Youth Basketball By Grade

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Youth Basketball: Kindergarten Basketball Pre-Season Meeting

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A pre-season coaches meeting is typically is held at least two weeks prior to the start of the season. It is a great opportunity to share expectations, outline the format of the season, share game schedules, and answer any questions.

Some people question the best age to start youth basketball. Once the age is determined the bigger question is: What should we teach the youngest players?

The following is just one example of a preseason kindergarten youth basketball coaches meeting:

Meeting length: This meeting was held in person for approximately 45 minutes. This seemed to be an appropriate length. The coaches had a chance to put a face to a name, share a little of their personal coaching background, and get comfortable with the other adults they will be working with for the next few months.

Attendees: The coaches there were for boys and girls K-2.  There were about 15 altogether. The coaches had various backgrounds including youth experience, playing in high school and college, having older children who have participated, and several parents who had no experience with basketball whatsoever. It is a great opportunity meet some other coaches and share phone numbers.

League Logistics: Each league is unique and prepares coaches differently. Many youth basketball associations have a website that shares important information and documents. Often coaches are provided with equipment and medical kits in the event of an injury. The 1st session is shared and in many cases the entire season scheduled is shared at the 1st meeting. Locations of games and practices is also shared. In some cased the time and location will be the same each week, for others there could be a variety of times and gyms.

For this particular league, the first “game” would be held the 2nd Saturday in December. The directors shared some basic thoughts and instructions about the facility but not much more. 

Equipment: This will fall into two categories, player equipment and coaches equipment.

  • Coach’s equipment might include: cones, basketballs, jump ropes, whistles, game clocks, white boards / clipboards and pinnies or uniforms.
  • Player’s equipment might include: basketballs, jump ropes, dribble googles, and uniforms.

For this league, the plan is for everybody to have a ball. They’re going to have about 40 balls for the age group. For kindergarten the best is size 6 or 27.5” balls. (Youth Basketball Size Chart)

At this age it is ideal to have one ball for each player. In our experience, we feel the Spaulding F-250 is the best because it is durable, has wide seams, is great quality, and can be used outside, where most of the players will practice.

Here are our favorite recommendations for kindergarten basketball players:

Youth Basketball Size Chart: The Best Basketball Sizes for Each Age

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Useful blogs:

Nerf Basketball

Size 1

Size 2

Size 3

Size 4

Size 5: (27.5 inches)

  1. Spaulding TF 500 This is a very durable ball that can be used outdoors. If you child is going to be playing a ton in your driveway, this is a great ball.
  2. Baden Indoor / Outdoor

Size 6

Size 7: (grades 6 – 8) grades 9-12, college players, and men.

#1 Youth Basketball Website: Twitter Milestones

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200 followers

March 3rd, 2022 175 followers in 87 days!

January 25th, 2022 150 followers in 56 days!

December 17th, 2021 125 followers in 22 days

December 1st, 2021 100 followers

5th Grade Basketball: 75 Minute Practice

January 3, 2016

75 minutes

Focus: Offensive Skills Evaluation

Dribbling 15 minutes

  1. Ball drills (5 minutes) Evaluation: Dribble Walk 1:00
  2. 2 ball partner dribbling (5 minutes) (Together, alternating, wipers, crossover, between legs) 
  3. 2-ball full court (together, alternating, crossover, between legs, behind back) 

Shooting 16 minutes (1 rebounder & 1 shooter)

  1. 1 hand shooting (4 minutes each) Evaluation: range in feet
  2. 2 hand shooting (4 minutes each) Evaluation: range in feet

Individual Lay-ups 4 minutes (1X for each drill to get starting point 0:30 each drill) 

  1. Mini-mikans
  2. Mikan lay-ups
  3. Mikan drill
  4. X-out
  5. Star drill

Weak hand lay-ups (4 minutes / 0:30 each drill)

