Basketball Practice and Games for Younger Players with Correct Equipment
Basketball Practice and Games for Younger Players with Correct Equipment
I have written a number of articles about basketball and younger children. No matter how young a child is, he/she can learn basketball if the equipment and the activities match the child's age and ability. I have seen children as young as four years old play basketball and have fun, as long as the tools and techniques were appropriate for their age.
Younger players should use smaller basketballs and lower rims to make the ball and the rim more or less the same size to them as a larger ball and higher rim is to older players.
With the correct size ball and a lower rim, young players can control and shoot the ball with correct techniques. If you look at the pictures on the following pages, you will see that Joey, (eight years old) and John, (12 years old), are doing the same drills but with different sized basketballs. This makes it so that the ball fits their hands so they can develop the proper techniques.
Basketball Equipment and Drills for Young Children
Joey, a younger player, will practice shooting on a wall because we don't have a lower rim. He is working on the correct techniques:
•Hand is under the ball and the ball is in the finger tips
•Elbow makes a right angle under the ball
•Feet are spread shoulder length with right foot slightly in front if you are right handed or left in front if you are left handed
•Follow through with your finger pointing toward the rim once you shoot.
Here he shows this form using an imaginary basketball to make sure his technique is correct.
Basketball Practice and Games for Younger Players with Correct equipment
Notice John, who is older and stronger, has a larger ball and is shooting on a regular rim. He has the same techniques mentioned above. When Joey is as old as John, he will shoot on a regular rim with a regular sized ball.
The Correct Size Basketball and Best Height
What is the right size for a basketball and best height for a hoop? That depends on the player. When a player shoots with a ball that is too big and a rim that is too high, he/she will try to 'shot put' the ball to the rim; while pushing out with his/her elbow.
The correct equipment will make it so that the player doesn't have to strain.
There are mini-balls, midi balls, 8-foot rims, 9-foot rims, and more. How do you know what to use? Let the player's technique and form show you. When the ball is the right size and the rim at the right height, the player will, in most cases, be able to use the proper technique. Their form will tell you what is right.
Basketball Practice and Games for Younger Players with Correct Equipment
Some Ball Handling Drills
Both players are doing hip circles and leg circles with their appropriate sized basketballs. The pictures show these drills, plus other drills show both players dribbling with their heads up, hand on top of the ball, and knees bent. The same fundamentals can be taught to any age.
Basketball Equipment and Drills for Young Children
What Are Correct Shooting Techniques?
1.Coach your players to shoot with their shooting hand under the ball and keep their fingertips on the seams of the ball.
2.The second hand should be on the side of the ball, guiding it.
3.The elbow should be under the ball and form a right angle. This is all important. When the elbow points outward, it means the ball is too large and the rim is too high, making the player overcompensate to shoot it.
4.The player should have his/her shooting foot in front and pointing toward the rim. The second foot should be a few inches in back. Remember, shooting foot means if a player shoots right handed, his/her shooting foot is the right one. If a player shoots left handed, his/her shooting foot is the left one.
5.Shoulders should be facing the basket with feet spread 4 inches or so apart and the body balanced.
6.The player should release the ball from close to the top of the forehead and be able to see the ball, the rim, and their hand aiming toward the rim.
7.That last part, the hand aiming toward the rim, is called the follow through. The follow through is important as the shot will go in the direction that the release hand is pointing. If the hand points to the side, the shot will go in the direction of the hand. If the follow through hand reaches for the rim, the ball is in flight for two!
8.Players should bend their knees for power and push off their toes when shooting, but not lunge because the rim is too high or the ball too large.
Basketball Practice and Games for Younger Players with Correct Equipment
Some Passing Drills
Both players are playing catch. Again, the ball fits their hands so they don't have to compensate with a basketball that is too large.
Children can play no matter what their age if the technique and equipment is correct.
Players can practice using a real or imaginary ball when dribbling, working on their form. The picture below show an example of this.
Use an Invisible Basketball or Shoot on a Wall without a Rim
The correct teaching points to look for with an invisible ball or wall are:
You can also practice shooting on a wall without a rim, aiming for a spot and stressing technique. Always tell them to imagine or see the ball in their mind's eye going in.
1.The correct teaching points to look for with an invisible ball or wall are:
•Feet should be shoulder length apart and balanced
•Hand under ball and elbow at right angle
•See the ball, target, and shooting hand
•Push off toes and bend knees for power
•Reach for the rim or target upon release
•See in your "mind's eye" the ball going in!
