What happens in Instructional or Kindergarten Level?

Kindergarten Level

This will be a 7 week instructional clinic format, focusing on basketball skills.  The program will run from mid December until mid February.  75 minutes per week at one of the local elementary schools.  Players will be split up into groups at the gym and perform skills for 8-10 minute cycles and then rotate to the next skill.  Volunteer coaches will be running the clinic using guidance from the Jr NBA course curriculum.

Players will the following skills:  Ball handling and dribbling, Shooting, Passing, Footwork/Conditioning, Rules of the Game and Defense

All players should bring a basketball.

1st and 2nd Grade Level (Instructional Level)

1st and 2nd grade players will be in the MYA Basketball Instructional Division.  For Boys, there are separate divisions for 1st and 2nd Graders.  For the 2021/22 season we combined 1st and 2nd grade boys because of low enrollment numbers.  For Girls, 1st and 2nd Graders play in one division.

Instructional coaches are usually drawn from parents of players who are willing to help out.  Sometimes volunteers without children in the league will volunteer.  We always need more coaches, so if you are interested, let the Division Coordinator know and fill out a "Volunteer" form online, under the registration tab.

After player registration is complete, the Division Coordinator will figure out who the coaches will be, and assign players to teams based on information available on registration forms and conversations with coaches. Players/Parents will be contacted by coaches in November, prior to the Instructional Jamboree.

The Instructional Divisions are "Saturday Only" for the entire season. The first 2 meeting will be 75 minute practice only.  The remaining 7 meetings will be 30 min practice, and 30 min scrimmage versus other teams.  The season ends in mid February.

Instructional games are intended to not be competitive. Nobody keeps score, parents and coaches will be on the court with players to serve as coach and referee to help teach players the rules of the game.  Some players may need to have an adult by their side on the court.  At the start of the season there will be lots of "do-overs" for violations like traveling, double-dribble, backcourt, in-bound violations, etc.  By the end of the season, the kids will learn the rules, and do-overs can stop.