A Fun Tournament!

I apologize for the late blog post. Normally I try to post on Saturday but our 5th and 6th grade girls and boys hosted a four team tournament yesterday. It was an all day event and a blast to be a part of!

Our teams didn't do as well as hoped, but all the games were played hard and the crowed support was fantastic. Several of the games came down to the wire with a final shot winning in the closing seconds winning the game.

Many of you may not have any connection to youth basketball but I encourage you to become involved or at least watch these kids play. You could catch a game at your local YMCA, Boys and Girls Clubs, or any elementary school. These young athletes really compete hard and do their best. It is a pleasure to watch them become better as the season goes on. It is much easier to see the consistent improvement at this level because it is all so new to them and every day they develop new skills.

My Saturday (even though it's Sunday) Tip:

Become involved with the young players and teach the following fundamentals:

1. One and two ball dribbling- Obviously if the players can't dribble one ball you can't introduce two ball dribbling yet. But as soon as they can handle one, then get two in their hands. This will improve their weak hand quickly and give them great control overall.
2. Passing to a moving target- Just like dribbling, you have to start with the basic partner stationary passing. But, have the players hitting a moving target asap because this will teach them touch and how to lead a pass.
3. Shooting off the dribble and the catch- After the players learn the fundamentals of shooting you will need to have them to shoot off the dribble. In the game, they have to learn to shoot quickly when open. Same goes for off the catch. They need to learn to get the ball into the shooting pocket quickly and release.
4. Defending on and off the ball- It isn't too difficult to get the players to learn how to stay in front of a defender but it is difficult to get them to understand playing off the ball defense. They have to learn how to play one, two and Three passes away. They need to learn help defense and how to see man and ball- this is a big one at the youth level.
5. How to Pivot in triple threat position- This is also a big one. How many times do you see young kids put the ball behind their heads of try to protect the ball by not move their body? You must teach them to stay athletic and pivot to protect the ball. They will be able to buy time to get passes to open defenders just by using the pivot.

Finally, you want to teach boxing out and rebounding, but this is tough to teach young kids. They will pick it up it as they become older but because it isn't a natural thing to do they struggle with it. Heck, college and professional players struggle with this.

Have fun and help they young players develop.

Yours in Speed,

Lee

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