Slammers
- Rules: Girls and Boys 1st Grade Division
- Rules: Girls and Boys Grades 2-3 & 4-6 Divisions
- Map of Courts
- Picture Day Schedule
- Team Schedules
- Practice Dates (For Grades 4-6 Teams ONLY)
- Drills for Practice
- Program Goals and Objectives
Rules: Girls and Boys 1st Grade Division
Boys & Girls 1st Grade Divisions
1. The game consists of two 20-minute halves running time. There will be one clock for the entire field house. All games will begin at the same time and end at approximately the same time. Each game will have a 2-minute halftime. There will be no overtimes.
2. At the beginning of practice, 25-minutes will be placed on the clock. When the clock counts down to zero, 20-minutes will be placed on the clock and the game will begin in approximately two-minutes.
3. No score is kept.
4. The Coaches dribble the ball up the court and make an entry pass into the offense. Coaches will also initiate an entry pass from the top of the key if the ball goes out of bounds and was last touched by the defense or defensive foul takes place.
5. If a shooter is fouled in the act of shooting, then the ball should be reset to the top of the key and start play again. There are no free throws.
6. Man to man, ½ court defense must be played at all times. Once the offensive player crosses half court, the defender must be within 3 feet of the person he/she is guarding. The defense may not double-team. Colored wristbands will be worn by each player to help determine who he/she is guarding. THERE WILL BE NO STEALING IN 1st GRADE THE ENTIRE SEASON,
7. It is the coaches’ responsibility to make sure all players get equal playing time. Substitutions are made every 4-minutes of each half unless there is an injury. It is the coaches, responsibility to watch the clock and make the substitutions. Substitutions will be made for each team at the same time and should be done quickly. This is not a time-out and/or the clock does NOT stop.
8. Coaches should make every attempt to distribute the ball equally.
9. A junior size ball (27.5) will be used. A ball rack of balls will be set out for practice. Please return the balls to the rack after practice. Keep one ball for the game ball. Make sure to return game balls to the rack after the game.
10. Games will played on 8’ 1⁄2” baskets.
11. There are no officials. The game is officiated by the coaches.
Rules: Girls and Boys Grades 2-3 & 4-6 Divisions
Boys & Girls 2-3 and 4-6 Grade Divisions
- The game consists of two 20-minute running halves. The clock will stop for all free throws throughout the game, timeouts, and substitution periods. The clock will also stop on all whistles during the last 2 minutes of the 2nd half, if the point differential is 15 points or less. Each game will have a 2-minute halftime.
- Each team is allowed 2 time-outs per half. The time-outs may not be carried over to the second half.
- There will be NO overtime. If there is a tie after the second half, then the game is FINAL.
- Man to man defense must be played at all times. Once the offensive player crosses halfcourt, the defender must be within 3 feet of the person he/she is guarding. The defense may not double-team the ball. Help defense can be taught on screens, but then players should find their colored wristbands to guard once both teammates are able to guard their appropriate color. Colored wristbands will be worn by each player in the 2nd/3rd grade divisions to help determine who he/she is guarding. Coaches need to talk to each other before the game to decide which color should be worn for the strongest player (RED) and which color for the weakest player (WHITE) on the court, so that they are guarding each other – Please be honest!! Switching of wristbands by the players is NOT allowed.
- There will be no stealing the ball from a player (dribbling or holding) in 2/3 gr girls and boys divisions for the entire season. Stealing a pass is allowed the entire season however. ALL stealing in the 4-6 gr girls and boys division is allowed all season. No trying to tie up the ball or slapping at the ball when a player is holding it.
- There will be NO full court press at all throughout the game.
- 5 fouls on a player and that player is out of the game. 7 team fouls per half is a 1-1 bonus free throw and 10+ team fouls per half is a 2 shot free throw. No intentional fouls at the end of the game to stop the clock.
- The free throw line will be moved closer to the basket for the 2/3 Grade divisions (2 ft closer). In all leagues the free throw shooter must line up behind the free throw line, but after the ball is released the player’s momentum may carry him/her over the free throw line without penalty.
- Jump Ball situations will always be awarded to the defense.
- Coaches should make every attempt to allow all players to bring the ball up the court during a game at least once.
- It is the coaches’ responsibility to make sure that all of the players get equal playing time. Substitutions are made every 5-minutes of each half unless there is an injury. The official will stop the clock for substitutions. Substitutions will be made quickly. This is not a time-out. A player cannot play more than two consecutive substitution periods. Each player should play in at least half the game. The score sheet will have eight squares to correspond with the eight substitution periods.
- A women’s ball (28.5) is used for each division except girls Gr 2/3 uses a junior size (27.5).
