INTRODUCTION AND PHILOSOPHY OF THE GAME!

MAIN RULES:
1. Two posts having rings of 18" dia positioned at a height of 10' are placed. The court size is 28x15 meters. The surface should be smooth to enable proper bouncing of the ball.
2. Each team consists of 12 players with chest numbers of 4 to 15. Only 5 players for each team play actively. Any number of substitutions can be made. The game is played either 4x10min or 4x12min.
3. The player shall dribble the ball without carrying it - without `travelling' [holding the ball in two hands and walking a step]* [a proper demo of this rule is very important].
4. Physical contact in basketball should be minimal for beginners to avoid injury and expedite learning.

`TOUCHING THE BALL' - It is very important for the trainer to have the right attitude. Discipline should be enforced with a `smile'. Training drills become exciting if everyone gets the opportunity to keep `touching' the ball at short and regular intervals. I always encourage children to do German relays with the ball. It is a double bonus. They learn to dribble and at the same time the `intended exercise' is no more boring.

CONVERSATION: Believe me - for the trainer to keep talking - encouraging - correcting the mistake is 90% - all other activities are only 10%. Serious training takes away the joy - particularly so when the learners are beginners. Whenever a child comes to me and asks `Is my dribbling OK' - my answer is YES. I will call the same fellow after two minutes and say `You are doing good - but a great player would do like this' - and demonstrate.

BE READY TO JOIN THEM and show them again and again. Your body language is easy to copy for the youngsters - WORDS help little.

ENVIRONMENT too is important. Girls maybe inhibited in standing in the same line as boys. Start off with removing their inhibitions - mix them from the very beginning -
never segregate! Before the training session begins see that they wear proper dress, shoes and remove all `rings, nose-studs, watches etc' Explain why?

CONCERNS - Children have lot of imaginary and real concerns. You will find fast learners and slow learners. Never segregate them in a way they feel `left out'. You don't want to have half the group becoming your enemy on the very first day. Be clever - say you have divided them according to the `need' for the team.

EACH CHILD has come to the court imagining himself to be a Michael Jordan or a Kobe Bryant - so please treat him like that. Playing basketball is like massaging your ego - it raises your passions no end. So you play along - and one day you will actually see a `great player'.

ROLE OF COACHES - They come in all types - right from sadistic - very helpful - not at all bothered etc. You look into the mirror and ask yourself one question - WHY YOU CHOSE THIS PROFESSION? I will tell you why I chose it. I love to see children playing and enjoying a game of basketball. I didn't have a coach. I want to be coach for the whole world. IF YOU ARE A COACH - to settle scores; or for other benefits - please stop reading this manual - you won't like me!

PHILOSOPHY - We should know the purpose of our actions. The life-style of our children has become sedentary. In a short period of an hour or even less

-we need to give them an `exercise benefit' for healthy development of their bodies.
-their desire to have played a `game'or `skill development game' and enjoyed it
-we have to create an `urge' in them to come for the next session too!
-we have to create love and enthusiasm for the game and READY TO PLAY MODE.

Caution: Some children aren't healthy. Ensure that they are breathing normally or recover their breath quickly. Increase the work-load over a period - DO NOT attempt everything at once. You develop your own guide-lines but be cautious regarding injuries [especially to fingers].