I'll be coaching 7 & 8 years old for the first time.Our first practice is next Saturday. Any words of wisdom?

I did that for two years and almost lost my mind doing it!

Left-right brain is not developed. Just team the fundamentals and tell the parents to be cool.

Find the one kids that gets it and let him be the point, but tell him he can can only take one shot for every four his team shoots. Hope its not your kid.

Tell the parents upfront about playing time and what your goals are. If you have any parents who think the kid is gonna be a star and deserves special treatment then talk to them in private.

I ran one kid off like that cuz even when we won the kids were really not having fun with a "starbury scowling diva". The kid was not a team mate at all. I talked to the kids and we worked on passing the rest of the year.

In three seasons, I had an undefeated team, a .500 and one that was awful. I had more fun with the .500 team. The undefeated team was a blast too.

That team was very young, was athletic, but no real skills. There really is not time to lay dow much fundamentals so I went with team "caos". We would rebound and run it down before the opponent could set on defense. I told them to just keep passing the ball up. The player with the most assists got a prize, not for points! They did not shoot foul shoots and nobody really fouled out. The refs calle fouls and would talk to my kids. They became too scared to foul and began backing off. I noticed that if you got a lead you can hold it by fouling them when they shoot. No foul shots (they can't reach it at 7)! I did not tell them to foul, but be aggressive and don't let them shoot! I wanted to play tough d and it was easier to tell them what they did wrong then scare them. eventually they understood fouling and contact better by making mistakes. I did not want them fearful of fouling!

my worst team was I had a kid who started fights and was awful. Problem is he thought he was Michael Jordan. Really, he had an entitlement complex. His father was very cool about it and he suggested I do whats right for the team cuz he wanted to knock it out of him. It was very funny!

My .500 team was the one I had to kick the diva off. Half the parents were cool, half wanted to win but would get upset their kid wasn't getting the ball enough. I retired after that season.

My son was the point guard and had developed early regarding ball handling. He was delusional regarding his shot selection, but we got it worked out.

I really don't think its a good idea to coach ones kid, but someones gotta do it. Just really back off and let the kid be. they are under a lot of pressure from the other kids when its their dad that coaches. Its almost that they can't win. If the kids a star they deserve more time, but if dads the coach........ If the kid is ok, he gets more time cuz dads the coach, and if the kid is awful, you give him more time cuz you ARE the coach. Thats tough on the kid.

He decided Ice Hockey was more fun and knew I could not skate a lick! He was free of me! In the long run, it was better for him to find his own sport and not have that kind of pressure.

As far as offensive set up, I ran a 1-2-2 and would have the kids cris-cross the lane. If the point could penetrate, then he kept going but there was always someone to dump it out to. Sometimes I would have the forwards switch with the wings. I justed wanted movement. At some time they begin to understand setting a pick.

Getting them to box out was tough. Brain developement does not allow for multitasking until 8-9 yrs old so go easy. Some kids will get it, some won't until they are 11. Go easy, have fun!

Good luck!

[Edited by - nalod on 01-07-2006 11:25 AM]

i do some coaching with 3rd-5th graders. a lot of fun. a bunch of headcases who think they're AI and take every shot, but overall good kids. it's still good advice at that age, find a pointguard and half your problems are solved. also ID your rebounders and try to keep them near the hoop on D, either with matchups or zone. keep talking to them from the sidelines, things we take for granted they haven't learned yet, especially on D. good luck!

On defensive it will be man, just hope they don't just foul at every opportunity.

if you're getting beat on the defensive glass, try a zone with your best rebounders under the basket. tehy'll be shooting real low %s, defensive rebounding is a lot more important than contesting shots.

spankings for turnovers and have them run suicides thill they puke. That should get through

Posted by Marv:

Posted by fishmike:

spankings for turnovers and have them run suicides thill they puke. That should get through

I endorse this approach.

Plus someone said remember it's supposed to be fun. That's good advice too. It's supposed to be fun for you. Screw the little brats.

Here's a depiction of me during my highly unsuccessful 2-year run as the coach of my son's basketball team:

The season We were awful We had a lead in our 8th game and my little pycho Jordan was blowing it bad. I pulled him and won the game. Afterwards his parents came to me and befor they could say somting I said "look, im sorry he did not play as much today, but I really really needed this one, for me, ok?" they just laughed and thanked me! The kid starts ranting "Think Phil would pull mike in the 4th period? Hell no pops! Krause would have his nuts!" His mother grabbed his arm and made him apologize! He starts again "mike buy and sell phil, mike don't say sorry to no cracker!" Parents were horrified, My wife and I just want to lose and laugh at the kid! My son after asks me "why he gotta say sorry to a saltine?"

Can't make this stuff up!

Kid missed a few games and eventualy returned. Ever see an 8 year old try to finger roll? double pump? but do it so badly?

It was my last season, But I miss that kid!