| I am often asked about how to teach offense to | | | | the rewards of tough zone “D” and |
| 9 and 10 year-olds. Those asking usually fall into | | | | rebounding. The fast break will become your |
| two categories: 1) Those in rec programs and 2) | | | | offense, resulting in layups and saving all that |
| Those in competitive programs. | | | | practice time trying to teach more sophisticated |
| While the former would like to win, it isn’t | | | | offensive sets. |
| their overriding motivation. They really want to | | | | The above scenario would work better for a |
| know how to teach offensive skills and what kind | | | | competitive situation where they have more |
| of an offense would be appropriate for that age | | | | practices and more games to hone their skills. It |
| group. | | | | works well for coaches who just want to win and |
| The latter group cares more about having a | | | | aren’t too big on teaching skills. Competition |
| winning offense and less about teaching the whole | | | | leagues usually allow for more practices, an |
| group offensive skills. They will usually verbalize | | | | expanded game schedule where they gain playing |
| something about preparing the kids to be | | | | experience, and have no rules about substitution |
| successful high school players, but inside they | | | | (so the STUDS can stay on the floor together), |
| really want a group of the best 9-10 year old | | | | pressing defenses or running up the score on |
| studs/studettes they can muster. After all, | | | | opponents. |
| winning is their real motivation for asking my ideas | | | | The biggest drawbacks for rec programs are lack |
| about what kind of an offense to run. | | | | of practice time and rules of play within the |
| I have consistently stated that I think 9 and 10 | | | | program. YMCA programs at this age level, as an |
| year-olds don't need offensive systems. They | | | | example, usually require that everyone plays at |
| need to be taught fundamentals--how to move | | | | least half the game, substituting every 4 minutes |
| without the basketball. | | | | with an 8-minute running clock, have no fast |
| When one player has the ball, the other four | | | | break, no pressing defense, and a 20 point rule |
| teammates should be moving with a purpose | | | | for stopping keeping score. In rec programs a |
| without the ball. This means cutting to the basket | | | | couple of 2-man plays will work better than any |
| for a pass, screening away for another player or | | | | offensive set involving 5 players who may have |
| moving to balance the floor. This is continuous | | | | questionable skills. My opinion--I think designing |
| motion, and when the player with the ball passes, | | | | offense at this age for rec programs is a waste |
| that player also joins the purposeful movement. | | | | of time. Teach the fundamentals instead and let |
| The player with the ball is looking to pass, shoot | | | | offense happen as a result of play. |
| or attack the basket. On offense, it's an unending | | | | Frankly, no competitive offense will function well |
| cycle of cuts, screens and floor balance | | | | without each player being able to understand the |
| movement. If you teach these things to a 9 or | | | | nuances of playing both with and without the ball, |
| 10 year-old, with everyone moving purposefully, in | | | | keeping good floor spacing for the players, making |
| unison, you have offense. Some coaches either | | | | good and timely passes, dribbling with control, able |
| don't understand this or still want to have a set | | | | to finish at the basket, rebound, shoot, and play |
| offense. | | | | man defense. Having 5 players on the floor who |
| So, quickly, here’s my idea about how to win | | | | can do all these things well, at this age, seems a |
| at 9-10 y.o. basketball—and it doesn’t | | | | stretch, much less to run a continuity, flex, 3-out, |
| require much teaching of offense. Teach | | | | 4-out, or whatever flavor-of-the-week offense. |
| aggressive zone defense, trapping the dribbler at | | | | Yet…coaches still want to have offenses that |
| every opportunity (because they usually don’t | | | | will have a WOW factor. |
| dribble all that well). Force the other 4 offensive | | | | There are so many offensive elements that need |
| players to move well, pass well and shoot well | | | | to be taught, drilled and perfected at 1-on-1, |
| from long distance—all of which they don’t | | | | 2-on-2, 3-on3 levels, before even attempting |
| usually do well at this age. Defense trumps | | | | putting the five-man game together—and this |
| offense here at this level. Teach aggressive team | | | | is at the high school level. Sadly, lots of youth |
| rebounding, especially from the zone defense. | | | | coaches think their group of 9-10 year-olds are |
| Teach fast break from every opportunity, utilizing | | | | going to be up for it. |