The IBCA is continuing its Mentoring Program in the 2025-26 season. The program was started in 2019-20. The effort was upgraded in 2020-21 and again in 2023-24. It takes another step forward in 2025-26. IBCA president-elect Kaley May of Danville is the coordinator this program.
New this year: It was a suggestion to have round-table discussions via video chat available for new coaches. My intended plan is to maintain the same efforts as last year and add three videos in.
Mentees again will opt to be in the program with mentors selecting their mentees as occurred in 2024-25. We received positive feedback from this.
Here is the IBCA Mentor Program plan for 2025-26:
- Sept. 29: Email – First contact welcoming everyone to the program; mentor introduction to mentee; encouraging membership through IBCA; discussing benefits available.
- Oct. 6: Email – Preseason setup and preparation for upcoming tryouts; feeder program; fundraising; working with parents and social media; practice planning; laying foundation for program culture.
- Oct. 12: Video – Round-table discussion on season preparation.
- Nov. 3: Email – Drills; motion offenses; defensive concepts; quick hitters; scouting reports.
- Nov. 23: Video – Round-table discussion on season challenges; general questions; play concepts.
- Dec. 1: Email – Program culture; staying sharp and focused at midseason; handling the ups and downs.
- Jan. 5: Email – Tournament preparation; mentality; peaking at the right time.
- Jan. 18: Video – Round-table discussion on tournament preparation.
- Feb. 2: Email – End-of-season nominations; voting; goals for postseason play.
- March 2: Email – End-of-season wrap-up, reflection, IBCA Clinic.
One other resource available to coaches is posted in the resources section of the IBCA web site is a document titled, “You got the job, so what happens next? – Program Organization.” This information was part of a presentation that IBCA executive director emeritus Steve Witty and IBCA assistant director Renee Turpa gave for the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association during a past NCAA women’s Final Four in Indianapolis. The guidelines in this document will be helpful for any coach, experienced or inexperienced, to be organized and prepared for the challenges of being a head basketball coach.
The IBCA thanks all the mentor coaches for being a part of this program to help fellow coaches. Anyone with questions about the IBCA Mentoring Program should contact Coach May at 317-341-4953 or by email at kaleymay.ibca@gmail.com.
