How tall are junior high basketball hoops

How Tall Is a Basketball Hoop? (NBA, College, Youth)

Basketball hoops are the same height in most leagues. As players have become more skilled and athletic over time, they’ve found new ways to conquer (and defend) the hoop. Despite the evolution of basketball players, the regulation hoop height has remained the same!

So, how tall is a basketball hoop?

The official height of basketball hoops is 10 feet tall (3 meters). This height is used for sixth grade, all the way up to the NBA. If you’re playing basketball in your driveway, a local gym, or at the park, the hoop will almost always be 10 feet tall.

In most leagues, basketball hoops are 10 feet tall. While the height is pretty much standard, it has been toyed with by rules officials in the past. It has also been a subject of debate. To learn more about basketball hoops and how they differ in height – keep reading.

An NBA basketball hoop is 10 feet high, and it has almost always been that way. The league started in 1946 with a 10-foot hoop, and it remains that way today. The NBA has experimented with hoop height over the years.

In Mar. 1954, the NBA tried out a 12-foot hoop for one game, that was a matchup between the Minneapolis Lakers and Milwaukee Hawks. It wasn’t a coincidence that they tried this during a Lakers game. The thought behind 12-foot rims was to limit the dominance of Lakers center, George Mikan.

While the change was effective in making it harder to score (Mikan shot 2 of 14 from the field), it also became more difficult for smaller players to grab rebounds. After the game, Mikan said this rule change “just makes the big man bigger.” The idea had backfired on the NBA.

In June 2007, former NBA coach, Tom Newell, organized an exhibition game with 11-foot hoops. Newell believed a raised rim would require players to rely less on their athleticism and more on teamwork and fundamentals.

For the most part, he was right. While there were more turnovers, players adjusted their styles to adapt to the higher hoop. There was more passing and spacing and post players had to be more strategic about their positioning, so they could get good shooting angles.

No matter how well or poorly experiments have gone, the NBA has maintained a 10-foot hoop.

Basketball hoops are 10 feet high because of the facilities James Naismith had access to when he invented basketball. The Springfield, Massachusetts YMCA gym had a running track around its perimeter. The railing on this track was exactly 10 feet high and where Naismith mounted peach baskets – which later evolved into basketball hoops – on the track railing.

To this day, basketball hoops are still 10 feet high. This is among the oldest unchanged rules in basketball.

A FIBA Basketball Hoop is 10 feet high, ensuring the 10-foot rule is upheld worldwide. The first FIBA World Championship was in 1950. Argentina finished in first place, winning all six of their games. The United States went 5-1.

A WNBA hoop is 10 feet high. The first WNBA game took place in 1997, between the New York Liberty and Los Angeles Sparks. The Liberty won, 67-57.

The ladies have proven that a 10-foot hoop is no challenge. In 2002, Lisa Leslie became the first player to dunk during a WNBA game. She is among seven players who have dunked in a game. In 2004, Candace Parker won the McDonald’s All-American Dunk Contest. She beat a handful of high-flyers on the boys’ side, including J.R. Smith.

James Naismith didn’t just invent basketball; he was the first head coach at one of the United States’ most prestigious basketball programs (Kansas University). Naturally, the college game took to a 10-foot hoop. In nine years at Kansas, Naismith had a 55-60 coaching record.

An archived Sports Illustrated article from 1967 explains the argument for raising the hoop:

Naismith’s successor, Kansas coach Phog Allen, argued that the NCAA should eventually adopt a 12-foot basket. He believed players would adapt to the change and it would make for a faster game. Oklahoma State head coach Frank Iba agreed with the sentiment, but he argued for an 11-foot hoop.

In 1967, Allen’s and Iba’s suspicions were put to the test. In a preseason scrimmage, the University of Tennessee raised the hoops to 12 feet. Both teams failed to shoot 30%. While it was low-scoring, the scrimmage proved there was something to the old coaches’ arguments.

There was better ball movement and longer rebounds forced big men to move outside of the paint. This created more space inside after offensive rebounds.