  1. Just shoot (feet planted)
  2. Elbow and knee Keep plant foot
  3. 2 feet, 1 step, & no dribble
  4. 2 dribble GREAT footwork

TEAM lay-ups (5 minutes) 

  1. 20 weak hand lay-ups
  2. V-cut series

Triple Threat Scoring Series 10 minutes (1 minute per move)

  1. Left baseline 
    1. shot fake, rip to hip, front lay-up & reverse lay-up
    2. shot fake, rip to hip, reverse lay-up
  2. Left wing 
    1. shot fake & go, right reverse hand lay-up 
    2. shot fake, rip to hip, left hand lay-up 
  3. Top of key
    1. shot fake & go, right hand lay-up 
    2. shot fake, rip to hip, left hand lay-up 
  4. Right wing
    1. shot fake & go, right hand lay-up 
    2. shot fake, rip to hip, left hand reverse lay-up
  5. Right baseline
    1. shot fake & go, power lay-up
    2. shot fake, rip to hip, right hand under the rim reverse lay-up

Scrimmage 1 vs. 1, 3 vs. 3. Full court

Coaching 5th Grade Basketball

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Google Search “5th Grade Basketball”

  1. Youth Basketball: USA Basketball Guidelines for 5th Grade
  2. 5th Grade Basketball: 75 Minute Practice
  3. Pre-Season Email
  4. 4th Grade Travel Team Basketball Tryout
  5. 4th Grade Travel Team Shot Chart

High School Basketball Tryout Tips: Elite Eight Tips

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Google Search “High School Basketball Tryout Tips”

Here it is. The day you have been waiting ALL year for… The 1st day of high school basketball. The is no greater day in the school year for a passionate basketball player. The wait is finally over and the journey of the basketball season is underway. 

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” Chinese proverb

Here are a few tryout tips for Day #1:

#1 Be Rested: Conditioning will be a big part of many high school basketball tryouts. 17s, defensive slides, up and backs, and I am not sure if this term can be used in all schools… suicides. To put yourself in the best position be rested for the 1st day of tryouts. As hard as it may be, try to get a good night’s sleep the night before the 1st tryout. Being rested will be the best way for you to show the coaching staff your skills.

#2 Be Ready: Speak with players who have been here before. Talk to the players older than you to have an understanding of how the tryouts will be structured. What are the specific drills? Do you understand how to execute the drills? Once you are mentally prepared for the drills, it might be a good idea to complete the drills in the days and weeks leading up to the tryouts. 

#3 Be in GREAT shape: It does not take one ounce of talent to be in great shape. So do it! It would be a shame for a player to not make a team because of being out of shape. It is something that you cannot accomplish the week before the season. So have a plan to be in great shape on the 1st day of tryouts. It very well could be the deciding factor on whether or not you make the team. 

#4 Know What the Coach Values: It is always beneficial to be on a coach’s radar BEFORE tryouts (attend camps, pre-season workouts, have a ball in your hands all the time). Many times youth players will attend high school games and basketball camps and clinics. Pay attention to what the coach values. Once you understand the values, do your best to be a player that exemplifies those values. 

#5 Be Fundamental: At every level the fundamentals matter. Many players try to be flashy and make the amazing pass. Be fundamental. Make the easy, simple play. Don’t try to make the team with one play. Focus on the fundamentals in every aspect of the game. This will get you noticed. 

#6 Do the Little Things That Other Players Won’t Do: This is a pretty extensive list. 

  • Talk on defense
  • Point to a teammate that makes a good pass 
  • Get on the floor
  • Take a change
  • Be in a stance ALL THE TIME on defense
  • Close out AND box out
  • Be the 1st to help a teammate up
  • Have great body language
  • Listen with your eyes and ears
  • Be early, stay late
  • Make the extra pass
  • Do not worry about scoring
  • Have great shot selection 
  • Go 100%, 100% of the time

#7 Say “Thank You”: At the end of the tryout, make it a point to find EACH coach and say thank you. A little thank you can make a big difference. 

