Youth Basketball: What Parents Should be Keeping in Mind
Youth Basketball: What Parents Should be Keeping in Mind
Whether you’re just starting out in the sport or well on your way to playing club ball, a basketball parent comes to realize that basketball, like some other sports, is one that has a culture all its own. Some of these things you will no doubt be familiar with – others, perhaps, not so much. Here are a few things I’ve learned over the years as a basketball parent:
1. It is perfectly normal for your first youth basketball game, especially if your kids are younger than five, to resemble that of circus or farm. There are wandering cattle, lost sheep, and lots of whistles.
2. As a parent of a little dribbler, you might feel you need to purchase “the best” basketball shoes so that your child’s ankles are fully supported. This parent didn’t. Our daughter wore her typical athletic sneakers her first season. For our child’s second basketball season, we bought the least expensive basketball shoe at our local sports store. Our young kids were delighted with their Shaq shoes. We were delighted that they cost us less than twenty bucks.
3. At some point your kids will begin asking for basketball shoes that cost more than your first car. Kobes, Currys, and the latest LeBrons are just a few of the big name shoes that they’ll tell you “everybody” wears and will, without question, improve their game.
4. Socks! Whoever thought socks would top our kids’ Christmas lists? Nike Elite (crew socks) will become a household name for the basketball family. This year, my son actually requested Nike socks with a picture of bacon and eggs running down the calf (gag).
5. It is almost inevitable that your little dribbler oh-so-new on that basketball court, will run down that court ball tucked under his arm like a football. Yes, that is considered a travel. No, the refs probably will not call it, but rather gently correct your over-zealous scorer. Have your camera ready!
6. Whether you know basketball or not, you will find yourself yelling, “Hands up!” constantly, probably even when it’s not necessary. Our first youth coach called this basketball defense “Monster Arms.”
7. Don’t be shocked when you enter the gym at your child’s first basketball game to find low rims. Typically, kids age eight and under use eight-foot rims. Nine and ten-year-olds use nine-foot rims. Kids who are eleven and older play with regulation rim height.
8. The early bird catches the worm—or, at least at a youth basketball game, a chair. Many beginner basketball leagues use elementary school gyms. In my experience, most of these gyms do not have bleachers. We learned to bring our own folding chairs in case the seats provided were already taken.
9. Terms such as “airball,” “floater,” “broken ankles,” and “brick” will likely become part of your child’s basketball lingo. When your baller sees that you know what he/she means—or better yet, you use them in conversation—you will earn cool parent points.
10. Caution: You may notice that your basketball player becomes unable to speak to you outside of basketball practice or games without simultaneously doing some sort of basketball movement or shot form. Picture this for just a minute. There you are trying to discuss what movie to see with your child when he twists or turns while crouching low. Or, it is as if to hold a conversation he must also hold his hands high above his head about to shoot a three-pointer. If your son or daughter is a football quarterback or baseball pitcher you might also know of this odd and seemingly involuntary movement.
11. You will find that, as a basketball parent, you become very fond of your basketball team. You celebrate birthdays together. Over post game dinners you savor the taste of victory together and comfort one another in times of defeat. You become like family with your fellow basketball parents, your child’s coaches and her teammates. You sometimes even wonder if you have adopted another child or two.
As an avid sports parent, youth basketball has probably become my favorite sport to watch my children play, overall. Basketball is fun. It is exciting. It is mostly worry-free as far as injury goes. We even love to play basketball together as a family. And yes, two of us usually leave the court out of breath and unable to walk. If you have a striving basketball player in your house, I hope my tips can help you and your child to prepare for the court and many, many memorable moments together.
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