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Starting organized basketball in 1st grade is very ambitious. To be successful, there should be plenty of planning and coaches need to be very understanding of this age group. It might even be smart to invite parents to be active participants in the program.
The starting point of any good program starts with understanding the USA basketball guidelines. It is the 1st age that has USA Basketball guidelines.
Equipment And Court Specifications
Ball sizes: Boys and Girls size 5 (27.5”)
Height of Basket: 8 feet
Size of Court: 50’x42’
Distance of 3-Point: Not Applicable (Players should not shoot 3-point shots)
Distance of Free-Throw Line: 14 feet
Recommended Participation Guidelines
Game Length: 20-18 minutes
Games Per Week: 1
Practice Length: 30-60 minutes
Practices Per Week: 1
Maximum Participation Guidelines
Maximum Games Per Day: 1
Maximum Hours Per Week of Organized Basketball: 3
Rest Guidelines
Minimum Rest Days per Week: 2
Maximum Months Per Year in Organized Basketball: 4
Recommended Hours of Sleep Per Night: 9 – 12 Hours
Game Structure
Game Length: Four 8-minute periods
Time Between Periods: 1 minute
Extra Period(s): 2 minutes
Scoring: Free throw: 1 point All field goals: 2 points No 3-point field goals
Timeouts: Two 60-second timeouts permitted in the first half of play. Two 60-second timeouts permitted in the second half of play. One 60-second timeout granted for each extra period Unused timeouts may not carry over to the next half or into extra periods
Start of Game Possession: Coin flip. Team awarded possession starts with throw-in at half court.
Game Tactics
Playing Time: Equal playing time.
Set Defense: Only player-to-player defense throughout the competition
Pressing Defense: Pressing is not allowed throughout the competition.
Double-Team/Crowding: Double-team/crowding is not allowed throughout the competition Coaches discretion throughout the competition.
Stealing from the Dribbler: Stealing from a dribbler is not allowed throughout the competition.