Anyone here coached kids in a sport?

[SMKR]

So my daughters basketball league (kindergartners) was desperate for a coach and I stepped up and volunteered. I'm not sure what I got myself into but has anyone else couched this age before? What do they do at this age besides work on fundamentals? How many times a week should I practice? How long of practices? Do they learn an offense or defense or strictly just play man and work on fundamentals? Just looking for input since they didn't tell me anything else except for "Thanks."

[Venom]

I've coached my daughters in tball, basketball and volleyball and hey are 13 and 10. At that age you need to concentrate on dribbling and shooting. All you need to practice is once a week for about 45-1 hour any longer than that and you won't hold their attention. Don't waste your time with set plays just have your best ball handler take the inbounds pass and bring it up the court. Just play man defense. Most leagues require you to run it anyway. If they don't keep score have a parent do it on the sideline so you can yeah them about winning and losing because everybody isn't always going to win. Most importantly have fun with it. Don't stress out if they suck they're 5 and the majority of them probably have never picked up a basketball. PM me if you need anything else. Good Luck.

[Sean88gt]

Know that kids attention spans are very short and set practice up accordingly. I've coached football, soccer and baseball/tball. As stated, work on the fundamentals. The league should be pretty lax on dribbling since most kids starting out can't. Work on passing, teammate recognition, and shooting on offense, as well as some defense.

[TEAMJACOB]

Work on dunking. That is all

[Vertnut]

I've coached my daughters in tball, basketball and volleyball and hey are 13 and 10. At that age you need to concentrate on dribbling and shooting. All you need to practice is once a week for about 45-1 hour any longer than that and you won't hold their attention. Don't waste your time with set plays just have your best ball handler take the inbounds pass and bring it up the court. Just play man defense. Most leagues require you to run it anyway. If they don't keep score have a parent do it on the sideline so you can yeah them about winning and losing because everybody isn't always going to win. Most importantly have fun with it. Don't stress out if they suck they're 5 and the majority of them probably have never picked up a basketball. PM me if you need anything else. Good Luck.

After many years of coaching, I always loved the kids, but...parents will be your biggest challenge. No matter the sport.

[1carcrazyguy]

I'm not sure what I got myself into but has anyone else couched this age before? What do they do at this age besides work on fundamentals? How many times a week should I practice? How long of practices?

Hopefully that is a phone, auto-correct issue....

[Vertnut]

Hopefully that is a phone, auto-correct issue....

DAMN!

[TexasT]

X2 on the parents, no matter the age, no matter the sport, rec league to select, parents are the BIGGEST hurdle.

Keep practice moving , too much time on anything and you will loose the attention. Passing, dribbling, maybe even some shooting but I'd leave that for the end of practice. Maybe some light sprints and running. Nothing too heavy.

Play everyone no matter how bad they are. Micheal Jordan didn't take up basketball until high school. Plus it is suppose to be fun for ALL the players.

Good Luck and thank you. Probably the only thanks you will get.

[TexasT]

Double post

[SMKR]

Thanks guys.

What are some specific shooting and specific passing drills I can have them do? So i take it don't go Hoosier style on practice 1 and make them run gassers until the last one is standing?

[Venom]

Find an assistant so uou can split up the kids and drills. Have them stand across from each other and work on chest passes and bounce passes. Also have them dribble around cones down and back. Shoot from different stations around the basket. Then let them scrimmage the last 10 minutes.

[jyro]

does chasing the grandkids with a belt count?

[bcoop]

After many years of coaching, I always loved the kids, but...parents will be your biggest challenge. No matter the sport.

This.

I coached baseball. But not that young. Good luck.

['90Vert]

I coach my daughters u6 soccer team.

"No, the other goal!" ........ Have fun and don't take it too seriously. Kids have an antention span of about 1 minute for every year of age.
Also, at that age they are just getting the concept of win/lose. The score will be much more important to you then to them.