MetroWest 2nd
and 3rd Grade League Tip-Off
Joe Dicruttalo - @JDicruttalo
This past Sunday, January 4th MetroWest
Basketball had its opening weekend for its first ever second and third grade
modified basketball league. The idea of this league is to help generate a
positive environment for the rapid development of young players. The hoops are
set at eight and a half feet and the game is played with a junior size ball
(27.5). Each game has its share of competitiveness, but the most important part
of the league is the chance for these players and coaches to get to develop and
learn some of the rules of the game.
Players get to practice shooting and making layups with
proper form, and are being asked to defend their opponents by sliding their
feet to keep players in front of them. When you think youth baseball it is
almost instantaneous one would think about Little League Baseball, where they
have developed players on smaller fields for years to maximize their potential
for having success at that young age. It is my belief that basketball should be
doing the same, and I am excited to see MetroWest having taken a risk to help
the development of youth basketball across Massachusetts.
The games were a total success, with teams scoring in the
mid-to-high twenties during the first week of play. Having a ball small enough
for the players to hold and a hoop at a purposeful height for players this age
to reach comfortably, we noticed more scoring and a more balanced team scoring
attack every game. Often times as adults, we forget how small these second and
third grade players are, and by asking them to shoot a regulation ball into a
regulation hoop does nothing but generate bad habits. Players are forced to
throw the ball towards the basket rather than shoot the ball into the basket.
Baseball uses a smaller diamond for its young players, and it won’t be long
until America adopts the idea of smaller hoops for our smaller players. To
watch each town during opening weekend have multiple players contribute to the
scoring made it obvious that this was more productive for overall development
of players at this age group. No longer is the scoring dependent upon one
player who is naturally the strongest player to carry the load.
On the defensive side they have added a few rules to help
promote players learning how to play defense. MetroWest has prohibited
defensive players from stealing any offensive controlled ball. This means if a
player is dribbling under control or holding a ball, the defense is not allowed
to reach in and just take it away. Not only does this help make the game a lot
smoother and have more of a realistic flow, but it promotes players to have to
learn how to slide their feet to keep an opposing offensive player in front of
them. Stealing passes is still allowed and players are encouraged to steal or
“intercept” passes to hopefully keep them alert when they are guarding their
players off the ball.
The league travels week to week to different towns that have
teams competing in this inaugural league, including places such as Mendon,
North Quincy, Raynham, East Bridgewater and Sharon. This year there are 11
teams competing in the Boys 2nd and 3rd grade division
but I would not be surprised that by this time next year over 40 different
towns will come together to make this one of Massachusetts most exciting youth
developmental leagues!
If interested in finding out any more information about this
league please Contact me directly at
JDicruttalo@MPCourts.com