A high school basketball hoop is 10 feet high. The first high school basketball game took place in Chicago, IL, only 14 months after James Naismith invented the sport. Morgan Park Academy defeated a local YMCA team, 11-8.

All YMCA gyms were built with similar dimensions. Most importantly, the railing along the gym track was always 10 feet off the ground. The game Naismith created could be replicated in any YMCA gym.

A middle school basketball hoop is 10 feet high. While middle school-aged children vary quite a bit in height (as each child hits growth spurts at different times) this is when sports start to move from youth to adult rules.

For the most athletically gifted middle schoolers, the 10-foot hoop is no challenge.

For youth basketball, the hoop height varies based on the age group. The American Sport Education Program recommends 6-foot hoops for Kindergarten through 2^nd grade, 8-foot hoops for 3^rd and 4^th grade, and 9-foot hoops for 5^th grade.

Basketball hoops (rims) are made of carbon steel rods. The rods are 5/8” in diameter and the hoop is a circle that’s 18” in diameter. The hoop isn’t the only part of the goal. Other pieces are key to holding the hoop in place and preventing it from breaking.

A backboard and backplate hold the rim in place. The rim plate is a flat piece of steel that connects the rim to the backboard. It provides flexibility when players dunk on the hoop. The backboard is a flat surface, perpendicular to the ground and parallel to the baseline. Regulation backboards are 6’ wide and 3.5’ tall and are made of glass.

Basketball hoops have nets to make it easy for everyone to see if a shot goes in. If a shot goes high enough to go through the hoop, you’ll know if it goes in when the net starts to move. Without a net, it’s much more difficult to tell when a shot goes in. A shot that looks like it’s in line to score may fall short of the rim, but from the shooter’s angle, it could look like a score.

Basketball is already hard enough to officiate. There is lots of ball movement, player contact, and potential rule violations to look out for. Having a net on each hoop prevents the officials’ jobs from being even tougher.

Bright orange and 10 feet from the ground, basketball rims stick out more than other parts of a court. And that’s the point! The orange paint makes rims easy for everyone to see. This helps players aim when they’re shooting and it also helps players get position in for rebounds, as the bright target helps them guess where the ball might bounce.

Orange rims benefit referees and spectators as well. Whether you’re attending the game or watching one on T.V., rims are bright enough so you can see what happens when a shot goes up. For officials, the orange rim is important in making important calls.

For example, if a player touches the ball while it’s near the rim, the referee will be able to judge if it’s basket interference or goaltending. If the rim color blended in with the backboard or colors in the background, this would make calls much more difficult for referees.

Many elements of basketball are different, depending on where you are and who’s playing. But one thing remains the same, whether you’re playing a pickup game at the park, for the high school team, or in a professional setting – the basketball hoop is 10 feet tall.

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Basketball Court Dimensions and Hoop Height: A Quick Guide

How Big is a Basketball Court?

An NBA basketball court is 94 feet long and 50 feet wide. In meters, it’s 28. 65 m long and 15.24 m wide. The WNBA and NCAA use an identical court size—94 feet long by 50 feet wide.

High school courts are a bit shorter, measuring 84 feet long by 50 feet wide. Junior high courts are even smaller, typically measuring 74 feet long and 42 feet wide. A FIBA court (used during international play such as the Olympics) is 91.86 feet long and 49.21 feet wide.

For junior high, high school, NCAA, WNBA, NBA and FIBA, the rim is exactly 10 feet off the ground. Rims at every level of play are 18 inches in diameter. Backboards are also the same size at each of these levels. A regulation backboard measures 6 feet wide and 42 inches (3.5 feet) tall.

The 3-point line distance varies among different levels of play. The NBA 3-point line is 23.75 feet from the hoop, 22 feet in the corners. The FIBA 3-point line is 22. 15 feet from the hoop, 21.65 feet in the corners. The WNBA uses the same 3-point line as FIBA.

