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Youth Defense
Hello Coaches! Glad to see the forum is up and running.
I coach a 4th grade boys team, that had basically no prior basketball coaching prior to me taking over. How many levels of defense do you guys typically try to get out of them? Right now I’m able to get level 1 fairly consistent and level 2 about 65% to 75% of the time. We practice one to two times a week, that’s both offense and defense time. Trying to work in hedging screens has been rough.
Thanks coaches!
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4 Replies
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Hey Coach,
When my boys were in 4th grade last year, I really just stuck with Level 1 and 2. At that age, I didn’t find too many offenses that challenged us to the point of going any further. This year we are going to add the Level 3 of the defense. Been focused so much on the offensive side doing a 90% offense and 10% defense ratio per practices, that the defense has taken a back seat. Sad to say that.
If your boys get to consistent with level 2, then i would entertain going higher with them. But they are 9-10 year olds and only so much can be retained in those brains of theirs. Hope that helps!
Good luck Coach!
Coach Richberg -
Bnong – How to guard the ball is probably the most important level of defense at that age. If you can get the others to help (Level 2), you will be ahead of most.
Steve – I agree on every point. I have a suggestion for you. Start your season the way you’ve done it in the past: 90% offense 10% defense. But then slowly change the percentages (as they become adept at the offense) until you have switched the ratios by the post-season – 10% offense 90% defense. That’s when you want to be your best defensively. Your offense will be just as good if not better because they have to play against a defense that’s getting better everyday. Iron sharpens iron.
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Rick,
That is a great suggestion. In fact I think I heard this in one of your webinars from the prior Read and react platform.
Thanks!
Steve -
Thanks coaches, that’s about the split we’ve been running at. In our league 4th grade teams can press and run zone so we’ve prepared for that and have put in our own press as well. We’ll see how it goes, games start Friday. Last practice will be spent on offense refinement.
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