Technorati Tags: Basketball, Dribbling Drills, Left Hand

One of the hardest things to do when you’re a youth coach is picking the right kids for the right positions. Choosing the right mindset over the right body type for a given position is important in soccer, football and especially basketball. Many times, a coach will look at a kid’s size rather than their skills and mindset when giving them a position – more so when picking out a Center. I have been guilty of this as well, but quickly learned my lesson. The tallest kids on your team do not automatically make them your post players (PF & C). I had my smallest kid set as Point Guard and my tallest as Center – but the set up wasn’t working and we weren’t gelling as a team. I moved some kids around and my Power Forward became my Point Guard, Shooting Guard to Small Forward, Point Guard to Shooting Guard and Small Forward to Power Forward. We gelled, everyone excelled at using their strengths and we started winning games.

Here’s what to look for when choosing kids for basketball positions:

Point Guard (PG or 1) – This needs to be the best ball-handler and passer on the team. Being able to “see” the court (i.e. – watching passes and plays develop…) is a huge requirement as well. The kid you pick as your Point Guard also needs to have some leadership qualities (those can be instilled & earned during the season…) and be able to remember the plays you make available during practice. In addition, this player should be quick on their feet and able to run a fast-break.
Shooting Guard (SG or 2) – Your Shooting Guard is usually the second best ball-handler on the team and definitely the fastest on the court. The Shooting Guard also needs to be able to remember plays that can be called as they may temporarily become the point guard on a fast break. Above all, the kid you choose to play Shooting Guard has to have the ability to shoot the outside jumper and drive the lane for a lay-up.
Small Forward (SF or 3) – I usually pick the most aggressive kid on the team for this position as they will be called on the drive the lane into traffic to make a lay-up or quick jumper more often than not. The Small Forward position additionally includes the ability to aggressively rebound at both ends of the floor. Whoever you decides to place in this position should be able to receive and make quick passes – both in and outside of the paint.
Power Forward (PF or 4) – The Power Forward position requires a player that is aggressive when rebounding and able to shoot a high percentage within the paint and under the basket. Speed isn’t a big factor for this position, but “meanness” will help when boxing out for rebounds and creating lanes in the post. A player with a big vertical leap in relation to their height will help make a good Power Forward.
Center (C or 5) – This in no means is your tallest player on the team. Will height be a plus when playing this position? Of course it will – look at Shaq. His height makes him better than he really is (at least technically…). Because the Center position does not require a lot of speed or skill in shooting outside of the paint; your Center just needs to be able to box players out to create lanes or to look for a rebound. Their shooting will be regulated to just under the basket after getting an offensive rebound or shooting free-throws (if they are playing their position correctly, they will be on the charity strip a lot…). I usually pick my weakest and/or slowest player for this position. Once you have chosen who will be your Center, you then just have to focus on teaching them the skills needed for them to be successful.

I hope this helps when you are drafting players and putting them into positions. This process becomes much easier when dealing with high school juniors and seniors, but using these guidelines for grades 4 – 10 just might help keep you from forcing a square peg in a round hole…

Technorati Tags: Basketball, Choosing, Coaching, Kids, Positions, Right, Youth

Rebounding is a tough job. It is called “pounding the boards” or “cleaning the glass” for a reason. It is hard work and a skill that can only be developed by practicing basketball rebounding drills as often as any other basketball drill. Rebounding is probably the most physical aspect of the game of basketball, and also one of the more underappreciated. However, it is the single most effective way to gain possession of the ball. A quick check of recent champions at any level will show that success at the highest level depends quite a bit on the number of good rebounders a basketball team has.

Some players incorrectly assume that the key to basketball rebounding is being tall, or being able to jump high. The truth, however, is that the key to being an exceptional rebounder has more to do with position, timing, and desire. Defensively, you should already be between your opponent and the basket, so when a shot goes up, if you make contact by boxing out and maintain your leverage, you have the advantage to get the ball. From that point, it is all effort.

An excellent shooting team will make 50% of their shots, which means they’ll miss half of them. This also means that your team’s number of possessions, amount of shot attempts, and control of the ball are impacted by rebounding more than any other facet of the game. When the other team has the basketball, there are only three ways you can get it back:

Your opponent scores. Your opponent turns the ball over. Your opponent misses a shot and your team rebounds the ball.