#8 Reflect on Day #1: This is the 1st day in a 100+ day season. Reflect on your play. Identify what you did well and areas of improvement. Think about the feedback you received. If a player can come back and show improvement based on a coach’s feedback, that player is a desirable member of a team. 

Good Luck!

“I Would Do Anything to Play High School Basketball?”

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When you talk about hard work, dedication, and being the best in your field, there is no one better than strength coach Mike Boyle. A pair of high school athletes shared with me what they felt was the best speech they ever heard. These football players were some of the best in the state. Boyle’s message was simple but had such a huge impact on the thinking of these players. Both went on to have successful college football careers and graduated with honors.

Below are some of the main points of the speech. The message is simple, but cannot be shared with young athletes enough.

Mike Boyle was sharing a discussion he had with the BU Hockey team: “How many guys would do anything to win the national championship?” For the case of this blog I have included make a high school basketball team.

Boyle shared had a long list of ANYTHING that he felt many of the players would not make a commitment to follow. On the list was three simple, but important things he felt were critical to athletic success.

We will analyze each one closely.

#1 “Getting up every day and eating breakfast.” 

Proper Sleep: Sleep is so important to rest and recovery for an athlete. It is especially important for high school athletes who are continuing to develop mentally and physically. Sleep experts feel teens should get 8 – 10 hours of sleep per night. The athlete who commits to a sleep schedule will be best prepared for a practice, game, and / or season.

Getting up involves time management, getting proper sleep, completing school work, and limiting screen time. 

Eating Breakfast: Boyle feels eating a healthy breakfast is one of the best ways an athlete can prepare for success. The act of eating breakfast may not seem like a big deal, but if student-athlete is running late for school or practice, nutrition will suffer. Players who plan nutritious meals will have the proper fuel for the body to function at the highest level.

Proper Nutrition & Fueling the Body: According to Boyle, a player saying “I don’t have time to eat breakfast,” simply means the player is prioritizing sleep over breakfast. 

#2 “Avoiding alcohol and drugs.”

“Just Say No” was First Lady Nancy Reagan’s slogan to America in relation to drugs. It is simple but effective. Alcohol and drugs will not help an athlete succeed. In fact, it will end many athletic careers, especially in high school where players will be suspended for part or all of a season if they violate a state health policy.

Very simple, but not always easy for high school athletes to follow.

# 3 “Not Missing Workouts.” 

Having a workout is a very important part of reaching the next level. So many athletes just play. They do not have a plan for how to improve. They do not record the workouts. So the 1st step for a player is to create an appropriate workout. Then a player must followthrough with completing the workout!

Other points Coach Boyle mentioned were:

  • The coach is always right. That’s like rule number one and when in doubt go back to rule #1.
  • Success is simple, but not easy. 
  • “Written Goals –  write them down.” – Sit down. Write down your goals. 
  • “Show up for camp in shape.” Advice to an athlete trying to make a college team… Goal #1. It doesn’t take one out of town to get in great shape. 
  • “Have a plan.”
  • Show up on time.
  • “Prepare the child for the path not pass for the child.” 
  • Develop a GREAT work ethic.
  • “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.”
  • Do unto others. if you want to others as you would have them do unto you the Golden Rule they don’t cost that for nothing. If you want to get treated well, treat other people well. 
  • Be a good teammate. 
  • Anytime the ride gets easy check and see if you’re coasting downhill.
  • Sit up straight. 
  • Say yes coach or no coach. 
  • Get out of bed. 
  • Eat breakfast. 
  • Eat your vegetables 
  • Bottom line:  “The world does not owe you anything” believe it or not.
  • Talent only creates opportunity all right.

High School Basketball: Sophomore Year

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Sophomore Year, like every year in high school, has a unique set of challenges.

Do I Want to be a High School Basketball Player? This is probably the most important question a sophomore has to ask. Being a member of a high school basketball program is a huge commitments.

Be Confident, NOT Cocky