Basketball requires good conditioning and a significant level of skill development. Once players understand the concept of the game--shoot the ball into the basket and stop the opponent from doing the same--work on the skills that help a youngster become proficient. The most important areas are dribbling, shooting, playing defense and rebounding.
Dribbling
This is probably the first skill kids can learn when trying to play basketball. Bouncing a ball is an easy concept for children to understand, but it is a difficult one to master. Kids need to learn that you can only bounce or dribble the ball with one hand at a time. To teach this skill, set up five chairs about 5 feet apart just past the midcourt line. Have each player dribble to the right of the first chair, the left of the second chair, the right of the third chair, the left of the fourth chair and the right of the fifth. Instruct the player to turn around and repeat the process
Shooting
When kids learn to play basketball, they quickly realize that shooting is the most dramatic skill in the game. A player who can put the ball through the basket consistently will become the focus of the offense and play a key role in whether his team can win the game. There are many shooting drills, but the best way to develop shooting is to go "around the world." The player starts at the right baseline and takes five shots, then he moves to the right wing and takes five more. Then the player goes to the top of the semicircle behind the free throw line--known as the top of the key-- the left wing and the left baseline and takes five shots from each spot. This familiarizes a player with shooting from different angles and helps build overall proficiency.
Defense
No matter how much or how little physical talent a player has, she can play effective defense by working hard. The keys are to get your feet moving as quickly as possible and mirror your opponent's movements. You must contest each pass throw, each pass received, each dribble taken and each shot attempted. The proper defensive position will allow the player to attack the offensive player and steal the ball on occasion. Have your feet shoulder width apart with your knees bent and your arms extended upward. This will allow you to deflect a pass or contest a shot. Try not to cross your feet when playing defense because a strong dribbler can change directions quickly and make you trip over your own feet.
Rebounding
A player's ability to get rebounds seems inexorably tied to his height and size. However, that is not the only factor. A player who can position himself correctly under the backboard and determine where an errant shot will end up has a great chance of getting the rebound. The coach should toss the ball off the backboard and have the youngster turn around, follow its flight, jump up and get it and then fire a pass to a waiting teammate near the midcourt line. Do this five times and watch the youngster's timing and ability to come down with the ball improve.
Considerations
The most important thing when teaching basketball to kids and training them to play competitively is to make sure it is fun. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that the obesity rate among children tripled between 1978 and 2008 and activities such as basketball will help youngsters get in better condition.
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