By involving running, jumping, dribbling, throwing, catching and more, basketball is one of the very best sports for kids. It equips them with a wealth of skills that they’ll carry over into other sports, making it an excellent choice to start off with. However, compared to modern video games and other screen-based activities, this simple game of balls and hoops sometimes fails to hold their attention for long. What can be done?
The answer is quite a lot. Basketball can be every bit as engaging as their favourite game or cartoon character; it just needs to be presented to them in the right way. Here are a few effective suggestions.
Make Warm-Ups Feel Like Games
Any kid who has participated in a sport knows the general structure of a practice session: warm-up, drills, games. Those first two parts, while important, don’t tend to inspire a lot of interest. From the kids’ perspective, they’ve got a long wait until the part they really enjoy. So, why not kick things off with a bang? Forget basic stretches and jogging laps around the court.
Try starting with some kind of competitive game. It doesn’t need to be as intense as a full game of basketball, or to use all of the same skills. It just needs to get them engaged. Dribble tag is a popular example.
Skip Stationary Drills
Dribbling is a foundational skill that all basketball training for kids needs to cover. However, just standing still and practising bouncing balls isn’t much fun, no matter what age you are. There are plenty of ways to make dribbling drills more interesting, such as by introducing obstacles. By splitting the children into teams and having them do a relay race, you introduce both competition and teamwork, making basic drills much more fun.
Keep Transitions and Instructions Short
Transitioning from one activity to the next, and explaining what the next one is, are places where it’s easy for kids to become distracted. Keep these as short as possible by being prepared and by making them interactive. Have the kids help move old equipment out of the way while you place the new pieces down. When giving instructions, invite some of the children to help you demonstrate. The others will understand better that way, too.
Foster a Positive and Encouraging Atmosphere
Some children become distracted not because they are bored, but because they’re afraid to try new things in front of others. Your job is to bring them out of their shell, and that means creating the right kind of atmosphere. Encourage the kids to support each other, and set an example by offering specific praise when someone shows improvement or good effort. Don’t just reward results.
Conclusion
While simple, casual sports like padel are ideal for corporate events, children need something a bit more stimulating to keep them interested. Basketball has them running, jumping and throwing. They need to stay engaged, and with these tips, you’ll have no trouble holding their attention. By getting them to enjoy a diverse range of drills and games, they’ll be hitting their physical activity guidelines and then some, and they’ll love doing it.