In the course of an average game, the third way will happen more often than the first two combined. If you want the basketball, rebound!

Offensively, your team can earn more shot attempts per possession by getting offensive rebounds. Since your defender is typically in front of you when the shot goes up, offensive rebounding is less about position and leverage, and more about anticipation and quickness. The advantage you have, however, if you are the shooter is knowing where the ball is more likely to bounce. You can often tell if your shot is going to be short, or off to one side or the other. If you train yourself to “follow your shot” you will collect more offensive rebounds, and will earn more shot attempts. Test it out. Track your team shot attempts per game compared to your opponent and see how often you win when you have more.

Rebounding is another basketball skill that all five players must practice. Guards can be just as good rebounders as forwards; it’s all about heart and how badly you want the basketball. Below are some tips for good rebounding as well as some drills for your youth basketball team’s practice. You can also find more free basketball skills & drills videos and tutorials online at websites like Weplay.com.

Basketball Rebounding Tips

Communicate with your teammates when your opponent attempts a shot so they know to get into rebounding position. When a shot goes up, box out your opponent by stepping into them and pivoting so they are behind you. Maintain contact with your opponent using your backside, not your arms and hands, which is a foul. Maintain leverage by remaining in a good athletic stance. If you are too upright, you will be easy to move. Stay low and hold your ground. Find the ball and elevate to rebound the ball with both hands at the highest point possible, and secure the ball. Learn how to get to the side of defender with offensive rebounding drills When you are the shooter, follow your shot for an offensive rebound. Remember, a longer shot will result in a farther bounce off the rim.

Basketball Rebounding Drills

Three in the Key
Divide players into three teams. Line the teams up on the perimeter. One player from each team meets in the key. The coach attempts a shot. All three players attempt to rebound the ball. The player that comes up with the rebound goes to the end of his team’s line and another player from that team enters the key. The two players that did not get the rebound remain and try again. When all the players from one team have gotten a rebound, that team is the winner.

One on One Rebounding
This is a very simple drill that emphasizes both offensive and defensive rebounding in a man-to-man setting. One player has the ball at the top of the key. Another player defends a separate offensive player on the perimeter. The offensive player with the ball shoots, purposely trying to miss, and the other offensive player goes to try and rebound while the defensive player tries to box him out and secure the rebound himself. If desired, some type of score could be used and rotate the position of each player in the drill.

Technorati Tags: Basketball, Drills, Rebounding, Youth

Every fan enjoys watching the creativity of a great ball handler. Few plays in basketball are as athletic and graceful as a well-executed spin move, an ankle-breaking cross over, or a behind the back dribble to avoid a defender. The purpose of these dribbling moves, however, is quite simple: to change direction. When you are dribbling the basketball and your defender alters your path, you must have at least one of these moves ready.

Assuming that you are already handling the basketball using proper technique, the keys to a good change of direction dribble are planting and cutting hard on your outside leg, and dribbling the ball low, close to the floor. Usually, if play has dictated that a change of direction dribble is necessary, there will be a lot of traffic and/or defensive pressure. Keeping the ball low will make it much more difficult for the defense to steal it.

While it is absolutely essential that you develop some of these skills for game use, as a youth basketball player, you should not attempt to use some of the more advanced ball control skills (behind the back, spin, around the back, between the legs) unless you have mastered them and use them only when they are necessary. Develop an effective cross over dribble first and use it when your path must be altered. Remember to keep the ball low on your cross over.

Below are some tips for change of direction dribbling as well as some fun drills for your youth basketball team’s practice. You can also find more free basketball skills & drills videos and tutorials online at websites like Weplay.com.

Basketball Ball Control Tips

As with all dribbling, keep your head up and eyes forward as much as possible so you can see your teammates and your opponents. Plant and cut hard on your outside leg and foot. It’s not a change of direction if you continue on the same path. Dribble the ball as low to the floor as possible when you are in traffic. When dribbling to the right, the ball should be in your right hand. When dribbling to your left, the ball should be in your left hand.

Basketball Dribbling Drills

3 Lines
Divide your team into three lines at the baseline. Each player has a ball. On the whistle, the first player in each line dribbles to their right. At the free throw line, the players cross over to the left. After approximately ten feet, each player crosses back over to the right. This continues to the end of the floor. The next player in line starts when the player ahead of them passes the free throw line. After each trip down the floor, change the dribble (cross over, spin, behind the back, between the legs).

