Clipboard for Basketball: Dry Erase, Electronic, Murray, Crown, Firelong and Markwort
Whether you coach young children, college athletes, or NBA all-star players, coaches need a clipboard for basketball. A basketball clipboard allows coaches to adapt during the game. While coaches may have plays and notes attached to their clipboard, coaches need the basketball court clipboard to adjust plays.
Here is my story. I decided to take the dive into coaching youth basketball when my son turned 8. I quickly realized that a hard surface to write on was important during the game. Trust me, at this age, you are not writing up plays for them on the sideline. It is all about keeping the substitutions organized so you make sure everyone gets close to even playing time. So I did a deep dive into researching which clipboard would be the best for me.
Your needs may be different depending on the age group. From showing full-court formations to adapting plays to the current dynamics of the game, coaches can use a basketball clipboard with dry-erase functions to visually communicate with players during timeouts.
Because gyms can be loud and players may be hyped up, being able to clearly mark plays at any given moment makes a basketball clipboard an absolute necessity for any basketball coach.
Best Basketball Coach Clipboard:
- Murray Sporting Goods Basketball Coaches Clipboard
- Crown Sporting Goods Dry Erase Basketball Coaching Clipboard
- Firelong Basketball Coaching Board Coaches Tactics ClipBoard Kit
- Markwort Mini Basketball Court Board Set
Best Basketball Coach Clipboard Reviews
You can easily find a basketball clipboard online, but to save you the hassle of looking through a ton of products, check out the best ones I researched here.
1. Murray Sporting Goods Basketball Coaches Clipboard
This is the one that I ended up purchasing. Very basic but worked well for what I needed. With a full-court drawing on the front and a half-court representation on the back, this clipboard for basketball allows coaches to explain two plays at once during a quick timeout.
With its dry-erase surface, you can easily write and wipe between timeouts. In addition, this basketball coach clipboard features a sturdy metal clip to hold notes, plays, or a dry-erase marker.
Though sized to fit into a backpack, the two-sided basketball clipboard provides enough space for writing plays and formations. However, the black basketball court markings can make distinguishing the play more difficult if you use a black marker, especially when you need to get back onto the court quickly.
Pros:
- Good size for travel
- Two sides with court markings
- Lots of space for writing
Cons:
- Black court lines may be difficult to see.
2. Crown Sporting Goods Dry Erase Basketball Coaching Clipboard
This sturdy clipboard features a clearly marked full-court basketball representation on the front and a blank back. You can customize the back with your logo or name, so you don’t lose this valuable piece of equipment.
With a dry-erase surface, you can easily write and rewrite plays during crucial timeouts, and its sturdy metal clip allows coaches to carry notes and plays with them as well as keep their dry-erase marker clipped to the board.
When you need a basketball coaching board, you may prefer one that has a half-court marked on the other side, which this one does not. However, the red markings on the full-court front make it extremely easy to see plays and positioning when using a black marker.
Pros:
- Good size for travel
- Clear court markings in red
- Can customize the back
Cons:
- Only one side has court markings.
3. Firelong Basketball Clipboard Custom
Look no further if you love basketball clipboard custom features. This stylish leather-bound clipboard has a magnetic closure to ensure safe closing and boasts one full-court board and a half-court board on the other side.
With a spot to secure your dry-erase marker and magnets to move around the board, you have the option of drawing plays and formations using the magnets or utilizing a mix of both.
Pros:
- Folds up nicely
- Sleek, high-end look
- Can customize the back
Cons:
- Included marker is too small.
- Magnets can be in the way if you don’t want to use them.
4. Markwort Mini Basketball Court Board Set
If you’re looking for a basketball coach clipboard on the smaller side, consider this single-sided dry-erase board with magnets.
The magnets secure well without being hard to manipulate. Moreover, the board includes full-court markings, making it easy to write plays or use magnets to show formations.
Its simple design makes packing it and traveling convenient, and the lack of frills may appeal to some coaches.
Pros:
- Smaller size makes it easier to pack.
- Magnets secure well and are easy to use.
- Dry-erase marker is included.
Cons:
- May be too small for some levels of coaching.
Clipboard for Basketball Buying Guide
Because you need a basketball coach clipboard to communicate with your players, just be sure you choose one that fits that role best. So keep these things in mind.
Basketball Clipboard With Dry Erase
When you need a basketball coach clipboard, your primary purpose is communication. A dry-erase clipboard for basketball makes your job much easier. Dry-erase boards give you more flexibility with fewer moving parts than using pen and paper to mark plays and formations.
Number of Sides on the Clipboard for Basketball
You can find a basketball coach clipboard in two formats: with one or two sides. Some coaches don’t want a flipside for marking because they inadvertently erase it in use. Other coaches prefer a two-sided clipboard for basketball because they can mark up more than one play ahead of time.
Size of the Basketball Coach Clipboard
The optimal size of the basketball clipboard will depend on your needs and preferences. You want to be sure the clipboard will fit easily into a backpack, travel bag, or whatever you might carry onto the court.
Likewise, you want the size of the court marked on it to be sufficient for your needs. Keep in mind that a basketball clipboard with custom features like adding your logo or name can take up valuable writing space.
Color of the Basketball Court Clipboard
You may be tempted to buy a clipboard for basketball with your team’s colors, but since you need to mark on the clipboard, be sure you purchase one in a color that shows the marks easily. When checking out the color, consider the color of the markings of the court, too.
Markers and Erasers for a Basketball Clipboard
Generally, poor marker and eraser quality can cause dry-erase boards not to erase well. Often, colors other than black, no matter how good the marker quality, just don’t erase well. So consider sticking with a simple black, quality, name-brand marker.
When it comes to an eraser, avoid using the ones attached to the marker. They rarely come in a large enough size to erase quickly. Also, the more that erasers get used, the less they can erase. So if you buy a cloth eraser that can be laundered, you’ll always have a quality, clean eraser to use.
Electronic Basketball Clipboard
This wasn’t relevant for what I needed but I could see how an electronic basketball clipboard may be useful for a more advanced coach. This is a basic video on how one works:
Conclusion
If you’re looking for a well-equipped clipboard for basketball, coaches should select the Murray Sporting Goods Basketball Coaches Clipboard. Its two sides make marking plays easy, and you can secure your marker or other documents in the metal clip. Get one before your first basketball game this season.
Troy Wright
I am a lifetime basketball enthusiast and loved playing basketball competitively through high school. I still try and play at least 3 times a week and explore all kinds of equipment and training to keep myself on the court and continually getting better. I am a college basketball fanatic and move onto the NBA when March Madness ends.
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