Best way to organize youth bball league at grade school leve

What elementary school grades make the most sense to combine on youth basketball teams? We presently have grades 3&4 forming one league and grades 5&6 another. Other schools combine grades 4th, 5th and 6th together in one league and have 2nd and 3rd graders combine in another. This would allow 2nd graders to get involved. Once kids get into 7th grade they enter the school team.

We can only have two distinct seasons, one for the older kids and one for the beginners. Which system is preferable?

I guess it depends on the goals of the league, how many kids you have, etc. In my experience, it's hard to combine 4th and 6th graders, there can be a really big different in ability there.

Shooting also becomes an issue at that age. They just aren't strong enough to shoot the ball properly. We suggest...

• USE 6 FT. RIMS FOR KIDS THAT ARE 5 TO 7 YEARS OLD.
• USE 8 FT. RIMS FOR 8 AND 9 YEARS OLD.
• USE 9 FT. RIMS FOR 10 AND 11 YEAR OLDS.
• USE REGULATION FOR 12 YEAR OLDS AND UP.

We also suggest that you use smaller basketballs.

Here is a document explaining the proper development of athletes. I think it's a well done and eye opening document that should help you design your league with the kids best interests in mind. Read it closely.
http://www.coach.ca/files/LTAD_forparents_EN_Final.pdf

PS - I hope you don't allow full court press or zone defense at that age.

I agree with Jeff on this....

Here is something you might want to look at... especially Bob Bigelows "Coaching Youth Basketball.... let them have FUN and teach something about the game.... KISS method for the younger ones.. .2-4th....

Mixing them is tough.... 3/4 - 5/6 and let the 2nd graders play with their own age group. JMO

http://www.breakthroughbasketball.com/store/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=8&cat=Coaching+Youth+Basketball

I'm very interest in this topic, with expanded look at how to select the teams.

Our league is K-8. D Div K/1, C Div 2/3, B Div 4/5, & A div 6-8. All are 5 on 5. All play zone. There is a huge difference in abilities in each division. Coaches draft teams. Players go into the draft when the move on to the next division.

I would like to see our league change drastically. I'd like for k/1 to be played 3 on 3 1/2 court. Which would allow 2 games to take place at one time. Possibly have every team have an "A" and "B" team divided up by ability. "A" player from 2 teams would play on one end while "B" players played on the other.

Possibly even follow that same philosophy for 2/3.

Man to man only. No zone.

I'd like to come up with a better method of dividing players up onto teams. Not fond of the drafting method.

Any input or opinions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Everybody likes to LOAD up their own team... God forbid they don't win!

Think about this.... have the coaches sit down and draft teams..... then put the papers in a basket and let them blind draw for the team they are going to coach. I think that they might do a better job of selectiong teams?

Or, you could have a couple of "officers" for the league make up teams ( hopefully they are knowledgeable ) and let the coaches do the blind draw.

NOT playing zones is a GREAT idea... and so is 3 o 3 for the younger kids.K/1 - 2/3 - 4/5 play 3 on 3 This would be a GREAT developmental grouping.

6,7&8 can play 5 on 5. JMO

Most of the rec leagues I've participated in over the years allow teams to sign-up as a team. The biggest reason is most kids want to play with their friends and families fit with certain coaches. Does your league draft because they're afraid coaches will stack teams?

On a side note: one way to stop teams from playing their best players all the time is to establish playing time requirements. Every player must play X amount of time each qtr or each player must play an entire qtr from start to finish. Something that makes it clear to everyone this is about getting the kids out on the court, not playing your best players the entire game.

Love the 3 on 3 concept for the younger levels. In fact, I'd consider offering that as a separate league for all ages maybe in the spring and fall. Tons of ball touches and every player has opportunities to pass, shoot, rebound, dribble, set screens, block-out, cut, etc. I'm a BIG fan of 3 on 3 at any level. Too easy to "hide" in 5 on 5 and barely touch the ball.

With the 6th-8th levels, you could go with A and B divisions if you had enough players. Even then, you'll find teams not wanting to play in the "A" division that should be, so they end up dominating the "B" division. Are you thinking of having tryouts for these A/B divisions?

Thanks for the great suggestions. I have an opportunity to reshape our league. With the great suggestions that I've received above, I would also like some examples of "model leagues" that are "doing it the right way".

I've run across a couple that I would consider that are "doing it right".
Delbrook Steve Nash Youth Basketball League (http://delbrookbasketball.com/)
Katy Youth Basketball (http://www.katyyouthbasketball.com/)

Any opinions on these two organizations? Also any others?

Thanks,

TSYouthSports wrote:Any opinions on these two organizations? Also any others?Thanks,

Those both look like good organizations to me. Another organization that can be helpful is Positive Coaching Alliance. I've taken both coaching courses, read several of the books, and attended a few seminars. Good stuff.

