not strictly officiating, but.....

[Mark Padgett]

Once again, I am asking for your opinions on a basketball topic that is not strictly officiating-related. For years, our local rec youth league (I am on the board) has had restrictions on the type of defense allowed in lower grade levels. This year, we are considering keeping our no zone rule in 3rd grade, but moving our 4th grade program up to the same rules as 5th grade. That means that once the ball crosses the division line into the frontcourt, HS rules are played, including zones (ther is no backcourt allowed until the 4th Q, when NF rules apply full court).

Some of the board members, most of whom are coaches, make the statement that "man-to-man" is real defense, while zone is not. Others, including myself, feel zone actually forces kids to learn how to pass on offense and how to help on defense. I have seen kids who are forced to play man (at least at these very low grade levels) just give up on defense if they are beaten, since their man is no longer able to be defended by them.

The other factor is that we usually use the most inexperienced refs at these levels (that's another story) and if they are forced to pay attention to enforcing artificial rules on top of the standard NF rules, they miss a lot of contact and the games get fairly rough.

Frankly, I would like to get some opinions not on the merits of man vs. zone, but if you think teaching and allowing only man defense at early grades really is teaching a more fundamental type of ball or not.

Again, thanks loads in advance to my officiating brethren for helping me.

BTW - 6th through 8th plays straight NF in our program.