​May 2025 Entry
May was a busy time to schedule camps.  Send out registration forms.
We offered a week long camp for grades 1-6.  We also needed to find some camp coaches.  Camp was scheduled at gyms where we could
lower the basket for our youngest grades and we had smaller basketballs.

April 2025 Entry
Time to consider any Spring Tournaments your elementary teams might want to consider entering.  Time also to work on summer camps.  Preparing dates,
checking on gym availability, develop camp fliers, etc.  Our elementary camps were a good experience.  We used members of the coaching staff and or upper level members of your basketball teams.  Don't forget to charge a low price so you can order camp awards and T-shirts.

Mar. 2025 Entry
 As your elementary program teams wrap up their season, you may want to consider finding some ways to give those teams some recognition.  Team pictures in the local newspaper are a good idea.  We had an elementary recognition night during halftime of one of the last home games.  We gave each player a certificate of participation.

Feb. 2025 Entry
As we reach the end of February, shorten practices.  Consider Spring 
tournament schedule.  Communicate with parents and players about
any plans for extending the season.  If you wish, consider a very simple
evaluation form.  Be positive and include several simple drills a player
could do to work on their skills in the so called "off season."

Jan. 2025 Entry
At some point in the season, I think it is a good idea to take some of your older players
to a junior high/elementary level practice.  Let your older players coach the younger players.  It is a good way for you as a coach to find out how well your older players know the game.  It also can be beneficial to invite the younger teams in your program and their
coaches to observe your practice.

Dec. 2024 Entry
We had an elementary conference for grades 4-6.  Each grade practiced once or twice a week and typically played games on Saturday vs other schools 4-6th graders..  In our Saturday Morning Fever program, we might have our 3rd graders play some 3 on 3 games.  We did NOT play games with our 1st, 2nd, or 3rd graders.  We believed our younger players needed to work on developing basic skills rather than playing 5 on 5 games they were not ready for.

Nov. 2024 Entry
We ran our "Saturday Morning Fever" program for 6-8 Saturdays.  We used an elementary school gym that had multiple baskets.  We purchased several baskets that we could attach to the existing baskets so the baskets were lowered to around six feet. We also purchased a number of small basketballs.

We tried to keep the lowest level players in groups of 4-6 players in a group. We had a "coach" for each group.  Used high school players and members of the high school coaching staff to teach.  Drills were very simple and never more than 5 minutes. Be creative and make sure the players are having fun.

Our schedule for most Saturdays was:
1st Grade 9:00-9:45
2nd Grade 10:00-11:00
3rd Grade 11:00-12:00     

Oct. 2024 Entry
A new menu item I have added this season is called "The Feeder Program."
Each month I will share some insights in what I believe a feeder program
should focus on.  These are my thoughts, and in some instances, experiences
I will share of what our program did when I was actively coaching.  

One of the first decisions you need to make is at what level are you going to
start your program?  We ran a program called "Saturday Morning Fever" for
about 6-8 Saturdays.  Our program started at 1st grade.  We used smaller sized basketballs & lowered baskets.  I used some of our Junior Varsity & varsity players to help teach.  1st grade level met for 45 minutes.  Then, depending on numbers, we had a 2nd grade level that met for an hour & then a 3rd grade level that also met for an hour.  

We did have an elementary league grades 4-6 that practiced once a week &
played other schools on Saturdays.

My rational was that 1st-3rd graders did not need to play organized 5 on 5 games.  Our sessions on Saturday mornings were about skill development.  I have witnessed enough competitive games at this level to convince me they
are unnecessary.  Young children, in my opinion, do not need the pressure of
playing games way before they have the skills to enjoy the game.