I've coached my son's basketball teams for five seasons. Each Tuesday evening we hold a one-hour practice and each Saturday we play a 40-minute game.Each of the boys I oversee fall into one of two groups. Youngsters who fall into the first group participate in those practices and games—and nothing else. The only time they pick up a basketball is in the gym with the team. Many times these young players—and their parents—wonder why their shots don't go in, passes go errant, and dribbles bounce off their feet.

The other group of boys also attends practices and competes in the games. In addition, they play basketball at home during the week. At the end of each season, the boys who have played more than just the weekly hour and 40 minutes of our program reach skill levels far past the first group—especially if parents or older siblings have worked with them on the same fundamentals covered in practice. The game makes more sense and becomes more natural for those who ...