I really wish I would have discovered Bob Bigelow when researching for my older daughter, this mans teachings on children and how they learn is an art form that we all need to learn at the youth level. Thank you coach. I never met you, yet I miss you so much.
Thanks for your kind comments. I worked with Bob for many years, and he was all that you say and more, a very nice guy and well regarded by so many in his area of work for youth basketball and youth sports.
Thank you for this!! This is the best video I have seen on youth basketball coaching ideas. I was sweating bullets about coaching my son until I watched this.
Thank you!!!! I'm a homeschool parent with few resources to teach my kinder kiddo sports that I'm unfamiliar with. Appreciate the detailed video so much!
You know my initial reaction felt for a second similar. Until I realized that his way of gently restraining them (especially the boys, when needed) was actually the best solution! When you take a second look, you'll notice even edits throughout the video where clearly the video had to be cut or stopped, then restarted. Most likely due to a bit of chaos from the boys. Which can be quite challenging to deal with at this level, when you are trying to explain how to perform a drill/exercise and it's main purpose to a group of mixed ages (some for the first time) especially if balls are bouncing non-stop & kids are being disorderly and disrespectful.. I understand that they can't stop moving and we should keep explanations brief and things moving along fairly fast paced, but if it takes only 1-2 quick minutes for me to explain the fundamental process/purpose properly, all participants should all be able to hear to understand what is going on, and what I am saying, right? Geeesh! Please enlighten me on what exactly you would do with a teeny-weeny tribe of ill-bred, disorderly, unruly, unjust, pompous pack of punks, who believe that they have already mastered the art of basketball at the tender age of 8?! Kids that not only complain about every drill selection and it's 'proper' progression, but also, beg repeatedly for other way more advanced drills (while not even performing the task at hand properly!) Some are crying and whining about what they should do, that they are getting tired (although sprinting for 10 minutes chasing the others) pretending they need a drink, and still not attempting properly the drill and then when they eventually do attempt it, they do it super fast, or super sloppy, even worse - not at all!! Then these sawed-off, dodgy little bastards will then just sit down with their puny punk pals all around each other like my great-grandma's sewing circle on Sunday and ignore me!! So when they are not trying to do the opposite of what is asked, their balls are continually bouncing or wildly rolling away and always out of control! having to repeatedly ask them, "Hold the ball, for only a minute, please hold the ball, one minute, how about 30 seconds ..at least 30 seconds? No?.. 20 seconds? can you please give me 20 secs? wait! okay 10! ..10 short seconds, c'mon please just 10 damn seconds to explain to the other littler ones about what to do!?! Please sir, tell me what you might do with these presumptuous pack of pocket-sized puny pukes in this nightmarish scenario?? 🤨🙃🤣🤔
I worked with Bob for many years and helped shoot / edit this video. It kinda sounds like you may not be a kid person as far as teaching / coaching is concerned? (And that's ok not everyone is). Part of keeping those "unruly...." kids under control is an effervescent personality that grabs their attention and they want to listen to and follow. Think how successful kids shows work. Also, involve them in the activities such as using questions and answers like "who thinks he/she can show how to dribble well...." (etc.). There'll always be a volunteer and other kids will watch to see how they do. Be engaging. Of course make sure the activities are simple and fun and tell them why they're important. One added way to avoid the balls bouncing is simply have the kids sit on their basketballs while you talk. For kids who really don't pay attention, talk with their parents and maybe find out if the kid really wants to be there. Last resort is a small reprimand or time out, kids don't like to be isolated from their group so a brief time out where the kid is sent to the sideline an face the opposite direction, and let him / her know he / she can come back in a couple minutes for good behavior (the other kids will take notice also). Remember that the 6, 7 , 8 year olds have to behave well at school so knowing how to behave is not the issue. YOU are now the teacher and need good teaching / kid skills.
True! Thanks for sharing, I will be sure to rotate my kiddos when I try this one. Maybe if one can identify some of the better passers, they can be on the ends to give other kids that need that specific passing skill more touches :)
You have to recognize that young kids do not have the upper body strength to shoot one handed, they need two to get the ball up to the basket. Then it also depends on how high the basket is. Take a look at the UConn Husky women (who have less upper body strength than male players), many do two-handed shots on their threes, and they play pretty well :)
Nope - never with two hands. Basketball shot is based on power created with legs and upper body, not with hands. When power is generated with legs and body, you can concentrate on aiming with your hands. I have coached for 25 years in which time I have encountered players, who originally begun shooting with two hands and never really learned to shoot with only one. Some players I taught to shoot with one hand from the beginning in the age of 6-7 years and it took them few weeks to adapt one hand shot.
Well Bob played in college under Chuck Daly, in the NBA, and has coached everyone from younger kids to pro players for about 40 years, written two books, spoken to hundreds of communities, at major sports council events, internationally as well, conducted thousands of clinics, and is a recognized expert on youth sports. So what's your resume?
