I just got back from watching my 10 year old’s basketball game. She just started her first season of youth basketball. This is my third time through having a kid play basketball at this age. The games are somehow painful and hilarious at the same time. I’ve come to realize that all of the players at this age can be sorted into one of three categories.
1. The Shooters (aka classic ball hogs) - These kids basically have one skill. They can dribble. So they are usually play point guard. Despite their position, they have a very few assists. They will consistently ignore four open teammates to showcase their ball handling skills. They invariably end up trapped in the corner by all five defenders. The logical thing to do here would be to work a pass to a teammate for an easy basket. The Shooter always decides it is best to desperately fling the ball at the hoop with a one handed, off balance shot from an impossible distance. In the rare event that they get a basket, it is a spectacular shot. In their eyes, the cheers and glory they receive make it worth their shooting percentage of 1%. In general, a team’s offense depends on their ability to rebound the Shooter’s air ball. Although they are usually point guards, if you have more than one on the team, they make good centers or power forwards. This is because if they get the ball, they are the only category of player that you can count on to shoot without hesitation.
2. The Freezer – These kids have a knack for getting rebounds and intercepting errant passes. Once they get the ball, they have no idea what the hell to do with it, so they just freeze in one place holding on to it. Often someone from the other team tries to grab it from them creating a jump ball situation. However, some Freezers are quite adept at protecting the ball. There they are, frozen in spot, leaned over with elbows out, tightly clutching the ball in their gut. Coaches, parents, and other players are desperately shouting varying instructions. “Dribble it! Shoot it! Pass it to me!” Game action only resumes after a painfully long delay, when the Freezer responds to the loudest instruction he heard. Their effectiveness as players depends largely on the loudest voice associated with the team. These players are usually your leading scorers. Coaches should generally play them at center or power forward and be ready to shout, “SHOOT IT!”
3. The Panicker – These kids treat the ball as if it were on fire. They refuse to touch it for more than a second. Some of them are pretty good at getting the ball in their hands, but it is soon gone. Basically, the split second they get the ball, they are throwing it somewhere. They very rarely dribble. At first perception, it seems to be completely random where they direct the ball. It could be the hoop, a teammate, an empty area of the court, or out of bounds. Despite the seemingly random nature of their decision, there seems to be preponderance of throws that go squarely to a player on the other team. They usually lack the ball handling skills necessary to be good point guards, but any other spot suits them fine. It will be completely happenstance as to whether they are effective players no matter what position you put them in. I recommend they play at the shooting guard or small forward spots. This is only because the other positions are already taken. That said, if your team lacks a Shooter, there is a sub group of Panickers that handle the ball fine until they are pressured. These kids can confidently bring a ball down the court as point guard, but as soon they are pressed in any way, they errantly fling the ball somewhere.
For new coaches, I’ve put together a few potential line ups assuming at least two of each category are available on the roster.
Balanced:
Point Guard – Shooter
Shooting Guard – Panicker
Small Forward – Freezer
Power Forward – Freezer
Center - Shooter
This is designed for the Shooter to bring the ball down the court and errantly throw up an air ball. The other Shooter and the Freezers are in the best position for rebounding the ball. The coach should immediately begin to yell, “SHOOT IT!” at the top of his lungs in case one of the Freezers gets the ball. If the Panicker gets the rebound, this alignment puts all four teammates between her and the basket. Presumably this will put some pressure on her to throw the ball in the correct direction giving your team a 4 out of 9 probability of ending up with the ball.
Ball Protection:
Point Guard – Freezer
Shooting Guard – Freezer
Small Forward – Panicker
Power Forward – Shooter
Center – Shooter
This should only be utilized with a substantial lead. It is designed to run out the clock. The key is to take the ball out of the hands of the Shooters and Panickers who usually turn it over quickly. Generally the point guard will bring the ball down the court. When she is pressed at half court, she will hold the ball and freeze. The coach should yell “PASS IT.” If yelled loud enough, she will find the shooting guard as the easiest target. The shooting guard will receive the pass and immediately freeze. Again, the coach should yell, “PASS IT!” The coach should repeat this process until a pass goes errant or a shot opens up (be sure to yell “SHOOT IT!”) The Shooters are in the best position to get the rebound. If the Panicker somehow ends up with the ball, it is a complete crap shoot what they will do with it.
Aggressive:
Point Guard – Panicker
Shooting Guard – Freezer
Small Forward – Freezer
Power Forward – Shooter
Center – Shooter
This is used when you’re playing from behind and need to take some risks to get the lead back. The Panicker will bring the ball down and randomly fling it. If by some chance your team ends up with it, you have your leading scorers with the ball. The Shooters are in a position to keep rebounding and shooting. If Freezers get the ball, they are in position to respond to either “SHOOT!” or “PASS!”
As an aside, one potential problem with multiple Shooters on the court is that they actually fight over the ball. I saw this today with as a matter of fact. Two Shooters on the same team both got the rebound. They proceeded to struggle against each other for the ball while their coach was going crazy yelling for them to stop fighting. The official was really confused about what to do. I thought he was just going to step in and tell them to stop, but eventually he called a five second violation and awarded the ball to the other team.
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