The 2025 Hoops Companion Summer Prep Guide
All you need for the best hoops summer yet
Introducing the Hoops Companion 6-Week Summer Coaching Cohort
Before we dive into the 2025 Summer Prep Guide, I want to invite you to consider joining a 6-week coaching cohort (May–July) designed specifically to help coaches of all levels sharpen their skills, build their programs and culture, and get more organized and intentional heading into next season.
Whether you coach high school, AAU, middle school, or rec league...
Whether you’re at a powerhouse school with full player access or a place where basketball takes a backseat to other sports…
This cohort will give you the tools, structure, and support to come back stronger.
What You’ll Get:
3 live Zoom sessions (1 every other week) focused on different aspects of building and running a successful program
A private group chat for Q&A, networking, and accountability
Downloadable templates, planning tools, and resource guides
Feedback on your program, playbook, or coaching portfolio
A coaching community to grow alongside this summer
Weekly Topics Include:
Program Audit + Vision Building
Cleaning Up Your Playbook + Drills
Culture and Leadership Systems
Planning Workouts + Off-Season Structure
Organizing Your Coaching Portfolio
Planning the Next 12 Months in Your Program
This will be affordable, high-value, and built to fit your schedule.
Limited spots available..as in 5-7. Registration opens NOW.
Fill out this Google Form to get on the list and get more information.
Now…what’s YOUR plan this summer?
We constantly tell players to:
Work on their game
Improve weaknesses
Find camps, trainers, and opportunities
But coaches need a plan, too.
So here’s your official Hoops Companion Summer Primer — loaded with actionable ways to improve as a coach over the next few months.
Evaluate Honestly
Before you can grow, you need to take stock. There are a few key questions to ask yourself (keep it simple - it’s easy to get in the weeds with this). This goes with culture, program, scheme, feeder program, staff - all of it.
What did we do well this season? What worked? What progress did we make in what areas?
What didn’t work? What failed? Where did we not make anticipated gains? Why?
What needs tweaking, removing, or improving? It’s important to figure out what needs manipulated…what needs tossed…and what needs refined.
Ideas:
Use the free End of Season Program Evaluation
Ask former players about their experience
Do a self-audit or get a trusted coach to review your film, practices, and program
Pinpoint the gaps between you and your competition — then close them. What do the teams who are having success on the level you want…doing?
Study One Team, Program, or System
Pick one team that plays how you want to play (ideally one similar to your level/personnel). Best practice here is to find a team that has a similar situation as you…whatever that might look like…and still wins.
Watch their games. Ask for film. Call their coach. Get on NFHS Network or YouTube and find games. Take notes. Apply what makes sense.
💡 Tip: Look at D2/D3 or mid-major programs — you’ll learn more from teams that don’t play above the rim if yours doesn’t either.
Another good idea is to choose a system and study it. Maybe you want to study concepts of Princeton or how Nova Southeastern plays or you appreciated the way Villanova used to run their full-court 1-2-2 press. Whatever it is…study it and bring it back with you.
Prune & Simplify
As coaches, we are hoarders. We think more information is better because we think it makes us ready for every situation.
But improvement doesn’t always mean adding things. Sometimes it means cutting things out.
Go through your playbook and drill book. Eliminate what:
Doesn’t fit your personnel anymore
Doesn’t translate to games
Is outdated or “fluff”
Amplify & Hone In
Now that you’ve simplified, find the pieces that do work — and make them better.
How can you get more out of your drills? What can we do to put our players in more decision-making situations? What makes sense for US?
What wrinkles can you add to your best sets? Base this on returning and incoming personnel.
Where can you steal more reps or sharpen execution? What can be better next year? What little things will make a big difference for your upcoming roster?
🗂️ Build Your Coaching Portfolio
This summer is the perfect time to organize your philosophy and systems — whether you're job hunting or building stability.
A great portfolio includes:
Offensive & defensive philosophy
Core values
Practice planning
Fundraising
Academic standards
Offseason calendar
Player development plan
Traditions & culture anchors
Need help with this? Check out the Create Your Coaching Portfolio Course — it’ll walk you through it all.
Plan the Next 12 Months
Get ahead of the chaos and daily grind and monotony of the year-round season.
Pull out a calendar and answer:
When are your camps (summer, team camps, clinics, etc)?
What’s your preseason timeline (will football be any good? fall league? conditioning? who is available?)?
What’s your communication schedule with parents/players/coaches? How are you going to communicate with kids who aren’t in-season?
The earlier you start and more clear you get, the smoother your year will be.
🏀 Fresh Summer Resources from Hoops Companion
Here’s what we’ve built for you:
Hoops Companion Extra – $5/month
Get:A Saturday newsletter with the 10 best things I’ve seen that week
Members-only posts and tools
Access to the auto-updated Master Playbook
No matter where you coach, what level you're at, or what you’re up against...
You have the opportunity to make this your best off-season yet.
Let’s go to work.
📝 Want to join the Summer Coaching Cohort?
Spots are limited — we’ll meet monthly May–July and help you build a better, more efficient, more confident coaching identity and program.
Limited spots available..as in 5-7. Registration opens NOW.
Fill out this Google Form to get on the list and get more information.
Keep the faith and see you next time!