You also have to remember that younger kids (here 2nd graders) also do not have developed leg nor upper body strength, plus motor skills are still developing. The biggest factor in teaching shooting is to have a lower basket AND have kids shoot close to the basket...forget longer out shots. And lay-ups are the hardest to teach. A 4 1/2 foot kid is about 70% of the height of mature adult players, so that instantly means lowering the basket to 7 feet from 10 (most gyms you can't get below 8). Then, with their strength at say 25% (or less) of an adults, the basket should be even lower still, say 5 1/2 to 6 feet. Kids have a very small vertical jump so power of the legs is very little, adults can have 2 feet or more. An adult trying to shoot at the equivalent (proportional) basket as a younger kid shooting at 10 feet, is like 20 feet or more, and with a ball far heavier than a normal basketball. In Bob's clinics, he teaches coaches this using a 9 lb exercise ball at a 10 foot hoop and everyone has to heave the ball with two hands. This is what it's like for kids. His email is on his website; bobbigelow@comcast.net. If you really want to learn about bio-mechanics at young ages, email him - and the stuff you post here will start to show a true understanding. I have worked with Bob for about a dozen years now, and trust me, this is correct.
I disagree. Some small kids do not have the strength to shoot with one hand. They end up "throwing" the ball from the side of their head. Shooting with two is great for kids who are not strong enough or experienced enough for the "perfect" form.
+Andre Brown Short hoops and smaller balls are great ! There are "growing" with the kids. It is very clever solution....if you are coaching 6 years old kids, you will see...
![How to Shoot the Basketball for Beginners [Coaches MUST Watch!]](/img/1.gif)
I really wish I would have discovered Bob Bigelow when researching for my older daughter, this mans teachings on children and how they learn is an art form that we all need to learn at the youth level. Thank you coach. I never met you, yet I miss you so much.
Thanks for your kind comments. I worked with Bob for many years, and he was all that you say and more, a very nice guy and well regarded by so many in his area of work for youth basketball and youth sports.
Thank you for this!! This is the best video I have seen on youth basketball coaching ideas. I was sweating bullets about coaching my son until I watched this.
thinking about coaching my son's first grade team for the first time. This should be all I need for the season.
Thank you so much for posting this! First time coach ,trying to brainstorm drill ideas for first and second graders.
Much Appreciated!
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me right now! 1st practice in a couple days :)
Thank you!!!! I'm a homeschool parent with few resources to teach my kinder kiddo sports that I'm unfamiliar with. Appreciate the detailed video so much!
This is one of the best coaching kids video’s I have seen on RUclips thus far.#Knowledgeispower
You know my initial reaction felt for a second similar. Until I realized that his way of gently restraining them (especially the boys, when needed) was actually the best solution! When you take a second look, you'll notice even edits throughout the video where clearly the video had to be cut or stopped, then restarted. Most likely due to a bit of chaos from the boys. Which can be quite challenging to deal with at this level, when you are trying to explain how to perform a drill/exercise and it's main purpose to a group of mixed ages (some for the first time) especially if balls are bouncing non-stop & kids are being disorderly and disrespectful.. I understand that they can't stop moving and we should keep explanations brief and things moving along fairly fast paced, but if it takes only 1-2 quick minutes for me to explain the fundamental process/purpose properly, all participants should all be able to hear to understand what is going on, and what I am saying, right? Geeesh!
Please enlighten me on what exactly you would do with a teeny-weeny tribe of ill-bred, disorderly, unruly, unjust, pompous pack of punks, who believe that they have already mastered the art of basketball at the tender age of 8?! Kids that not only complain about every drill selection and it's 'proper' progression, but also, beg repeatedly for other way more advanced drills (while not even performing the task at hand properly!) Some are crying and whining about what they should do, that they are getting tired (although sprinting for 10 minutes chasing the others) pretending they need a drink, and still not attempting properly the drill and then when they eventually do attempt it, they do it super fast, or super sloppy, even worse - not at all!!
Then these sawed-off, dodgy little bastards will then just sit down with their puny punk pals all around each other like my great-grandma's sewing circle on Sunday and ignore me!! So when they are not trying to do the opposite of what is asked, their balls are continually bouncing or wildly rolling away and always out of control! having to repeatedly ask them, "Hold the ball, for only a minute, please hold the ball, one minute, how about 30 seconds ..at least 30 seconds? No?.. 20 seconds? can you please give me 20 secs? wait! okay 10! ..10 short seconds, c'mon please just 10 damn seconds to explain to the other littler ones about what to do!?!
