BoysBasketball–CurriculumandSkillsRubric
The following rubric can be utilized to evaluate current skill and competitive readiness level of boys basketball players in grades 5-8.
Please note that a player is deemed to currently play at a specific level when they are best described as meeting the description of 4 or more of the
7 evaluative categories at the particular level. I hope you find this tool useful, Respectfully – Coach Pachner
BALL
HANDLING /
PASSING
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Level 4
Level 5
Beginner
Advanced Beginner
Intermediate
Elite
Player is new to skills
of game, no
competitive game
experience
Player has limited
skill development,
possible recreational
game play
Player has average
skill set, possible
competitive or high
rec game play
Advanced
Intermediate
Player has advanced
skills, thrives in
competitive game
play
•
•
•
•
PASSING
•
•
•
•
Student cannot dribble
the basketball with
control while moving
Dribbles with palm of
hand
Rigid stance, knees not
bent
Eyes down, double
dribbles
•
Student cannot pass
the ball successfully
Student does not
follow through on pass
Student cannot get the
pass to teammates
Student does not make
sure the pass recipient
is ready for the ball
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
LAYUPS /
BASKET
•
Student is unable to
demonstrate basic
•
Student can dribble the
basketball while
moving
Does not have good
control , Cannot
dribble with head up
Sometimes dribbles
with finger pads
Usually turn ball over
against pressure
•
Student can sometimes
pass the ball
successfully
Student sometimes
follows through the
pass
Student sometimes
make sure the pass
recipient is ready for
the ball
Rarely uses pass to put
teammate in good
position
Student performs the
lay-up with dominant
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Student can dribble the
basketball with good
control and proper
positioning / head is up
Student dribbles with
finger pads, knees bent
Able to pivot while
dribbling
Sometimes turns ball
over against pressure
•
Student usually uses
correct pass (bounce,
chest, overhead)
Student usually
completes the pass to a
teammate
Student usually makes
sure their teammate is
ready for the pass
•
Student performs layups with dominant
•
•
•
•
•
Elite skills - one of
best players in area /
age group
Student can dribble
efficiently with either
hand with excellent
control and proper
positioning
Student dribbles with
head up, finger pads,
knees bent
Rarely turns ball over
against pressure
•
Student passes the ball
with precision and
accuracy, usually with
proper type of pass
Student possesses
ability to see court,
finds open man on
time & in right place
Pass typically puts
teammate in good
position
•
Student performs layups with either hand
•
•
•
•
•
•
Student can dribble
ball with excellent
control using either
hand
Uses dribble to attack
rim and create for team
Wow factor / dominant
skill
Want this player to
have ball when game
on line
Student almost always
passes the ball with
precision and can use
different types of
passes to get ball to
teammates on time &
in right place
Student possesses
excellent body control
and court vision
"Sees" pass before
others
Student almost always
uses proper hand with
ATTACK
•
shooting technique and
footwork when
performing a lay-up
Student consistently
jumps off wrong foot,
misses layups and
travels.
•
•
hand with improving
technique
Accuracy and more
consistent use of
backboard is needed
Student usually jumps
off inside foot –
closest to basket
•
•
SHOOTING
•
•
•
•
Student cannot shoot
the ball successfully
Student does not
follow through
Student uses two
hands to shoot
Student rarely makes
shot
•
•
•
•
DEFENSE
•
•
•
•
BASKETBALL
IQ / RULES
•
•
Has difficulty
maintaining defensive
positioning.
Body in upright
position
Minimal effort, Hands
by side, On heels of
feet
Student has little or no
idea of positioning self
between opponent and
basket
•
Student does not know
basic rules of game
and typically violates
through traveling /
double dribble, etc.
Student has little or no
understanding of team
concepts and often
looks lost on the court
•
•
•
•
Student sometimes
shoots the ball with
success
Student sometimes
follows through.
