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