Andrew and Sabrina: Start Smart Basketball

Saturday, January 15, 2011

Start Smart Basketball

Sydney started basketball this week. She was really excited to see Coach Ann whom she had for soccer in the fall. Unfortunately, due to the blizzard, the equipment (balls, shirts, etc) didn't arrive on time so the kids will take them home next week. In the mean time they used balls just for class and Coach Ann assured them they would get a ball to take home soon :)
The kids did a warm up with their Coach, then they practiced dribbling, throwing the ball up and catching it and lastly shooting the ball at the wall. Each drill was a challenge for Sydney at first...she would catch the ball instead of dribble or she would throw the ball away from herself instead of up. But by the end of each drill she started getting the hang of it. She understood dribbling meant pushing the ball down instead catching it and when Coach Ann showed her how to "baby throw" the ball up and catch it, Sydney had it down. When it was time for shooting practice, the kids had to shoot at the blue mats on the wall and try to aim for the wood board that ran above the mats along the gym. The wood panel was about seven feet high. Sydney started hitting the wall a little above her height. Then Andrew put his hand up on the wall as a target and Sydney reached his hand each time and the wood panel twice! She loved that Andrew would act out every time she "got his hand". Coach Ann was pleased to see she was "growing so much in one class" and Sydney didn't want to stop! When Coach Ann called the kids back to the center for a group cheer, Sydney kept running around and dribbling the ball. She could dribble the ball 2-3 times in a row even though she was chasing it. Then all the kids gathered for their cheer gave each other high fives. I'm thrilled she is enjoying it and giving it her best!!