How can you improve basketball skills for 10-12 year olds. What are the best drills for youth basketball players. How to make basketball practice fun and engaging for preteens. Which basketball exercises develop fundamental skills in young players.
Essential Components of Youth Basketball Practice
Structuring an effective basketball practice for 10-12 year olds requires careful planning and consideration. A well-rounded practice session should include several key components to ensure young players develop their skills, improve their athleticism, and enjoy the sport.
Dynamic Warm-Up and Athletic Work
The importance of a proper warm-up cannot be overstated. A dynamic warm-up not only prepares the body for physical activity but also helps prevent injuries and enhances overall athletic performance. For 10-12 year olds, this phase of practice should last about 10-15 minutes and incorporate basketball-specific movements whenever possible.
- Stationary ball handling exercises
- Full-court dribbling drills
- Defensive shuffles
- Plyometric exercises (e.g., squat jumps, lunges)
- Agility drills (e.g., carioca, high knees, butt kicks)
Is incorporating a basketball during warm-up beneficial? Yes, using a basketball during warm-up exercises helps young players become more comfortable handling the ball and reinforces fundamental skills.
Skill Development and Fun Drills
The core of youth basketball practice should focus on teaching and refining essential skills. This section typically lasts 30-45 minutes and should balance structured learning with enjoyable activities. Coaches should employ the “skill-fun drill technique,” which involves teaching a specific skill followed by a fun game or drill to practice that skill.
What skills should be prioritized for 10-12 year old basketball players?
- Dribbling (including two-ball drills)
- Shooting form and technique
- Passing and catching
- Footwork and body control
- Basic offensive and defensive concepts
Top 10 Basketball Drills for 10-12 Year Olds
To help young players develop their skills while having fun, here are ten effective and engaging basketball drills suitable for 10-12 year olds:
1. Dribble Knockout
This exciting drill combines dribbling skills with friendly competition. Players dribble within a designated area while trying to knock away other players’ basketballs. The last player dribbling wins.
2. Partner Passing Relay
Players form two lines and pass the ball to their partner while moving down the court. This drill improves passing accuracy, communication, and teamwork.
3. Sharks and Minnows
One player (the “shark”) tries to steal the ball from other players (the “minnows”) as they dribble across the court. This drill enhances ball handling and defensive skills.
4. Hot Shot
Players shoot from designated spots on the court, earning points for made baskets. This drill improves shooting accuracy and helps players practice shooting under pressure.
5. 3-on-2 Fast Break
Three offensive players attack two defenders in a fast break situation. This drill teaches decision-making, passing, and finishing in transition.
6. Red Light, Green Light
Players dribble down the court, stopping and starting based on the coach’s commands. This drill improves ball control and reaction time.
7. Defensive Slides with Ball Taps
Players perform defensive slides while a coach holds a ball at various heights. Players must tap the ball without breaking their defensive stance, improving footwork and hand-eye coordination.
8. Around the World
Players attempt shots from different positions around the key or three-point line. This classic drill improves shooting from various angles and distances.
9. Dribble Tag
Similar to regular tag, but players must dribble a basketball while trying to tag others or avoid being tagged. This drill enhances dribbling skills and court awareness.
10. 1-on-1 King of the Court
Players compete in quick 1-on-1 matchups, with the winner staying on the court to face the next challenger. This drill improves individual offensive and defensive skills in a competitive setting.
Incorporating Offense and Defense Drills
After focusing on individual skills, it’s crucial to incorporate drills that simulate game situations and teach team offense and defense concepts. This portion of practice typically lasts 15-25 minutes.
Offensive Drills
- No Dribble Keep Away: Improves passing, cutting, and offensive movement without dribbling
- 3-on-3 Motion Offense: Teaches basic principles of motion offense in a smaller, more manageable setting
- 4-on-4 Half-Court Offense: Builds on 3-on-3 concepts with more players involved
Defensive Drills
- Shell Drill: Teaches proper defensive positioning and rotations
- Close-Out Drill: Improves defensive footwork and positioning when guarding a player with the ball
- Help and Recover: Teaches players when and how to provide help defense and recover to their original assignment
End-of-Game Scenarios and Conditioning
To conclude practice on an exciting note and prepare players for game situations, incorporate end-of-game drills and scenarios. This section typically lasts 10-20 minutes and can include:
- Full-court press situations
- Last-second shot attempts
- Free throw shooting under pressure
- Inbounds plays with limited time on the clock
Why are end-of-game drills important for young players? These drills help players develop composure under pressure, learn to manage the clock, and practice critical decision-making skills in high-stakes situations.
