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I've been asked by youth coaches how to run a camp for 1st-3rd graders and 4th-6th graders.
We used to run a camp for 1st-3rd graders, followed by 4th-6th graders, every Saturday morning for 6 weeks. Each group was 90 minutes with 1st-3rd graders at 8:00 AM and 4th-6th graders at 10:00 AM. The 30 minute gap gives coaches a short break, and allows time to get one group off the court and the next one on, while also permitting for some free shooting time for kids, parents, and high school volunteer coaches.
We would start out with the kids in a big circle with a couple varsity boys/girls leading and demonstrating in the center of the circle. We would start with ball-handling drills, and then go to 1-ball dribbling drills, and then some 2-ball dribbling drills to challenge them.
Next, we would partner along the length of one sideline and do passing drills (chest, bounce and two-handed overhead passes). Then we teach pivoting, triple threat position, and the jump stop using these jump-stop pivoting drills.
Next, again lining up along one sideline, we would have them dribble back and forth to the opposite sideline and back, first using a control dribble and then the speed dribble, using the right hand across and left hand coming back. And then we would add a prescribed move, like a crossover, halfway across and back. We also had them do the crab walk back and forth.
Next, everyone would sit down for several minutes with eyes on the coach, as coach would demonstrate correct shooting fundamentals. Then we would divide into a number of smaller groups, using all the baskets... with an assistant at each hoop. Form simple shooting and rebounding lines and practice short shots.
Then demonstrate and teach layups and layup footwork, realizing kids at this age have to use a "push" release, not an underhand. Use this simple drill to breakdown the layup footwork.
Then we would have a few competitions where each basket group would try to win by making 7 baskets first. Losers do 5 pushups, including their coaches.
Finally, we let them scrimmage... boys on one end, girls on the other. If we didn't have enough girls, we would let them play with the boys... but we found that usually the boys wouldn't pass to the girls. So sometimes we would put in a rule that on each possession, one of the girls would have to get a pass or touch or no basket.
At the end, get in a big huddle and get a final cheer and that's it!
With 4th-6th graders, we would include some more advanced drills. Two favorites were Full-Court Dribble Moves Drill and full-court 2-line passing drill
Have fun!
Saturday Morning Youth Basketball Camp
By Dr. James Gels, From the Coach’s Clipboard Basketball Playbook"Helping coaches coach better..."
I've been asked by youth coaches how to run a camp for 1st-3rd graders and 4th-6th graders.
We used to run a camp for 1st-3rd graders, followed by 4th-6th graders, every Saturday morning for 6 weeks. Each group was 90 minutes with 1st-3rd graders at 8:00 AM and 4th-6th graders at 10:00 AM. The 30 minute gap gives coaches a short break, and allows time to get one group off the court and the next one on, while also permitting for some free shooting time for kids, parents, and high school volunteer coaches.
Next, we would partner along the length of one sideline and do passing drills (chest, bounce and two-handed overhead passes). Then we teach pivoting, triple threat position, and the jump stop using these jump-stop pivoting drills.
Next, again lining up along one sideline, we would have them dribble back and forth to the opposite sideline and back, first using a control dribble and then the speed dribble, using the right hand across and left hand coming back. And then we would add a prescribed move, like a crossover, halfway across and back. We also had them do the crab walk back and forth.
Then demonstrate and teach layups and layup footwork, realizing kids at this age have to use a "push" release, not an underhand. Use this simple drill to breakdown the layup footwork.
Then we would have a few competitions where each basket group would try to win by making 7 baskets first. Losers do 5 pushups, including their coaches.
Finally, we let them scrimmage... boys on one end, girls on the other. If we didn't have enough girls, we would let them play with the boys... but we found that usually the boys wouldn't pass to the girls. So sometimes we would put in a rule that on each possession, one of the girls would have to get a pass or touch or no basket.
At the end, get in a big huddle and get a final cheer and that's it!
With 4th-6th graders, we would include some more advanced drills. Two favorites were Full-Court Dribble Moves Drill and full-court 2-line passing drill
Have fun!
