Hoop Mom: Burnout at 11?

This week, Teresa addresses the possibility of hoops burnout in an 11-year-old.

We have an 11-year-old daughter who has been playing basketball since 1st grade. She has been competing at the select basketball level year-round for the last two years and also has attended many basketball camps and clinics. But lately it’s been hard to get her to practice her shooting and she doesn’t show the same enthusiasm that she used to. We’re afraid she’s getting burned out and might not even want to play by the time she reaches middle school. How much basketball is too much, at this age?

Just Wondering

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Dear Wondering:

As the mother of a 6th grader who has also been playing basketball a long time, I have come full circle in my thinking on this question. When my daughter started playing at an early age, I thought, "All that matters is that she’s having fun." As she got older and the competition became more intense at the select level, I began thinking about how she compared to other players and whether her skills would measure up. I worried about whether she was practicing enough or attending the "right" basketball camps. But then I realized that I forgot something very important: Is she still having fun? After all, she IS an 11-year-old girl. And that’s the question you need to ask regarding your daughter – does she enjoy her time playing basketball or does she see it as something she has to do?

Ask any high school coach about what he or she values most in a young player, and the answer is likely to be "a passion for the sport." Because with passion comes dedication to practice and improved performance – week after week, month after month. For every grade-school superstar who goes on to excel in high school and college, there are five or 10 regular kids with a strong work ethic who develop their talents more slowly. But they also succeed because they are dedicated – they truly enjoy the game and are willing to work hard to improve.

If you suspect burnout, encourage your daughter to diversify her sports interests a bit. I’m not suggesting that she give up basketball entirely, but to try other athletic endeavors that sound fun to her – swimming or tennis, for example – that will also maintain her fitness level. It may be better to scale back now than to see her give up basketball entirely a year later. Also make sure that her coach is aware of the issue – select basketball teams usually work very hard during practice, but a good coach will also incorporate some fun events into the mix.

Hoop Mom

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Teresa Wippel is team manager of the Warriors Basketball Club, a 6th Grade girls' team from the Seattle area, and mom to Warriors post player Amanda Waldron. In her other life, she is a freelance writer and editor. To ask Teresa a question, email her at

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Hoop Mom on Looking for a Select Team
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