The Art of Dribbling

Dribbling is one of the fundamental skills of the game of basketball.  At an early age, toddlers bounce any ball around the house.  Dribbling becomes the first basketball skill explored.  As toddlers grow into kids, it is assumed that dribbling is an assumed skill.  I can tell you that it is not.  Back in my era, you learnt to dribble with one hand and if you dribbled behind the back or between the legs you were a show off or other less salubrious descriptions.

Today, a lot of young kids have an array of dribbling skills.  However many do not.  All coaches should be teaching kids of all ages and all skill levels how to dribble correctly with both hands.  This is what we teach at MyHoops.  It is the skill that is paramount.  We do not assume all kids can dribble, so we break it down and teach them the first skill.

A whole lot of MyHoopers showing how it is done:

All kids always should be encouraged to try and dribble in games even when a turnover results.  To master the dribble is to become a better basketball players.  Good dribbling is used to advance the ball up the court, shorten a pass, improve a passing angle, balance the floor in the half court create an open shot and drive to the lane or basket.

Our MyHoops Coaches educate players on exactly why they are dribbling the basketball.  Too often the ball is dribbled without purpose.  Use the dribble to help yourself and your teammates improve scoring opportunities.  Good methodology of dribbling will allow your team to execute a sharp offensive set and each player to become better.

Aussie Hoopla

Aussie Hoopla is big! Aussie Hoopla run by Dan Boyce is the only Australian basketball podcast that is ranked in iTunes top 5 sports podcasts.

MyHoops has entered into a partnership with Aussie Hoopla to showcase our basketball training programs.  Once a month, Bruce Bolden appears on the podcast with Dan to talks about MyHoops basketball training programs for kids in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth.  Dan and Bruce also talk about the NBA and how Bruce’s son Jonah fitting into life with the Philadelphia 76ers.

Aussie Hoopla’s podcast features the biggest names in Australian basketball – Cal Bruton, Andrew Bogut, Leroy Loggins, David Anderson, Kevin Lisch, Brad Newley, Corey Webster, Sam McKinnon, Daniel Johnson…and that was just in one podcast (September 2018).

MyHoops is excited and proud to be a partner with Aussie Hoopla who provide such a great connection to a rich tapestry of past and present stars of Australian basketball.

MyHoops is passionately committed to encouraging young Australians to become involved and participate in the sport of basketball through providing professional coaching and support for the beginner through to the elite – maybe one day we will unearth a future star whom features in an Aussie Hoopla podcast.

Basketball Training in Schools

The benefits of Basketball Training in Schools

Basketball is a great sport to teach in schools as part of the physical education curriculum.  The sport teaches a student continuous movement skills and involves a lot of running, jumping, dribbling, passing, and shooting.  Basketball involves a lot of swift movement and rigorous use of the entire body, muscles and limbs, which results in immense benefits in physical health.

What skills does basketball help children acquire?

Basketball skill increases the symbiotic relationship between body and mind.  Not only does basketball increases fitness; but shooting the ball into the hoop, requires immense concentration, a good aim and great accuracy, all of which can be achieved through a lot of practice.  Learning to target and building precision is a life-long skill that a student can benefit from.

Is basketball training fun for kids?

This video shows boys and girls students working together in a MyHoops training session to develop new basketball skills (and having lots of fun).

How does My Hoops help life and academic skills?

MyHoops basketball training in schools helps students understand teamwork and problem solving skills and therefore many students whom play sport do better academically.  The MyHoops basketball training program focuses on achieving learning outcomes and indicators.

Basketball training teaches school students new skills in conjunction with the skills they learn in the school curriculum.  Students learn self-discipline as basketball has rules to follow and if not adhered to will lead to penalties.  Basketball teaches students strategy.  Dribbling and passing techniques and shooting tips make basketball a very strategic game to play.  School students can learn to interact and operate in a team and jointly come up with winning plans and tactics.

How does basketball help children to build confidence and friendships?

Students, both boys and girls, working together fosters team spirit, which in turn helps to better socialize and make greater bonds of friendships.  Finally basketball training boosts a student’s self-esteem.  Their confidence will greatly improve as they gain control over the ball and the strategy of the game, which will reflect in their overall personality.

Basketball Mentors

I learnt to play basketball as a kid by reading Lindsay Gaze’s ‘Learn to Play Basketball’.  Images of the rocker step and crossover are firmly etched into my mind!  Growing up, there was no-one providing basketball training for kids and NBA games were aired at 4am, which I taped with my VCR.

As a sporting community we have come a long way.  Now here are many basketball training providers, NBA games can be watched at a flick of a button and you can DIY train by watching the proliferation of basketball videos on You Tube.

However, one thing remains the same.  It is always about quality.  Half the battle is finding yourself the right coach, the right mentor, the right person to teach you the fundamentals in basketball and in life.

These kids in the video below have the right coach.  They love playing basketball and one of the reasons is that their coach (Bruce Bolden) cares about them.  These kids have passion.

This video was taken at Sydney Olympic Park at a MyHoops training camp.  One can only hope that these amazing kids can carry the lessons and skills that Bruce has taught them into their teenage and adult lives.

Behaviour is Better with Basketball

Sometimes problematic behavior happens because children do not have the perquisite skills to handle your expectations.  This means that new skills may help with difficult behaviour.  Basketball skills training for kids can be an important first step in managing their behaviour.  Basketball training for kids involves verbal instructions, discipline, modelling and step-by-step guidance to teach physical and social skills required to learn the game.  Skills take time to develop so practice, repetition, praise and encouragement are key.

Kids find it easier to understand instructions if the lesson is broken down the skill or task into steps.  Likewise, modelling might work better if you give instructions at the same time.  The video below was taken at one of our MyHoops training sessions, which shows step by step instructions of what children are required to do and modelling by watching other children performing the same drill.

By watching the coach and other kids participating in basketball drills, your child learns what to do and how to do it.  This is called modelling, which is usually most efficient way to teach kids a new skill.

Our coaches make sure that:

  • They have the child’s attention and make sure they looking
  • Get the child to watch first, then move slowly through the steps of the skill so that your child can clearly see what is occurring
  • Point out the important parts of the skill
  • Give the child lots of opportunities to practice
  • Always give praise and encouragement not negative feedback

It is great to watch kids grow in confidence with new found basketball skills and learning social skills of practicing with a group of other kids.