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Basketball Jokes
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The following is some ideas for a 75 minute tryout for 4th grade basketball players.
Objective:
- To evaluate and place players on an A, B, and C basketball team.
Lay-ups and Shooting (25 minutes)
Lay-ups: Being able to make lay-ups is the most important skill for 4th grade basketball. At the 3rd grade level there were very few players capable of consistently making lay-ups in a game. At the 4th grade travel team level there should be a higher number of players who can consistently make lay-ups. Over the course of a season, with practice, the entire team should be able to make a strong hand lay-up during games. The majority of baskets scored at the 4th grade level will be lay-ups, so select the players who are best at this skill.
Shooting: It is extremely rare for a 4th grade basketball player to shooting the ball correctly. Once a team is selected, it is very important to teach the players the correct way to shoot the ball. The BEEF method has been successful for so many players and teams. There is a great set of drills to teach this critical skill. Divide the players into baskets and have the players shoot from 5 different spots (2 baselines, 2 wings, and top of the key). Shoot from each spot for 2 minutes. Coaches evaluate to identify the top 10 – 15 shooters and the bottom 10 – 15 shooters.
Shooting Skills Evaluation (12.5 minutes)
Timed Shooting Drills: As the 1st year of the competitive travel team league, very few players will be able to score high on these drills. There will be a few who will score high, but the majority of the players will be in the same category, very inconsistent. The drills will be completed 2 – 3 times. Each drill is 30 seconds.
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Mini-Mikan Drill: Simple side to side lay-up drill. A player takes one shot from the right side, get his rebound (make or miss) and goes to the left side to take the next shot. Continue taking alternating shots until the 30 seconds is up.
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Star Drill: This drill will require an explanation and demonstration. Coaches can help guide the players. The drill is called the star drill because a player will take shots from 5 different spots that resemble a star. The player will start on the (strong hand) block. When the whistle is blown the player will shoot one shot from the following spots: (right) block, (left) elbow, (right) elbow, (left) block, free throw line. Once ONE shot has been taken from each spot, the player returns to block and repeats the shots in the same order. Coaching point: Once the player understands the drill, the following can be used to remind the players the 5 spots, block, opposite elbow, opposite elbow, opposite block, free throw line.
Coaches will record each player’s score (2-3 times) and add up the total. Hopefully this will be a good way to separate the players fairly based on skill. It also will be good data to explain the placement of players on the appropriate teams.
Dribbling Skills Evaluation (12.5 minutes)
Full Court Dribbling Drills: Evaluating dribbling with drills is a little more challenging that evaluating shooting, however there may be a few ways to assess the players dribbling skills and athleticism. Scores can be recorded and players can be ranked based on performance.
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3 trips: This is a simple full court dribbling drill that assesses a player’s ability to execute the following dribbles: right hand, left hand, alternating. For this drill, ONE TRIP is to the opposite baseline and back. Each player has a ball and start spread out on the baseline. On the coach’s whistle, the player will dribble as fast as he can to the opposite baseline and back with his strong hand (both ways). The player continues up and back with the weak hand and finished the drill up and back with alternating dribbles.
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Dribble March: This drill is simple drill that has a player lift his leg high, like marching, and dribble the ball between his legs. Players will dribble one length of the court and count how many dribbles in a row they can execute. Coach will record the score at the end of a trip. Complete the drill a 2nd time. Add up the total.
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Dribble Walk: This drill is a more advanced drill. Players dribble the ball between the legs with each step. Players will dribble one length of the court and count how many dribbles in a row they can execute. Coach will record the score at the end of a trip. Complete the drill a 2nd time. Add up the total.
Scrimmage Evaluation
Numbers game: Divide the players into 4 teams. Use both courts and have one full court game on each court. For each team, assign a number to a player. For the 1st tryout, line the players up by height and count off by 4s. Send each number to a basket. Once the teams have been separated, line the players up again, and number them 1 until there are no players left. Each team will line up on different sidelines. The coach will leave the ball at center court and call out 2-3 numbers (i.e. 1, 2, 3) These numbers will play for no more than 2 minutes. The small numbers will allow for more touches and a better chance to evaluate the players. As the game is being played, identify the top 6 players to compete in the next segment of half court games.
3 vs. 3: Hopefully at this point, some the evaluators have had a chance to identify the top players and the bottom players. Create 3 on 3 teams based on skill levels. Set up as many games as possible based on available baskets (4 or 6 depending on whether games can be played on the main baskets without interfering with the other games).
5 v. 5: Divide the players into 2 courts based on skill. Have 3 teams on each court with a few subs if necessary. Match-up the teams and evaluate the players.
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