More times than not one, or two players dominate the ball and take all the shots, while all other team mates are third, and fourth option's. There is so much value in using 3 on 3 basketball that a case can be made for young players only to playing 3 on 3 until a certain age. Here are 5 reasons why, I believe 3 on 3 basketball is more beneficial for a player's development.
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Put simply, there are 2 fewer players on a 3-on-3 basketball team than a 5-on-5 team (obviously), so players have the ball in their hands more often. The math for the amount of time in 5-on-5 that a player actually has the ball in their hands is pretty staggering. For simplicity sake, let’s say that the game is 40 minutes and a player plays the entire game. Half of that game is spent on defense and the other 20 minutes is spent on offense. Plus there are 4 other teammates, so 20 minutes divided by 5 players is 4 minutes each. So in a 40-minute game, a player only has the ball in his or her hands for 4 minutes total. So just due to the total number of players, a player will have the ball in their hands for more time in 3-on-3 than 5-on-5, and this is clearly a great thing for development.
#1 Players Have the Ball More.
5 Reasons why playing 3on3 is more beneficial for young players skill development.
Toughness is a skill, that can be practice like any other skill. 3 on 3 provides fast pace, fast action which makes it a lot of fun as compared to some of the 5-on-5 games that can become boring and stagnant with a slow tempo; walking the ball up and entering into offense against no pressure, and have one or two passes is not development. Full-court pressure and falling back into a zone defenses is not development. 3-on-3 is fast-paced, clearing the ball from defense to offense requires quicker decisions making in shorter period of time, but more importantly making these decisions while for a 20 minute period. When the player gets more experience handling the ball during game situation the player is going have fun and going to improve much more than a player who hardly touch the ball in 5 on 5.
#2 Fast Paced
Having six players on the court simplifies the game which opens up the floor provides them more spaces to operate and practice their skills. Too many players today catch the ball and immediately dribble it place, or right back towards the players that just passed them the ball. options that are more visible then they would be in a five-on-five setting. More space allows young players to do more, and more importantly create long term confidence in players abilities in passing, and screening because of the open space on the court will create options that are more visible then they would be in a 5 on 5 situation, having more space to play makes the game often times more fun!
#3 More Space Creates Obvious Options
3-on-3 basketball is a great teaching tool for basic 5-on-5 movements and skills. Often times in 5-on-5, the main offensive operation is performed by only 3 players. For instance, a pick and roll with the 3 players on the ball/strong side or a pass and screen away are some of the most common movements in basketball, so 3-on-3 works to help players perfect them. Players learn the game, when there are only six players on the court. Players are more inclined to run pick and roll, screen away, and screen the ball without a coach even telling them to do so, because there are fewer options out there. After a while they will start to figure things out for themselves which raising their long term confidence and Basketball I.Q.
#4 Learn Basic Basketball Movements
Man to man accountability focus beyond the offensive side of the ball, 3 on 3 is a real way to teach man to man team defense concepts which should be the foundation of any defense that is taught at the youth level. In 3 on 3 there is really no way to play zone. Not being able to play zone forces players to learn how to defend their own man when players has the ball in their hands, but also when they do not have the play and understanding how to play Help-Side Defense.
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Youth coaches waste so much of their precious time working on things that they shouldn't worry about at an early age. Breaking full-court pressure, breaking half-court pressure, playing 1-3-1, playing against Triangle and 2, Box and 1. in 3 on 3 there is no where you can hid. "Go Hard!, or Go Home!"
#5 Man to Man Accountability