Cool Down and Recovery
After an intense practice session, it’s essential to incorporate a proper cool-down routine. This helps young players transition from high-intensity activity to a resting state and promotes recovery. A cool-down typically lasts about 5 minutes and may include:
- Light jogging or walking
- Static stretching
- Deep breathing exercises
- Brief team meeting or reflection on the practice session
How does a proper cool-down benefit young basketball players? A cool-down helps reduce muscle soreness, improve flexibility, and promote mental relaxation, all of which contribute to faster recovery and reduced risk of injury.
Adapting Drills for Skill Levels and Equipment Availability
When coaching 10-12 year old basketball players, it’s important to recognize that skill levels can vary significantly within this age group. Additionally, not all teams or practice facilities have access to the same equipment. Here are some tips for adapting drills to accommodate different skill levels and equipment availability:
Modifying Drills for Different Skill Levels
- Introduce progressions and regressions for each drill
- Use smaller groups or stations to provide more individual attention
- Pair players of similar skill levels for partner drills
- Adjust the pace or complexity of drills based on player performance
Adapting to Limited Equipment
If you have limited access to basketballs or other equipment, consider these alternatives:
- Use cones or floor markers instead of extra basketballs for dribbling drills
- Incorporate bodyweight exercises for strength and conditioning
- Utilize wall space for individual ball handling and passing drills
- Create stations that rotate players through different activities to maximize use of available equipment
Can effective basketball practice be conducted with minimal equipment? Absolutely. With creativity and careful planning, coaches can design engaging and productive practices even with limited resources.
Incorporating Team Building and Mental Skills
While physical skills are crucial in basketball, it’s equally important to develop teamwork, sportsmanship, and mental toughness in young players. Here are some ways to incorporate these elements into practice:
Team Building Activities
- Group problem-solving exercises
- Trust-building games
- Team challenges that require cooperation
- Assigning leadership roles during drills
Mental Skills Development
- Visualization exercises
- Goal-setting activities
- Positive self-talk practice
- Breathing techniques for focus and relaxation
How do team building and mental skills benefit young basketball players? These activities foster a positive team culture, improve communication, and help players develop resilience and confidence, which are essential for success both on and off the court.
Balancing Competition and Skill Development
For 10-12 year old basketball players, finding the right balance between competitive activities and skill development is crucial. While competition can be motivating and fun, it’s important not to overemphasize winning at the expense of learning and improvement.
Strategies for Balancing Competition and Development
- Incorporate competitive elements into skill-based drills
- Use small-sided games (e.g., 3-on-3) to increase touches and decision-making opportunities
- Reward effort and improvement, not just outcomes
- Rotate player positions and roles to encourage well-rounded skill development
- Use modified rules in scrimmages to emphasize specific skills or concepts
Why is balancing competition and skill development important for young players? This approach helps maintain engagement and motivation while ensuring that players develop a strong foundation of fundamental skills and basketball IQ.
By implementing these strategies and incorporating a variety of drills and activities, coaches can create engaging, effective basketball practices for 10-12 year old players. Remember to keep the focus on fun, skill development, and fostering a love for the game. With patience, creativity, and a positive approach, you can help young players build a strong foundation for their basketball journey.
Sample Youth Practice Schedule (Ages 11 to 14)
Home > Coaching > Coaching Youth Basketball > Sample Youth Practice Schedule (Ages 11 to 14)
Here is a sample structure of a practice schedule for a youth team. Of course, this is just a sample and things would be different every day, but this
is a basic structure of how a practice may look.
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- Dynamic Warm Up & Athletic Work – 10 to 15 minutes
This is probably the #1 thing missing from most youth practices. It helps prevent injury, improves performance, and improve athletic ability. What good is a
basketball player who is injured or is not athletic enough to utilize the basketball skills developed? The better the player moves, the better
the player performs. Why not spend time on it?There are a lot of players who have tremendous SKILLS, but lacked the ATHLETIC ability to make it to the next level.
Because it is the game of basketball, I do try to include a basketball in the warm up as much as possible. I am going to present two different dynamic warm ups.