At the NCAA level, the 3-point line distance is 20.75 feet, for both men and women. At the high school level, the 3-point line distance is 19.75 feet, for both boys and girls. Junior high uses the same 3-point line distance as high school.

The distance of the free-throw line is measured from a point on the floor directly below the backboard. At the junior high, high school, NCAA, WNBA and NBA levels, the free-throw line is 15 feet away from this point. At the FIBA level, the free-throw line is actually a bit further—15.09 feet from the point.

How Big is The Key?

The size of the key, also commonly referred to as “the paint,” varies among levels of play. In the NBA, it’s 16 feet wide. Same goes for the WNBA. In FIBA, it’s 16.08 feet wide. At the NCAA level, the key is 12 feet wide. High school and junior high school use the same size key as the NCAA.

READ MORE:

• Basketball Sizes: A Quick Guide for All Levels of Play
• What is AAU Basketball?
• 4 Youth Basketball Drills that Teach the Fundamentals

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How Big is a Basketball Court?

An NBA basketball court is 94 feet long and 50 feet wide. In meters, it’s 28.65 m long and 15.24 m wide. The WNBA and NCAA use an identical court size—94 feet long by 50 feet wide.

High school courts are a bit shorter, measuring 84 feet long by 50 feet wide. Junior high courts are even smaller, typically measuring 74 feet long and 42 feet wide. A FIBA court (used during international play such as the Olympics) is 91.86 feet long and 49.21 feet wide.

For junior high, high school, NCAA, WNBA, NBA and FIBA, the rim is exactly 10 feet off the ground. Rims at every level of play are 18 inches in diameter. Backboards are also the same size at each of these levels. A regulation backboard measures 6 feet wide and 42 inches (3.5 feet) tall.

The 3-point line distance varies among different levels of play. The NBA 3-point line is 23.75 feet from the hoop, 22 feet in the corners. The FIBA 3-point line is 22.15 feet from the hoop, 21.65 feet in the corners. The WNBA uses the same 3-point line as FIBA.

At the NCAA level, the 3-point line distance is 20.75 feet, for both men and women. At the high school level, the 3-point line distance is 19.75 feet, for both boys and girls. Junior high uses the same 3-point line distance as high school.

The distance of the free-throw line is measured from a point on the floor directly below the backboard. At the junior high, high school, NCAA, WNBA and NBA levels, the free-throw line is 15 feet away from this point. At the FIBA level, the free-throw line is actually a bit further—15.09 feet from the point.

How Big is The Key?

The size of the key, also commonly referred to as “the paint,” varies among levels of play. In the NBA, it’s 16 feet wide. Same goes for the WNBA. In FIBA, it’s 16.08 feet wide. At the NCAA level, the key is 12 feet wide. High school and junior high school use the same size key as the NCAA.

READ MORE:

• Basketball Sizes: A Quick Guide for All Levels of Play
• What is AAU Basketball?
• 4 Youth Basketball Drills that Teach the Fundamentals

Share This Story!

Health benefits of playing basketball 🏀| Basketball as a healthy lifestyle

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📝 Rules and features

Before we talk about the actual benefits of this sport, we must clarify its basic rules and concepts. So, basketball is a team game involving the use of the so-called basketball. Two teams participate in the competition, each of which is responsible for its own basket, which is a ring with a net, a basketball backboard, equipped on a rack.

To win, you need to throw the ball into the opponent's basket and at the same time protect your own basket from being hit by an "enemy projectile.

The venue for this game is a sports field where five players from each of the participating teams meet. It should be noted that in basketball you can only touch the ball with your hand, and you need to move it through bouncing on the floor, which makes the game very reckless and difficult.

A goal scored brings the team from one to three points, since the size of credits is determined by the area of ​​the site where the player was at the time of the throw.

📈 Why is basketball good for health?

From the above, it is clear that basketball is a very maneuverable and fast sport that provides a variety of physical activities. The gameplay here includes running, jumping, throwing and many other movements. Of course, participation in such a game provides training for various muscle groups and develops muscles to a large extent. If extra pounds are your problem, basketball will help you quickly lose weight and gain long-awaited harmony .

