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Little Dribbler Program

The Little Dribbler Program is for students in grades 1-4. The overall purpose of this program is for students to have fun while developing basketball skills, teamwork, a sense of community spirit, and to foster physical fitness as a part of the overall educational mission of the PAL. The PAL Little Dribbler Program is a non-competitive, recreational program.

Little Dribbler Director

The director is a member of the PAL Commission and is in charge of the entire Little Dribbler Program. He/She is responsible for implementing the policies of the PAL Commission. The director reports directly to the Commission and the Catholic School Department.

General Rules And Guidelines

  1. All Catholic schools within our diocese and members of the PAL who have this program must follow the set ission and guidelines of the PAL. All coaches must adhere to the guidelines and policies set forth in this document including training, blood borne pathogens, fingerprinting, etc.
  2. The Little Dribbler Coordinator is accountable to the principal and athletic director.
  3. A school will field 8 separate teams divided by grade and gender, 1st grade boys, 1st grade girls, 2nd grade boys, 2nd grade girls, 3rd grade boys, 3rd grade girls, 4th grade boys, and 4th grade girls.
  4. Each team has use of the court for a one-hour period of time, including warm-ups. The hour is broken up into as many five-minute periods as possible. Efforts should be made to match up children by size and ability.
  5. Teams in grades 1 – 3 will play on lowered baskets (8 to 8 1/2 feet); teams in grade 4 on regulation baskets (10 feet). Grades 1 and 2 will use a junior size basketball, (27.5 inch) and grades 3 and 4 will use 27.5 inch basketball.
  6. There is no tracking of score, either by a scoreboard mechanism, coaches, parents, or players.
  7. All 1st and 2nd grade teams, boys and girls, will play a zone defense. The defense will be a 1-2-2 alignment with one player between the top of the key and the free throw line, one player on each elbow, and one player on each block. Defensive players may take one step from their defensive spot in any direction.
    • No reaching in - defense may not steal the ball from a player with the ball. Defense may steal passes.
    • Defense may leave their spots to rebound.
    • Defense may leave their spot to pursue loose balls
  8. All 3rd and 4th grade teams, boys and girls, will play man-to-man defense.
    • There is no full court press.
    • No double-teaming.
    • No reaching in – defense may not steal the ball from a player with the ball. Defense may steal passes.
    • Players may switch their defensive assignments if there is a pick and roll. The defensive player should make every effort to get back to his/her defensive primary assignment.
  9. Coaches should do their best to give all players at least one opportunity to score in every game.
  10. Teams do not wear official uniforms. The attire would be their P.E. uniform or something similar.
  11. The season for the program will begin in January and end in March. A season will involve a total of 6 to 9 games. The number of games is determined by the gym availability of the schools that are willing to host. No additional games may be scheduled.