Forty-one million American children were involved in youth sports as of 2006, according to a report from Cnn. Youth basketball, like many others, provides pre-teen children an outlet for fun, exercise and social development. If your child is an aspiring basketball star, be proactive and learn the right training techniques to help her build a skill set upon which she can build.
Dribbling
Regardless of your child's shooting skill, he can't travel from Point A to Point B without dribbling the ball -- at least, not without being called for a traveling violation. Honing dribbling skills is essential for Under-12 player. Begin by having him dribble in one spot, focusing on using only one hand at a time and switching back and forth between hands. He should be using his fingertips rather than his palms to better control the ball. Once he's mastered that, have him dribble in a figure-eight pattern through a line of cones. When he's mastered basic dribbling skills, have him try to dribble two balls at once -- one with each hand.
Shooting
Proper shooting form is vital at any age, but especially for pre-teen players, who have a tendency to heave the ball toward the basket. Have the player practice bending both elbows at a 90-degree angle above her head, with the ball resting in her natural shooting hand. She should hold her shooting-side elbow in tight to her body, aligned almost directly with the basket. She should then focus on bending her knees and elevating quickly off of the floor before unfurling the ball in a pushing motion, flicking her shooting wrist upon release. When it comes to shooting form and accuracy, there's no substitute for repetition; have her take as many shots as possible daily.
Endurance
Basketball is a fast-paced, sometimes grueling sport. While you're not trying to turn your child into a fitness-obsessed hoops cyborg, it does help to get him into good playing shape. "Suicides" are a popular form of basketball endurance training. Line up your players at the baseline of the court and upon your whistle, have them spring to the foul line, bend down and touch it, and then sprint back and touch the baseline. They should then pivot and sprint to mid-court, touch the line and sprint back. finally, they should do the same with the opposite foul line and base line.
Defense
Everyone loves to make shots but if you can't stop the other team from scoring, you won't win a lot of games. If you teach your child to become a defensive stopper, he'll always have a spot on the team. Teach him to keep an effective defensive stance: feet shoulder width apart, knees bent to the point that his shoulders are lower than those of the person he's guarding. Blow the whistle if you see him taking long lateral strides -- short, quick strides are more efficient. Have him stand within an arm's length of his man so he can apply pressure against the dribble-drive while also defending the jump shot. Stop the play and correct your player any time he loses sight of his man or the ball. Impart in the player that his head must always be on a swivel when playing defense.
Rebounding
You can't score if you can't get the ball. Train your child or your team to become effective rebounders and increase the number of offensive possessions they get. Technique is important, but hustle, desire and toughness are equally important. Here's one drill that can be incorporated into normal scrimmages, titled "war" by University of South Florida coach Stan Heath: after each basket is scored, play stops and one team assembles near the basket. The other team lines up around the three-point arc. The coach them lofts the ball toward the basket, and players from both teams race after it, scrapping and jostling for position and the ball. While baskets are worth two points as usual, teams and players also are awarded one point for every rebound.
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