{"id":1048,"date":"2016-03-03T20:05:02","date_gmt":"2016-03-04T02:05:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.breakthroughbasketball.com\/haefner\/?p=1048"},"modified":"2016-10-21T09:34:42","modified_gmt":"2016-10-21T14:34:42","slug":"what-we-did-with-our-3rd-grade-boys-team-offense-defense-drills-plays","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.breakthroughbasketball.com\/haefner\/what-we-did-with-our-3rd-grade-boys-team-offense-defense-drills-plays","title":{"rendered":"What We Did With Our 3rd Grade Boys Team – Offense, Defense, Drills, Plays"},"content":{"rendered":"

Here’s what we did with our 3rd grade boys’ team this year. \u00a0You might be surprised that it’s very similar to how we coached our 10th grade team<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Overview and Results<\/h2>\n

For the sake of transparency, I’ll start by admitting\u00a0our 3rd grade team is stacked. \u00a0Due to some luck and unique circumstances, we have a roster of 10 very good players! \u00a0Anyone could have coached this team and they would win a lot\u00a0of games. \u00a0We had an aggressive and athletic group of good players.<\/p>\n

We started the season winning most of our games\u00a0fairly easily. \u00a0So we started playing up against 4th grade teams and also signed up for a few tough tournaments with\u00a0other stacked teams.<\/p>\n

From a winning standpoint, we won all our games except four\u00a0of them. \u00a0Two\u00a0of those losses came from 4th grade teams. \u00a0We won 3 of the 6 tournaments we participated in.<\/p>\n

This might sound crazy but I was worried\u00a0that we might\u00a0win all our games. \u00a0I wanted to make sure we lost several games. \u00a0Winning all your games in 3rd grade just doesn’t make sense to me… from a mental standpoint, where do you go from there? \u00a0I’d rather keep them hungry and peak in high school instead of\u00a03rd grade.<\/p>\n

Our Progress and Improvements<\/strong><\/p>\n

I think the biggest improvements came from players just learning the game. \u00a0Our skills certainly improved but these kids came in skilled (relatively speaking). \u00a0I had worked with them all (except one) the previous year or two. \u00a0And all of them (except my son) had experience playing 5on5\u00a0basketball.<\/p>\n

The beginning of the season was almost all fast break and 1v1. \u00a0Very little “team basketball”. \u00a0By the end of the season, players realized\u00a0that didn’t work against the good teams. \u00a0Instead they had to share (pass) the ball and learn how to get open.<\/p>\n

We made a lot of progress in regards to ball movement, decision making, and overall skills.<\/p>\n

Last but not least… they learned a lot of lessons about listening skills, being resilient, and sportsmanship. \u00a0Because of that, I think the season was a success.<\/p>\n


\n<\/a> \"3rd<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/h2>\n

\"3rd<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/h2>\n

Motion Offense<\/h2>\n

We ran a 5 out motion offense giving players quite a bit of freedom. \u00a0Our primary rule and emphasis was:<\/p>\n

We want spacing and ball movement until we get a good shot. \u00a0Get all the rebounds.<\/em><\/p>\n

I can’t tell you how many times we referenced that statement. \u00a0This group was very 1v1 oriented… so learning shot selection, decision making, and passing to open teammates was our biggest challenge with this group.<\/p>\n

Here are some additional guidelines for our motion:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Space to the 3pt line (perimeter spots – 15-17ft apart)<\/li>\n
  2. If the ball is dribbled at you on perimeter, back cut.<\/li>\n
  3. 3 options when you pass – go left, forward, or right. \u00a0(In other words: go toward the ball for a ball screen, or to the basket for a basket cut, or away from the ball to set an away screen).<\/li>\n
  4. Always fill to the ball on the perimeter (replace open spots).<\/li>\n
  5. Get open when one pass away (pop out, back cut, screen away, or ball screen). \u00a0Read the defense (ex: if defense sags\u2026 pop out).<\/li>\n
  6. Use weakside flash cuts when defenders cheat up or turn head (lose vision of you).<\/li>\n
  7. Look to reverse the ball when you catch at the top.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    We practiced away screens but rarely used them in games. \u00a0We also taught\u00a0ball screens mostly because we had to defend them in almost every possession of the season. \u00a0So we figured we might also well work on both the defensive and offensive aspects of ball screens at the same time.<\/p>\n

    For the most part, players basket cut and use the dribble drive. \u00a0Which was totally fine. \u00a0We just wanted player movement, ball movement, and spacing.<\/p>\n

    To learn more about motion offense, I recommend the Don Kelbick Motion Offense DVDs<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    Zone Offense<\/h2>\n

    We just ran our 5 out motion and encouraged ball movement. \u00a0I wanted our players to stop in the middle (in a gap) when cutting. \u00a0However it was tough to get them to do that during a game. \u00a0For the most part we just let them play. \u00a0With some time, they started figuring out the ball reversal gave\u00a0them better shots.<\/p>\n

    Inbounds Plays<\/h2>\n

    To start the season, we just told players to get in a box…. then sets screens and get open. \u00a0I didn’t want to spend practice time trying to get them to memorize plays. \u00a0There are way too many other skills and fundamentals to work on — and I didn’t want to take time away from that.<\/p>\n

    We did eventually show players this screen the screener play<\/a> — mostly because so many other teams hurt us on their scripted inbounds plays that I wanted us to practice against it defensively. \u00a0But I don’t think we ever ran that play correctly in a game.<\/p>\n

    At this age, it’s probably easiest to put them in a box and tell them to either upscreen or cross screen. \u00a0The time required to teach a more complicated screen the screener play just is not worth it. \u00a0If you have to spend more than a couple\u00a0minutes on it, I don’t think it’s worth it.<\/p>\n

    Set Plays<\/h2>\n

    We just had one play called low<\/a>. \u00a0Barely spent any time practicing. \u00a0The play was used in end of quarter \/ end of game situations.<\/p>\n

    Press Breaker<\/h2>\n

    We ran this 1 up press breaker<\/a>. \u00a0We never practiced this but did implement it during time outs in a tournament. \u00a0I just shouted out instructions and told players where to line up during the game. \u00a0Presses never hurt us.<\/p>\n

    Defense<\/h2>\n

    We played all man to man defense. \u00a0This group had picked up a lot of bad habits playing rec basketball. \u00a0They reached, lunged, gambled, and so on. We had to spend a lot of time teaching them how to guard the ball and CONTAIN it.<\/p>\n

    We just focused on the basics of on ball defense, one pass away, and help side. \u00a0And just like all young teams, getting all 5 players to know who they are guarding is half the battle. \u00a0So we wanted them communicating every time they touch the ball.<\/p>\n

    We just taught fundamental aspects of man to man defense.<\/p>\n

    Emphasizing Core Values<\/h2>\n

    To me this is the most important thing for coaches. \u00a0We spent a ton of time teaching and emphasizing core values and developing\u00a0character\u00a0skills.<\/p>\n

    Here’s what we emphasized all season:<\/p>\n