 As a parent, how do you know what age is appropriate to get you child started in select basketball? These days it seems as if you don't start in fourth grade, your child might get too far behind in skill levels. What factors go into making such a tough decision for families? Some kids may think they love the game, but I know many get burned out once faced with a select team's schedule.
Thanks for any advice you can give.
Dog being wagged by tail
Dear Dog:
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this important question because it depends on so many factors, including:
- The maturity level of the child
- The commitment level of the parents
- The goals and objectives of the team
There are girls who love basketball so much that they want to play every chance they get. They also enjoy the social interaction that occurs with their teammates both on and off the basketball court. Other kids prefer to play a variety of different sports and they aren’t ready to juggle more than one when the seasons overlap. (I know that young athletes do manage to play select basketball, soccer and softball at the same time, but that’s an issue for another column!)
Some people argue that younger children shouldn’t play select sports because it forces them to focus on one or two sports too soon, taking the fun out of it and leading to burn out. Parents are also criticized for pushing their kids to play even when it’s clear that they’d rather be doing something else.
Here are some considerations for parents to weigh when deciding whether their daughter is ready for select basketball:
- Will your daughter (and in some cases your entire family) be willing to give up other commitments to make practices and games, and in some cases to travel to out-of-town tournaments? Unlike recreation league basketball, most select teams have very strict rules about missing practices or games – especially for social activities. Can your fourth grader accept that she has to forgo the school skating party to attend basketball practice?
- Is your family prepared to bear the financial responsibility? League and tournament fees, uniform costs, basketballs and gym rental fees are split between participants and they do add up. Not to mention the cost of transportation, meals and lodging for out-of-town games. Some teams also require families to participate in fundraising activities to help offset these costs.
- Do your daughter’s priorities coincide with those set by the team? Team rules and philosophies vary widely among select basketball programs. For example, some teams are very understanding about a girl’s participation in other sports, while others require basketball to come first, no matter what.
- Is the coaching style of the select team you are considering a good fit for your daughter’s personality? Most girls, especially at younger ages, would rather scrimmage than run drills. But the reality is that select basketball involves hard work and that means that some practices are spent repeating the same plays over and over. Of course, the best coaches know how to make every practice a mix of work and play, something to keep in mind when you are looking at possible teams for your daughter.
So what are the advantages of involving your girl at a younger age? First, the more games she plays, the better she will get. Select basketball teams usually operate year-round, providing many opportunities to gain valuable playing time. Second, teams that start early get a jump on those that form later and are often more competitive when they travel to other areas, where some AAU programs (like those in Eastern Washington or in California, for example) start as early as second or third grade. Finally, your child learns the role that hard work and sacrifice play in becoming a very good at something.
So if you’ve decided that your fourth-grade daughter isn’t quite ready for select basketball, does that mean she will be left behind? Probably not. But most select coaches agree that you shouldn’t wait beyond fifth grade, and for sure not beyond sixth grade, when girls start to enter middle or junior high school and begin competing for spots on school teams.
Hoop Mom
Teresa Wippel is team manager of the Warriors Basketball Club, a 5th 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 teresawippel@attbi.com
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