Kids get introduced to basketball

It was seven in the morning on Monday, but that didn’t stop a group of third and fourth graders from heading to the gym to practice their basketball skills with Coach Jeff Schultz. The girls were signed up with the YMCA league in Missoula and have played a total of six games.  Schultz also took time to coach the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth grader prior to the regular season of junior high basketball.

Schultz said that with so many girls out in the third and fourth grades, they ended up splitting them into two teams. He said that he is amazed at how well they’ve been doing.

“It’s been going really well. They’ve really improved from the time we started,” Schultz said.

For the girls, practice is about learning a lot of fundamentals including rebounding, dribbling, shooting technique and passing. On Monday, the girls were reviewing the rebounding stance, dribbling all the way to the basket, faking out the defenders and stepping over while dribbling.

“They have lots of energy,” Schultz said, who also coaches high school basketball. “That’s the one difference I’ve noticed. A lot of the times the high school girls come in a little tired, but these girls are never tired.”

Schultz said that they don’t keep score at the games that they go to, though you can sort of keep a running tally in your head.

“They win as many as they lose,” Schultz said. “I think they’ve been doing pretty good.”

Schultz said he’s excited to the see the girls doing well and really picking up on things.

“One thing I’ve noticed is that the third grade girls are just as aggressive as the fourth graders,” Schultz said.

One of the main things that the girls are learning about is how to play as a team. At practice on Monday, Schultz had to pause during a drill to address some arguing.

“There’s too much arguing,” he told them. “What are you guys?”

“Teammates.”

“And what does that mean?”

“We’re sisters.”

Schultz explained that if he can cut out the ‘cat fights’ now, he’s hoping it will pay off later.

“And the other thing is that a lot of it is little kids being little kids,” Schultz said. “But learning teamwork is a big part of it.”

Practices with the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth graders also went well. As soon as volleyball was over with, the practices started up.

“We’ve just been focusing on fundamentals and having fun,” Schultz said.

The seventh and eighth grade girls played in a tournament against some bigger schools earlier in the in-between mini season at Great Falls. He said that it was a great opportunity for the girls to get some experience.

“They all improved a lot,” Schultz said. “I think they are going to be a great team when they get up into high school. They’re learning the offensive and defensive plays now, which will hopefully make the transition less stressful.”

Schultz said that both groups of girls have been wonderful to work with.

“They’re a diehard crew,” he said.

After the third and fourth graders are finished in two weeks, Schultz said that he hopes most of them will play with the little dribblers during the winter months. As for the girls who played in the YMCA league, Schultz said that at the end, he believes they will see big payoff later.

“They had a lot of fun,” Schultz said. “I saw big improvements in basic things like dribbling and girls going to the ball without hesitation.”

Schultz said that he remembers when he was a kid and adults took the time to work with him and others as young kids.

“It really pays off,” he said, “and it gets them interested in basketball at a very young age.”