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USA Basketball, NBA suggest no zone defense or 3-pointers before age 12

Mark Kolbe / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The NBA and USA Basketball announced new guidelines for youth programs Tuesday meant to vastly improve player development.

The recommendations impact four main facets of the game: equipment and court specifications, game structure, playing tactics, and rules.

Among the most radical suggestions made in the guide is the strong discouragement of zone defenses and 3-point shooting until age 12, encouraging coaches to teach their players individual man-to-man defensive skills while expanding their shooting range from the inside out.

Several of the guidelines attempt to shrink down the adult-sized dimensions that many kids grow up playing on. For example, the guide suggests that children ages seven to eight use a ball with a 27.5-inch circumference and play on baskets lowered to eight feet in order to better develop ball control skills, while children nine to 11 would use a 28.5-inch ball and shoot on a nine-foot net. The standard in the men's game is for participants to use a 29.5-inch ball and 10-foot nets.

"These standards are meant to help coaches and administrators incorporate best practices into their teams and programs according to grade level," USA Basketball CEO Jim Tooley said in a prepared statement. "The experience for the participant is the most important thing, and we want to make sure children have the opportunity to play basketball in a fun and safe environment that encourages proper development."

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