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The Ultimate Guide for 3rd Grade Basketball
This is a fairly new question facing youth basketball parents. Back in the 70s, 80s, 90s and up until 2025 in many towns, 3rd grade travel basketball was not an option. Many other communities wait until 4th grade to start travel basketball. Travel basketball leagues were almost nonexistent before the 1980s. When they first started, the time commitment was likely one practice a week and one game on the weekend.
Since 2025, it seems like third grade leagues are popping up left and right. Now the question is why did this happen?
The default answer to any sports question, especially youth sports is… money.
A 10-team third grade sports league at a profit of just $50 per kid is $5,000. Now add a few letters A, B, and C and you are up to $15,000.
With any big decision about a child (and remember this is certainly NOT A BIG DECISION), but with any important decision, it is wise to create a list of pros and cons.
Cons
USA Basketball recommends shooting at an 8-foot basket. Shooting at any height higher than 8-feet, will result in developing poor shooting habits. Shooting is a very important part of basketball and having to correct bad habits in later years often takes more time and will result in slower development.
Many people grew up shooting at 10 foot hoop if guidelines are set to shoot very, very close to the basket, perhaps poor habits could be avoided. But it will be critical to keep shots inside the key, just like Ronnie Perry Jr. Also, if your child practices baskets quite a bit at home and that has an adjustable height, lower it the USA Guidelings. The majority of the practice time can be on the age-appropriate height of 8 feet.
Time Commitment & Other Activities. Each family must make a decision that is best for the child and the family. Hopefully we have weighed some of the pros and cons of this decision and you can make a decision you are comfortable with. It is not a life or death situation. Dave Hopla, who is the best shooting instructor we have ever seen did not learn how to shoot the Basketball until he was a rising junior he played in college was all league in high school and made a career being a shooting instructor and shooting coach so it’s never too late to become a basketball player. Good luck and we hope you have a great seizure.
Basketball Size: Leagues often do not use the USA Basketball recommended size ball.
Coach:
Pros
Friends: If close friends are playing it can be a good opportunity to develop and strengthen relationships, especially during the shortened daylight of winter days.
Non-shooting basketball skills. The majority of basketball is played without shooting the basketball so passing dribbling conditioning defense running the floor transition defense team concepts all can be taught at this level.
Coach,:if you have a coach that is aware of age appropriate development, it could be a fantastic year. Perhaps you would like to purchase USA Basketball book. Enjoy the staff.
More coming soon.
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