Basketball at this age will focus on implementing all previous concepts and skills into a game setting. This will be a 10-week program, 9 weeks of regular season with the final week being playoffs. The first several weeks leading up to the New Years break will not have scorekeeping, however after the new year we will keep score and standings. The program will be run by a Coordinator designated by the Board of Directors, with the purpose of managing the skill development program. The first 10 minutes of each game will introduce a drill focused on a particular skill or concept. Baskets will be at the 10'-0" height. Games prior to New Years will be played 4v4 to encourage spacing and movement. Games after New Years when scorekeeping begins will be played 5v5. Playoff games will be played on the full-size court, 5v5.

Where the first and second grade program was focused on skills in clinic format, the 3rd/4th grade program will focus on game play while understanding that the players are still learning and developing skills. Most drills will include a group and some sort of movement on the court. Basketball requires an awareness of all the players on the court. Offensive focus will shift slightly to encourage more passing and aggressive movement without the ball. Defensive focus on positioning and spatial relationships (where the ball is, where the person you are defending is, where the basket is) and help defense with switching.

Activities will include:

• dribbling drills, advanced ball handling, behind the back, thru the legs, etc.

• speed dribbling and movement down court

• passing drills, including defense and pivot foot.

• shooting drills, form shooting, lay ups, catching and shooting in one motion

• offensive concepts including picks, spacing, cutting, and driving to the basket

• defensive concepts including defensive stance and help defense

Each practice will have 4 stations. Generally speaking, there will be an individual offensive drill, a team offensive drill, an individual defense drill, and a team defense drill. The coaching staff from each team will be responsible for running 1 drill. Each station period will be 15 mins, and the teams will rotate around the gym.