Greetings everyone its time for another coaching update🏀😃🏀.

If you've been following me you know I train/ coach under 12 boys basketball together with my cousin.

You can read more here if you're interested: https://peakd.com/hive-193552/@gvkanten/actifit-gvkanten-20210126t051631672z
https://peakd.com/hiveblopomo/@gvkanten/motivationmondayiknowikn-2no03meuw20ei4xmh15mjm37wq41j44x

I've been constantly analyzing about what kind of coach I want to be and how to best reach the kids so this is just an update.

NEW BASKETBALLS!

We finally have some new bball to practice with. It was really time for an update and as a basketball player myself I can tell you that you enjoy the game just a bit better with a bball that is new, has grip and is just calling to you to give it its first basketball experience 😃😃😃.

Look at these beauties (don't worry there are more, I just take two home).

Help Defense

Those of you who are familiar with the game know that there is a basic rule:
Defense wins games!
So for the past 3 weeks we've tried to instill a defensive system.
I've identified this a one of those key things that they'll use for the rest of their bball careers. There is simply no proper 5 on 5 games without proper defense!

Don't judge my handwriting 😃

I won't go into much detail but the basics are this! If the other team has the ball, you have to learn to identify where the danger comes from and put yourself in a position where you can both HELP (should your teammate be beaten) and RECOVER to whoever you are defending should the ball make it to them.
Your position depends on where the ball is and where the person you're defending is so if the ball moves you move, if your guy moves, you move!

It also brings with it what a team truly is meaning that YOUR TEAM HAS YOUR BACK (literally, they're watching your back), and that we play TOGETHER.

The challenge was to get the kids to let go of only focussing on the person they are defending. It's not strange, because in the beginning if you tell a kid they're defending someone they think it's their responsibility to not let them score/dribble/pass... So bringing in this new element where you are also responsible for the rest of the team was new.
3 weeks in, I'm happy with their movement, positioning and understanding so far.

WHO'S THE NEW GUY

A new kid joined us on Saturday and it's funny to see how he reacts to both us as coaches, the exercises and to his teammates. One thing I make sure we do is have other kids explain our 3 team rules to him!
Those are:

1. Lucha pa otro
2. Yuda otro
3. Hasi bo best

Which is Papiamentu, but translated to English its

1. Fight for each other
2. Help each other
3. Do your best

That's it for my update!
My journey continues!

As always, if you have any questions or thoughts, leave them in the comments!

Cheers

Gyanno