Shark theory applies to youth basketball
A worrying trend is developing in the world of youth basketball in our country. Children are rapidly being taken through the most important developmental stages of learning and thrown into play environments. How do children play the whole game when their coaches have never taught them to learn the parts? Read about how the development of young and sharp basketball players is the same.
Sharks develop based on the amount of space they inhabit. The more space you give them, the more they grow. Some sharks in the ocean grow up to 12-16 feet long. A much more interesting fact concerns a baby shark that is confined to a limited area. In a small tank, a baby shark will only grow to the size of its surroundings. The Sharp Baby is still a baby shark with no room to roam and develop.
How does this apply to youth basketball?
If we allow young players to experience the entire game of basketball, they will grow and develop along with these experiences. Free play is a big part of this development when they are in elementary school. As they are old enough to play team ball in grades 4-5-6, the team dynamic begins. Young players will continue to grow physically but will NOT grow at all in their development. In essence, your skills and understanding of the game are caged in a small tank with no room to grow.
The question is then: Are we helping young players to become mighty sharks or stunted little sharks?
What contributes to this stunting? How do we limit our young players and hinder their growth and development?
1. By accelerating the fundamental teaching of the activity, we are leaving the children behind. Teaching dribbling, passing, shooting, and the basics of the game is the only thing that needs to be taught. When do you move through these fundamentals as a coach? When the player masters the skill according to his age level. The key is to maintain a flexible approach when training due to the variation in developmental growth.
advice-Slow down and teach the basics, over and over and over again. You can never spend enough time on the fundamentals.
2. Playing too many games before children are ready. Games are a natural progression once the fundamentals are mastered followed by a small group competition.
3. Not bridging the gap between practice and 5v5 games. Important learning opportunities come with 2v2, 3v3, and 4v4. This small group setup allows all players to get involved and teaches them how to play with their teammates as a unit. A 3v3 game gives young players plenty of room to play against the congestion that 5v5 games create. The more congested, the less players learn.
4. Lack of “educational games”. This is another important bridge that can help players move from practice to actual 5v5 games. A teaching game is controlled by coaches who refine the games as they pause and teach during the game. There are a few stops and starts during the game, but the opportunity to teach is invaluable. This is a huge mistake made by many youth coaches. Expecting children to come out and start playing cold 5v5 games is neither realistic nor appropriate.
5. Define positions too early. Positions are dangerous for player development because they lock an individual into a place on the court and an assumed skill set. Both factors, specific locations on the court and skill sets for that position, limit young players.
The challenge is teaching slow, practicing slow, and repeating skills over and over.
The progression in teaching youth basketball is as follows: DRAG, WALK, TRUN, AND RUN. As coaches, let’s deal with one level at a time. If you have to DRAG with your team, then DRAG. Don’t start WALKING when you’re not quite ready. If you do, you will fall flat on your face because you are not ready!
Remember, this experience is FOR THE KIDS, NOT FOR THE COACHES. You have a great responsibility as a coach and you can improve or damage the enjoyment and learning curve of your players. Handle with Care!