Basketball for Kids

All kids need is a little help, a little hope and somebody who believes in them -- Magic Johnson

Has your kid always loved to bounce the basketball around the house, and shoot some tricky hoops out in the garage and avoid your numberless calls for you to be on time for dinner. Then your kid already is a player. This game doesn't only involve a basketball thrown through a hoop, but has many more aspects attached to it.

These days there are basketball drills for beginners and young players who want to get an encouragement to play this sport boldly, develop for themselves an appropriate discipline towards the rules and regulations, maintain their physical conditions, face challenges, and have lots of fun to learn and play this game.

• Each team consists of 5 players, and the purpose of the game is to score points by throwing the ball in the basket of the opponents team.

• If the dribbling of the ball is maneuvered perfectly, then passing and shooting becomes easy to execute.
• A game in the has the quarters of 12 minutes each, while at the international levels, the duration is divided in the quarters of 10 minutes each.

• The positions of the players in the game are as follows:
  1. Point guard
  2. Shooting guard
  3. Small forward
  4. Power forward
  5. Center

Sometimes, from a coach's point of view, the most common faced issue is introducing drills that are fun, interesting, active and which would help to increase the intensity in kids' practice. So keeping this in mind, let's learn some of the competitive drills and steps that could be taught and accomplished in this game.

The kids get the opportunity to feel motivated and develop the love for the game after performing these drills.

➤ Circle Dribbling Game: This is a dribbling game, where a circle is formed and all the kids have to dribble within the circle and not go out of it. Here one has to learn to control the ball, walk inside the circle and try to tap out the opponents ball without losing their own basketball.

➤ The Alabama Rebounding Drill: The main objective of this drill is to make the kids practice rebounding and finish strong around the basket. This drill is more of a physical activity, and thus the more rugged it gets, the better kids would learn. The player who gets the rebound is on offense whereas the other one is on the defense.

The coach can allot two groups and for each sequence, one player of each group should be sent as a rebounder. A team which scores five baskets first, would be called the winner.

Note: A rebounder should not try to tip the ball in, they should pose the ball strong and pull it down with two hands. No pushing, elbowing, tripping, bumping etc, is allowed.

➤ Kentucky Layup Drill: Familiarly known as 'Kentucky Layups', in this drill despite the kids being flagged out, they learn how to condition their mental focus on the finishing layups. There should be two groups, each of them standing under the baskets of the floor at the two ends of the court. The coach must stand at each end of the elbow. The front-line players will rebound the ball against the board and pass it to the coach.

The coach then passes the ball to the player at the 3-point line position and he dribbles and attempts a layup. This drill goes on continuously for three minutes.

Note: The kids in this drill tend to get exhausted and it gets harder for them to make the layups. Hence, the teams should have a low goal set up and let them work it up, as they get confident with the Kentucky drill.

So, from all the above coaching drills and facts, here is a reference of basketball for dummies that would offer you as a player to expertise, plays, and strategies whether on and off the court and all the way from junior high school to college hoops.

• Proper jerseys, shorts, shirts and appropriate shoes must be worn for playing. The clothing must be loose, such that it doesn't make you uncomfortable, while the shoes must have a good grip.
• Suit yourself up strong for the game on the court. Take a closer look at the entire basketball court size. Study the structure well.

• Get the hang and shape of the basketball. Hunt for good places to play this game and try to familiarize yourself in various moves by practicing daily.
• Moves like offense/defense, fast break defense, free-throw ups, etc, should be learned and conducted well.

• For kids, the basic aspect is to learn this game's common terms, its language, referee signals, etc. correctly. There shouldn't be any communication mix-up, during the game. Also, understand the violations.
• Kids should try to follow games on TV. Adapt the signature moves from the famous basketball players or from any NBA inspiring players.

Remember, this is a real fast-paced, lightning game, you need to be sleek and agile to catch up with the game and conquer all your on-court battles. And of course, remember to: "Just play. Have fun. Enjoy the game." - Michael Jordan.