Photo courtesy of Jeffrey A. Camarati/UNC Athletic Communications; ©2007 Endeavors.
Giving Back to the Game
by Colie Hoffman
Coaching girls' basketball.
The Complete Guide to Coaching Girls’ Basketball: Building a Great Team the Carolina Way.
By Sylvia Hatchell and Jeff Thomas. McGraw-Hill, 256 pages. $16.95.
The Baffled Parent’s Guide to Coaching Girls’ Basketball. By Sylvia Hatchell and Jeff Thomas. McGraw-Hill, 160 pages. $14.95.
Fundamentals — dribbling, passing, and shooting — are the heart of basketball, says Sylvia Hatchell, head coach of UNC’s women’s basketball team. Whether you’re coaching six-year-olds or high-schoolers, the basics ultimately determine and develop a player’s skill level.
“Even with my players,” Hatchell says, “usually if someone’s in a slump and not playing well, they just need to go back and do the fundamental drills, and then they’ll get their game back.” Hatchell’s two guidebooks let new coaches in on her techniques. The Baffled Parent’s Guide focuses on coaching elementary and middle school girls, and is especially helpful to first-time coaches. The Complete Guide, designed for coaches of high school teams, delves into strategies for offense and defense. Given her long and outstanding track record, Hatchell wanted a way to share her experience with other people. “I’m trying to give back to the game,” she says.
