Our 3rd grade team ( our first game ever) plays them at Hoops Friday. We are small (even for a 3rd grade team) and I wondered how we would match up with them. Any info would be appreciated, thanks.

 

If your a 3rd grade team probably not to well..They will press you from start to finish and not let up....It is my experience if you are not a top tier team in 3rd grade you will struggle against an average 4th grade team....Good Luck....

Quote:

Originally Posted by southernkyhoops

Our 3rd grade team ( our first game ever) plays them at Hoops Friday. We are small (even for a 3rd grade team) and I wondered how we would match up with them. Any info would be appreciated, thanks.

 

If your a 3rd grade team probably not to well..They will press you from start to finish and not let up....It is my experience if you are not a top tier team in 3rd grade you will struggle against an average 4th grade team....Good Luck....

 

Thanks, they put 3-4th together(like BCI), tough first game and there are not many 3rd grade teams out there. Will the full court pressure be man, 2-2-1 or 1-2-1-1 ? At least we have a day to prepare. We have played a few Northern KY teams before, in the AAU state, and they are always pretty good. I think they all play in a league at Sports of all Sorts.

Quote:

Originally Posted by southernkyhoops

Our 3rd grade team ( our first game ever) plays them at Hoops Friday. We are small (even for a 3rd grade team) and I wondered how we would match up with them. Any info would be appreciated, thanks.

 

If your a 3rd grade team probably not to well..They will press you from start to finish and not let up....It is my experience if you are not a top tier team in 3rd grade you will struggle against an average 4th grade team....Good Luck....

 

Thanks, they put 3-4th together(like BCI), tough first game and there are not many 3rd grade teams out there. Will the full court pressure be man, 2-2-1 or 1-2-1-1 ? At least we have a day to prepare. We have played a few Northern KY teams before, in the AAU state, and they are always pretty good. I think they all play in a league at Sports of all Sorts.

 

Look for the diamond or the 2-2-1.

Quote:

Originally Posted by southernkyhoops

Our 3rd grade team ( our first game ever) plays them at Hoops Friday. We are small (even for a 3rd grade team) and I wondered how we would match up with them. Any info would be appreciated, thanks.

 

If your a 3rd grade team probably not to well..They will press you from start to finish and not let up....It is my experience if you are not a top tier team in 3rd grade you will struggle against an average 4th grade team....Good Luck....

 

Thanks, they put 3-4th together(like BCI), tough first game and there are not many 3rd grade teams out there. Will the full court pressure be man, 2-2-1 or 1-2-1-1 ? At least we have a day to prepare. We have played a few Northern KY teams before, in the AAU state, and they are always pretty good. I think they all play in a league at Sports of all Sorts.

Where is your team from and what is the team name????

Look for the diamond or the 2-2-1.

 

At early ages, the Diamond is the killer. Especially if they put a big kid at the point.

 

All you need to do is be able to get a good entry pass and someone cutting down the middle for the quick 2nd pass. Any hesitation at all and your done. I have seen it so many times. To be quite honest, at 3rd/4th grade level I think they should only allow 3/4 court press. I hate watching teams just steal and layup, steal and layup, etc etc

NKY Warriors (13U) are playing in a Christmas tourney this week in Cincinnati. Play Cincy Bluejays, NKY Firebirds (neverheard of them, thinking this may be Firehawks) and Indian Hill. Two teams out of 4 entered with best record will play MOnday afternoon in finals.

NKY Firebirds may be a group from Connor Middle school, but I am not 100% sure if this is right. I thought I saw some kids from Conner where some Firebirds sweatshirts when PC played them in the Williamstown tournament.

Georgetown Thunder is playing at MidAmerica on Saturday Dec. 29th.

They are scheduled to play St. Temple of Christ 8th Grade team, Louisville Rising Stars for the 4th time this short year and the Ville. I know the Thunder will not have their full squad for these games but should have their core players there.

At early ages, the Diamond is the killer. Especially if they put a big kid at the point.