You can become a good shooter with a small ball, lower rim, or even shooting on a wall. It evens the playing field so that young players can learn successfully.
I have written a number of articles about basketball and younger children. No matter how young a child is, he/she can learn basketball if the equipment and the activities match the child's age and ability. I have seen children as young as four years old play basketball and have fun, as long as the tools and techniques were appropriate for their age.
Younger players should use smaller basketballs and lower rims to make the ball and the rim more or less the same size to them as a larger ball and higher rim is to older players.
With the correct size ball and a lower rim, young players can control and shoot the ball with correct techniques. If you look at the pictures on the following pages, you will see that Joey, (eight years old) and John, (12 years old), are doing the same drills but with different sized basketballs. This makes it so that the ball fits their hands so they can develop the proper techniques.
Basketball Equipment and Drills for Young Children
Joey, a younger player, will practice shooting on a wall because we don't have a lower rim. He is working on the correct techniques:
•Hand is under the ball and the ball is in the finger tips
•Elbow makes a right angle under the ball
•Feet are spread shoulder length with right foot slightly in front if you are right handed or left in front if you are left handed
•Follow through with your finger pointing toward the rim once you shoot.
Here he shows this form using an imaginary basketball to make sure his technique is correct.
Basketball Practice and Games for Younger Players with Correct equipment
Notice John, who is older and stronger, has a larger ball and is shooting on a regular rim. He has the same techniques mentioned above. When Joey is as old as John, he will shoot on a regular rim with a regular sized ball.
The Correct Size Basketball and Best Height
What is the right size for a basketball and best height for a hoop? That depends on the player. When a player shoots with a ball that is too big and a rim that is too high, he/she will try to 'shot put' the ball to the rim; while pushing out with his/her elbow.
The correct equipment will make it so that the player doesn't have to strain.
There are mini-balls, midi balls, 8-foot rims, 9-foot rims, and more. How do you know what to use? Let the player's technique and form show you. When the ball is the right size and the rim at the right height, the player will, in most cases, be able to use the proper technique. Their form will tell you what is right.
Basketball Practice and Games for Younger Players with Correct Equipment
Some Ball Handling Drills
Both players are doing hip circles and leg circles with their appropriate sized basketballs. The pictures show these drills, plus other drills show both players dribbling with their heads up, hand on top of the ball, and knees bent. The same fundamentals can be taught to any age.
Basketball Equipment and Drills for Young Children
What Are Correct Shooting Techniques?
1.Coach your players to shoot with their shooting hand under the ball and keep their fingertips on the seams of the ball.
2.The second hand should be on the side of the ball, guiding it.
3.The elbow should be under the ball and form a right angle. This is all important. When the elbow points outward, it means the ball is too large and the rim is too high, making the player overcompensate to shoot it.
4.The player should have his/her shooting foot in front and pointing toward the rim. The second foot should be a few inches in back. Remember, shooting foot means if a player shoots right handed, his/her shooting foot is the right one. If a player shoots left handed, his/her shooting foot is the left one.
5.Shoulders should be facing the basket with feet spread 4 inches or so apart and the body balanced.
6.The player should release the ball from close to the top of the forehead and be able to see the ball, the rim, and their hand aiming toward the rim.
7.That last part, the hand aiming toward the rim, is called the follow through. The follow through is important as the shot will go in the direction that the release hand is pointing. If the hand points to the side, the shot will go in the direction of the hand. If the follow through hand reaches for the rim, the ball is in flight for two!
8.Players should bend their knees for power and push off their toes when shooting, but not lunge because the rim is too high or the ball too large.
Basketball Practice and Games for Younger Players with Correct Equipment
Some Passing Drills
Both players are playing catch. Again, the ball fits their hands so they don't have to compensate with a basketball that is too large.
Children can play no matter what their age if the technique and equipment is correct.
Players can practice using a real or imaginary ball when dribbling, working on their form. The picture below show an example of this.
Use an Invisible Basketball or Shoot on a Wall without a Rim
The correct teaching points to look for with an invisible ball or wall are:
You can also practice shooting on a wall without a rim, aiming for a spot and stressing technique. Always tell them to imagine or see the ball in their mind's eye going in.
1.The correct teaching points to look for with an invisible ball or wall are:
•Feet should be shoulder length apart and balanced
•Hand under ball and elbow at right angle
•See the ball, target, and shooting hand
•Push off toes and bend knees for power
•Reach for the rim or target upon release
•See in your "mind's eye" the ball going in!
You can become a good shooter with a small ball, lower rim, or even shooting on a wall. It evens the playing field so that young players can learn successfully.