- Games will played on 9’ baskets for Girls & Boys 2/3 Grade divisions. Game will be played on 10’ baskets for Girls & Boys 4-6 Grade divisions.
- A rack of balls will be set out for practice – 4-5 balls per team. Please return the balls to the rack after practice. Keep one ball for the game ball. Make sure to return game balls to the rack after the game.
- Each team must provide an adult at the scorer’s table. One adult will run the scoreboard and the other will run the score sheet.
- Any player or coach who repeatedly exhibits negative behavior will be dropped from the league.
- No earrings are allowed – Must be taken out to participate.
Map of Courts
Picture Day Schedule
Slammers Picture Day Schedule
Picture day is January 21, 2024 in the Homestead High School Fieldhouse Lobby
Team Name | Color | Grade | Head Coach | Picture Time |
Michigan | Yellow | 2-3 Girls | James Rinka | 11:20 a.m. |
Illinois | Orange | 2-3 Girls | Anthony Gayfield | 11:20 a.m. |
Wisconsin | Red | 2-3 Girls | Joe Lewandowski | 11:30 a.m. |
Ohio St | Gray | 2-3 Girls | Allyssa Kennedy | 11:30 a.m. |
Mystics | Yellow | 4-6 Girls | Tom Irvin | 11:40 a.m. |
Sting | Royal Blue | 4-6 Girls | Drew Carmichael | 11:40 a.m. |
Sparks | Purple | 4-6 Girls | Tina Kreitlow | 11:50 a.m. |
Liberty | Light Blue | 4-6 Girls | Justin Kerley | 11:50 a.m. |
Bucks | Green | 4 -6 Boys | Peter Smith | 12:40 p.m. |
Nets | Navy Blue | 4-6 Boys | Chris Nolte | 12:40 p.m. |
Hawks | Red | 4-6 Boys | Brian Schroeder | 12:50 p.m. |
Jazz | Purple | 4-6 Boys | Scott Pierner | 12:50 p.m. |
Kentucky | Royal Blue | 2-3 Boys | Ryan Hiir | 1:00 p.m. |
St Johns | White | 2-3 Boys | Kevin Walenta | 1:00 p.m. |
Marquette | Yellow | 2-3 Boys | Tim Depies | 1:10 p.m. |
Georgetown | Gray | 2-3 Boys | Aaron Wegrzyn | 1:10 p.m. |
Texas | Brown | 2-3 Boys | Adam Carvill | 1:20 p.m. |
LSU | Purple | 2-3 Boys | Mark Beller | 1:20 p.m. |
Suns | Orange | 4-6 Boys | Matt Junker | 2:20 p.m. |
76ers | White | 4-6 Boys | Kevin Walenta | 2:20 p.m. |
Nuggets | Brown | 4-6 Boys | Ellen Dwyer | 2:30 p.m. |
Clippers | Gray | 4-6 Boys | Anthony Gayfield | 2:30 p.m. |
Syracuse | Orange | 2 -3 Boys | Dave Kautzman | 2:40 p.m. |
Louisville | Red | 2-3 Boys | Omar Sethi | 2:40 p.m. |
Oregon | Green | 2-3 Boys | Dylan Page | 2:50 p.m. |
Connecticut | Navy Blue | 2-3 Boys | Aaron Plamann | 2:50 p.m. |
Owls | Brown | 1st Grade | Dan Markus | 3:50 p.m. |
Highlanders | Red | 1st Grade | Jason Levash | 3:50 p.m. |
Suns | Yellow | 1st Grade | Matt McDowell | 4:00 p.m. |
Pirates | Green | 1st Grade | Tim Clancy | 4:00 p.m. |
Orioles | Orange | 1st Grade | Jason Seyfert | 4:10 p.m. |
Knights | White | 1st Grade | James Rinka | 4:10 p.m |
Blue Dukes | Royal Blue | 1st Grade | Aaron Plamann | 4:20 p.m. |
Bull Dogs | Gray | 1st Grade | Brett Hirsch | 4:20 p.m. |
Team Schedules
1st Grade GIRLS & BOYS Schedule
(printable PDF)
2nd & 3rd Grade GIRLS
(printable PDF)
2nd & 3rd Grade BOYS
(printable PDF)
4th - 6th Grade GIRLS
(printable PDF)
4th - 6th Grade BOYS
(printable PDF)
Practice Dates (For Grades 4-6 Teams ONLY)
Slammer Practice Dates
(printable PDF)
Drills for Practice
Click here to download the Drills for Practice PDF
SLAMMERS DRILLS: 1St-6TH GRADES
BALL HANDLING
- Stationary: right hand, left hand, crossover, high/low
- To challenge better ball handlers: give them a tennis ball and have them throw the tennis ball in the air and catch it while dribbling with other hand
- Back-up dribbles: 3 dribbles forward/3 dribbles backward (keep ball on back leg) x 30 seconds
- Full Court Dribble Moves: hesitation, crossover, back-up, back-up crossover (emphasis: keep dribble alive, change of speed), for lay-ups or jump shot
- Sharks & Minnows Game: every “minnow” has a ball except 2 “sharks”, minnows start on the baseline, sharks start at 1⁄2 court area (or whatever area coaches designate), minnows try to dribble past the sharks to the other side of the court, if minnows lose their dribble/ball is stolen/ball goes out of bounds then those minnows become sharks, drill continues until all the minnows becomes sharks
- Red Light/Green Light: emphasis – keep dribble alive
- Dribble Knockout Game:
- 1 vs 1 Zig Zag: one ballhandler, one defender, designate a lane for the offense (ie: sideline to lane line), offense dribbles diagonally to line and then crossover to change direction to other line (emphasis: proper hand to dribble with), defender slides their feet and tries to keep offense in front of them
