Grades 4-6: Winter Weeks 1-5 – Sample Plan

Grades 4-6 Team Workout Guide for Winter Team Play Weeks #1-#5

(A much easier to read table will be embedded here with new plug-in soon – we will email staff when it’s up and clear.)

Note 1:  Take attendance always – for it helps you sort out playing time strategy.

Note 2:  Report any attendance issues or effort issues to kristin@momotion.org so she can get on it early.

Note 3:  Start on time, end on time, watch the time.  Move out of a drill that isn’t working to one that will.

0:00-0:10 LAY-UP SERIES with perfect progression of footwork, perfect L with hand, one-hand to adding guide hand, to cross step to side step – GAMES to 10 –  are best R/L, level 1 (one hand), level 2 (guide hand), level 3 (dribble), level 4 (steps) – WEAK HAND is best to start.

0:10-0:20 HANDLES & REPS Every kid has basketball – PASSING (RRoad) or BHandling or Shooting or stations of all 3 – reps, reps, reps – get as many hoops working/being used in this set of stations so kids have ball in hand for most of practice.

0:20-0:25 p.m. CONDITIONING SPOT #1 (Coaches Choice – recommend ACL injury prevention and head and neck here plus core) and DRINK #1 (Drinks always follow conditioning and are 30-seconds in length)

0:30-0:40 PASSING – RR TRACK PASSING to TREE/MONKEY IN MIDDLE and/or functional dummy tree in middle or live monkey with kids learning how to navigate spacing and passing with footwork (cross step, side step – no traveling) and moving the ball AROUND defenders with angles before pressure mounts or while pressure is on them).

0:40-0:50 FAST BREAK/ATTACKS – 3 on 2 into 2 on 1 – always fun.  Must be WIDE and attack – this is basically live monkey in the middle on the move.  Always teach the kids in terms of up the side of the street (sideline) to open up the middle for cutters.  Attacking from wing and ball reversal.  Three-player break, to four player break to full reversal on 5 player break, ending with swing and 5 – man running your give and go.

0:50-1:10 ALL DEFENSE STATIONS/BREAKDOWN – whatever you think is best.  Our video series on defense covers all points.  We love PLAYER TO PLAYER over ZONE, but kids should know both (and principles are the same).  We do in the alley containment – and JUMP TO THE BALL, to BEAT THE CUT – play the CUT not the CUTTER (we have videos on this – under VIDEOS – they’re solid, but older crowd).  But all of these points are moot unless you STOP THE BALL.  We throw ball away, kids feel awful and they pause.  Milbank scores within 3 seconds while we’re wallowing in self-pity.  Someone must step up and get in front of the ball to slow down the attacker; rest flood the paint.  OUT OF MIDDLE OUT OF MIDDLE OUT OF MIDDLE.  Close-outs must be with footwork that forces kid up the sideline.  When they bomb from right (they always do), teach the WEAK SIDE BOARD to not get pushed under.  They won’t box at this age.  They are mesmerized by the ball.  Weak side boards will kill the game early.  All the words I put in caps – you will repeat them so much that you want to get a looped play back of same terms.  You will also be calling out for them to contain with good feet, active hands and communication.  We will do the shell drill for grades 5-6 – you will hear/see all this in action, but I have no idea what grade 4 can do.  Playing a 2-2 zone with same principles may end up being a good bet.  Switching from man to zone at this age – they are space cadets.  I’d stick to one plan and just go with it unless you get time outs to change D.

1:10-1:15 CONDITIONING SPOT #2 with teaching point.  Maybe it’s IN THE ALLEY – 3 alleys – a tough drill OR a drill with emphasis on rebound OUTLET up the sideline, RUN WIDE – some conditioning drill that kills two birds here.  They need to get out of the middle on the break – gyms are too small.  Up side of street, over the top of everyone, then it’s OK to go across the street.  Anyone waiting in line must do wall-sits or push-ups.

1:15-1:30 PRESSURE BREAK.  Do the Box Press Breaker drill – so they understand that a good press break is done with triangles, flashes and catch/pivots with ball going up sideline or through the middle on the attack.  We will post video here soon on options on how to run a press break, but all the same principles.  You can also teach your kids how to press at same time with one coach teaching a press, the other one teaching how to break it.  You can go 1-4 with posts running up sideline and opposite guard cutting or do a box break with opposite post flashing early or after guard gets ball.

1:30-1:35  REVIEW OF SPACING and MOTION OFFENSE. Six-spot scoring, movement to prep for scrimmage time.  Snapping together of triangles, how important it is to have an aggressive high post, swinging the ball and not staying on the strong side.

1:35-1:55 CONTROLLED SCRIMMAGE TIME.  Coaches can stop to run simple out of bounds box or triangle plays from under hoop or sideline.  Really simple plays because the kids will forget them.  No subs sitting for too long.

1:55-2:0o Conditioning and Fun

Be out on time.  As one coach is winding down with conditioning and fun, other coach cleans up gym and secures all equipment.