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Mighty mites finish season [UPDATED]
Published 8:15am Thursday, January 19, 2012 Updated 11:18am Thursday, January 19, 2012By Nancy Salentine
For The Journal
For the kindergarten through second grade of the Fergus Falls Backcourt program, the season ended Dec. 10. Youth in this younger group of basketball participate in six weeks of practice.
This year there were multiple coaches assisting with this group, and each brought some new practice drills, including Jim Salentine with Josh Mohagen, Jason Retzlaff, Steve Atchison, and Jake Anderson, a senior Otters boys basketball player who was on hand every week. Some girls Otters basketball and M-State players assisted when games did not conflict. Ellen Anderson and Nancy Salentine shared in the leadership at practices too.
The goal of this age group is to teach basic skills. These are reinforced every week and will include correct shooting form, dribbling skills –with each hand, passing, and dribbling while running, (which may not be as easy as the older players make it look). They are incorporated into some fun too. This is as simple as dribble tag. All are encouraged to practice at home in the garage, driveway or maybe your living room, if you are lucky enough to have a hoop indoors.
The great thing about this young age group is that the skills are basic but so important for later years of play. Repetition and time in practice is how to see improvement. It is a great way to spend time with your child, just passing the ball or playing a game of horse to see who has the best shots.
One can realize that most any adult is eligible to be a coach or assist with the practices. Anyone who is familiar with how busy a group of 20 -five or six year olds can be, knows having more adults on the floor, is just what is needed during practices.
One highlight is getting lifted up by Coach Jim Salentine to be able to “dunk” the ball at the rim.
We look forward to having your child participate for some fun and learning in Mighty Mites backcourt basketball program next season.
