Youth Basketball Rules for Coaches…Know the Rules of the Game

Coaches, are you looking for great information on the rules of the game? The Youth Basketball Rules For Coaches listed below will give you a basic understanding of the rules of basketball.

In order to be an effective coach, you need to have a thorough knowledge of every aspect of the game – including the rules! By understanding the rules of basketball you will have a much better understanding of the game. You will also be more effective at teaching your players the rules as well.

The youth basketball rules for coaches are established by the National Federation of State High School Associations. Now, depending on the level of competition, these youth basketball rules are often modified to suit the level of play.

I’ll give you an example. When I coached junior high basketball, teams were not allowed to press until the last two minute of each half. I’ll give you another example. In our Saturday youth league, players have to play straight man-to-man defense – no zone. These are two good examples to illustrate how the established rules were modified to suit the different levels of competition.

An Overview Of Today’s Basketball Rules

These youth basketball rules for coaches cover many different areas and aspects of the game. This page is designed to give you a brief overview of the basic basketball rules, as well as links to other pages that will expand on each of the various topics.

The basic youth basketball rules are very simple to learn and understand. This is great for everyone involved! If the rules were too difficult to understand or too hard to play by – the game would not be as fun to play, watch and coach!

I will cover the basic basketball rules used in today’s game. These rules have changed and evolved over the years to adapt to the changes in how the game is played. A good example of this would be the introduction of the three-point line.

To see how much the rules have changed over the years, check out Dr. James Naismith’s Original 13 Rules of Basketball! For those who don’t know, he invented the game of basketball.

It is important to understand that the youth basketball rules for coaches I have listed below are the basic rules of the game. To get a more detailed explanation and understanding of the rules I would recommend that you read an official rules book on the game of basketball.

Youth Basketball Rules For Coaches – Basic

Two teams each have five players on the court at one time. Learn more about the five basketball player positions.
The basketball player equipment is quite simple. Players should wear comfortable basketball shoes, athletic socks, loose fitting shorts and a shirt or jersey.
Each team tries to score by shooting the basketball through the hoop.
The basketball dimension is 29 inches around. This size is modified for younger players and girls competition.
The hoop is an 18 inch cylinder attached to the backboard and positioned 10 feet off the ground.
The dimensions of the court vary depending on the level of competition. Typically a youth basketball court measures 74′ long by 42’wide. To learn more about this, please visit our page on basketball court dimensions.
The basketball court has various markings which indicate certain game activities or restrictions. Some of the various basketball court markings are: Baseline, Center Circle, Free Throw Line, Midcourt Line and Sidelines.
Each team tries to prevent their opponent from scoring by stealing the ball or blocking a shot.
The ball is moved down the court by either passing it to a teammate or dribbling it.
The game continues until a basket is score or the ball goes out of bounds. The opposite team would then gain possession of the ball.
The length of the game depends on the level of competition. Youth leagues typically play two twenty minute halves, often with a running clock. From the junior high level through the varsity level, four quarters are played each lasting eight minutes.

Youth Basketball Rules For Coaches – Violations

Play stops on all rules violations.
The opponent gains possession of the ball after a violation.
Some of the more common ball-handling violations are: Charging, Double Dribble, Over-and-Back, and Traveling.
Some of the more common time violations are: 3 seconds in the lane, 5 seconds in possession of the basketball, 5 seconds on an inbound play, and 10 seconds in the backcourt with the basketball.
For a more thorough description of the various violations committed by players, please visit our page on basketball violations!

Youth Basketball Rules For Coaches – Fouls

Play stops on all fouls.
A foul is committed when a player initiates illegal contact with an opposing player.
Fouls are committed by both offensive and defensive players, but more commonly by a defender.
After a foul is committed and depending on which type of foul it was, one of two things will happen: a. The opposing team gains possession of the ball, or b. The fouled player shoots free throws.
Some of the more common fouls are: Blocking, Charging, Holding, Illegal Screen, Over-the-Back, Reaching In, Shooting Fouls, and Tripping.
Some other fouls that are sometimes committed are: Flagrant Fouls, Intentional Fouls, and Technical Fouls.
If you would like to get more information on these fouls and other fouls committed during the game, please check out our page on basketball fouls!

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I hope you found these Youth Basketball Rules For Coaches to be helpful and informative. Learning and understanding the rules of the game is so important for coaches at all levels of competition. The better you understand the game – the more you will be able to enjoy coaching it and teaching it to your players!