Proball Basketball Academy

Dribbling

Dribbling the ball is one of the fundamentals of playing basketball. Any good player knows they need to keep the ball moving if they want to keep moving.

Most children start by keeping the ball in motion while they standstill. This helps develop another important physical literacy skill: hand-eye coordination. Eventually, through the practice gained by participating in a the clinic, children will add in their own motion, dribbling the ball as they make their way up and down the court, as well as advancing to include cross-overs and dribbling with both hands.

Passing

Basketball skills also include the essential team sports move: passing.

Children will learn the different types of basketball passes including chest pass, bounce pass, and overhead pass. Furthermore, they will learn how to pass the ball over increasingly long distances, and this has some great real-world applications outside of sports. Your child is learning how to effectively judge distance, which is an indispensable part of physical literacy. Even if they don’t grow up to be a STAR, basketball gives your child the opportunity to develop some fundamental movements!

Shooting

This is the glamorous part of basketball—your child will eventually get to practice their shot. In fact, they’ll take part in a number of drills to improve and practice different kinds of basketball shots at a sports clinic, including layups (Most important), jump shots, hook shots, free throws, and bank shots.

They may not be making 3-pointer jump shots by the end of the clinic, but they will definitely have some time to practice one of the most essential basketball skills.

Agility

Basketball requires players to maneuver their way up and down the court, often dodging opponents. They twist out of the way, turn and shield the ball, then duck around an opponent. Defenders need to be on guard, always on their toes.

Some people might think basketball is “nothing but net,” but actual play requires a good deal of agility. Your child will have a chance to work on their footwork through a number of drills designed to improve both their defensive skills and offensive play, as well as a develop a fundamental movement not as common in other sports: jumping.

Teamwork

Basketball is a team sport, so, of course, one of the essential basketball skills is good teamwork! At a sports clinic, your child will have ample opportunity to develop great teamwork skills by participating in drills with partners and in groups.

Working together, clinic-goers will help each other improve not just their basketball skills but other key life skills too.

Self-Discipline

Learning, understanding, and applying rules is key to any sport.

Learning about rules in sport can teach children self-control and discipline. A player who flouts the rules won’t be welcome on the court very long and won’t earn the respect of his or her peers. Practicing self-control and abiding by the rules on the court can also be applied off the court. Children who participate in sports may find it easier to follow rules at home or in the classroom.

A Great Learning Opportunity

There are a number of basketball skills your child can learn at a sports clinic that apply both on and off the court. PROBALL camping and academy are great opportunities to get kids playing and moving!

Playing multiple sports helps kids make new friends and develop new skills. Medical and scientific experts recommend early sports sampling and delaying single-sport specialization until mid to late adolescence. Playing multiple sports should not be viewed as falling behind, but rather as building the foundation for future success. Research shows that early sport specialization is NOT necessary to produce elite-level performance.

During early childhood, body composition changes dramatically. Between the ages of two and six years, there is a gradual increase of both fat mass and fat-free mass with body size. However, the percentage of fat decreases between three and six years of age as caloric intake decreases and energy expenditure increases (2).

The preschool years are marked by dramatic improvements in gait and specific motor skills. Children’s legs become straighter, losing the normal infant bowlegs. Children’s stride length increases and they develop a more mature running pattern. In this age group, balance is limited because children are just beginning to integrate visual, vestibular and proprioceptive cues. In addition, preschoolers have limited attention spans. They learn best with egocentric activities, and visual and auditory clues. Emphasis should be placed on acquiring fundamental skills, such as running, throwing, tumbling and catching. Activities, should emphasize fun, playfulness, exploration and experimentation. Competition should be avoided.

Growth during middle childhood is not as rapid. Aerobic and anaerobic exercise capacities increase slowly. Most children achieve mature patterns of fundamental motor skills, and their posture and balance are better. They are beginning to learn transitional skills, which are fundamental abilities performed in combination or with variation (eg, throwing for distance). Their attention spans remain short, so sports activities should emphasize fundamental skills and encourage the development of transitional skills. Rules should be flexible, instruction times should be kept short and there should be minimal competition. Appropriate activities include entry-level soccer and baseball, swimming, running, skating and gymnastics. Other activities include dancing, riding a bicycle, martial arts and racquet sports, such as tennis.

During late childhood, girls are temporarily taller and heavier than boys because of the earlier onset of puberty. Strength begins to diverge but the differences are small. Boys and girls are able to compete evenly. Transitional skills improve and most children are able to master complex motor skills. Attention spans increase but may remain selective. Children are ready to learn strategy and more complex play combinations. Coaches should continue to encourage skill development with an increasing emphasis on strategy and tactics. Appropriate activities include entry-level football, basketball and ice hockey.

 Growth during early adolescence is remarkable. Increases in muscle mass, muscle strength and cardiopulmonary endurance are at their greatest. Although both girls and boys continue to accumulate both fat mass and fat-free mass during adolescence, girls tend to accumulate fat mass at a greater rate with the onset of puberty. Both sexes continue to increase their muscle strength, but this increase is more dramatic in boys. However, adolescence is marked by a temporary decrease in coordination and balance, and a loss of flexibility. The onset of puberty varies among individuals and may affect sports performance. Early maturing boys are taller, stronger and have greater muscle mass, and should participate in sports such as basketball, ice hockey and track and field, which emphasize these qualities. Girls who mature late have narrower shoulders and hips and are ideally suited for sports such as gymnastics.

Boys continue to increase their strength, speed and size but at a slower rate than during puberty. Girls continue to accumulate fat mass. Muscular strength and aerobic capacity increase into adulthood. Late maturers usually catch up but tend to be lighter and not as strong.

All sports are appropriate, but participants usually choose sports that they are good at and enjoy. Sports may provide youth with the opportunity to develop independence, identify with a peer group and increase social interaction. Positive sport experiences may go a long way to maintaining exercise and sports participation during the adult years.

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