Individual Cross Over
This is a very simple, individual drill to work on your cross over dribble. On the whistle, dribble in place in a good, athletic stance with your arm bar up. On the next whistle, make a cross over dribble to your other hand and continue to dribble. Work on a very low cross over.

Technorati Tags: Ball, Basketball, Drills, Handling, Youth

It’s tough to find a way to get through, over, and around five defenders in youth basketball game, so any time you are given a free opportunity to put points on the board, you have to be able to take full advantage of it. The ability to get to the foul line and then make a high percentage of your free throws is critical to the success of any basketball team, and free throw shooting is something that one can definitely improve through attention to detail and a good bit of practice.

When it comes to free throw shooting from a basketball team perspective, there is a huge swing in potential advantage depending upon a squad’s ability to drain their foul shots. If you are nearly automatic when you head to the charity stripe, each time your opponent makes a mistake and commits a foul they pay for it and you put easy points on the board. If you miss, their mistake doesn’t hurt them, and you waste a possession when the defense did not actually stop you. If you look deep into the statistics in any basketball league at any level, you will find that teams that get to the free throw line frequently and subsequently make a high percentage of their fouls shots are always at or near the top of the standings. There are several fundamental principles to consider when shooting from the free throw line.

Below are some tips for proper basketball free throw shooting techniques as well as some fun basketball drills for your youth basketball team’s practice. You can also find more free basketball skills & drills videos and tutorials online at websites like Weplay.com.

Basketball Free Throw Shooting Tips

Relax, take some deep breaths, and focus on the basket. Go through your ritual with the ball (whatever it may be, a spin, a couple of dribbles) calmly and consistently to get in rhythm. Assume the proper leg position, usually about shoulder length apart with shooting side leg slightly forward. Use proper basketball shooting techniques with the basketballball on fingertips, knees bent, and elbow in. Concentrate and follow through.

Basketball Free Throw Shooting Drills

Rhythm Drill
With this basketball drill, players gradually ease into their shooting rhythm. Each player starts near the basket and takes a shot, and when it is made, takes a couple of steps back and shoots another. Then a couple more steps back and another shot, and finally a fourth just inside the stripe. If they miss from any of these spots they keep shooting from there until they make one. After shooting and making four shots inside the stripe, they then shoot from the foul line until they make ten shots. Then, they make their way back to the start by shooting from the four positions inside the stripe in reverse order until they are back at the starting position.

Concentration Drill
During the basketball game, players are not going to have the luxury of a silent, meditative environment when they are shooting free throws (especially on the road). This drill will help players learn to keep their focus while being distracted. Divide the team into thirds and form three lines, one at the foul line for shooters and two other lines outside of and along the three second lane. The players along the lane try to distract the shooter, waving their arms, yelling, talking, anything they can do to try to break the shooter’s concentration. The shooter takes ten free throws. Players rotate and each one has his or her turn as the shooter.

Technorati Tags: Basketball, Drills, Free, Shooting, Throw, Tips, Youth

If you are one of the many interested in making the Kuna youth basketball team, then you will certainly consider the material covered by this brief review to be just plain astonishing. What would you do with the knowledge that absolutely anyone has the opportunity to make an impressive improvement to their game in a very short time span, without any extra on-court practicing, drilling and training.

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Technorati Tags: Basketball, Keep, Kuna, This, Yourself, Youth

If you are curious about playing high level youth basketball, then you will in all probability find the news which this article will reveal to be too unbelievable to be true. What would you do if you learned that anyone who wants to can make impressive improvements to their abilities out on the court in a matter of a few short weeks, without any extra on-court practicing, drilling and training.

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Technorati Tags: Basketball, Don't, High, Level, Miss, This, Youth

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It may be the case that you were just curious about making the Logan youth basketball team, and perhaps you simply want to satisfy your curiosity, but it is important for you to understand that you will have the ability to increase your unrealized talents to a previously undreamed-of level – to attain a new level of thinking, decision-making, and even improve the physical part of your game, such as stealing, assisting, and shooting. Top coaches and trainers from impressive teams all over the united states have used this incredible new training method which empowers individual players as well as their teams to greatly improve their strategy and their game overall in a matter of weeks.

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Technorati Tags: Basketball, Important, Logan, News, Youth

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Technorati Tags: Basketball, Free, International, Need, This, Tips, Youth

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