If you are fortunate enough to have enough basketballs for everybody, we have a basketball-related warm up. For those of you who do not have very many basketballs, we include a warm up that does not require a basketball. - Teaching Skills and Using Fun Drills to Improve Skills – 30 to 45 minutes
The #1 reason kids quit sports is because it’s not fun anymore. Youth coaches primary focus should be to teach skills and make it an enjoyable experience!
This isn’t high school, college, or even PRO basketball, so don’t treat your practices like it.Try the skill-fun drill technique. This means that you teach a skill, then follow up that skill with a fun game or drill to work on the skill. It helps break
up the monotony of practice. - Drills & Games to Practice Offense and Defense – 15 to 25 minutes
- End of Game Drill – 10 to 20 minutes
- Cool down with Light Stretching – 5 minutes
Sample Practice Schedule
Dynamic Warm Up & Athletic Work – 15 minutes
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Warmup #1 – With Basketball: Stationary Ball Handling:
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Warm up #2 – Without Basketball
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Walk down the court forwards. Come back walking backwards.
Teaching Skills and Using Fun Drills to Improve Skills – 40 minutes
- Two Ball Dribbling Drills – 5 minutes
- Form Shooting – 5 minutes
- Two Ball Shooting – 5 minutes
- Knock Out and Water Break – 5 minutes
- Teaching Motion Situations (Motion Drills – 2 on 2 & 3 on 3 work) – 10 minutes
- Wing – 1 on 1 – 4 minutes
- Defense Reaction & Conditioning Drill – 2 minutes
- Free Throws & Quick Water Break – 4 minutes
Drills & Games to Practice Offense and Defense – 25 minutes
- No Dribble Keep Away – 5 Minutes
- 4 on 3 – Overload Drill – 5 Minutes
- 4 on 4 – 5 minutes (Emphasize rules and teaching skills – after pass to wing, you must screen away. Similar to Situations Drill below.)
- 5 on 4 – Overload Drill – 5 minutes
- Situations Drill – 5 minutes
Similar to Situations Drill below.)
End of Game Drill – 10 minutes
Use the end of game drill to end practice in a fun fashion. It also gets players
accustomed to end of game situations.
Cool down with Light Stretching – 5 minutes
Some teams do this after practice.
You can also reference Bob Bigelow’s Middle School Drills & Coaching Videos, What to Teach 11 to 14 Year Olds, 57 Kids Basketball Drills and Skills & Fundamentals
Do you have any questions or suggestions? Let us know by leaving your comments…
Basketball Drills for 10-Year Olds
Basketball is a fun game for adults and even more fun when kids play the game. Kids go through challenging games, having fun, and learning the fundamentals of basketball as well. However, fourth graders have a short attention span; you need to keep them interested.
Transform basketball drills for 10-year olds so they won’t know the difference between work and play.
Follow us to get some insights to keep your young hoopster interested in basketball.
How Do You Teach a 10-Year Old to Play Basketball?
Children between 8-10 years old are the right age to learn the fundamentals of basketball. The young hoopsters will acquire skills, the proper stance, technique, and attitude that will stick with them throughout their school and athletic careers. Use basketball drills for 10-year olds in a language that they will understand. Match those small hands and tiny feet with the proper training equipment.
Basketball Drills
Children of this age have a short attention span, and you want them to grasp as much information as possible. Explain the basics of dribbling, passing, and shooting with a visual demonstration so they can understand what the instructions are about. Show them this video before starting drills to ensure that you’re both on the same page.
Turn the drills into a game like “Red Light, Green Light” to catch their attention and keep them from boredom. They won’t know the difference between work and play. Each hoopster has a basketball; when you call “Green Light,” they dribble with either the left or right hand. “Red Light” means that they switch hands in dribbling. It could also tell to stop dribbling or passing the ball to a partner.
Teach the correct way of shooting the basketball at the hoop. They could easily remember this drill by introducing the acronym “BEEF,” which stands for Balance, Eyes on the ring, Elbow straight, Follow through. Everybody loves hamburgers, and hamburgers are made from “BEEF.”
Expect clumsy and uncoordinated plays, loose balls all over. But as long they are having fun and are interested in the basketball drills for kids, you are in the right direction. You were a kid once you knew how this goes.
