Coaching Youth Basketball – Choosing Kids For the Right Positions
One of the hardest things to do when you’re a youth coach is picking the right kids for the right positions. Choosing the right mindset over the right body type for a given position is important in soccer, football and especially basketball. Many times, a coach will look at a kid’s size rather than their skills and mindset when giving them a position – more so when picking out a Center. I have been guilty of this as well, but quickly learned my lesson. The tallest kids on your team do not automatically make them your post players (PF & C). I had my smallest kid set as Point Guard and my tallest as Center – but the set up wasn’t working and we weren’t gelling as a team. I moved some kids around and my Power Forward became my Point Guard, Shooting Guard to Small Forward, Point Guard to Shooting Guard and Small Forward to Power Forward. We gelled, everyone excelled at using their strengths and we started winning games.
Here’s what to look for when choosing kids for basketball positions:
- Point Guard (PG or 1) – This needs to be the best ball-handler and passer on the team. Being able to “see” the court (i.e. – watching passes and plays develop…) is a huge requirement as well. The kid you pick as your Point Guard also needs to have some leadership qualities (those can be instilled & earned during the season…) and be able to remember the plays you make available during practice. In addition, this player should be quick on their feet and able to run a fast-break.
- Shooting Guard (SG or 2) – Your Shooting Guard is usually the second best ball-handler on the team and definitely the fastest on the court. The Shooting Guard also needs to be able to remember plays that can be called as they may temporarily become the point guard on a fast break. Above all, the kid you choose to play Shooting Guard has to have the ability to shoot the outside jumper and drive the lane for a lay-up.
- Small Forward (SF or 3) – I usually pick the most aggressive kid on the team for this position as they will be called on the drive the lane into traffic to make a lay-up or quick jumper more often than not. The Small Forward position additionally includes the ability to aggressively rebound at both ends of the floor. Whoever you decides to place in this position should be able to receive and make quick passes – both in and outside of the paint.
- Power Forward (PF or 4) – The Power Forward position requires a player that is aggressive when rebounding and able to shoot a high percentage within the paint and under the basket. Speed isn’t a big factor for this position, but “meanness” will help when boxing out for rebounds and creating lanes in the post. A player with a big vertical leap in relation to their height will help make a good Power Forward.
- Center (C or 5) – This in no means is your tallest player on the team. Will height be a plus when playing this position? Of course it will – look at Shaq. His height makes him better than he really is (at least technically…). Because the Center position does not require a lot of speed or skill in shooting outside of the paint; your Center just needs to be able to box players out to create lanes or to look for a rebound. Their shooting will be regulated to just under the basket after getting an offensive rebound or shooting free-throws (if they are playing their position correctly, they will be on the charity strip a lot…). I usually pick my weakest and/or slowest player for this position. Once you have chosen who will be your Center, you then just have to focus on teaching them the skills needed for them to be successful.
I hope this helps when you are drafting players and putting them into positions. This process becomes much easier when dealing with high school juniors and seniors, but using these guidelines for grades 4 – 10 just might help keep you from forcing a square peg in a round hole…
