Basketball coaching resources
High-scoring team sport played under FIBA rules in NZ and Australia, and NFHS rules in US high schools.
Basketball at a glance
- Players on court
- 5 per side (4v4 for Years 1–4 miniball)
- Squad size
- 8–10 primary · 10–12 high school
- Match format
- 4 × 10 min quarters (FIBA)
- Court size
- 28m × 15m (FIBA)
- Shot clock
- 24s (FIBA senior) · 35s (some US states)
- Hoop height
- 3.05m (2.60m for junior miniball)
- Ball
- Size 5 juniors · Size 6 girls · Size 7 boys
Based on FIBA Official Basketball Rules, used by Basketball NZ and Basketball Australia, with NFHS differences noted for US high schools (not NBA rules). Local junior grades often play halves on a running clock, lower the hoop and drop the shot clock.
Positions
- Point Guard (PG) — Brings the ball up and runs the offence — the "floor general".
- Shooting Guard (SG) — Primary perimeter scorer, works off screens for open shots.
- Small Forward (SF) — Versatile — scores inside and out, often the best all-round athlete.
- Power Forward (PF) — Plays close to the basket, rebounds and scores in the paint.
See all 5 basketball positions explained, including where each one is allowed to go and whether junior players should specialise.
Reference and tools
Rules of the game
Formats, scoring, fouls, key terms and junior game durations by school year level.
Positions explained
Every position, what it does, and the areas of the court it covers.
Basketball lineup generator
Build a fair starting five for each quarter, with court time shared evenly across the squad.
Drills, session plans and season programmes
The basketball coaching library — age-appropriate drills with setup and coaching points, ready-made session plans, and week-by-week season programmes — is part of Squaddie rather than free reference material. Your first team is free forever, so it costs nothing to look.
Year 3–4
Ages 7–9
FUNdamentals through to building the basics — fun, movement, catching, throwing, and falling in love with the game.
Year 5–6
Ages 9–11
Court awareness and positional play. Learning where to be and why.
Year 7–8
Ages 11–13
Team play and tactical thinking. Movement patterns, attack and defence structures.
Year 9–10
Ages 13–15
Competition-ready skills, structured training, and fitness conditioning.
Senior / Open
Ages 15+
Advanced tactics, strength & conditioning, and elite coaching frameworks.
Year 11–13
Ages 15–18
Senior secondary school — competition-level skills, team systems, and leadership.
Related
Basketball rules
Formats, positions, timing and the junior variations, with the governing bodies they come from.
Basketball positions explained
What each position does on the court or field, and where players are allowed to go.
Basketball lineup generator
Build a fair starting five for each quarter, with court time shared evenly across the squad.
Basketball team management app
How Squaddie handles lineups, rotations and playing time for basketball teams.
Coach basketball? Start free.
Fair lineups and rotation tracking, plus the full basketball drills library, session plans and season programmes.
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