Proper Training Equipment
It will take a lot of effort from youngsters to heave a heavy ball to a high net.
Kids will develop the proper ball handling and shooting techniques with the appropriate basketball size. A basketball-size 5 weighing 17 ounces and an 8-feet rim height work well with fourth graders. Young players will have difficulty gripping and shooting with a heavy basketball and likely find the game less enjoyable.
Encourage good form in dribbling, passing, and shooting. Strong fundamentals in basketball will stick with the kids making them competent players as they age.
What are Good Basketball Drills for Beginners?
Players new to basketball may find the game a bit confusing as they’re still developing skills. Teaching basic basketball drills for 10-year-olds who have never played the game is even more challenging.
To learn the game, start with the basics of dribbling, passing, and shooting. Practicing these drills will help the youngsters develop their game and enhance their performance on the court.
Ball Handling
Dribbling the ball is an important skill every basketball player must learn.
When you have excellent ball control with both hands, you’re a step ahead of your opponent. Teach the youngsters these basic principles and apply these in their daily dribbling drills.
1. Keep your head up while dribbling to have a complete vision of the court and the movement of your opponent.
2. The height of the bounce of the ball should not exceed chest level.
3. Your back should be straight in your dribbling posture. A lousy stance will cause your head to drop down, losing the court’s vision.
4. Pound the ball with the fingertips of your hand to have a good feel of the basketball. You can’t control the ball by dribbling with the palms.
5. You should control the ball, do not let the ball control you.
Passing
Passing the ball to teammates is vital in a basketball game—a sloppy pass result in a change of ball possession and possible points for the opposing team. There are three basic passes: chest pass, bass pounce, and overhead pass.
A rule of thumb for these drills is 30 seconds with ten repetitions for each practice.
Chest Pass
The pass is at chest level. Both hands are gripping the ball, and the thumbs are behind it before it is thrown. The fingers rotate the ball when throwing, and the thumbs are spun down. The ball will receive a nice backspin when the back of the hands faces each other, and the thumbs are pointing down.
A passer should aim for the receiver’s chest. A low or high pass is hard to catch and might result in a turnover.
Bounce Pass
A bounce pass is thrown the same way as the chest pass, except it is aimed at the floor and not the teammate. The passer should throw it about three-quarters of the way to the receiver. Putting a backspin on the ball will make estimating your partner’s distance easier.
Overhead Pass
The ball is positioned above the forehead with two hands on the side of the ball. It is used as an outlet pass for a teammate’s fast break to the hoop.
Target your teammate’s chin when throwing the ball. Bringing it at the back of the head can result in a stolen ball or a split-second more to heave the ball.
Shooting
Basketball is a scoring game, and shooting is the only way to earn points in a game. Beginners should start with the air-ball drill. Line up the youngsters with a ball on their hands, get them in an offensive stance with their elbow down, then jump and shoot from their highest point. The goal is to acquire the proper posture and position with the ball in their hands before releasing the ball.
Teach each player the meaning of the acronym B.E.E.F; Balance, Eyes on the hoop, Elbow straight, Follow through.
How Do 10-Year Olds Practice Basketball?
Remember that 10-year olds are just kids; they won’t play basketball if the game does not interest them. Some kids want to learn how to play basketball, some less enthusiastic kids wish for the practice to end, go home, and watch TV, and some kids fall in between.
So it would help if you were very selective with your drills to cater to the different needs of the fourth graders.
The key is to make it fun so they won’t know the difference between work and play.
- Turn the drill into a game. Remember your childhood games like “Red Light, Green Light,” “Tag,” “Freeze Dance,” “Dodge Ball.” and “Musical Chairs?” You can incorporate fun basketball drills for beginners into these games and see their eyes glow and the smile on their faces.
- Include gimmicks such as a reward system for paying attention, following instructions, proper execution of a drill, or whatever comes to your mind. The incentives can range from a bottle of mineral water to fewer drills.
- Using props like cones, and chairs will take the drill to a new level.
- Every kid should have a basketball to keep them active. This alone will keep him occupied and excited to acquire new skills. A player without a ball might do something you don’t want.
Effective Basketball Drills for 10-Year Olds
Kids starting basketball drills at an early age are likely to become better players.
10-year olds acquiring the fundamentals in defense, shooting, and passing can improve these skills much faster than adults.
