It's already November! How fast the sporting season at KIDSPORTS is speeding by.

We had a very successful fall of play, improvement, and teams having fun, working hard, and getting better! Thank you KIDS for your effort, your team work, and your passion to do what you love and love what you do out there on the fields of our community. And thank you to all of our volunteer coaches who put in the time and energy to make this all happen!

Off the field, our KIDSPORTS Campaign for 2009 has one month down and one month to go. We are trying to raise $200,000.00 dollars during our campaign (which runs from Oct. 1, 2009 until Nov. 30th, 2009) to help us to help KIDS to keep playing. This year so far, our KIDSPORTS team of staff, board members, and you the community helped over 1,000 KIDS play this fall through our scholarship program

Our request for scholarship help this year is projected to be over $300,000 dollars. We need your help. Remember when you invest in KIDSPORTS you invest in our KIDS! Your gift of time, gift in kind, or a financial contribution helps to not only give all KIDS a chance to play, but as importantly, a chance at a better day, a better way!

VOLLEYBALL:
As I mentioned, our volley ball program is up and running with practices beginning last week and games soon to be underway. As we head into the gyms with volleyball, KIDSPORTS is providing as a service to our volleyball and basketball coaches our "added value" program of coaching support with our Physical Literacy Specialist, Steve Brown.

Steve is a 1992 graduate of Harvard University, a former high school teacher and coach at Bishop's School, La Jolla, San Diego; Jesuit High School, Portland, Oregon; and Marist High School, Eugene, Oregon. Steve will help coaches to implement a warm up and cool down for their particular age group of athletes that they are coaching.

Last Tuesday Nov. 2nd I spent an hour with Cristal Bollinger's 5th grade volleyball team out at Gilham Elementary. Cristal contacted me after receiving information from our KIDSPORTS Sports Managers regarding the Physical Literacy Program. Cristal has been coaching this volleyball age group for 3 years and was very interested in seeking support from us to add value to her KIDSPORTS experience.

Steve will be working with her team to introduce the age appropriate KIDSPORTS warm - up and cool down that addresses the teaching and learning of the fundamental movement and motor skills needed to become physically literate; that is helping KIDS to be confident in moving their body with control through time and space AND being able to react with confidence and control to all the things of which the game of volleyball (or any game) challenges them with.

BASKETBALL:
This Tuesday, November 10th, 2009 we had our 1st and 2nd grade basketball coaches meeting at 7pm. Basketball is one of my favorite sports (as you might have guessed), and I am fortunate enough to be coaching a 1st grade girls basketball team this season. Very exciting! In fact I had a comment posted last month on my blog regarding basketball rules with this age group.

The comment was in the form of a question: "Bev, Appreciate the information you posted, very helpful. Will K-4 basketball rules continue to allow stealing off the dribble? If so, do you have any suggested drills?”

Before answering the question about stealing off the dribble, I would like us all to consider what the goal of youth sport should be, in any sport, between the ages K - 4.

Certainly it is fun to compete and win at any level. However, if we place a high priority or importance on winning and competing at this fundamental and formative stage, then I think we are doing a great disservice to our children and youth.

I would suggest that for this age, it has less to do with the tactical, strategic, and technical aspects of the game and more to do with the fundamentals of both basketball skill AND movement and motor skill development.

For a young child to be able to dribble the ball, pass the ball, shoot the ball WITHOUT defense even being in the picture, and to do all of this with balance, coordination, and timing, is a lot to ask!

What we should be teaching and encouraging in K - 4 basketball is to use the ball as a vehicle in order to teach agility, balance, coordination, timing, jumping, stopping, pivoting, and then the basics of the game: passing to ourselves (dribbling), passing to others, the foundation of shooting, and the simple concepts of play.

At this level we must also take into consideration the age appropriate cognitive, mental, emotional and social capacity that our K - 4 children have. At this age children must be active, instructions need to be simple, and they like and need to be led. A “follow me” approach works well with children of this age as they are good at modeling behavior and actions.

Modified games are strongly recommended at this level to enhance the teaching of space and the use of space plus there is more opportunity for each child to touch the ball frequently, which is one of the most important things at this age.

3 on 3, or 4 on 4 games for K -4 help kids learn the game and as well develop the age appropriate motor and movement skills as they focus more of their time on developing individual skills rather than strategic, tactical, or team skills.

If our kids learn to run, jump, stop, pivot, pass, dribble, and shoot with balance, coordination and in control, they will have an excellent foundation for the technical, strategic, and tactical team skills to be added as they get older. K - 4 is about establishing a foundation of which kids can then build their basketball house upon.

Our goal is to provide an environment where children develop a love of the game, (they have FUN!), confidence in moving their bodies and playing the game, concentration skills, the formation of leadership and self reliant skills, communication skills, and competition management skills.

I have included links to some very informative and great basketball web-sites that offer incredible teaching and coaching skills, drills, and frills to help you do the right thing at the right time to help our KIDS have fun, get better, and become the best that they can be as individuals and teammates at every level.

I know that I did not answer the question on the rule with regards to steal or not to steal, but I believe if we focus on helping our kids to develop in age appropriate ways we will teach, grow, and develop our way our way into the answer.

http://www.basketball.bc.ca/

http://www.thecrossovermovement.wordpress.com/

http://www.ihoops.com/

http://www.basketball.ca/ (link to LTAD)

Go KIDSPORTS!
Go KIDS!

Bev