Youth Coaches: Zone, Man Press?

In the article linked below, Joe Haefner discusses the ideas of why some youth coaches consider playing a zone defense at young levels so appealing.  Joe also discusses why your youth organization should fight against this concept.

www.breakthroughbasketball.com/defense/age.html

Olivet Youth Basketball

Over the years many athletes have benefited from the selfless support members of our community have given to help Olivet Youth Basketball (OYB).  This support has allowed us to provide an effective program that has benefited both the Men’s and Women’s programs at OHS.  This year we plan to build on our past successes and to implement some new activities that build on what we know about how young children grow and develop.  These new activities will provide more opportunities for students to develop developmentally appropriate skills as well as basketball knowledge.  These skills should allow them to enjoy the sport of basketball for a long time.

           Other schools have chosen a different path for their youth basketball programs and a trend of elitism has emerged.  These schools have chosen to develop youth programs that focus primarily on working with players who mature early.  Within these programs, the most mature 2^nd or 3^rd graders tend to handle the ball and take the most shots because they may be the only ones that have the physical ability to do so.  This type of system does not value the normal developmental stages of children.  In a system like this, coaches tend to hand pick the most mature players and pool them together to participate on “travel” squads.  In effect, the early maturity of some players gives them the benefit of additional repetitions and increased coaching.  These mature players represent only about 10% of all the children participating in OYB.  In this type of system, the majority of young athletes do not get sufficient coaching and encouragement – some don’t participate at all.

           It is my belief that this type of philosophy seriously undermines the integrity of a community’s basketball program.  A program that focuses only on mature players in the very early grades will suffer from decreased participation and underdeveloped and burned-out players.  By the time these young players reach middle and early high school, many aren’t interested in the sport – and neither are their parents.

           The goal of OYB, grades K-3, is to nurture and support all athletes and encourage them to become well-rounded and active. Our program will strive to increase opportunities for all participants, no matter the maturity level or ability.

           This year’s plan is to utilize the expertise of our volunteer coaches and create situations where all athletes will have a greater opportunity for success.  The adjustments for our K through 3^rd  grade include:

§  Continuing to add resources for coaches to be more effective.

§  Continue with co-ed K/1^st grade and keep the 3 on 3 format

§  Add 3 weeks to 2^nd and 3^rd graders.

§  Moving the 2^nd and 3^rd grade form co-ed to gender based.

§  Also allowing 2^nd and 3^rd graders to compete full court in a 4 on 4 environment.

           The above changes will create a transition from the less competitive learning environment of the K/1^st grade part of our program to the more competitive travel league that our 4^th through 6^th graders compete in.

           The goal of our basketball program is to help children become active and well-rounded, both athletically and socially.  We hope a balanced approach to teaching basketball skills as well as recognizing other activities will help us do this.  By making these changes we intend to increase the instruction level and student’s opportunities so they will be able to develop skills appropriately, which will lead to increased enjoyment of the sport of basketball.

           We can always use more input and guidance at the board level for OYB.  If you are interested let us know. Any comments, suggestions or questions are welcome at darttb@olivetschools.org. 

Work to join the Shot Club!

Eagle Pride Basketball

10,000 Made Shot Club

For Boys currently in 7th – 11th Grade

Beginning May 1st, 2012 – Ending November 11th, 2012 The Eagle Pride Basketball Made Shot Club is a chance for you to improve your shooting skills over the summer giving you a goal you can achieve. Making 10,000 quality shots during the course of the summer is all it takes to greatly improve as a shooter and become a member of the club. That is just 100 makes a day for 100 days. You actually have approximately 200 days between May 1st and the start of your basketball season. When you break it down, it shouldn’t take you more than 15 minutes a day to make 100 quality shots. Challenge yourself or challenge your friends and get out there and get it done. You can do it!

How it Works

1. Attend a shooting clinic held by the Olivet Boys Basketball coaching staff on Sunday April 29th from 5pm – 6pm.

2. Register to be part of the club. There is a $15 fee to cover awards. Registrations forms are included in this packet.

3. Each day you shoot, choose one of the 3 workouts or create your own.

4. Record how many shots you make on the shooting chart for the workout you do.

5. Every Friday, email your weekly totals (made shots only) to Coach Dartt at coachd33@gmail.com. We will keep an updated list of shooting rankings on a chart in the HS gym.

6. Weekly goal should be a minimum of 500 makes. (In the 26 weeks of the program that would allow you to make 13,000 shots).

7. Throughout the summer and fall we will have open gym times that you can meet with coaches to re-evaluate your shot or help keep you on the right track. We will conclude the program with a post test on November 11th, 2012 at 6pm in the HS gym.

Note: Simulate game speed while shooting. Repetition will build shooting muscle memory. Every workout you will be gaining confidence after seeing hundreds of shots go through the net.

Reward Levels-Total Shots Made

Eagle Level – 10,000 made shots. Recognition at a varsity basketball game and a 10,000 shot club t-shirt.
Spartan Level – 15,000 made shots. Recognition at a varsity basketball game and a 15,000 shot club t-shirt.
Celtic Level – 20,000 made shots. Recognition at a varsity basketball game, 20,000 shot club t-shirt, and a 20,000 shot plaque.

