Some of my 5th graders are learning to take a charge. We definitely stress safety first on these deals. Curious if you think our player took a charge or was this a foul? (We're blue)

http://www.vimeo.com/7751688 (10 sec vid)

I would have called it a charge, but it's a judgment call and you have rec officials and they don't have replay in slow motion :).

I would not worry about what was called. Rather, I would congratulate the player on doing a great job no matter what the result was.

And can you come teach my players how to do that?!?

I was a defensive minded coach also... and to me... it was a charge.... regardless of how the ref called them in our games... we always said.. "Great call ref!"

You have done a great job with these young kids... I think it was a charge to... but I looked at it twice to be sure... the refs don't have that replay in their mind. It looked like the defender had his feet set. REMEMBER, the CHARGE / BLOCK call is probably the toughest call in the game. Don't forget this also... you didn't have Mark Wunderlich (pro ref) on your game.

All we can ask from refs are that they are consistent... that way we can play the game accordingly.

I would congratulate any of your players for even TRYING to take a charge, especially at that age. You have done a great job with them.... tell that boy he can play for me anytime.

I've seen some high school teams play and the next time they even TRY to take a charge will be their first.

Ken

It's not so much the call by the ref, more showing the kids what a charge looks like. Sometimes you only have a split second to get set. Didn't want to show the kids if other coaches felt he wasn't set.

Joe - when you watch it a full speed it's a real tough call from a ref's perspective.

Ken - we definitely didn't argue with the ref, I honestly couldn't tell in the game. Just happened to be reviewing tape and thought it was cool when you slowed it down. Trying to get the kids to take more charges. That happened to be my son.

Appreciate the input!

You can be proud of your son Rob! He did a great job of getting in the right position and taking that charge.

Here is a little something we did as we went down... we would let out a ohhhhhhh!! Just a little something to get the refs attention.

Take a look at this drill:

Watch "Coach Sampson Charge Drill at Indiana Hoosiers basketball practice" Video at HoopsUTV

Have your kids watch it too.... everyone will like this one I guarantee it. Of course, I doubt it if your kids will be able to dunk like they do

Ken

Hi CoachRob,

Here is a link to the video that Coach Sars is referring to: http://www.breakthroughbasketball.com/drills/sampson-charge-drill.html

Thanks Joe,

I tried to copy and paste that to no avail. I still cant figure out what I am doing wrong...

I love that drill... of course none of us are going to have a band... the stands half full and several guys that can dunk it.

By the way Rob.... when your son can dunk it this year let me know! :-)


Ken

Charge or not, it was a pretty sweet move.

As for Sampson, neat drill but a real tool as a "coach." Absolutely ruined my IU program.

We actually did the Sampson drill in practice last week. Most of the kids loved it, a few weren't too keen on "taking a charge". My son took a charge in our recent game, refs didn't call it. Had another kid take a charge and get the call. He got to choose anything out the snack machine after the game.

Keep running it.... you will start to get the calls one of these days and you are teaching your kids a valuable skill. Oh yeah, now all you have to do is to get a band and fill the stands in practice.... along with a kid that can dunk and you will have the full package.

Glad the kids like the drill.
Ken