Questions From Subscribers...

Scott,

With kids at that age and ability, you should work almost 100% on skill development.

I know you don't want to hear this but do NOT worry about winning!! Even if you practiced 2 hours every day, you still don't have enough time for skills which is what these kids need in the long run.

Instead of worrying about winning, put them in a position where they can experience other successes…

For example, if you work on shooting form, you can chart their progress and show their improvement in shooting percentage during practice. Celebrate these small successes!

Maybe you can also measure things like turnovers, rebounds, and celebrate improving in those areas. Show them how they are improving!

Kids want to be successful and have fun. But unfortunately not everyone can win.

And let's face it. There are just too many youth coaches that teach presses and traps to take advantage of young kids that aren't strong enough to throw out of a trap.

These kids aren't learning "situational" basketball. They just trap to take advantage of kids that aren't developed yet.

Those kids would be much better off learning fundamentals, skills, situational basketball, and half court execution. Those traps and bad habits they are developing now (learning from pressing and shooting 3's) won't work when they get into high school and above. The fundamentally sound kids will kick their butts.

Teach your players the right thing now, and know that in 4 years, when you watch them play high school ball, you'll be the person that helped them succeed at that level. That's much more fun and fulfilling than winning a few more games in 6th grade.

Here are some important skills to work on:
- Shooting form and footwork
- Jump stops
- Pivots and situational footwork (back pivots, front pivots, sweeps, drop step, step through)
- Offensive fundamentals (basics of reading screen and cutting)
- Ballhandling
- Lay ups
- Passing
- Basic man-to-man defense

For offense, show the basic spacing and show a 2 or 3 simple cuts and movements. Let them play and have fun from there. You won't have time to teach an offense. If the parents don't like it, give him this link and tell them this is even what NBA and college coaches recommend.

Here's a few links you might like:
http://www.breakthroughbasketball.com/coaching/fundamentals.html
http://www.breakthroughbasketball.com/coaching/youthbasketball.html
http://www.breakthroughbasketball.com/qa/q1-verybasicyouthdrills.html

Good luck!

Jeff Haefner
http://www.breakthroughbasketball.com