Herding Cats

I am back in the coaching business. This time, 7- and 8-year-olds and basketball. We had our first practice last week. This was an education, more so for me regarding the extreme degree of complexity inherent in basketball drills when put upon the 7-year-old mind than regarding the kids and their basketball skills. A transcript of the practice might read something like this:

Okay, make two lines. No, two lines. Here and here. No here. (kids' voices, balls bouncing) No, you go over here. Two lines. (balls bouncing) Just one ball. Put that ball down. (kids' voices). Just one… No TWO lines, ONE ball. (muttering)

This line…you guys move over here…this line shoots, this line…you guys move over there… rebounds…then you…you guys stay over there…then you switch sides. No, stay over there. Switch sides AFTER you shoot.

Okay, go ahead, you shoot. Good. Now, you…no you don't rebound, you go to the other line, you…no, not you…you rebound. Okay, good, no pass it to the other line…you guys stay over there…and go behind to the back of that line. Nope, other line. To the back. The back. Behind…okay, good.

All right, next, go ahead and shoot…no not you, this line shoots, this line rebounds. Go ahead. You have to rebound, come on. No you're in that line, go to the….

Coach Hart?

Yes.

What's a rebound?

Ahh...