Coach, this doesn't make sense!

So it all started with rolling a basketball.

In a simple drill, I call Paired Passing, we get partners to face each other with a ball in their right hand. In an athletic stance, they roll it to each other which basically forces their partner to stop it and return it with their left hand. This rolling continues for a 20-count then they proceed to do the same while crossing sideline to sideline. From there, we go from rolling it to other things like passing, pass off the dribble etc.

"Coach, this doesn't make sense"

Although it's a simple drill, its the first step in a progression to becoming a two-handed player - today it's rolling, tomorrow it's passing, dribbling the next and then shooting. But like all complicated things, it has to start simple and we build it up from there.

"OK, I don't get it but I'll do it"

I also like Paired Passing because it's fun and quite hilarious to watch basketballs go flying left, right and center because some Girls are just not that coordinated. However it's my job to make them aware of their weaknesses, define it as an area for improvement and then work on it within the context of my master plan (I think anytime you say master plan, you must say Muwahaha! and curl your imaginary evil mustache but I digress)

"Thinking, talking, moving and rolling is harder than I thought"

The other upside is the communication factor. In order to succeed from a coordination and movement perspective, they need to communicate. Now I don't tell them what to say, as a unit, they need to sort that out for themselves. Do we call names? Do we count? Do we whistle? How about we bat eyelids? Whatever works to be honest because that's how we have to do it in games.

Even to the trained eye, the things I do to develop my teams are sometimes unorthodox and way, way out there (ask me about balloon ball-handling one day) but we will have fun, we will see improvement in your skill, we will see a greater contribution from you in games and as your confidence grows, in life.

"So you're saying I'm going to be a two-handed player someday"

Yes, Someday ... and who knows, you might even get to play for Aik and the Ferns (see below) ;)