Sonya Elliott coached basketball for 27 years. As the Head Girls Basketball Coach for West Seattle High School she was voted Seattle Times All-Area “Star Times” Coach of the Year, Seattle Officials Women’s Basketball Association Coach of the Year and twice voted Metro League Coach of the Year. In 2014-15 West Seattle went undefeated in league, became Metro League Champions and placed 5th in Washington State. As an Assistant Coach at Blanchet High School, she was part of two State Championship teams. Sonya played basketball at Eastern Washington University and was a starter for the Big Sky Championship team that went the 1987 NCAA tournament. Her life on the basketball court is woven through her memoir, Back On The Court: A Young Woman’s Triumphant Return To Life, Love & Basketball and her TedxTalk, “Always Believe In You”.
PeaceLoveBasketball Coaches Toolkit
FREE DOWNLOADS
(Enjoy the following free information for players, parents & coaches. Fun basics for young beginning athletes, shooting form basics, self-evaluation sheets and goal-setting paperwork for middle and high school athletes, blank court diagrams, and more.)
Elementary School Players
- PeaceLoveBasketball Basics for Beginners-1 (Elementary)
- PeaceLoveBasketball Basics for Beginners-2 (Elementary)
- PeaceLoveBasketball Quiz for Beginners (Elementary)
- PeaceLoveBasketball Word Search for Beginners (Elementary)
- PeaceLoveBasketball Proper Shooting Form (Elementary)
- PeaceLoveBasketball BIG 5 (Team Mentality)
- PeaceLoveBasketball “I Like You” Forms (Team Building)
Middle/High School Players
- PeaceLoveBasketball Basketball Player Self-Evaluation Form (Mid/High)
- PeaceLoveBasketball “10 to Win” Rules of Defense (Mid/High)
- PeaceLoveBasketball BIG 5 (Team Mentality)
- PeaceLoveBasketball “I Like You” Forms (Team Building)
Extras
Sports Articles by Sonya
- Lessons Young Athletes Learn from Sports
- The Best Team Building Activities for Your Athletes
- How to Motivate Your Team
- How to Teach Leadership
- 3 Ways to Encourage Teamwork From the Sidelines
- Is Using Humor and Sarcasm Appropriate While Coaching?
- Enhance Your Coaching with Quotes
- Basketball Books for Coaching Inspiration
- 6 Must-Watch Basketball Movies
- The Importance of a Practice Plan
- How to Beat ANY Zone Press
- The Magic of Ball Fakes
- Make the Fast Break Second Nature
- Yes We Can Play: The Evolution of Women’s Basketball
- How to Connect with Your Teammates
- Partner Up to Improve Ball Handling
- Use a Habit Tracker to Become a Better Shooter
- The Pros and Cons of AAU Basketball
- What College Recruiters Actually Look For
- The No-Trophy Coach
- Are Youth Sports Too Competitive?
- Is it Bad Sportsmanship to Run Up the Score in Youth Sports?
- Sore Looser? How to Help Your Child Handle disappointment
- The Best Ways for Coaches and Parents to Respond to Bad Calls
- How to Deal With Extremely Competitive Sports Parents in Youth Athletics
- Teen Athletes and Vaping
- Parents, Please Don’t Pay Your Kids to Score Points
- What to Do if You Don’t Like Your Coach
- Is There a Good Reason to Ever Quit Sports?
- Tips for Coaching Flag Football
- All Volleyball Positions Explained
- Get Ready for Cross Country
- Nutrition Tips for Game Day
- 11 Great Gift Ideas for Student-Athletes
Recommended Books
- The Complete Guide to Coaching Girls’ Basketball: Building a Great Team the Carolina Way by Sylvia Hatchell
- Reach for the Summit: The Definite Dozen System for Succeeding at Whatever You Do by Pat Summitt
- They Call Me Coach by John Wooden
- Standing Tall: A Memoir of Tragedy and Triumph by C. Vivian Stringer
- The Women’s Basketball Drill Book (The Drill Book Series) by Women’s Basketball Coaches Association