Please sir, tell me what you might do with these presumptuous pack of pocket-sized puny pukes in this nightmarish scenario?? 🤨🙃🤣🤔
I worked with Bob for many years and helped shoot / edit this video. It kinda sounds like you may not be a kid person as far as teaching / coaching is concerned? (And that's ok not everyone is). Part of keeping those "unruly...." kids under control is an effervescent personality that grabs their attention and they want to listen to and follow. Think how successful kids shows work. Also, involve them in the activities such as using questions and answers like "who thinks he/she can show how to dribble well...." (etc.). There'll always be a volunteer and other kids will watch to see how they do. Be engaging. Of course make sure the activities are simple and fun and tell them why they're important. One added way to avoid the balls bouncing is simply have the kids sit on their basketballs while you talk.
For kids who really don't pay attention, talk with their parents and maybe find out if the kid really wants to be there. Last resort is a small reprimand or time out, kids don't like to be isolated from their group so a brief time out where the kid is sent to the sideline an face the opposite direction, and let him / her know he / she can come back in a couple minutes for good behavior (the other kids will take notice also). Remember that the 6, 7 , 8 year olds have to behave well at school so knowing how to behave is not the issue. YOU are now the teacher and need good teaching / kid skills.
This was a big help preparing for coaching 3rd and 4th grade boys.
In the static passing lines where it works from one end to the other the two kids on the ends only get half as many passes and catches.
True! Thanks for sharing, I will be sure to rotate my kiddos when I try this one. Maybe if one can identify some of the better passers, they can be on the ends to give other kids that need that specific passing skill more touches :)
Thanks for the video and I'm sorry about your brother Bam Bam. But congrats to your brother Deuce.
Brian Fantana
Nice drills for kids, Thanks for sharing
Thanks for this video, coach! Great content.
It's been a few years since you posted this; Any additional advice for coaching 7 n 8 year olds?
Great video! I think that for this age group it's too early to study Lay-ups more than that to teach Pass and Cut it's to early.
So what can you teach this age group? Dribble?
Can’t believe this group didn’t get antsy
@12:12 I will have to tell my littles that it is a race to be last, or the last one to finish wins..
im 8 years old im 2nd grade and i play basketball my proflie is my sis thats not me
Did this video help you practice and play?
Wrong on the key hence three in the key
You can do this 🎉😮
where are the layup drills (voted down)
ok...
I go to the ymca
You do not shoot basketball with two hands - not ever.
You have to recognize that young kids do not have the upper body strength to shoot one handed, they need two to get the ball up to the basket. Then it also depends on how high the basket is. Take a look at the UConn Husky women (who have less upper body strength than male players), many do two-handed shots on their threes, and they play pretty well :)
Nope - never with two hands. Basketball shot is based on power created with legs and upper body, not with hands. When power is generated with legs and body, you can concentrate on aiming with your hands. I have coached for 25 years in which time I have encountered players, who originally begun shooting with two hands and never really learned to shoot with only one. Some players I taught to shoot with one hand from the beginning in the age of 6-7 years and it took them few weeks to adapt one hand shot.
Well Bob played in college under Chuck Daly, in the NBA, and has coached everyone from younger kids to pro players for about 40 years, written two books, spoken to hundreds of communities, at major sports council events, internationally as well, conducted thousands of clinics, and is a recognized expert on youth sports. So what's your resume?
You also have to remember that younger kids (here 2nd graders) also do not have developed leg nor upper body strength, plus motor skills are still developing. The biggest factor in teaching shooting is to have a lower basket AND have kids shoot close to the basket...forget longer out shots. And lay-ups are the hardest to teach. A 4 1/2 foot kid is about 70% of the height of mature adult players, so that instantly means lowering the basket to 7 feet from 10 (most gyms you can't get below 8). Then, with their strength at say 25% (or less) of an adults, the basket should be even lower still, say 5 1/2 to 6 feet. Kids have a very small vertical jump so power of the legs is very little, adults can have 2 feet or more. An adult trying to shoot at the equivalent (proportional) basket as a younger kid shooting at 10 feet, is like 20 feet or more, and with a ball far heavier than a normal basketball.
In Bob's clinics, he teaches coaches this using a 9 lb exercise ball at a 10 foot hoop and everyone has to heave the ball with two hands. This is what it's like for kids. His email is on his website; bobbigelow@comcast.net. If you really want to learn about bio-mechanics at young ages, email him - and the stuff you post here will start to show a true understanding.
I have worked with Bob for about a dozen years now, and trust me, this is correct.
I disagree. Some small kids do not have the strength to shoot with one hand. They end up "throwing" the ball from the side of their head. Shooting with two is great for kids who are not strong enough or experienced enough for the "perfect" form.
Way too handsy with those kids
Mini balls and short hoops lol what a joke
+Andre Brown Short hoops and smaller balls are great ! There are "growing" with the kids. It is very clever solution....if you are coaching 6 years old kids, you will see...
Thanks and glad this helps!
Lay-ups are a bit advanced for this age group :)