Other positive aspects are the strengthening of the vestibular apparatus and a natural increase in dexterity. In addition, basketball fans have excellent coordination and endurance. The positive effect of this game on human immunity has been proven, because it trains the protective functions well, as well as the respiratory apparatus . If you do it for a long time, you can increase your lung capacity.

The benefits of basketball do not stop there, because it improves the health of the nervous and cardiovascular systems, and also has a beneficial effect on the organs of vision. For the latter, the game becomes a kind of visual gymnastics, including constant observation of the ball, namely, this is necessary for training the eye muscles and developing peripheral vision .

How does basketball affect human psychology? Very positive, because it forms in us many useful qualities and skills. For example, endurance, ability to focus on a set goal, take initiative, work in a team and take responsibility .

🏀 Basketball for the younger generations

It's no secret that young athletes prefer those games that are spectacular and dynamic. This is exactly what basketball is - a favorite sport of many boys. The positive impact of this game on the physical development of children is obvious, but one cannot fail to note the enormous pedagogical benefits.

It has been proven that the guys attending the basketball section are more creative, responsible, collected and independent than their non-athletic peers. If a child has problems with discipline or self-esteem, parents should introduce him to this game. Recall that this can be done quite early (starting from primary school age).

Adults in Russia are not often fond of basketball, because football and volleyball in our area have much more fans. However, the situation is gradually beginning to change, and we are seeing considerable progress in this regard. We have already noted above that this game is not only very exciting, but also useful. It is no coincidence that a number of positions from basketball are included in recreational physical education programs.

❌ Contraindications for playing basketball

Unfortunately, not all people can play basketball. Those suffering from diseases of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems, as well as those with problems with the musculoskeletal system, should be aware of the danger this game poses to them. There are a number of other diseases in which basketball is absolutely contraindicated.

In order not to make mistakes and not harm yourself in any way, you should undergo a medical examination before starting classes and discuss its results with a specialist. It must be remembered that basketball is one of the traumatic games, so it is important for novice athletes to follow the safety rules. Without elementary preparation and a conversation with an experienced trainer, it is impossible to start classes.

A small warm-up before each competition can also help protect you from injury. When forming a team, you need to recruit people with a similar level of physical fitness into it.

In our store you will find all the necessary equipment for playing basketball, for example:

• Stationary basketball stands and mobile stands
• Balls
• Baskets and nets

methods of teaching basketball to junior schoolchildren

Is it possible to teach the game of basketball to children of primary school age?

If we talk about the age of the players, basketball in our country and all over the world “gets younger” every year. In many cities and villages of our country (especially in Lithuania and Latvia) one can observe how 9-10-year-old children play basketball in the yards and on school grounds. In a number of schools, experiments with early specialization in basketball are being carried out quite successfully.

But the restructuring of the system of general secondary education encourages us to take a fresh look at many issues of physical education of schoolchildren.
Is the time allotted for physical education lessons at school being used correctly, for example? Until now, physical education programs have devoted most of their time to gymnastic exercises and athletics. And the games, no less accessible and valuable for the physical development of adolescents, were undeservedly relegated to the background. The curriculum provided for more or less thorough basketball lessons only starting from the 8th grade, and in the 5th, 6th and 7th grades only certain technical elements of basketball and the games leading up to it were studied.
Now that schools are eight years old, the old practice of teaching students how to play basketball can no longer be accepted! Many years of experience of our school teachers, research by Soviet scientists (Akimov, Khromtsova and others), and finally, the practice of foreign specialists (in particular, in elementary schools in the USA, where basketball is very developed) convince us that teaching the game can and should begin at least from the fourth or even third grade.
Children aged 9-10 love to play with a ball. And this is understandable - after all, it is during these years that the guys are especially mobile, energetic, emotional. Primary school students feel the need for movement, and games are simply necessary for their proper development. The body of children of this age is not yet prepared for prolonged physical stress. But with short-term varied and interesting exercises, younger students relatively easily endure a rather large physical load.

