Spearfish Junior League Basketball

Mission Statement

Spearfish Junior League Basketball is a non-profit organization providing opportunities for boys and girls grades 1-6 of all ability levels to experience  hands-on instruction and competitive basketball. Our mission is to offer youth players the opportunity to learn the fundamental skills of basketball through instruction, teamwork, discipline, sportsmanship, and respect.

Keys to Success

Teamwork Among Spearfish School District

• Working with all the Spearfish Schools and Activities Departments to utilize gym availability and comply with rules and regulations set forth for youth activities.

Teamwork Among Program Employees, Board of Directors, Coaches, and Parents

• Communication among all involved in the program about expectations among coaches, parents, league directors, and board members. Giving all players a consistent and enjoyable experience emphasizing skill development and teamwork.

Teamwork Among Players

• Players will learn to work together and support each other during drills and games. Each player will get a chance to play every position and discover the skills and responsibilities needed at each position for the team to be successful.

Teamwork Among Parents

• Communicating league activities, schedules, and expectations with parents. Parents will encourage their athletes to buy-in to the league goal of developing fundamental basketball skills and teamwork.

Teamwork Among Teams

• Respect among teams during practices and games, understanding the importance of developing each player and team to achieve long-term goals of athletic success at the next level.

Curriculum Summary

Participation in athletics teaches youth the value of physical fitness sportsmanship, practice, and teamwork.

Fundamentals of Movement

• Learning and developing the fundamental skills of jogging, running, sprinting, jumping, catching, and throwing. These movements combine to develop agility, balance, coordination, and speed.

Fundamentals of Basketball

• Footwork, stance, dribbling passing, shooting, defense, and rebounding.
• Motivation to master the game of basketball, enjoyment is the most important ingredient in developing motivation in young players.

Technical and Team Skills

• When to shoot, when to pass, when to dribble
• Offensive basics: screens, cuts, passing
• Defensive basics: on-ball, help, deny