When you accept the title as "Coach," you accept responsibility for others. Your family, your assistant coaches and your players all count on you to direct them.
Last season, 92 percent of IHSAA-member high schools that offered basketball had at least one member in the IBCA. As exciting as that is, it also means that we had 8 percent of those schools did not have a coach who joined – meaning, that players from those schools were not eligible for awards or scholarships. We had 8 percent of our coaches who did not have a $2 million liability policy.
Coach, you need to take the lead to protect every coach in your program by getting them registered as an IBCA current-year member. It scares me when I see just a program’s head coach as a member and none of that program’s assistant coaches are members. If that "moment" happens, everyone in the gym will need to be eligible for insurance. They will not care what reason you have for not registering them. Let’s get all of our coaches protected and our players eligible for honors they may deserve.
Last summer we had a record number of teams play in both the Boys’ Team Showcase and Girls’ Team Showcase events. We also had a record number of college coaches who attended these events. In September, we started a new “Preseason Watch List” for players that we need to keep an eye on for the 2025 IBCA/IHSAA Top 100 Underclass Showcase events. We also have teamed with Mental Training Plan to share monthly helpful items for you to use with your team.
Coach, the IBCA is here for you. Please get involved, check out the website (in.nhsbca.org) and contact your district representative. You have accepted the title as “Coach.” Now please accept the responsibility to protect your family and staff, and promote your players. As John Wooden said: “If you don’t have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over?”
Coach, you will not get a chance to do it over. Please get yourself and all involved in your program registered with the IBCA.
Have a great year, and let us know if we can help.
– Marty Johnson
