Thank you for signing your young player up for our Summer League. Our mission for these leagues is the same as it is for all our programs: to help players of all ages and abilities play the game better and enjoy the game more. As many of you are aware, they are not...

Finally Published – Offense Wins

Believe it or not, this book was more or less complete 6 years ago. I wrote it before I coached in order to remember how I thought as a player. And in reading it again, I realize that I still agree with it! So I will be applying it as best I can in the years ahead. A...

Play the game better and enjoy the game more.

About Joe CRISPIN

Joe Crispin

Head Coach
Rowan University

NBA
Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns

NCAA
Penn State, Big Ten 1st Team

High School
Pitman, NJ State Champions

Joe Crispin is the primary director for Crispin Basketball. He runs various camps, clinics, and club teams throughout the year. He also focuses his energy on our overall development philosophy and programs.

He enjoyed an extensive and successful playing career and is currently the Head Men’s Basketball Coach at Rowan University.

In High School, he led Pitman High School to the Sectional Finals three years in an row and the 1997 State Championship. During his 1997 campaign, he averaged over 32 points per game, scoring over 50 three times. He was an All-south Jersey selection three years in a row, an All-State Group 1 first team selection for two seasons, and an All-State, All-Group 1st Team selection his senior year. He finished his career with 2,654 points.

At Penn State, he helped lead his team to the 2001 NCAA tournament and a ‘Sweet 16’ appearance. During his time there, Penn State also made the NIT Final Four twice and had a combined record of 72-55. During his career, he was a Big Ten 1st and 2nd team selection and ended his career with 1,986 points.

Professionally, Joe played his rookie year in the NBA, playing with the Los Angeles Lakers and the Phoenix Suns. He also played in the CBA, the ABA, the USBL, Greece, Poland, Italy, Turkey, Spain, and Ukraine throughout his 11 year professional playing career. He was among the league leaders in scoring for 5 of those seasons and lead his Enel Brindisi team to the 2010 Legadue championship.

Joe is the head coach of the Rowan University Men’s Basketball team. Prior to being named head coach, Joe spent two seasons as the assistant coach for both the Men’s and Women’s Basketball teams at Rowan University.