If your child is demonstrating early promise playing basketball and they’re passionate about the sport, you will want to support and encourage them as much as possible in this area.

Admittedly, there are no guarantees your child can turn this promise and passion into a career. Aside from the fact it is nearly impossible to make it to the top of the NBA game, they generally need to develop the physical attributes required for the sport. For instance, the average height in the NBA during the 2019-2020 season was 6’ 6”.

Even with these challenges in mind, you will still want to give them every chance of succeeding. Here is a quick guide to helping your child maximize their basketball development to help in that regard.

Encouragement without pressure

Out of all the steps listed in this guide, this is the most important before. You must always encourage your child and be positive about their performances when they participate in youth basketball games.

It is easy for you to get caught up in ensuring they do everything right and win every game. Well, they will make mistakes. They also won’t win every game. Just remember, as long as they’re having fun and playing the game, they will naturally develop their ability without being placed under undue pressure.

Facilities to grow

This doesn’t just mean a basketball and hoop – although it is always helpful to have the right setup at home for your child to practice. Yet to give them the best possible chance of succeeding, you need to provide them with access to the right facilities.

One of the best ways is to choose a dedicated youth basketball camp or training academy. At a facility like the HSB Academy, your child can take their learning to the next level. They will be able to gain training from world-class coaches, play on the best courts, and practice with other skilled basketballers.

Play basketball with them

Yes, they will play with their youth basketball team at school. Yes, they can play at an academy or camp. They can also play with their friends recreationally and outside of any organized situations.

Despite these points, you should take the time to play basketball with your child. Not only is this a great bonding experience where you can both create lasting memories, but it will also help with their overall basketball development.

When playing, remember to be competitive but not too competitive, provide helpful advice when appropriate, and ultimately have fun.

The right balance

With so much focus on the sport, it is easy for your child to have their entire lives revolve around basketball. This isn’t advised, however, as it will result in an overall life imbalance. Yes, they want to follow their dreams and shoot hoops in the big leagues, but they cannot push aside the rest of their life when doing so.

You must instill in them to maintain a life balance where basketball, school, family, friends, and other hobbies can all coexist.