Hot Potato Offense
Passing is the easiest skill our kiddos can improve the fastest. Shooting and dribbling with a barrel of monkeys dancing around you can be a lot to ask of our newest players. But, the first instinct for many kids is to put their head down and dribble, dribble, dribble.
It's a bad habit to start!
When they catch the ball encourage them to:
1) Look for a teammate closer to the basket and
2) Pass it quickly!
Your entire offense could be called Hot Potato from grades 2-4. Here are some of the benefits:
More passes = more touches = more FUN
Game is simplified for them
Higher quality and quantity of shots
Defenses at that age aren't sophisticated enough to rotate and keep up
Watch Cooperstown 3rd Grade Boys Gold team. They are getting many more shots than the other team even with a lot of first time players this year!
Teaching kids to make a quick decision with a defense surrounding them requires practice. They need to learn to catch, survey, decide and execute in less than a second. These drills below are great if you have practice time but can also be used as a warm up before games. They are much more transferable to a real game than layup lines. Starting with 4 vs 1 gives the offense a clear advantage. But you'll notice for our beginners it's not as easy as you'd expect. Adding in constraints (time, # of passes) will help them focus better. Then add defenders as they progress.
I. PivotPass: If there is one skill all coaches need to teach their players it's to Pivot. Kids limit themselves so much when they stand like they are in blocks of cement! This drill can be adapted in so many ways. Here is one version:
Start 4 around 1(far enough a way where they can still make a chest pass in the air)
Player in the middle starts with the ball
Pass to each player and receive it back
Pivot and repeat
Tips: Be low and wide as they pivot. Reverse pivot at some point. After every one gets a turn have them compete: Create 2 or more groups at once and see which team can complete X amt of passes in a row (ball can't hit the ground).
II. QuickPass: I actually wish I could change the name of the sport to Quick Pass. It's so much more instructive!
Start the same way (4 v 1)
Ball starts on the outside this time
Offense (4) can only pivot (no dribbles)
Defense (1) is free to roam
How many passes can you make in 10 seconds?
or Make X amt of passes in a row
If defense touches it at all the round is over
Tips: Offense has a clear advantage but if they hold it at all they will lose. Change the variables: More/less defenders/space. Hold offense accountable for staying on their spot! Otherwise the drill loses value.
