Yes, all ages train together for some activities, but they are separated by age and skill for others. This model, commonly used in soccer and other sports, has proven to be very successful. You can see some of our clips on our Instagram page.

The FUNdamentals phase focuses on building confidence and competence in children by emphasizing the development of physical capacities and fundamental movement skills. Activities involve significant repetition with minimal correction to allow children to test their limits safely. The goal is to improve agility, balance, coordination, and speed through a mixture of structured and unstructured play, and some instruction.

In the Learn to Train phase, the Academy emphasizes developing foundational sport skills, strength, endurance, and flexibility through games and fun activities. This period is crucial for accelerating the development of coordination and fine motor control, while children enjoy practicing and improving their skills. Physical literacy movement preparation is used as part of warm-ups to support overall development.

Activities in the FUNdamentals phase include a mix of structured drills and unstructured play. The aim is to allow children to practice fundamental movement skills and the ABCs of athleticism—agility, balance, coordination, and speed. The activities are designed to build physical capacities and boost confidence through repetition and experience.

The Learn to Train phase is important because it accelerates the development of essential sport skills and physical attributes like strength, endurance, and flexibility. This phase supports the improvement of coordination and fine motor control, which are critical for more advanced skills. Children also benefit from practicing and seeing their own progress, which enhances their enjoyment and engagement.

The Academy ensures that every child has the opportunity to learn and play by incorporating physical literacy movement preparation into warm-ups and providing a variety of drills and activities. The program is designed to be inclusive, allowing children to develop their skills at their own pace while engaging in both structured and fun, unstructured play.

While house leagues are valuable for development, JOOOKOOO believes that it is more beneficial to first focus on developing FUNdamentals and then transition players directly to a team environment. This approach aims to provide a stronger foundation before moving into competitive play.  We highly recommend that Basketball Skills Academy players that are interested in team play join our Skills Academy team.

The Basketball Skills Academy consists of two components: the first component focuses solely on skills training, while the second component places kids who are interested in house league play onto teams that compete in lower-level basketball leagues. This approach allows players to either hone their skills or gain competitive experience.

The academy team is an excellent way to introduce beginner to intermediate players to the team atmosphere. It prepares them for high-level rep teams or allows them to continue playing on a Skills Academy team. This experience helps players adapt to team dynamics while developing their skills.

The Basketball Skills Academy runs every Saturday morning. Players who choose to join the Skills Academy team have the chance to participate in weekly academy practices. These practices introduce key team concepts, including offense, defense, baseline, and sideline plays, helping players understand and apply these strategies in a team setting.