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4th grade basketball start to be very competitive. Travel teams exist in most towns and the pressure to win seems to increase. The USA Basketball guidelines are often ignored at this age. This will limit the development of players and will result in the development of many bad habits that players may never correct.
It is a great age to coach because there is so much that players can learn. It still may be beneficial to limit the pressure to win and just have a town recreational league, but with AAU and the rush to shoot on a 10 foot basket, so many towns jump into competitive travel leagues.
Focus on age-appropriate skill development. Shoot on the approriate basket height whenever possible and…… MAKE SURE IT IS FUN!
Encourage coaches, assistant coaches, parents and players to review and follow the USA basketball guidelines for this age.
Equipment And Court Specifications
Ball sizes: Boys and Girls size 6 (28.5”)
Height of Basket: 9 feet
Size of Court: 74’x50′
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: 24-32 minutes
Games Per Week: 1 to 2
Practice Length: 45-75 minutes
Practices Per Week: 2
Maximum Participation Guidelines
Maximum Games Per Day: 2
Maximum Hours Per Week of Organized Basketball: 3
Rest Guidelines
Minimum Rest Days per Week: 2
Maximum Months Per Year in Organized Basketball: 5
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 in periods 1-3. Coaches discretion in the fourth period and each extra period
Set Defense: Only player-to-player defense throughout the competition
Pressing Defense: Player-to-player defense may be extended full court in the fourth period and each extra period Leading team may not extend the defense over half court when leading by 25 points or more.
Double-Team/Crowding: Double-team/crowding is not allowed throughout the competition Coaches discretion throughout the competition.
Stealing from the Dribbler: Coaches discretion throughout the competition.