About
First Shot Basketball School offers non-competitive basketball lessons for beginners and competitive advanced training for more experienced children. The program includes Supertots, Pee Wee, Basics, Olymipx™, and Powerball Advanced Training for serious players 12–15. Classes focus on fundamentals, teamwork, skill training, and helping every child feel confident on the court through organized lesson plans and age-specific classes.
• Ages: 3–15 years old
First Shot Basketball School was founded in 1997 by Joel Mansbach, who committed to creating a one-of-a-kind program that would teach the game in a unique manner. The program describes itself as the leading basketball program in youth sports located in Queens, New York and notes a 27-year history. Classes are taught by caring basketball teachers, not volunteers, who are experienced basketball teachers paid and trained to First Shot’s standards, hand-picked, screened, and trained in the art of teaching and talking to children in a kindly, positive manner, with many coaches having been with the program for years.
The program states that its goal is to use basketball to build confidence and encourage teamwork, using comprehensive instruction and positive encouragement while focusing on each child’s strong points and recognizing small achievements. It emphasizes that children should learn before they compete, that the First Shot method prepares children with the right foundation for the game, and that sports can play an important role in a child’s growth when taught in a supportive and positive environment. The program highlights that there are no “stars” in First Shot, that each student is treated equally, and that it is an ideal program for children who want to learn but feel unsure of their abilities or do not want to be left out when friends choose players for a game.
Classes are described as non-competitive for Supertots, Pee Wee, and Basics, and competitive for Olymipx™, with Powerball Advanced Training and Powerball Advanced Training for serious players 12–15. The program notes that even its competitive classes are never cut-throat, that every child plays all the time, and that there are no “stars” in the classes, only “successes.” It states that everything is designed to be child sensitive, with classes that are well organized but never overwhelming, in a healthy, camp-like atmosphere that is warm and camp-like and where lasting friendships are created.
First Shot Basketball School reports a low child-to-coach ratio, stating a student-to-coach ratio of 5 to 1, that each full class has 4 basketball coaches, that most classes take only 20 students, and that if there are 15 children in a class, parents can expect to see 3 coaches. The program describes small classes with lots of one-to-one instruction and personal attention for each child, with children taught at an age-appropriate pace so beginners feel comfortable while more experienced players continue to progress. It states that coaches provide hands-on instruction, speak to children in a positive, motivating way, and encourage sportsmanship, individual excellence, and teamwork.
The program notes that it teaches basic skills including shooting, passing, and dribbling, along with a “healthy dose” of good sportsmanship, and explains each child’s role on a team without pressure. It states that classes are age-specific, with specially developed lessons that introduce beginner and advanced instruction and team concepts, and that the First Shot method prepares children with the right foundation for the game. First Shot Basketball School also offers a free trial lesson, make-up opportunities for missed classes during the season, and emphasizes that it is “Where The Kids are More Important Than Winning.” The program states that it is proud of its 5-star reviews.
Last updated June 4, 2026.
• Ages: 3–15 years old
First Shot Basketball School was founded in 1997 by Joel Mansbach, who committed to creating a one-of-a-kind program that would teach the game in a unique manner. The program describes itself as the leading basketball program in youth sports located in Queens, New York and notes a 27-year history. Classes are taught by caring basketball teachers, not volunteers, who are experienced basketball teachers paid and trained to First Shot’s standards, hand-picked, screened, and trained in the art of teaching and talking to children in a kindly, positive manner, with many coaches having been with the program for years.
The program states that its goal is to use basketball to build confidence and encourage teamwork, using comprehensive instruction and positive encouragement while focusing on each child’s strong points and recognizing small achievements. It emphasizes that children should learn before they compete, that the First Shot method prepares children with the right foundation for the game, and that sports can play an important role in a child’s growth when taught in a supportive and positive environment. The program highlights that there are no “stars” in First Shot, that each student is treated equally, and that it is an ideal program for children who want to learn but feel unsure of their abilities or do not want to be left out when friends choose players for a game.
Classes are described as non-competitive for Supertots, Pee Wee, and Basics, and competitive for Olymipx™, with Powerball Advanced Training and Powerball Advanced Training for serious players 12–15. The program notes that even its competitive classes are never cut-throat, that every child plays all the time, and that there are no “stars” in the classes, only “successes.” It states that everything is designed to be child sensitive, with classes that are well organized but never overwhelming, in a healthy, camp-like atmosphere that is warm and camp-like and where lasting friendships are created.
First Shot Basketball School reports a low child-to-coach ratio, stating a student-to-coach ratio of 5 to 1, that each full class has 4 basketball coaches, that most classes take only 20 students, and that if there are 15 children in a class, parents can expect to see 3 coaches. The program describes small classes with lots of one-to-one instruction and personal attention for each child, with children taught at an age-appropriate pace so beginners feel comfortable while more experienced players continue to progress. It states that coaches provide hands-on instruction, speak to children in a positive, motivating way, and encourage sportsmanship, individual excellence, and teamwork.
The program notes that it teaches basic skills including shooting, passing, and dribbling, along with a “healthy dose” of good sportsmanship, and explains each child’s role on a team without pressure. It states that classes are age-specific, with specially developed lessons that introduce beginner and advanced instruction and team concepts, and that the First Shot method prepares children with the right foundation for the game. First Shot Basketball School also offers a free trial lesson, make-up opportunities for missed classes during the season, and emphasizes that it is “Where The Kids are More Important Than Winning.” The program states that it is proud of its 5-star reviews.
Last updated June 4, 2026.
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