FROM THE HIGH SCHOOL PERSPECTIVE By Dave Archer, Executive Director, NHSBCA The past two basketball seasons have presented unprecedented challenges to all levels of our game. At the high school level coaches showed flexibility and resilience as they guided their teams through two pandemic seasons. The pandemic put coaches in a variety of situations that required leadership and commitment off the court as well as on. Coaches needed to pay more attention to the mental health of their players. Most coaches held discussion sessions with their teams focusing on Social Justice, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion issues that were front and center in society. Thank you to the coaches for all that you did for individual players, teams and your school in these circumstances. In the spring the National High School Basketball Coaches Association hosted a High School Basketball Coaches Leadership Summit. This one of kind Professional Development Event deliberately left “X’s and O’s” sessions out of the program. Rather the focus was on the many roles that a coach has as a leader in their school and in their community. There were four objectives for the event: (1.) To celebrate and rejuvenate high school basketball coaches -who they are and what they do and why they do it. (2.) To listen to and interact with leaders and experts from various parts of the basketball world to provide their thoughts on the state of the high school game. (3.) To collaboratively plan to reaffirm and strengthen the role high school coaches have in the overall basketball landscape. (4) To develop the leadership skills needed in all aspects of the profession. Some great basketball minds took the time to speak with us which was greatly appreciated. We specifically asked the presenters to address what they think the role of the high school coach is from their perspective. Featured Speakers were: Tommy Amaker – Head Men’s Coach -- Harvard University; John Beilein - Retired University of Michigan; Carla Berube – Head Women’s Coach -Princeton University and USA Basketball; Paul Biancardi – ESPN, Recruiting expert; Jay Bilas – Commentator and Analyst; Danielle Donehew – Executive Director -WBCA; Tony Dorado – NIKE – National Manager High School; Andy Farrell and Adam Gordon – Rising Coaches; Phil Martelli - University of Michigan, Associate Head Coach; Casey Miller – Positive Coaching Alliance; Karissa Niehoff – Executive Director -NFHS; Chris Oliver – Founder Basketball Immersion; Craig Robinson – Executive Director – NABC; TJ Rosene – Point Guard NABC
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College; Alan Stein - Raise Your Game; Don Showalter - USA Basketball; and Mano Watso – Point Guard College. The Annual NHSBCA Summer Conference will be held on July 13 -16 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Conference is designed to review all aspects of NHSBCA activities and operations with an eye toward improvement. The following questions will help provide direction in Cleveland and beyond as the NHSBCA continues to grow and move forward. Questions to consider moving forward: 1. How will the new “high school leagues” Overtime Elite and the National Interscholastic Basketball Conference effect “regular” high school basketball? 2. How long before someone tries to launch a high school version of “Name-Image-Likeness”? 3. How to get parents to understand that only 3% of the high school basketball players in the country will ever play college basketball at any level? 4. How to get rid of the reason/concept that every aspect and emphasis related to scholastic and youth basketball is that a player “must be seen.”? 5. How long until all states will adopt a shot clock? 6. What can be done to keep high school basketball relevant? 7. How can we identify and develop the next generation of high school coaches? 8. Are there ways to get AAU and Club team coaches on the same page with high school coaches regarding individual development? 9. To what extent will the college player transfer portal effect the college recruiting of high school players? 10. What is the major role of the high school coach in the overall big picture of basketball in the United States? About the NHSBCA The National High School Basketball Coaches Association also serves as the High School Congress of the NABC. About thirty-five state basketball coaches’ associations and representatives of some states that do not have a basketball coaches association work together to improve scholastic basketball and scholastic coaches. The NHSBCA is the national voice for high school basketball coaches, working to foster high standards of professionalism and to support coaches. The NHSBCA conducts two general meetings per year, one at the NABC Convention and the other in July. Additionally, the NHSBCA Executive Committee conducts monthly phone conference meetings. For additional information about the NHSBCA, visit www.NHSBCA.org. SUMMER 2021
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