Fastbreak Youth Basketball
Kayleen
My game plan is to continue teaching the kids to slow things down and pass the ball trying not to give in to the temptation of playing steal for steal basketball. We're getting crushed every game b/c all the other teams seem to have no problem with 1 or 2 kids dominating the game on their team.
Don't turn your team into something their not. If they play their best by fast breaking and attacking defense then keep it up. You can actually win a basketball championship with 2 good kids top! You need more traps on defense. TRAP TRAP AND TRAP! Keep the ball out of the hands of their play makers. You need more set plays if you are slowing the game down so you can score.
Update: After 5 games, we're getting better. Haven't played one game yet where stealing the ball and dribbling like a mad man down the court wasn't the main theme throughout the entire game. As soon as we give into that type of play, things go downhill. All the kids from both teams start trying to steal the ball every chance they get and then run down the court with it. The refs have been very loose with regards to calling fouls on attempted steals, which adds to the chaos.
It's been a struggle to be patient and stick with our "slow it down and control the ball" offense; however, I'm still convinced we're teaching the kids the correct way to play basketball. On defense we're teaching them not to slap or reach in for the ball, if they think they can get a clean steal, we tell them to go for it, but it has to be a really clean steal. We look more for a good solid defensive posture with an awareness of their man, the ball and the basket. Blocking out, crashing the boards, helping out/switching (can't double team) and being alert. We hold the ball on rebounds and steals, then try and set up an offense looking for lots of ball movement and someone cutting to the basket. We're working on setting screens and picks.
For our most recent game we came up with a point system; 10 points for rebounds, 5 points for passes and 5 points for picking up any loose ball. Told the kids they needed to earn at least 100 pts and they would receive a small surprise at the end of the game. They ended up getting 655 points, 35 rebounds, 55 passes, and 10 loose balls. We didn't win the game, but only lost by 5 points. It actually looked like our kids were playing basketball and not just running up and down the court constantly.
Just an observation on something to watch out for or avoid. I slowed down a group of kids about 6 years ago in order to get things "more under control." It worked, we won a lot, but I now believe it was not a good idea in terms ol long range development. They are now in HS, and I've been trying to get them to play fast for about 2 years. I got the best pg in that age group to learn to bring it up patiently, and now as a sophmore this kid is just getting used to the idea of taking the outlet pass on the run. We reduced turn overs in youth ball by slowing them down, but of course along with that we reduced the number of offensive posessions because we played slower.
Agressiveness is good in basketball- as long as they aren't fouling. Personally, I will never coach kids again in a way that stiffles their agressiveness (slow them down). My opinion for what it's worth- I think you have the right idea and motivation in terms of teaching them to play the game the right way, but throttling down agressiveness is questionable- in my opinion.
At that age, it's pretty common for teams to have 1 kid who will score half or more of their teams points. But these things have a way of evening them selves out over time. Often the 9 yr old "phenom" is either no longer playing by 15-16 years old, or others have passed them up. You can observe this quite regularly if you coach in one town long enough to see lots of kids come thru.
I appreciate the input, your points are definitely valid and I know we'll end up moving towards a faster paced more aggressive game as the seasons go a long. I wanted to take their 3rd grade season and make sure some of the basics were in place before turning on those sprinklers. Hopefully they'll also have more maturity and be able to make better decisions on fast breaks and steals, rather than giving in to the temptation of doing it all the time.
I coach a team of 8th grade and a couple 7th graders in a small school. We have lost 1 regular season game 2 years ago and are working on our 2 undefeated season. We routinely go up against larger schools and are just as good.. Not inflating my ego just setting you up for the punchline.
We are very very good at passing the ball, dribbling and run a lock down 2-3 defense. Passing is so underrated but it prevents agressive defenses from stealing and usually forces them out of position. Dribbling, have the kids dribble blind folded for a couple practices and watch the difference. I have them stand on whistle kneel, 2d whistle sit then get up. We move up and down the court 1 blind folded and 1 not. A ton of time is spent on correct passing techniques. Good luck with your season!
Had our first win last night; our kids played off the hook. Only have one game left this season, but it was great to see them move the ball and wait for the good shot. Their passes are becoming quicker and crisper, their court sense is improving and a few of the kids are running fast breaks when the timing is right. Very cool to see them applying the fundamentals we've covered this season. They seem to understand that in order to win, all the kids have to play as a team. Have all 11 kids coming back for the winter season.
Rob that is great news, when you get a chance try the passing drill it really works on several key areas passing lane disruption, passing around defenders and ball awareness, communication and most of all passing confidence.
Since the game has evolved to be faster and more high-scoring, transition offense has become a major aspect in modern basketball, as teams such as the Golden State Warriors have placed immense emphasis on transition offense. This emphasis has trickled down to all levels of competitive basketball, making fastbreaks an essential component for any team aiming to excel and dominate their opponents.
The first step to any successful fast break is a rapid transition from offense to defense. To achieve this transition seamlessly, a fast recovery and outlet pass to quick-start the offense is paramount.
In this drill, 2 players start by running around one of the cones placed in each corner. A third player rebounds the ball, and quickly passes it ahead to initiate a fastbreak offense. The second player presses the ball up-court and shoots a layup for 1 point, a 2-pointer for 2 points, or a 3-pointer for 3 points. With a goal of accumulating 142-150 points in 4 minutes, the team loses 1 point for any missed layup.
In this drill, one player dribbles the ball up the court, while two players cut toward the basket on each wing. The ball handler jump stops at the free-throw line and passes to a layup man. Players will rotate through each role and complete the drill at full speed, providing valuable cardiovascular conditioning.
In his book Transition Drills, Coach Van, who coached for over 20 years at the High School, AAU, and NAIA levels, provides over 900 pages worth of drills to teach proper fastbreak habits and skills. The 3 Man Weave to 2 on 1 teaches players to pass effectively in the open court, finish in 2 on 1 situation, and how to defend when faced with a numerical disadvantage.
In this drill, three players will begin a traditional 3-man-weave. When a coach blows their whistle, the player with the ball places it on the ground and sprints back on defense. The other two players conduct a 2 on 1 fastbreak, aiming to score on the lone defender.
Mastering the fastbreak offense requires a combination of skill, execution, coordination, and a fundamental feel for game situations. By incorporating these foundational fastbreak drills into your practices, your team will build the tools necessary to take advantage of transition opportunities and thrive in fast-paced situations. These drills, among others shared by expert coaches like Tony Bozzella, Jaida Williams, Gant Carraway, and Coach Van offer valuable insights, practical tips, and step-by-step guidance. With the help of these expert coaches, get ready to revolutionize your fastbreak strategy and find efficient transition buckets!
The FastBreak Basketball Club has been running for 17 years in Singapore. We are the market leader in providing quality basketball instruction for youth between ages 4-18 in Singapore. Partnered with three of the largest international schools in Singapore, featuring over 20 competitive teams and administering league, tournament and travel opportunities for our players (and coaches), FastBreak is also expanding into Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) and positions are open in both locations.
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