My daughter has been playing in the little Pioneer league since 1st grade. She is now in third they have to play man to man and no double team. We are 1-0 on the year so far. Not sure how rules change next year in 4th grade when they have school teams

 

It'll be half court, man-to-man with double teams allowed in the paint. Players are allowed to switch on picks. In the last 2 minutes of the game, you can play full court defense, even if you're winning which we found out last week. My daughter plays in the 4th grade Kenton County Elementary league.

Are you in Boyle County?

 

No but league rules are same lol

When I was playing at that age, we learned both man and zone. There were no restrictions on help. My coaches changed defense based on the strength of our opponents. Oh, and based on whether or not I was in the game. At 4'- nothing, it was not hard to bust our zone and shoot over top of me, so when I was in (which was not often), it was man 'D' all the way. Not much of a baller, but I had a good time!

I was always glad to see kids play any defense at all. These youngsters all want to put on shooting sleeves and be Durant, Westbrook or Harden and jack up long distance jumpers. The video game generation should be playing man to man at an early age to understand the fundamentals of individual defense and then spread out into team man/man techniques before getting into the gimmick defenses.

You really find out who wants to play and who can play by watching them play man to man defense. It's easy to hide in a zone.

I suspect an All Zone league at that age is a reaction to prior years of man-to-man & the interpretations of when the kids could switch and/or double team. Been a lot of irrational heated arguments between coaches and refs over the years.

 

Coached for 20 years, played 99% M2M, although did utilize many zone presses, & always got back in Man.

 

Agree that M2M shows which kids are ready to play.

Zone should be banned on any level until MS.

I think zone defense in youth basketball is a stupid idea.

 

The kids are capable or learning more than advanced concepts than people think though. My kids run plays and get in help defense.

I have to agree. Funny thing is I asked for the rules and received the day of. The hardest part is on this very small court and slick floor it's very hard to even attack the gaps. The court being so small leaves very little room.

 

They triple team my best player and when he hits an open players they drop one and rotate over a 2 stay face guarding that same boy.

 

The funny thing is they have the hardest time scoring against our man to man they pass as if we're in a zone and brow it oob or to us. Hence were still alive

 

Great input from all. Thx

Our third grade girls league has man only but we recently played in a tournament that allowed zones. The first team we played did a 2-3 zone and then in the second half after figuring out who the top kid was put a permanent double team on her regardless of whether or not she had the ball. (as in having a girl at each hip with their arms crossed straight in front of her) It was a very effective way to win the game but didn't really teach the kids how to improve their game. We may not have lost by a bucket but all our kids played at least 1.5 quarters and they all got to dribble and pass the ball. All but 1 or 2 even got shots off. In third grade that is a big accomplishment.

I'm all for teaching kids the game. Some teaches kids how to shoot and how to attack the basket. I also don't act like winning isn't important in youth leagues like a lot of people do. If the scoreboard is on then I'm playing to win and if your 8 and 9 year olds can't shoot then I'll zone you up and shake your hand and say good game after we win.

 

Zone defense is part of the game. Nothing like a good halfcourt trap out of a 2-3 zone. I even love a good box and one or a triangle and two also. I used them all when I coached 3rd and 4th graders. Yes, we won the championship that year also. Youth leagues are for preparing kids for middle school. Middle school is for preparing kids for high school. Zone defense is a part of all of that.

Problem with playing zone at that age is players don't learn how to play man. If they learn man and learn the concepts then they can learn how to play a good zone. I don't think it goes well the other way around.

I'm all for teaching kids the game. Some teaches kids how to shoot and how to attack the basket. I also don't act like winning isn't important in youth leagues like a lot of people do. If the scoreboard is on then I'm playing to win and if your 8 and 9 year olds can't shoot then I'll zone you up and shake your hand and say good game after we win.

 

Zone defense is part of the game. Nothing like a good halfcourt trap out of a 2-3 zone. I even love a good box and one or a triangle and two also. I used them all when I coached 3rd and 4th graders. Yes, we won the championship that year also. Youth leagues are for preparing kids for middle school. Middle school is for preparing kids for high school. Zone defense is a part of all of that.

 

I think I mostly agree with you. I coached 5th and 6th grade for 6 years. I think the bulk of the defense should be man to man. But zone teaches principles man to man can't at a young age. Plus kids want to win so you have to put them into positions to win late in the season.

 

An all zone league is dumb and isn't devolping players. But the zone is part of the game and can help teach basic fundamentals .

 

But also I think the bulk of your D should be man to man because it also teaches toughness and forces players to fail and get better.

I think I mostly agree with you. I coached 5th and 6th grade for 6 years. I think the bulk of the defense should be man to man. But zone teaches principles man to man can't at a young age. Plus kids want to win so you have to put them into positions to win late in the season.

 

An all zone league is dumb and isn't devolping players. But the zone is part of the game and can help teach basic fundamentals .

 

But also I think the bulk of your D should be man to man because it also teaches toughness and forces players to fail and get better.

 

I couldn't agree more. I love Man to Man defense and I think kids should master that but I am not a Man to Man snob and will throw a zone defense at a team quickly and go back to man to man before they realize what hit them if it can get me the ball and eventually a win. Word up.

 

Man to man snobs are fun though. And stubborn.

 

You play to win the game!!!!!!