Coach 2 Coach

Jason Belcourt

Coach 2 Coach is a podcast for anyone coaching youth basketball - whether you’re running your first under-8’s team, or you’ve been on the sidelines for years. Each episode, we sit down with a different coach to hear their stories, lessons, wins and mistakes — from grassroots through to high-performance pathways. No fluff, no lectures — just honest conversations about what works (and what doesn’t) when you’re trying to help young players grow their game and love the sport.

  1. vor 1 Std.

    The Drive Home Isn't Just a Ride Home (w Amanda Hodgson)

    In this episode of Coach to Coach: Fast Break Chats, we're joined by Amanda Hodgson for the show's first interstate guest — a conversation built around communication, clarity, and the role parents play in junior basketball development. Amanda shares her approach to supporting young athletes, focusing on simple but powerful pre-game conversations that help players narrow their mindset down to just a couple of key focus points. Rather than overloading instructions, she emphasises asking questions that help athletes define how they’ll contribute and what they can control once they step on the court. The discussion then shifts to the drive home — where Amanda uses structured reflection questions to guide post-game conversations. Instead of emotional reactions, she encourages young players to think about what went well, what could improve, and who can help them take the next step in training. A strong theme throughout is independence. Amanda is intentional about helping her kids develop their own in-game thinking rather than relying on parental voice during competition. The episode also explores communication between parents and coaches, and how early-season alignment can create a healthier, more collaborative environment for player development. At its core, this episode is about keeping things simple, consistent, and focused on long-term growth — both as players and as people. Connect w Amanda: Instagram - @amanda_hodgson_Facebook - Amanda Hodgson

    28 Min.
  2. 21. Juni

    The Question Every Player Hates Answering (w Riley Parkinson)

    For this episode, we visited Riley Parkinson at his training facility in South Morang to chat about player development, skills training, and how coaches can help young athletes take the next step in their basketball journey. Drawing on his experience working with players of all ages and skill levels, Riley shares practical insights into identifying player weaknesses, building effective training sessions, and developing the fundamental skills every player needs, including finishing, ball handling, passing, shooting, and handling contact. The conversation explores how coaches can create more purposeful practices by combining multiple skills within a single drill, helping players improve in several areas at once while keeping training engaging and game-like. Riley also highlights the importance of off-ball movement, spacing, and teaching players to understand their role even when they don’t have the ball in their hands. Beyond the technical side of the game, Riley discusses the importance of adapting coaching styles to individual players and reminds us that great coaching is ultimately about developing people, not just basketballers. Whether you’re coaching domestic juniors or aspiring representative players, this episode is packed with practical ideas to help your athletes improve while creating a positive and supportive environment for growth. Connect with Riley: Instagram – parkoballNext Level Hoops

    25 Min.

Info

Coach 2 Coach is a podcast for anyone coaching youth basketball - whether you’re running your first under-8’s team, or you’ve been on the sidelines for years. Each episode, we sit down with a different coach to hear their stories, lessons, wins and mistakes — from grassroots through to high-performance pathways. No fluff, no lectures — just honest conversations about what works (and what doesn’t) when you’re trying to help young players grow their game and love the sport.