Youth Basketball Rules and Equipment

Basketball is the most popular team sport in the United States. With free outdoor courts available in nearly every community, shooting hoops has become a popular pastime among kids. 

The equipment, rules, and court sizes by age group are there to help protect kids from injury and also from developing bad habits. For example, if they are using a ball that’s too big and heavy, they could develop poor shooting form that would be difficult to overcome as they grow older. For those with kids interested in matriculating through the grades as part of a basketball team, make sure they are practicing with the right equipment for their age and gender. 

Ages 7 – 8
When kids are aged 7 – 8, boys and girls are encouraged to use a size 5 basketball which measures 27.5 inches. At this age, the height of the basket should be 8 feet, and the distance from the free-throw line is 14 feet. There are no 3-point shots for this age group, regardless of lines painted on the court. 
https://ak-static.cms.nba.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/79/2018/03/7-8_Rules_and_Standards.pdf

Ages 9 – 11
Ball size increases to size 6, or 28.5 inches for boys and girls ages 9 – 11. The height of the hoop rises to 9 feet and the free-throw line is set at 14 feet. The absence of 3-point shots continues for this age group.
https://ak-static.cms.nba.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/79/2018/03/9-11_Rules_and_Standards.pdf

Ages 12 – 14
When girls and boys reach age 12, the ball size requirements begin to bifurcate. At this age, girls should be using a size 6 ball, 28.5 inch, while boys should be using a size 7 ball, 29.5 inches. The height of the basket should be 10 feet, the distance from the free-throw line is 15 feet. Three-point shots are now available from the arc located 19 feet, 9 inches from the basket.
https://ak-static.cms.nba.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/79/2018/03/12-14_Rules_and_Standards.pdf

Grades 9 – 12
In high school, the size of the ball, the free throw line distance, and height of the basket is the same as when the kids were 12 – 14. The big difference is that the 3-point arc is moved out to 22 feet, 2 inches from the net.
https://ak-static.cms.nba.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/79/2018/04/Grades-9th-12th-Rules-and-Standards.pdf

Basketball Shoes
While not as important for younger kids, as they grow, high-top sneakers give greater ankle and foot support on the court. Basketball is a game fast breaks, quick turns, and high jumping. The more support shoes can give the player, the more protected they will be from injury.