Kids this age have a short attention span that’s why drills were transformed into fun, challenging games that work on their technical and tactical abilities.
Basketball Defense Drills for 10-Year Olds
Good defensive basketball drills for 10-year olds will create opportunities for the team’s offense. Young learners will quickly adapt to man-to-man defense; the only instruction they need to remember is to guard the man assigned. Other techniques such as zone defense, box and one, and other combination defenses require lots of instruction that youngsters might not follow. They quickly change their minds when needed to think about many things causing a lack of interest.
Teach early learners the Scarecrow Arms technique that involves the proper arm and hand positioning when playing defense in basketball. Arms are extended and kept busy while the hands attempt to swipe the ball from their opponent.
The defender should prevent their man from dribbling past them.
While at it, keep the knees bent, eyes on the ball, back straight, and on the balls of their feet. Train them to shuffle their feet to avoid tangling up when moving backward and sideways.
Jumping will keep the offensive player off balance to deliver a bad pass. Stick with your man and force him to make a difficult pass or shot.
Basketball Shooting Drills for 10-Year Olds
Great shooters make great players; that’s why Steph Curry is one of the best players in the NBA.
Even if you don’t have height, speed, or athleticism, a great shooter always has a place in any team. A player must develop the proper shooting form and technique early to shoot well.
Right Equipment
The right equipment should be used when working with basketball shooting drills for 10-year olds. The height of the rim should be 8-foot, and the size of the basketball is 5, weighing 17 ounces.
Using an official ball will cause the youngsters to “chuck the ball.
” Bad habits linger when big and strong enough to shoot a ten-foot hoop.
Eyes on Target
Keep your eyes on the rim to develop accuracy. Do not follow the path of the ball.
Stance and Balance
Feet are shoulder-width apart for proper balance. The feet should be pointed in the direction of the hoop. The shooting foot is slightly ahead of the non-shooting foot in a comfortable position.
Grip
There should be an air hole between the fingers. Fingers should be far apart to handle the ball in one hand comfortably.
Balance Hand
The non-shooting hand should be on the side of the ball, should be stationary on delivery, and should come off first when the ball is released. The guide hand should not influence the direction of the ball.
Delivery
Elbow should be under the ball, and the ball should be in front of you. The shooting hand is extended straight to the hoop. The ball should come off the shooting hand with a symmetrical backspin.
Basketball Dribbling Drills for 10-Year Olds
A good ball handler is in charge of the offense and can dominate the game. But it takes patience, hard work, and dedication to be a skilled dribbler.
Some players don’t want to touch the ball, some over-dribbles, and others lack the skill. Expect loose balls, frustration, and dribbling violations from a 10-year old kid who is a newbie to basketball.
Dribbling drills will train these young hoopsters; over time, they’ll be able to control the ball to minimize errors.
There are fun basketball drills for beginners to make their trip on the court more manageable, fun, and with more success.
Yo-Yo
- Dribble the ball slowly and as high as possible without losing control.
- Gradually reduce the height and speed of the dribble until the bounce is a few inches off the floor.
- Continue the sequence, switching from low to high dribbles, just like a yo-yo.
- Move forward, backward, and sideways without messing up.
Bounce and Catch
- Bounce the ball with both hands between the legs from the front to the back.
- Catch the ball with both hands behind your back.
- Try to bounce it with both hands from the back to the front.
- Catch the ball with both hands at the front.
- Steadily increase the pace once dribblers are adapted.
Individual Basketball Drills for 10-Year Olds
Different strokes for different kids. Some kids don’t want to play basketball for many reasons. Some kids lack the skill, and basketball drills will help them. But when they’re at home, he plays with daddy and big brother.
A 10-year can train with basketball drills for beginners at home to develop his game. Be it ball-handling or shooting; he can practice exercises at home to improve his fundamentals.
Ball Handling
- Feet are shoulder-width apart.
- Knees set in an athletic position.
- Dribble with the right hand and cross over to the left.
- Dribble with left hand and cross over to the right.
- Repeat until the hands can control the ball.
Shooting
Feet setting and body position are equally important as the hand motion in releasing the ball to the basket. All good shots start from the lower body.
The legs and not the arms give the power and consistency in your shots. Load your lower body by keeping your knees behind your toes, and let the power and energy gush from your feet to your hips and glutes.
