What Gear Does a Youth Basketball Player Need?

Wisconsin basketball starts in November. Here is what a first-year player needs in the bag.

What does a youth basketball player need to start the season?

Less than most sports ask for. Basketball is cheap to start compared with football or lacrosse, because the league usually supplies the game jersey and the gym supplies the rim. The family buys the ball, the shoes, the practice clothes, and socks that are actually built for a court.

• A basketball in the size the league plays with.
• Court shoes with a flat, non-marking outsole.
• Practice shorts and a reversible or plain practice top.
• Basketball socks, mid-calf or crew, in a cushioned weight.
• A water bottle and a bag that holds a ball.
• A mouthguard if the league or the coach asks for one.

Game uniforms are a program purchase in most cases, ordered by the coach or athletic director rather than by each family. That process is covered in our post on ordering custom basketball and wrestling uniforms.

What size basketball should my child use?

Size follows age, and the rim height moves with it. USA Basketball and the NBA published joint youth playing standards that most organized youth leagues in the United States now build their rules from. A ball that is too big teaches a kid to shoot from the hip, which is the main reason the standards exist.

Sizes 3 and 4 show up in stores as well, and they are built for players younger than seven or for skill work at home. We keep sizes on the shelf side by side so a player can hold two and feel the difference. Shop basketballs by size if you already know which one the league uses.

What ball do high school teams use in Wisconsin?

NFHS rules govern it, and the WIAA plays under NFHS rules. The boys' ball measures 29.5 to 30 inches around and weighs 20 to 22 ounces. The girls' ball measures 28.5 to 29 inches and weighs 18 to 20 ounces. Any ball used in high school competition has to carry the NFHS Authenticating Mark, which is printed on the ball itself. A practice ball does not need the mark, so plenty of programs buy marked balls for games and unmarked ones for the practice rack.

What kind of shoes does a basketball player need?

Buy a basketball shoe. Running shoes are built for a different job, rolling the foot forward over a thick, soft heel, while basketball asks that foot to stop hard and cut sideways. That is how an ankle rolls in a shoe that was never made for it. Look for a flat outsole with a herringbone or similar traction pattern and a midsole that does not squish under a side cut. Gyms also care about their floors, so check that the compound is non-marking.

Fit is worth doing in person on a growing foot. Leave a thumbnail of room at the toe, lace the shoe through the top eyelet, and have the player cut side to side on the floor before you buy. Buying a full size up to stretch the season out backfires, because the foot slides inside the shoe and the traction pattern stops lining up with where the foot actually plants. Our basketball footwear selection is in the store in New Berlin, and the staff will put a kid through a few cuts in the aisle before you decide.

Does a youth basketball player need a mouthguard?

NFHS basketball rules do not require one. Many youth clubs and plenty of coaches ask for one anyway, and dental injuries in basketball are common enough that it is a reasonable thing to wear. Check the league rulebook, then pick a boil-and-bite guard that the player can breathe and talk through, because a guard that lives in a pocket protects nothing. Youth basketball protective gear also covers knee pads, ankle braces, and padded compression sleeves.

What does NFHS allow for sleeves, tights, and headbands?

There are real color rules here, and they catch teams by surprise on game night. Under NFHS rules, arm sleeves, knee and lower leg sleeves, compression shorts, and tights must be black, white, beige, or the predominant color of the jersey, and every teammate wearing a given item has to wear it in the same color. Headbands follow the same color list, must be circular with no extensions, and cannot be wider than three inches. One per player, worn on the forehead or crown.

Knee and ankle braces are allowed as long as they are unaltered from the manufacturer's design, and they need no extra padding. A hard cast, guard, or brace cannot be worn on the elbow, hand, finger, thumb, wrist, or forearm. Anything hard on the upper arm or shoulder has to be covered with padded foam. Buy sleeves in the team color before the first game, not after an official points at them.

Is jewelry allowed during a basketball game?

No. NFHS rules prohibit jewelry, with religious and medical-alert medals treated separately. A religious medal has to be taped and worn under the uniform. For hair, rubber, cloth, or elastic bands are fine, while hard items such as beads, barrettes, and bobby pins are prohibited. Earrings come out before warmups, including new piercings, which is worth knowing in November rather than at the scorer's table.

What should be in a basketball practice bag?

A bag that holds a ball solves half of this. The rest is small.

• The ball, inflated to roughly 7.5 to 8.5 psi.
• Court shoes kept for indoor use only, so the outsoles stay clean.
• Two pairs of socks, because one pair comes home wet in a Wisconsin winter.
• Reversible practice jersey, folded rather than balled up.
• Water bottle, filled before the drive.
• Mouthguard in a case, if the league asks for one.
• A hand pump and a needle, which costs very little and saves a practice.

Practice tops, warmups, and bags live in basketball apparel.

Where can you buy youth basketball gear near Milwaukee?

Burghardt Sporting Goods has been outfitting Wisconsin athletes from New Berlin since 1881, and basketball season is one of the busiest stretches on the floor. Balls in every size, court shoes, protective gear, practice apparel, and team uniform ordering all run out of the same building at 15333 W National Avenue. Decoration is done in house, so a club that needs numbered practice reversibles is not waiting on an outside shop. The store is 15 minutes from downtown Waukesha and about 20 from Milwaukee's west side.

Frequently asked questions

Can my child practice with a size 7 ball to get used to it?

Shooting form is the thing at risk. A ball that is too heavy for the hand gets launched from the chest or the hip, and that habit sticks. Working with the league size and moving up when the age standard moves up is the safer path. A size up for ball handling drills, where the shot is not involved, does less harm.

Is an indoor and outdoor basketball good enough for league play?

For youth practice and most rec leagues, yes. A composite indoor and outdoor ball handles a gym floor and a driveway without falling apart, which is why it is the common first ball. High school game balls are a different purchase, since they need the NFHS Authenticating Mark. Our companion post on picking a basketball that lasts goes through the materials.

How often do youth basketball shoes need replacing?

Growth usually calls it before wear does. Check the fit at the start of each season and again partway through, since a foot can move half a size in a few months. On the shoe itself, watch the traction pattern: once the herringbone wears smooth under the ball of the foot, grip is gone no matter how good the upper still looks.

Do youth leagues follow NFHS rules?

Not automatically. NFHS rules govern high school competition, and the WIAA applies them in Wisconsin. Youth and club leagues write their own equipment and apparel rules, often borrowing from the USA Basketball youth standards for ball size and rim height. Read your league's rulebook before buying anything that has to match.

What size ball do middle school teams use?

Middle school lines up with the ages 12 to 14 standard, which means a size 7 for boys and a size 6 for girls at a 10-foot rim. Some conferences differ, so confirm with the athletic director. Girls stay on the size 6 ball through high school and college.

Can a player wear a compression sleeve in a game?

Yes, within the NFHS color rules. The sleeve has to be black, white, beige, or the jersey's predominant color, and teammates wearing sleeves have to wear the same color. Headbands and wristbands follow the same list. Buying the team's color for the whole roster at once avoids the game-night problem.

Ball sizes and rim heights by age come from the USA Basketball and NBA youth playing standards. High school ball specifications, apparel color rules, and jewelry rules come from the NFHS basketball rules book; the WIAA plays under NFHS rules and publishes its own season dates each year. Youth and club leagues set their own equipment rules, so confirm with your league before ordering. Picking the ball itself? Read the companion post, Driveway Ball or Gym Ball? Picking a Basketball That Lasts.