Your update got me thinking about something. The leagues that "really get it" are the ones with a well thought out philosophy/mission about youth sports. They emphasize fun, learning, and a positive environment. Their philosophy defines the structure of the league (e.g. how many players on a team, zone or no zone, presses, ball touches) and also who they have as coaches. These leagues celebrate and reward the key points of their philosophy.

If I was setting up a league, I'd make certain ALL my coaches were committed to our mission and have a short training video emphasizing key points. I'd also make the parents watch a short video on what being a youth sport parent means in our league (e.g. letting the coaches coach, refs ref and kids play). I'd include the refs and ask them to emphasize our philosophy during games.

I coach my youngest sons team, K-1st grade team. Attached is the text exchange that I had with a parent of one of my players over the weekend. My original text to this parent was to see how her son was feeling because he got sick at our practice earlier in the week.

The parent did not come to me to discuss this at the game.

Some points of note. They reset the score after each quarter for this age division. My team is the only team in the entire league that plays M2M defense.

This parent's view is exactly what is wrong with youth sports.

Some will never get it and there's nothing you can do. You help who you can. Some do come around with education. It takes time but by sharing philosophies, studies, and stats you can bring some parents around. I think all parents have good intentions, it's just that many are misguided.

You are TOO KIND Jeff!

As I was reading this, I was thining - ARE YOU KDDING ME?? These are K 1 kids - This should be all about FUN!!

YOu are right Jeff, some people will never get it. Coach, have a meeting with your parents and discuss your philosophy regarding playing time and what you are trying to teach. Hopefully all the kids are getting equal playing time.
Since they are resetting the clock the parents shoiuld understand that its not about winning or who is better than someone else.... Its all about teachiing and having fun..... Theser are little kids, not the NBA!!

Good luck and God Bless you for working with kids of this age.... I hope your main GOAL is all about FUN right now!

TSYouthSports wrote:I coach my youngest sons team, K-1st grade team. Attached is the text exchange that I had with a parent of one of my players over the weekend.

Wow! Just caught this post and read the text. My first thought is why isn't this kid on a traveling kindergarten team if he's that good? Come to think of it, he is on a "traveling" kindergarten team. I've dealt with a few over zealous parents through the years, but not a K-1 parent thinking about W's & L's.

Agree with Sar, I'd have a quick meeting or send an e-mail reiterating your coaching philosophy. Catching those specific parents after a game and talking in a calm manner might also help things for the remainder of the season.

With regards to your team being the only one playing M2M, I'm surprised the league doesn't have a rule about that. Same with equal playing time at that age. In fact, I'm surprised they keep score at all with the K-1. Kinda goes back to my original point on leagues making their philosophies and rules clear from the get go. Then reinforcing them by using the refs to remind coaches to play M2M or make sure the kids are getting equal playtime with subs.

I coached in a rec flag football league for a number of years and we'd run into teams that ran their hotshots over and over with the other kids on the team rarely touching the ball. It was obvious to me that all the parents wanted their kid to get his/her shot with the ball each game. So, we had a parent track the ball touches (handoffs and receptions) and tell me who needed a touch in-between series. Ended up going to the league director and explaining what we were doing and they changed the rules because of it. Even then, we'd still run into coaches excluding certain kids from touches because they were slow or uncoordinated.

These are parents that don't have a clue Rob - When I read that I was shaking my head and had a lot of things that I wanted to say, but I bit my tongue.

Thesre are people that are playing their youth over through their own kids.... pretty sad.

Coach, I hope that you got things worked out so that YOU and the KIDS can have some FUN!!

Update. I originally posted to this thread a few year ago. Just thought I would post an update on our youth league.

I've been on the board for 3 yrs now. I've been able to implement the following changes.

No draft. League officials evaluate players and form teams based on skill level. (distribute players)

D divsion (k-1st grade)
8'ft rim/27.5" ball
3v3 1/2 court (no score kept)
equal playing time
M2M defense only

C division (2nd - 3rd grade)
8.5ft rim/28.5" ball
5v5
No press
M2M defense only
2 qtr min playing time

B division (4th - 5th grade)
9ft rim/28.5" ball
5v5
press allowed
M2M defense only in 1st half
2 qtr min playing time

A division (6th - 8th grade)
10ft rim/28.5" ball
5v5
press allowed
M2M defense only in 1st half
2 qtr min playing time

There are still more changes that I would like to see implemented that I feel would benefit the fundamental development of all kids in the league. Here are a few:
M2M only for all divisions
90% of practice time spent on skill development
Structured requirements on practice planning
At least one qtr where each teams best players are not on the floor
Coaching clinics (required)

I'm always in search of ideas from other leagues.

Great job. I might implement...

- no zone presses at for teams 5th grade or below
- no press if you are up 12 points or more
- for M2M defense, I like your idea of must be man in first half. that way coaches can run a little zone and players can get some exposure to zone. maybe all M2M for 5th grade in below. then after 5th grade allow zone for half of the game.

Nice work.