Student sometimes
uses two hands instead
of one to shoot
Student occasionally
makes shots
•
Attempts to stay
between the opponent
and the basket
Doesn’t slide the feet
or stay in a good
defensive position
while defending
Does not rebound with
purpose or understand
"help" defense
•
Student possesses
basic knowledge of
rules of game but will
often travel, double
dribble, and violate
other rules
Student sometimes
understands team
concepts and can
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
hand with growing
confidence and is
working to improve
lay-ups with nondominant hand.
Lay up is technically
correct but not
consistently executed
in game play
Has difficult time
beating solid defenders
to score at rim
Student shoots the ball
correctly
Student usually
follows through
Student usually uses
one hand to shoot and
holds follow through
Student occasionally
makes shots in game
play
•
•
•
•
Anticipates change of
direction
Attempts to get
rebounds and/or block
shots
Slides the feet, active
hands
Basic application of
"help" defense and can
function in man or
zone D
•
Student understands
rules of the game and
usually does not travel,
double dribble, etc.
Student usually fills
role as prescribed in
games
Although functioning,
looks as if over
•
•
•
•
•
•
consistently and
confidently with
refined technique and
speed
Student usually beats
defender to rim and
can score with either
hand at the rim
•
Student shoots the ball
demonstrating the
"SELF" shooting
acronym - Setup, Eyes,
Lift, Finish
Student demonstrates
excellent accuracy in
practice
Student consistently
shoots well in
competitive game play
•
Good defensive
position with the knees
bent and arms out in
the passing and
shooting lanes
Slides the feet
True on ball and
"help" D positioning
Typically stops
opponent
Communicates on D,
employees team
concepts
•
Student possesses high
level understanding of
the rules and strategies
of the game
Student rarely violates
rules of game and
understands
interrelationship of
players and how to
•
•
•
•
•
refined technique and
speed
Student is creative in
attacking the basket,
wide array of moves
and finishes and can
beat multiple
defenders to score
Student possesses pure
shooting form and can
shoot consistently
from all over the floor
and off of the catch
and dribble
Elite shooters change
the defensive
philosophy of
opponents as they are
always a threat to
score
Elite defenders not
only possess high level
D skills, but they
desire to impact game
through Defense
They communicate,
anticipate, deflect, take
charges, box out and
tenaciously rebound,
and dictate to
opponent where to go
with the ball
Student knows the
rules of the game
without hesitation
Uses knowledge of
game to gain
advantage over
opponents
Student makes
intelligent plays on the
function in a rec level
game environment
GAME PLAY
•
•
PLAYER
LEVEL
•
Student struggles to
play effectively in
recreational level
basketball games
(organized or
otherwise)
Student consistently
lost on court and in
violation of rules
•
•
Student can play
effectively in
recreational level
games but not at
dominant level
Student usually
violates basic rules and
has a difficult time
grasping team
responsibilities
processing movements
and strategies - very
deliberate
•
•
Student typically
excels against
recreational players
but struggles against
competitive team /
club level players
Student sometimes
violates rules and has a
reasonable
understanding of team
strategies
expose opponent
weaknesses
•
•
Student thrives in
game play against
other competitive
teams / club level
players. From Gold
Crown perspective dominant Silver
Division or solid Gold
Division players
Rarely violates rules
and understands team
strategies at high
levels
court that seems to be
well in advance of
their current age
•
•
Student dominates
game play against the
highest levels of youth
/ club basketball
Often can play at high
levels against older
players (top
contributor / starter
while playing grade or
two up)
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Level 4
Level 5
Beginner
Advanced Beginner
Intermediate
Advanced
Intermediate
Elite
Player mostly closely
identifies with the
Beginner description
in 4 or more of the 7
evaluative categories
•
Player mostly closely
identifies with the
Developing
description in 4 or
more of the 7
evaluative categories
•
Player mostly closely
identifies with the
Intermediate
description in 4 or
more of the 7
evaluative categories
•
•
Player mostly closely
identifies with the
Advanced
Intermediate
description in 4 or
more of the 7
evaluative categories
Player mostly closely
identifies with the
Elite description in 4
or more of the 7
evaluative categories