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Message: [QUOTE="Red Holzman, post: 4945083, member: 7255"] Coached in same scenario -girls team, 1 game/1hr prac each week, and only 2 pracs B4 first game. Hard to do, but have to remember focus is development/fun, NOT winning. For example (our league): all kids get to bring the ball up, don't let best players dominate/freeze out weak players, equal minutes for all players, etc. Very fun and rewarding , and they do learn fast (well most of them LOL). Tips: Need an assistant coach -or even 2. With the short practice time, you need to accomplish as much as possible -having an assistant allows multiple drills/smaller groups for more engagement. The assistant can also coach the kids on the bench on what to watch do to keep them engaged while you coach the kids on the floor. Help players get to know each other ASAP, and to have fun. An initial team talk where all the players give their name/grade/school is a good way to start, and helps you determine who knows who and who needs help becoming a teammate. A circle drill passing and calling out the player's name helps w/that. KISS applies! VERY basic stuff to start. Our 3rd/4th grade teams have kids who know NOTHING. Game: We line teams up before the tip, stressing to remember the girl across that they will cover on D. THEN ask them if they know which is their basket. 4 games in, you may still see a kid race for a layup toward the wrong basket LOL. Regardless, every time other team gets possession, have to yell GET BACK, MATCH UP! First few games, their heads are spinning therefore I make a point of constantly yelling out all the basic stuff they should be thinking to help get them programmed until they learn the flow of the game. Example, on D: "Match up" ,"stay between your player and the basket", "see the ball" "move your feet, don't try to hug them" -LOL a lot of that! On O: D is easier than O, which is absolute CHAOS in early games!. They get great exercise racing up/down the court after the TO's that happen one after the other. Need to stress spacing (ball is like a magnet), setting screens, pivot, proper form on shots (which has to vary based on strength of player), etc. None are ambidextrous dribblers, some MAY look up once in awhile to see the court when dribbling LOL. Dribbling skills are the challenge, and you won't be able to develop them in the time you have -therefore remind kids/parents to work on dribbling outside of practice if they can. Can add lots more but prob too much now so will stop here LOL. Keep your expectations reasonable, and keep it loose with a good dose of humor. You will want to drill, drill, drill but young kids need to have fun mixed in. The developmental league is challenging for a coach, b/c you have kids that aren't athletes, there for fun, and won't keep playing hoops, and others who are real tigers who want to excel and win. Your assignment is to make it fun for all of them. They will all play hard with a lot of effort. At some point, all of the sudden you'll realize that they are making progress, then at the end of your season you'll be amazed at how much they improved. And it will all be very fun and gratifying. Good luck. [/QUOTE]

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