Basketball is a great game that is played by millions of young people in the United States and around the world. Playing basketball fosters the development of peer relationships, self-esteem, leadership qualities, and physical health.
To date, however, the sport of basketball has lacked guidelines around health and wellness and consistent game play standards. To help foster player health, age- and stage-appropriate skill development, and a positive and enjoyable on-court experience for young people, the NBA and USA Basketball have developed a set of rules and standards to enhance the playing experience for young athletes.
These guidelines aim to combat the overemphasis on early competitive success and the lack of a clear development pathway through the sport – two issues that exist across youth sports, including basketball.
The NBA and USA Basketball are committed to helping shape a youth basketball environment that prioritizes the health and well-being of young athletes and promotes their enjoyment and development in the game.
Overscheduling of competitive events, overuse injuries and burnout have become too common in youth basketball. The tables below outline recommended and maximum amounts of youth basketball participation, as well as rest guidelines for young athletes, designed to promote a fun and healthy playing experience.
Recommended Participation Guidelines
Maximum Participation Guidelines
The maximum participation guidelines outlined above and guidance on camps and academies below are intended to serve as limits on a young athlete’s participation in organized basketball. It is possible that participation in organized basketball within the maximum limits but in excess of the recommendations is also not advisable from a health and wellness standpoint; however, this issue requires further study.
*Youth basketball players, parents, and coaches should demonstrate caution in scheduling or participating in more than one game per day, especially on consecutive days. If young athletes participate in an event or tournament in which more than one game is played per day on consecutive days, players should have additional time off from sports activities following the event to allow for recovery.
**It is recommended that young athletes in these age ranges who are approaching the maximum hour limits not participate in another organized sport concurrently.
Rest Guidelines
| Age | Min. # of Rest Days Per Week | Max. Months Per Year in Organized Basketball | Recommended Hours of Sleep Per Night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ages 7-8 | 2 | 4 months | 9-12 hours |
| Ages 9-11 | 2 | 5 months | 9-12 hours |
| Ages 12-14 | 1 | 7 months | 8-10 hours* |
| Grades 9-12 | 1 | 9-10 months | 8-10 hours |
*For 12 year olds, 9-12 hours of sleep is recommended.
Recommendation: Delay specialization in basketball until at least age 14.
Playing multiple sports helps kids make new friends and develop new skills. Medical and scientific experts recommend early sports sampling and delaying single-sport specialization until mid to late adolescence. Playing multiple sports should not be viewed as falling behind, but rather as building the foundation for future success. Research shows that early sport specialization is NOT necessary to produce elite-level performance.
Sports Sampling
Sports sampling, which is characterized by participation in multiple sports during childhood, provides a young athlete the chance to find a sport that may ultimately fit him or her best. There are several demonstrated benefits of sports sampling:
- Prolonged engagement in sports
- More enjoyable and positive early sports experiences
- Healthy physical, psychological, and social development
- Transfer of skills acquired from multiple sports to primary sport if specialization occurs
Current research does not support the view that early single-sport specialization is either necessary or sufficient to produce elite performance at advanced levels of competition. In fact, early single-sport specialization in basketball and other team sports may be detrimental to long-term elite performance.
Athletes that reach the highest level of achievement have been shown to be more likely to have played multiple sports at a young age compared to athletes that reach relatively lower levels of achievement. With respect to basketball and other similar ball sports, world-class athletes often delayed single-sport specialization until age 16 or later.
Based upon the scientific literature and the consensus of our Health and Wellness Working Group, the NBA and USA Basketball recommend the following for young athletes, parents and basketball organizations:
The NBA and USA Basketball have adopted a Youth Basketball Player Segmentation Model designed to help ensure player safety, consistency and competitive fairness and balance for youth basketball players.
This player segmentation model, developed by an expert working group on Playing Standards, has a hybrid age/grade structure that employs strict age groupings through age 13, followed by a grade affiliation model once a player enters the ninth grade. The following are key elements of the model:
2019-20 Player Segmentation Reference Guide
Developmentally-Appropriate Playing Guidelines
The NBA and USA Basketball working group on Playing Standards is developing age- and stage- appropriate playing guidelines – to include playing rules, equipment recommendations, and competition structure elements – for four age groupings:
- 8 and under
- 9-11 years old
- 12-14 years old
- Grades 9-12
These recommendations, which will be announced in 2017, are being designed to provide developmentally appropriate standards for youth basketball – allowing the game to evolve as kids grow and mature.
Basketball is played in countless settings and locations across the U.S. – and though the game remains fundamentally the same, there are many variables that can impact a young player’s experience. The NBA and USA Basketball want all players to enjoy the game and have a fun, developmentally appropriate experience.
Parents and coaches frequently ask certain questions, especially when their kids are young:
- How high should we set the basket?
- What size ball should we use?
- Should we play zone defense?
These are important questions, and we understand that playing with the correct equipment and establishing age-appropriate rules significantly impacts the experience for youth as they learn the game. Therefore, the NBA and USA Basketball have established detailed guidelines to help young players develop at a natural pace that is suitable to their age and physiological abilities.
The NBA and USA Basketball have worked closely with an expert working group on Playing Standards to develop age- and stage-appropriate rules and standards for youth basketball. Aligning with the Player Segmentation Model, these guidelines will help young players appropriately learn the fundamentals of the game, achieve and maintain early success, and provide enhanced long-term development.
The rules and standards address four key areas:
- Equipment & Court Specifications(e.g., proper height of the basket, size of the ball, and court dimensions and lines).
- Game Structure(e.g., length of the game, scoring and timeouts).
- Game Tactics(e.g., equal playing time, player-to-player vs. zone defense, pressing vs. no pressing).
- Game Play Rules(e.g., use of a shot clock, substitutions, clock stoppage).
Rules and Standards Charts
See below for detailed rules and standards information. Please keep in mind:
- The playing rules and standards below are to serve as guidelines and recommendations for those administering basketball competitions.
- The NBA and USA Basketball have adopted FIBA (International Basketball Federation) rules for the Grades 9-12 age- segment and created progressive sets of rules and standards for younger age segments (ages 14 and under). Where a specific rule or standard is not explicitly indicated, the recommendation is to follow official FIBA rules.
- The NBA and USA Basketball will utilize these playing rules and standards in all events and competitions they may host.
*We understand that organizations and facilities may not always be able to accommodate all recommendations and that modifications will need to be made in certain instances due to practical limitations (e.g., inability to raise or lower the height of a basket, re-draw court lines, or not having a shot clock).
The supporters below endorse the Health and Wellness, and Player Segmentation recommendations shared above.
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