 

All you need to do is be able to get a good entry pass and someone cutting down the middle for the quick 2nd pass. Any hesitation at all and your done. I have seen it so many times. To be quite honest, at 3rd/4th grade level I think they should only allow 3/4 court press. I hate watching teams just steal and layup, steal and layup, etc etc

 

There's a press break that Ken Shields use to use in elementary, high school and at NKU. Regardless of the age, a good passing team can dissect any press with his break.

we are the Albany Bulldogs (Clinton County). We have played for years at older levels... last season 11/u and 10/u. We will be playing 11/u and 12/u when middle school is over. This year we also have a 9/u (playing Friday) and are starting a 10/u. Our 10/u's last year finished 3rd in the AAU state DII and 2nd in the usssa state. We then combined with somerset (3 of ours) and finished 2nd in the USSSA nationals beating Indiana elite in the semis before losing to king of the court in the finals.

NKY Warriors (13U) are playing in a Christmas tourney this week in Cincinnati. Play Cincy Bluejays, NKY Firebirds (neverheard of them, thinking this may be Firehawks) and Indian Hill. Two teams out of 4 entered with best record will play MOnday afternoon in finals.

 

If it's at Sportsplus in Ohio it's the Firehawks..

There's a press break that Ken Shields use to use in elementary, high school and at NKU. Regardless of the age, a good passing team can dissect any press with his break.

 

Correct, however kids at that age are not tall enough to throw over the press and if they do not use a good bounce pass, its over. How many 9U/10U kids do you see that utilize a good bounce pass period. Heck, its hard enough to get 13U kids to do it. So I will agree that if you have a good passing team they can beat it but 80% of teams out there have kids not strong enough to throw crisp bounce passes and not tall enough to throw over top so it turns into a track meet. Up and down the floor, up and down the floor, steal,layup, steal, layup.

Correct, however kids at that age are not tall enough to throw over the press and if they do not use a good bounce pass, its over. How many 9U/10U kids do you see that utilize a good bounce pass period. Heck, its hard enough to get 13U kids to do it. So I will agree that if you have a good passing team they can beat it but 80% of teams out there have kids not strong enough to throw crisp bounce passes and not tall enough to throw over top so it turns into a track meet. Up and down the floor, up and down the floor, steal,layup, steal, layup.

 

I disagree. If someone is playing a zone press, spacing and passing are the keys. I've seen multiple 9, 10, 11 and up age teams be able to break presses using that philosophy. I've also seen multiple teams be unable to break a press because the coach (yes, the coach) doesn't understand how to successfully beat a press. Pressing is a part of basketball, just ask Rick Pitino. The coach has to understand and show their team how to beat the press so teams will not press you.

I disagree. If someone is playing a zone press, spacing and passing are the keys. I've seen multiple 9, 10, 11 and up age teams be able to break presses using that philosophy. I've also seen multiple teams be unable to break a press because the coach (yes, the coach) doesn't understand how to successfully beat a press. Pressing is a part of basketball, just ask Rick Pitino. The coach has to understand and show their team how to beat the press so teams will not press you.

 

I am not saying teams shouldnt press and typically this age group finally figures it out but most of the time it takes 4-5 games of intense pressure. Or it could take a full season. My only point is I dont get much pleasure from watching 9/10U kids playing a fullcourt press the whole game. It definitely is part of the game and can help you win ballgames. Coaching is a major key but getting out there and facing it is also a key. Practicing against a full blown press is hte only way to get better.

Our 11/u team this season has been highly successful with the full court press using the 1-2-1-1 and 2-2-1. Offensively no one presses us but 3-4 times and after that many layups they usually get out of it and play zone. These kids have probably played 300-400 games together since the 1st grade. It took us a couple of years to get comfortable being pressed but after that we began to like to get pressed because it provided so many scoring opportunities. Agaist the 2-2-1 you just have to reverse the ball and dribble as little as possible. Agaist the 1-2-1-1 you nedd to attack the middle after it's reversed. 4 across is also an excellent press break agaist the diamond and 1. To play at a competitive AAU level you must be able to press and be pressed. It is probably the most important part of the game at the competitive younger AAU levels.