This month Kindergarten through Middle School students practiced and participated in the team sport of Basketball. At the Kindergarten and Lower Elementary levels, the objectives are designed to develop hand-eye coordination and spatial awareness. We practiced dribbling a ball with either hand while changing pathways, direction, and speed. We worked on passing a ball to a stationary and moving target using both a bounce and chest pass.
In addition, students had to catch a passed ball while they were stationary and in motion. We demonstrated the proper technique of pivoting while holding a ball and identified markings on the court. Students were also given a choice to use a blue basketball which is lighter and easier to shoot into the net. A shorter net was also used for those students not able to reach the taller nets. The goal is to modify each sport to have students be successful.
At the Upper Elementary level, we learned to differentiate roles of offensive and defensive players and understand and use simple basketball rules. Games played are: Dribble Knockout, Knockout, Spot Takeaway, and Steal the Bacon. At the Middle School level, the focus is on practicing the fundamentals such as: foul shooting, passing, lay ups, ball handling, dribbling, rebounding, defense/guarding, and footwork.
Students in grades 4th through 8th grade are encouraged join the FWM basketball team. Practices for the Upper Elementary level are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays after school until 4:15 PM. The focus is to practice the fundamentals of basketball and to go over game like situations. The middle school practices are held during the school day from 1:55 to 2:50 PM on D, E, and F day. All games are held after school for both groups. The Upper Elementary has one team and the Middle School has a varsity (7/8) team and junior varsity (6/7) team. The season for each team consists of four games played against other independent schools.