All this has been tested and substantiated by physiologists and once again shows how amazing basketball is for 9-10-year-olds. Indeed, because this game is built on natural, interesting movements for children - running, jumping and throwing. Game actions are predominantly of a high-speed nature and do not require significant power stresses. Yes, and the tensions themselves alternate with respites.

Various forms of running, jumping and throwing eliminate one-sidedness in the development of the child's body. On the contrary, they help its all-round development. Variable short-term loads have a beneficial effect on the development of the cardiovascular system. Finally, such a team game as basketball has a great pedagogical impact on younger students: it helps to instill in children dexterity, speed, ingenuity, determination, a sense of friendship and collectivism.

One could cite many other proofs of how useful basketball is for our children at early school age, but I think that's enough. Of course, many of those who started playing basketball at the age of 9-10 may find a different sports vocation in the future. But for those who remain true to basketball, it is especially important to learn the game from an early age. It is precisely in children of early school age that there is increased excitability, great impressionability, the ability to imitate, quickly grasp and consolidate motor skills. Therefore, the elements of basketball technique and tactics mastered in these years are remembered, as they say, for a lifetime.

What are the features of the methodology for teaching basketball to junior schoolchildren? What impact does play have on their health and development?
I started studying this back in 1952. I continue it now.

Particularly interesting was the experiment carried out over the course of several years in the 222nd school in Leningrad. From the pupils of the third grades of this school, two experimental groups (boys) were created. Both groups included guys of approximately the same level of physical development and fitness. The boys of one group (experimental) played basketball twice a week for an hour. Another group (control) of schoolchildren was engaged only in physical education lessons. Both groups of children were under constant medical supervision.
I conducted basketball lessons in the experimental group based on the school curriculum, but supplementing it with special outdoor games and some physical exercises.

When drawing up the lesson plans, I proceeded from the fact that the training of young basketball players should be based on broad general physical training. As a rule, almost half of the study time was devoted to general developmental exercises.
Until about the 35th lesson, elements of gymnastics, athletics, and acrobatics were used for general physical training. Then we added elements of boxing, wrestling, fencing (of course, in a “light”, playful form). From time to time, our schoolchildren took part in ski trips or skated, and when it got warmer, they took long walks and ran crosses.
When teaching basketball at this age, strict consistency and gradual transition from easy to difficult, from known to unknown is especially important. When planning classes with younger students, it is necessary to provide for a special period of preparation for the main stage of work in order to adapt the children's body to difficult playing conditions and higher physical exertion.

Therefore, our guys started to "play basketball" using a tennis ball. It turned out that not only tennis, but also any small ball is suitable for introducing children to the basic rules of the game, teaching them to throw, catch and dribble. The children also mastered these techniques in outdoor games with throwing, such as "shootout", "extra ball", "circular bast shoes", "bass shoes from the rack", "tags".
From about the twentieth lesson, the children began to practice with a large ball - a volleyball. The guys continued to study the technique of throws, dribbling and movement with the ball. During this period, outdoor games were used that were closer in content to basketball, such as “fortress”, “ball in a rack”, “maces defense”.

In the second year of study, we used not only volleyballs, but also soccer balls. These balls are about half the size and weight of basketballs in terms of volume and weight, and therefore are much more suitable for the strengths and physical capabilities of children 9-10 years.
The question may arise here: Will small ball skills remain useful as young basketball players transition to playing a regular-sized ball? Our observations allow us to answer this question in the affirmative.
The children were given a task: to throw different balls into the basket from the spot. At first observation, they averaged 22 percent of volleyball hits and 16 percent of basketball hits. But already at the second observation, these figures turned out to be almost equal - 44 and 43 percent. The same pattern was observed when throwing into the basket in motion.

The same applies to the height of the target. The ring of the basket rose gradually. In the main period of training, the throws were carried out on the basket, which was already at the usual height. At the same time, the effectiveness of shots from the field has grown steadily and after two years of training has reached 21 percent of hits. For such small players, this is a good indicator.

