As Johnny Sheridan dribbled toward the basket and was called for traveling prior to his shot, a loud bellowing yell echoed throughout the Malibu High gymnasium. Sheridan hesitantly looked back at his coach.
“It’s OK, Johnny,” said Indy Moore, coach of the Lakers. “Remember to jump, stop and then shoot. You will make it next time.”
Sheridan, nine, turned around and went down the court on defense with a smile on his face. The game continued and the Thunder eventually defeated the Lakers, 21-14, in a battle of third grade teams in the City of Malibu’s youth basketball league.
Moore said the games are less about winning and losing and more about teaching and having fun.
“We focus on fundamentals,” Moore said. “We stress that with the other coaches and refs. We want them to call everything because if they don’t call it at this age, the older they get they will not be getting any better. If they are not getting better fundamentally, they are not getting better at basketball.”
The league features 19 teams, with ages ranging from kindergarten through fifth grade, which play every Saturday. Six teams comprise sixth grade through eighth grade that play on Friday nights at MHS. More than 250 players participate in the league.
The emphasis on enjoyment and teaching seems to be sinking in, according to league coordinator Sandy Banducci.
“The kids are having fun. Each week they are getting stronger and stronger,” Banducci said. “They love the game. That’s the most important thing to the city. We want the kids to have so much fun. They never want the games to end and they can’t wait for the next season to start.”
Games kicked off back on December 1 and stretch through February 9. This eight weeks of basketball is nonstop fun for the young boys and girls who play in the league, even if it involves his coach yelling encouragement or instruction.
“He has taught me so much. There are so many things I have learned from him,” Sheridan said of Moore. “He taught us to dribble and do layups really well. I play because it’s so fun to shoot, to dribble and do all the things that you do.”
Moore knows the value in teaching and coaching a young boy or girl at this age.
“It’s going good. The kids are getting better and the coaches are getting louder,” said Moore.
Across the court from Moore stood Steve Prudholme, coach of the Thunder. Like Moore, Prudholme is heavily involved with coaching the youth of Malibu in flag football, basketball and little league baseball.
On this particular day, Prudholme’s team made enough plays to beat the Lakers. But at this age, winning doesn’t matter. Creating an environment for the young kids to thrive in is what counts the most.
“Youth basketball has been great. This is our first year with the third graders playing full court and they love it,” Prudholme said. “The kids are working hard. All the teams have become much better as the season has gone on. It’s been fun.”
“The parents are very enthusiastic. With the coaches and referees, we want positive reinforcement,” Banducci explained. “The kids are learning to play the game properly and learning the terminology of the game at a very young age.”
Banducci’s grandson, Riley, plays for the fourth-grade team at Juan Cabrillo. Riley, 10, has played basketball since kindergarten.
“I just like sports and this is one of them that I like. Every season has been great,” Riley said. “I like playing with my friends and I’ve learned all the rules.”
If he had one area to improve upon, Riley didn’t hesitate to explain what he wanted to work on.
“I think shooting. It’s one of my big things that I really want to get better at.”
And after his halftime interview, Riley went back to play basketball to focus on that task.