How Much is too Much? Ideas for Balance in Your Kids’ Lives

By: Coach Dartt

As a coach in our community I receive many questions regarding what is best for athletes that want to play basketball. The questions range from “How do I get my 3rd grade daughter interested in playing basketball?” to “My eight year old son is a great dribbler. What should I do to help him be a great high school player?” These are great questions and illustrate parents’ natural interest in helping their children succeed. From my perspective as a parent and a coach, I think we need to make sure we have a definition of success that is broader than individual achievement. Balance is the key here: balance among activities and experiences. And, perhaps the most difficult balance to achieve – teaching kids to demand much of themselves while still enjoying the activity itself.
History Tells Us…

From a basketball program perspective the worst thing we can do to our youth participants is narrow their scope of experiences. Our most productive athletes have been dual or three sport athletes that played in the band or sang in the choir. They were active in their family, school and church. Players like Karson Messenger, Geoff Britton and Joey Wilson exemplified “well rounded” individuals. When it came down to crunch time, these individuals had a perspective that allowed them to be successful.

Players like Zane Gay and Jason Fox were great players not because they were on “traveling” teams in 2nd grade but because they were supported and encouraged to try many activities. They were supported whether they achieved individually or not and the emphasis was on enjoyment of participation and improvement rather than winning. These players were successful because of their genetic gifts, parents that supported and held them to a high moral standard, and their intrinsic desire to become the best they can be. These same players might have quit the game of basketball had it been over emphasized at a young age.

What Can Work…
Following are some basketball ideas or skills that are age appropriate. If you want to provide an environment and the support that can foster a love for basketball, encourage development of the following skills and attitudes.

First through Third Grade
• Encourage participation in many activities.
• Focus on non-competitive basketball events.
• Begin teaching rules; watch games on television together.
• Attend the high school games.
• Introduce the idea of teamwork through discussions while observing competitions.
• Teach skills like catching, dribbling, and shooting (only with a small, light ball on a 6’ to 8’ rim).

Fourth thru Sixth Grade
• Continue to encourage participation in many activities.
• Play in the Olivet Youth Basketball League.
• Participate in skill development clinics held throughout the state (See resource section at end of article)
• Work ethic: help children understand that it is ok to work and sweat at improvement.
• Emphasize skills such as shooting and passing.
Seventh & Eighth
• Olivet Middle School basketball runs from November (Boys) through February (Girls)
• Fundamental skill development like Jason Otter’s School of Basketball. (See resource section at end of article)
• Face the basket moves
• Skills: Shooting, Passing, Catching, Athletic Stance, Teamwork, V-Cuts

High School
• Athleticism
• Coachability/Eye contact and listening skills
• Post play, post entry passes
• Pick and roll
• Traveling summer teams
• Summer clinics (team and individual)
• Teamwork
• Fundamentals: Stance, Teamwork, Shooting, Ball-handling

Varsity
• Post moves
• AAU
• Reading the defense
• Passing off of the dribble
• All fundamentals mentioned above.

Creating a healthy, happy, and responsible child is becoming more difficult every day. Athletics and other extracurricular activities can be a great tool that parents can use to teach responsibility, respect, teamwork, work ethic, perseverance, and many other positive attributes. If pushed too early, a child may make the personal choice not to participate.

At the same time, kids often need an example or some encouragement to step out, try hard, and enjoy something new. Let’s start early in teaching our kids that a broad array of experiences and balance between individual achievement and teamwork is how Olivet defines success.

Resources

Web Sites
 http://www.otterbasketball.com/ Jason Otter is an expert at teaching the fundamentals of the game from the physical aspect as well as the mental.
 http://www.powerbasketball.com/ a youth basketball coaching and athletic resource
 http://www.yboa.org/ Youth Basketball of America is an international governing body which promotes youth basketball worldwide.
 http://www.basketball-drills-and-plays.com/youth-basketball-drills.html As a youth basketball coach, your main job is to make sure your kids have fun, and develop good discipline and physical conditioning.

Books

 Coaching Youth Basketball: The Guide for Coaches & Parents (Betterway Coaching Kids Series) by John P. McCarthy
 Youth Basketball Drills by Burrall Paye and Patrick Paye
 Coaching Basketball Successfully (Coaching Successfully Series) by Morgan Wootten

Coach Dartt has an extensive library of books, videos, and information gathered throughout his coaching career and while finishing his Master’s degree in Kinesiology, which are available to anyone who requests them.

Heifer International - Quinn Dartt

My son has decided to do something to help others in need.  He has created a website to collect money for this worthy cause.  Please check out the link below. Thanks for helping.

From Quinn:
"My Grandma and Grandpa Bartlett have donated to Heifer International for many years. Their support has motivated me to find ways to help needy children around the World.

Team Heifer is a grassroots movement to end hunger and poverty. Your support will help families in need achieve self reliance and sustainable livelihoods.

Please donate towards my goal today and join the fight against world hunger!"

Coaching and Leadership Books

As August begins, I find myself reflecting on what influences I have had in my life.  In particular the influences that have helped me be a head coach.  I have had many people and experiences change the path of my life.  Most of my success as a coach is attributed to many people that have entered my life to teach me a timely piece of life information. It is hard to share in a blog most of these situations or advice.  However, I have also been influenced through hundreds of books about coaching, managment and leadership.  I have attached a list of 20 valuable books that I have used to help me be a better coach. Check out my collection of coaching books in the list to the right. They are in no particular order. Enjoy!

Olivet Eagles High School Basketball Home - MaxPreps

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