Grade 5 and 6 Basketball Tournament

This year, the tournament will follow a new 3-on-3 format, with teams competing in both novice and intermediate divisions. This change is designed to encourage more participation, skill development, and fast-paced gameplay.

More details will be shared with students and families as the event approaches. Practices take place during Physical Education classes and during the school day at recess times throughout the week.

We expect the game schedule to be released sometime next week. We know that the tournament takes place on Saturday March 1, 2025.

Why the change in format for Basketball from 5 on 5 to 3 vs 3?

Benefit 1: Increased Handling of the Ball 

When youth play traditional 5 on 5 games, it is common for 1-2 players to rarely touch the ball. This is especially true when a team has 1-2 dominant players who are the best ball handlers or are early developers.  Teammates tend to pass the ball to those players and those players tend to take the ball to the basket and sometimes coast to coast, failing to work on team and decision making skills. This results in other players not developing their skills. The dominant player is only working on a few skills, and the team isn’t developing as a whole. 

In Mini-Basket, everyone must be involved for a team to have success.  All players get to handle the ball almost every possession allowing for more skill repetition in competition environments and therefore, providing the best opportunity for skill development to occur. 

Benefit 2: Better Spacing 

Even with the smaller bodies of young players, 5 on 5 games are crowded.  Youth basketball is not the right environment for players to practice dribbling through double teams or passing through multiple types of coverage - their skill package is underdeveloped to be successful in those areas. 

Mini-Basket opens the court up and provides players with more room to operate.  Youth can play in open space, allowing them the opportunity better practice and load their skills without multiple defenders crowding the ball. This spacing also allows for players to practice individual and team decision-making skills (advantages, when to shoot/pass/drive). 

Benefit 3: Focus on Basketball Skills & Actions 

Mini-Basket emphasizes individual skills as well as 1, 2 and 3 player actions that are the foundation for successful 5 on 5 play.  The focus is on concept development as opposed to being system and set oriented.  

Defense for Mini-Basket is player-to-player, creating opportunities at the offensive end for freedom, decision-making and creativity to develop. 

Benefit 4: More Directed Competition 

Games in Mini-Basket competitions are shorter in duration but more frequent, allowing players to face multiple opponents in one competition day.  The number of players is reduced, allowing for maximal competition experience and playing time during this developmental stage.  Players can play in classifications (A, AA and AAA) based on their development and skill level to challenge the elite players, while keeping new and late developing players involved.