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Sunday, November 24, 2024

Basketball - It Takes What It Takes. Make Joy and Variety Standard

Toddlers under two pick up a basketball and bounce it. There's no crystal ball to reveal whom will do something useful with it.

Convert moments of joy into bunches. 

JOY = EXPERIENCES x TIME

Reinforce joy with positivity. Nobody criticizes the way a toddler picks up the ball, tosses it, or travels.

When do we transform from supportive to critical? Dad said, "you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar." Choose more positive experiences more of the time. 

Herb Welling said that "no dribble layups" are a good starting point. Teach the footwork without the dribble. 

Alternatives to traditional layups. Variety increases fun. 

1. Lithuania Layups (from Chris Oliver)

The ball shouldn't hit the floor. 

Quarterback layups. "Snatch and go." 

Players love this competitive drill. The defender holds the ball, one hand above and below. The offensive player snatches and attacks the rim against the defender. The best players score on one dribble. It's competitive; it's physical. I stop it after 7th grade and never use it outdoors. Top player learn to attack with one dribble from the "spacing line." 

Spin the "Player Development Wheel." 

Lagniappe. Some of us must substitute competitiveness for talent. 

Lagniappe 2. Beautiful action that works of high stack or horns.  

Lagniappe 3. Geno. 

 A pessimist might say, "garbage in, garbage out." Choose, "exceptional performance demands exceptional commitment and work." 

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