Develop shooting accuracy by releasing the ball at the peak of your jump and giving the ball a follow-through. Keep your elbows straight, pointing to the basket, and flip your wrist to provide the momentum and spin of the ball.
Wrapping Things Up: Basketball Drills for 10-Year Olds
Make basketball drills for 10-year olds simple and make learning fun. The game’s name when working with 10-year olds is to keep them from getting bored. Transform training into children’s games to have fun while developing their basketball fundamentals.
At the onset, things won’t turn out as expected. But when they are interested, success will follow later.
We hope you enjoyed this post! If you did, be sure to check out our other basketball FAQ articles here.
You might also be interested in our posts about:
> Basketball Drills for 5-Year Olds
> Basketball Drills for 6-Year Olds
> Basketball Drills for 7-Year Olds
> Basketball Drills for 8-Year Olds
> Basketball Drills for 9-Year Olds
Basketball for teenagers: basketball sections, schools, clubs
Basketball for teenagers: basketball sections, schools, clubs
BC Legend
Basketball school for children and adults. Several halls.
4.09.2021
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Basketball
Basketball training for boys and girls from 13 years old.
6.10.2020
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Basketball school
Basketball for everyone!
6.
10.2020
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Basketball for children
Samara, st. Svobody, d. .10.2020
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Basketball for children aged 9-17
Samara, st. Fizkulturnaya, 82
Pobeda (0.4 km) Bezymyanka (0.6 km) Sovetskaya (1.7 km)
Free
Basketball section Gymnasium No. 4
Classes are held in groups:
- boys aged 12-13;
- girls aged 16-17;
- boys and girls aged 9-10.
4.10.2020
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Basketball for children 9-17 years old
Samara, Morisa Torez, 115
Sportivnaya (0.7 km) Sovetskaya (1.4 km) Gagarinskaya (1.8 km)
Free
Basketball section of secondary school №28
Classes are held in groups:
- boys aged 12-13;
- girls aged 16-17;
- boys and girls aged 9-10.
1.10.2020
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Basketball for boys and girls from 16 years old
Lunacharskogo, d.
information about the work of the section check by phone.
29.09.2020
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Basketball in Samara suspended above the ground. The game of basketball appeared in 1891, the inventor of this game was a college teacher James Naismith. Today, basketball is a very popular sport, and therefore basketball sections are now held everywhere.
Institutions (schools, clubs) in section Basketball for teenagers in Samara
Here you can find basketball sections, basketball clubs and schools for teenagers aged 11-18, boys and girls. You can search for a suitable place for playing basketball directly on the map or using the list of sports organizations represented. You can choose a suitable sports section near your home and work, or near the school where your teenager is studying. For each of the sports sections available: phone numbers, addresses, prices, photos, descriptions and conditions for the subsequent entry of a teenager to basketball in Samara.
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Basketball for children – what is useful, at what age to play
Basketball is one of the most popular sports games. Basketball for children is considered one of the early sports, because kids can be enrolled in the first lessons from the age of 3. But the most important advantage of basketball is its accessibility.
There are sections for children in schools and neighborhood clubs, and classes are often free. And if you are not ready to give the child to the section, just buy him a ring and a ball and hang it on your site and the kid will already be busy in sports, which means he will get the maximum benefit for development.
Benefits of basketball for children, what qualities it develops
Before sending a child to a section, parents should know how basketball is useful for children and what qualities it develops.
First of all, like any team sport, basketball develops social skills. Working in a team, children learn to help each other, care about common interests and work for the good of the team.
Moreover, this basketball is an excellent emotional release. It helps the guys throw out negative energy and get positive emotions. Along with this, character is tempered during classes, and the child learns to go towards the goal, sacrificing his own desires and needs.
Basketball also helps to get rid of complexes. This is especially true for tall girls who are noticeably taller than their peers. In a team where all players are taller than average, the girls no longer feel like a black sheep, but gain self-confidence and begin to be proud of their height.
The influence of playing basketball on the physical development of a child
The influence of playing basketball on the physical development of a child is also strong. First of all, the guys involved in this sport develop endurance, and all muscle groups are strengthened.
Basketball practice – these are jumping, running, swinging arms, tilts and squats, which allow you to develop all muscle groups and strengthen the heart and blood vessels.