PASSING
- Partner Passing: stand across from partner, chest pass, bounce pass
- 1 ball: teach pivoting and pass fake
- 2 balls (4th-5th): right handed chest, left handed chest, right handed bounce, left handed bounce
- 2 vs 1 (4th-5th): 1 player on defense, offense tries t pass around defense to their partner
- Full Court Partner Passing: 2 lines facing each other, can start on the baseline or half court, partners slide down court facing each other and making chest passes or bounce passes, once partners get close to the basket they can take a lay-up or shot
LAYUPS
- Continuous Lay-ups: groups of 4-5 start on right side block in a line, 3 or more basketballs, first player takes a step with left foot and jumps off left foot (right knee to ceiling) and shots lay-up, first player gets their own rebound and passes to the next player who does not have a ball, as soon as first player shoots the second player shoots right away, drill continues for 1 minute, count how many baskets the group makes.
- Lay-ups from elbow: challenge players to get there in 1 dribble
- Lay-ups from 3-point line: challenge players to get there in 2 dribbles
- Full Speed Lay-ups with defender (4th & 5th): Lay-up line starts just past half court, defender line starts 5-8 feet behind offense, offense goes full speed for lay-up, defender tries to chase them down
- 2 Line Partner Lay-ups: 2 lines at the 3 point line (one on right side/wing, one on left side/wing), balls start on right side, right side line passes to partner on left side and then sprints to basket for a lay-up, when the player in the left line catches the pass they pass the ball back to their partner cutting to the basket.
- Emphasis on NOT travelling
SHOOTING
- Form Shooting to Partners: partners facing each other, one partner with the ball, instruct in proper form with shooting (dominant hand pointer and middle fingers on either side of ball nozzle, bend knees, non-dominant hand on side of ball, pointer and middle fingers are the last part of your hand touching ball when shooting
- Form Shooting at basket: same as above, but one partner shoots 5 shots, other partner rebounds, then partners switch
- 3-Spot Shooting: 2 baskets, split into 2 groups/teams, each group/team has 1-2 basketballs, designate 3 spots on the court to shoot from, each team has to make 3-5 shots (coaches designate number) from each spot
- Lightning: everyone in 1 line, 2 balls in front of line, first shot is from the free throw line, after the first shot player gets their own rebound and can shoot from anywhere, a player must score before the person behind them scores to stay in the drill, if the player behind them scores first then that player is out
Program Goals and Objectives
Click here to download the Program Goals and Objectives PDF.
Program Goals
- Exposure to structured basketball that is fun.
- Teach basic team concepts of basketball.
- Instruct basic fundamentals of basketball.
- Introduction of the basic rules of the game.
- Instill the value of sportsmanship at all times.
At the end of the program
1st Graders should:
- Know what traveling is.
- Understand double dribble.
- Be able to be strong with the ball in a triple threat position.
- Pass with two hands.
- Know to keep moving on offense without the ball.
- Know what defending a player means.
- Understand to stay between the basket and the person they are defending.
- Rebound the ball when shot.
2nd – 6th Graders should:
(Underlined statements are for 4th - 6th graders)
1) Have proficiency in
- Dribbling with both hands.
- Doing a jump stop layup on both sides
- Doing lay-ups from both sides.
- Shooting from 10’ and in.
- Passing with two hands
- Catching with two hands
2) Have an understanding of these offensive team concepts:
- Be able to screen away.
- Set a ball screen.
- Know how to make a basket cut.
- Know to keep moving without the ball.
- Rebound the ball the when shot
3) Have an understanding of these defensive team concepts:
- Find the player you are defending in transition.
- Always stay on ball side of the person defending.
- Be aware of where the ball is at all times while defending your player.
- Blockout after each shot.