Our experience once again convinces us that in the training and games of junior basketball players, without any prejudice to the further growth of their skills, it is possible to apply simplified rules, play balls of smaller size and weight, on a smaller court, with a hoop located on a normal, regular, height.

* *

What are the most important technical techniques that the guys were able to master in two years?
In the first year, the following were studied: catching the ball with two hands, throwing and passing
with one hand from the shoulder and two fair-haired from the chest, dribbling, stopping and -10-goal with the ball, distracting actions when passing the ball, "holding" the opponent with the ball. In the second year: passing with one hand from the side, from below, throwing with one hand from the chest, passing and throwing with two hands from below, deceptive actions when passing "under the shield with dribbling, picking up the ball that bounced off the shield, "holding" the attacker who does not have the ball.
At the same time, I became convinced that the most suitable for children of this age is not a divided, but a holistic method of studying movements. It is more accessible and interesting for children to study the movement as a whole, and not in parts. And here you need to move from simple to complex with the help of lead-up exercises (with small balls) and specially selected outdoor games.

Every coach understands that it is one thing to introduce a beginner to movement and another to consolidate the necessary motor skills. This requires a lot of repetition. And for this, when teaching young players, the most suitable form is exciting competitions.

However, the usual two-sided game does not work here. Too much excitement seizes the guys in such a game: they forget to even think about the "technique"! Therefore, while consolidating motor skills, it is good to use at first various relay races and simple outdoor games (without the players playing martial arts). Here the guys compete first for accuracy, and then for the speed of performing a technical technique.
The next step will be the execution of the reception in the conditions of the 'gradually increasing opposition of the "rivals". Various relay races are suitable here, where the "attacker" of one team and the "defender" of the other, simple games with elements of martial arts of the participants operate. And, finally, the last stage is the implementation of the learned technique in the conditions of a two-sided game.
Only in this way is it possible to correctly consolidate the skills of technical techniques in younger players and create the necessary prerequisites for mastering the basics of tactics.

A few notes about outdoor games useful for teaching little basketball players. I have already spoken about the first games that did not include elements of resistance (tags with a ball, “circular bast shoes”).
At the second stage of learning technique, games where you need to hit a target defended by an opponent (“moving target”, “hunters and ducks”, “shootout”) are useful. There is also no direct struggle between the players yet. As for the movements with the ball in such games, from the very beginning they should approach the movement according to the rules of basketball. But for relief, at first you can be allowed to take not two, but three steps with the ball.

Next, games are used where the defenders fight for the ball (“fortress”, “post defense” and others). The team in possession of the ball must first have a numerical advantage over the opponents. Then this excess is reduced.
In all of these games, younger students learn how to hit the ball on target, use passes (to create a better shooting opportunity), and move correctly with the ball in their hands.
At the next stage of training, games close to basketball (“hunters”, “ball to the captain” and others) are used. Here the possibilities of movement with the ball expand, the force of opposition to the players who own the ball increases. Then you can move on to different options for playing basketball itself.

I would only like to warn against one misfortune: from too much crowding of the players. In the heat of the fight, the guys usually huddle together, and here you don’t even have to think about learning the correct technique. It is especially awkward when several defenders attack the player with the ball at once.
Therefore, I recommend coaches to artificially limit the movement of players at first and to this end divide the court into several playing zones.