In addition to the general health benefits, basketball will also help prevent the development of certain diseases that result from an inactive lifestyle.
What’s more, basketball develops:
- Overview of vision. Due to the fact that the player must constantly keep an eye on the ball and other players, the field of view is improved. Children learn to manage peripheral vision and train their eyes;
- Reaction speed. Often during a match, an athlete must make lightning-fast decisions on which the outcome of the game depends. This helps children learn to respond quickly to emergency situations;
- Mindfulness. Through intense play, attention and memory develop, which not only has a beneficial effect on the playground, but also in studies and everyday life.
Given these facts, the question of what basketball gives a child can be answered that the lessons will strengthen physical, mental and mental health. That is why basketball is often recommended to children suffering from reduced attention and weak immunity. But not all children can benefit from basketball, you can find out what kind of sport is suitable for a child here.
Does playing basketball make children grow
We often hear that basketball makes children grow, but is it really true? Recent studies have shown that yes, indeed, he can help the baby grow up, but is not able to grow a giant out of him.
The increase in height is due to the straightening of the spine, which is stretched during jumps. Also, a slight increase in growth contributes to the strengthening of the muscles of the back and legs.
But to say that basketball can significantly affect the growth of an athlete is wrong, there is no scientific justification for this.
The fact that in the sections all children are really tall is explained simply – short guys simply leave this sport, because they cannot compete with tall athletes, as a result they move on to other sports, for example, volleyball, where they need both tall and undersized athletes.
At what age can a child play basketball
For preschool children, basketball is available from 3 years of age. Often this game is played in physical education classes in kindergarten. Of course, such a crumb will not be taken to the section, but at this age the child can already be introduced to the ball and the net.
Professional basketball training for children starts at the age of 5-6 years. At this age, you can enroll in a section at the sports palace, both boys and girls are accepted. The first 4-5 years the guys work out together, and only at the age of 10 the coach forms the men’s and women’s teams.
Basketball for beginners is more about general physical training and familiarity with the ball.
In the first years of training, the coach pays special attention to the development of endurance, so most of the training takes place in the fresh air.
In the gym, the guys learn different techniques and combinations, and also learn how to hit the basket. According to statistics, it is in their youth that children are more likely to encounter injuries in basketball. This is due to not yet developed coordination and lack of skills in programming movements.
That is why sports insurance for basketball at this age is a necessity, because it will reimburse the costs of treatment and provide the young athlete with high-quality rehabilitation, which will prevent the occurrence of fatigue injuries and chronic injuries in the future.
Age characteristics of children in basketball
Age characteristics of children in basketball are a fundamental factor in drawing up a schedule and training plan.
Consider how the load of basketball players changes with age:
- 3-5 years. At this age, kids still do not know how to memorize the rules of the game and listen to the coach. All classes are held in a playful way and are aimed at developing coordination of movements and mindfulness;
- 5-7 years old. During this period, special attention is paid to the physical development and increasing the flexibility of the child. The goal of the trainer is to maximize endurance and strengthen all muscle groups. Also at this stage, children begin to learn the rules of basketball and learn various tactical and dynamic techniques;
- 7-9 years old. This is the age at which real training starts. At the age of 8, children can already participate in competitions. Now all their work is aimed at the result of the whole team. During these years, the main task of the coach is to teach the guys to interact with each other;
- 10-12 years old. At this age, men’s and women’s teams are formed. Now the team is becoming a real family with common goals and objectives. Most often, it is at this age that the first victories occur;
- 12-14 years old. At this age, children learn to program their movements. This is a very important stage for every basketball player, because the final result of the maneuver depends on it. At this time, the main task of the coach is to hone the movements of each player to the ideal;
- 14-16 years old. This is the time to master tactical thinking. The brain of a teenager is already ready to solve tactical problems and make quick decisions. At this moment, the coach already sees which of the guys can become a real champion;
- 16-18 years old. This is the age when a teenager must show all the acquired skills. Strong players are formed into teams to participate in important competitions. At this time, the start in a sports career begins, because the guys already have sports categories and can participate in adult competitions.
At this age, kids still do not know how to memorize the rules of the game and listen to the coach. All classes are held in a playful way and are aimed at developing coordination of movements and mindfulness;
Most often, it is at this age that the first victories occur; If you want to grow a real champion out of a child, a section at a school or a sports palace is a good place to start.