The first option is to divide the court into zones according to the number of players on each side (Scheme 1). In any zone, the player will have only one opponent. So it is easier to master the methods of individual struggle. Then you can expand the freedom of movement of young basketball players and increase the number of players in each zone (c x e-ma 2). Then there are variants of the game with a numerical superiority of one of the parties. For example, one player is separated to act in three zones, and the rest only in two (diagram 3).
The last option (before training according to all the rules of basketball) is a game where the guys can move freely around the entire court (c x e-m a 4). However, here, too, in order to avoid crowding, it is necessary to play the game with reduced teams with a numerical superiority of one of the sides. In this case, the ball can be passed not only to those playing in the field, but also to those behind the side lines.
Speaking of outdoor games, we quietly moved on to the elements of tactics. And it's natural. While showing how to perform a technique correctly, one must also teach when to apply it correctly.
At School No. 222, I taught the children the simplest collective interaction between two and three attackers, first with a numerical superiority over the defenders (2x1 and 3x2), and then with an equality of forces (2x2 and 3x3). Then the children got acquainted with the “player-player” personal defense system (“hold the one who holds you”) and the fast-break attack (“get ahead of the opponent returning under your shield, use less dribbling, more passing”).
In parallel teaching children the technical and tactical foundations of the game, I tried to take into account that younger students do not yet have a developed ability for abstract thinking, like adults. Therefore, instructions for young players on tactics have always flowed from
specific game environment on the court.
By the end of the second year of study, I provided the children with more independence in two-sided games, and then I conducted a small debriefing with them, trying to get the children to actively participate in it, answer simple questions - whether they themselves, their partners and rivals acted correctly in this situation .

* * *

What were the results of the two-year experiment? First of all, I would like to remind you that the main goal of the experiment was not at all to educate basketball geeks, but to find out the value of early basketball lessons
for the health and physical development of young schoolchildren.
Comprehensive medical studies and analyzes showed that over 18 months, the growth of those involved in the experimental group increased by an average of 8.4 cm, and in the control group - by 7.9 cm, the chest circumference of the guys from the experimental group increased by 2.6 cm , in the control - by 1.1 cm; the vital capacity of the lungs of those who played basketball increased by 440 cc. cm, and for those who did not play - only 230 cubic meters. cm; hand strength increased by 6.1 kg among young basketball players, and by only 2.9 kg among children from the control groupkg.
These are the data of the state of health and physical development. They speak for themselves. But no less interesting information was obtained about the physical fitness of the guys in both groups. During the experiment, all of them performed control exercises once every three months: running 10 and 40 meters (in segments of 5 and 10 meters), jumping from a place in length and height (pulling out a suspended object with a hand), pulling up on the crossbar and pushing up from the floor lying down.

What happened when we compared the results before and after the experiment? In both groups, the indicators of children's physical fitness improved. But for young basketball players, this growth is about 40 percent greater than for schoolchildren from the control group. Basketball players, for example, began to jump an average of 64 cm further and 17 cm higher, while the rest of the guys only 51 cm further and 13 cm higher. The first began to do push-ups at 19times more, and the second - by 7 times. Ten meters basketball players began to run for 0.5 seconds. faster, and children from the control group - only 0. 3 seconds. faster.
Thus, basketball lessons gave young schoolchildren good physical fitness. It is no coincidence that the guys from the experimental group took leading places among their peers in school competitions in gymnastics, skiing and athletics. Basketball, therefore, served here as a good basis for attracting children to other sports.
Many readers, of course, will be interested in the question: what about the specialization in basketball? Have the guys who started playing basketball at the age of 9-10 achieved sports success?

Yes, our best young basketball players who have retained their passion for the game continue to improve successfully. At the present time, many of the guys involved in the experimental groups - P. Shaporin, V. Dedukh, L. Weinstein and some others - perform well in youth teams in games for the championship of Leningrad. And there is no doubt - h The more massive will be the teaching of basketball to children of primary school age, the more it will be possible to identify new talented basketball players .

Our experiments were carried out (and are still being carried out) in the conditions of out-of-class sports work. But the results obtained allow us to put forward the requirement that basketball, along with gymnastics and athletics, be included in the school curriculum in grades 3-4. There it is quite possible to study the simplest elements of the technique and tactics of the game (especially with the help of outdoor games that lead to basketball).
It will not require any special premises. You can use various balls in training (from tennis and other small balls to volleyball and football). As for the reduced size basketball hoop and backboard, it is easy to make them in the school workshop and hang them at the right height in the hall.

Let basketball take its rightful place in the system of physical education of junior schoolchildren - this will help us to strengthen the health of our children and even better prepare a worthy replacement for the masters of Soviet basketball.

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