Hoops Help Line - Basketball Questions & Answers

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Click below to see questions, answers and discussions about all aspects of basketball. You can help make the Basketball FAQ better by adding your comments and ratings to each question. There is often more than one right answer to a question so tell us what you think!

Mental Block 
I'm a great basketball player, I know that. I was MVP 2 years in a row in middle school and was on an AAU championship basketball team.

But I never ...

How can I improve my game even more?! 
I'm in 8th grade and will be in high school by August. I plan on trying out for the basketball team but only freshman.

I'm thinking of Varsity, but ...

How to be a threat 
How can you become an offensive threat in basketball?

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How Far 
How far is it from the 3 point line to the basketball hoop for 11 year olds?

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Scoring 
Can you bounce the basketball off the ground and in to the hoop and have it count?

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How tall is the basketball hoop?  
How high is the hoop for youth basketball ages 5-6?

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Free Throws 
What is the length of the free throw line of 4th grade girls basketball?

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Picking The Basketball Coach 
My school basketball coach was fired and they're coming to the athletes with options for the coach we want.

What should I look for in a basketball coach?...

Reverse dribble and Pullback dribble 
What is a reverse dribble?

What's a pullback dribble?

I found the two terms on this site while I was planning my off-season training plan and I ...

Pivot Foot 
What do you teach young players when they receive the basketball and turn to face the ring:

-pivot foot = inside foot?

-pivot foot = outside foot?...

Too many players on the floor... 
If a basketball official calls a foul on a player and then notices that the team that committed the foul had 6 players on the court - What type of call(...

Jump Ball 
How long does the basketball have to be held by two players for a jump ball to be called?

Wallace Brothers 
Are Ben and Rasheed Wallace brothers?

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After a rebound 
Here is the situation Player A shoots the basketball at player A's basketball - we will call this team red.

Player B from the other team (team blue)...

Women Basketball Referees 
Well after the recent deal in Kansas I wanna know how everyone feels about women refs?

Lane Vioalation 
I've had the same free throw routine since i have been in elementary school.

Catch the basketball take 2 steps to the line, dribble 3 times, deep breath ...

BASKETBALL FREE THROW RULE 
I WANT TO KNOW IS THE RULE ABOUT WHEN THE PLAYERS CAN ENTER THE RESTRICTED AREAS OR LEAVE THE PLACES FOR A REBOUND IN A FREE THROW DIFFERS FROM NBA,INTERNATIONAL ...

Offensive Charging-Why is it never called? 
In watching many basketball games at all levels from youth to pro, it continuously astounds me that clear offensive charging is hardly ever called.

There ...

Our Sons Basketball Team 
Our son, John, is an 11th grade high school basketball player who started out the season averaging 15 pts. per game with several assists and steals and ...

High school basketball playing time and substitutions 
What are the general rules of substitution on a sophomore basketball team?

Usually they play the top 8 players right?

Our basketball coach plays ...

Basketball Coaches  
I have a basketball coach that is teaching both the 7th and 8th grade teams.

She took 3 of your 7th grade girls to play with her 8th grade girls in ...

Basketball through the bottom of hoop 
If a player bounces a basketball such that it goes through the hoop from the ground up and then comes down through the hoop, is it a legal basket?

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Should the tallest player always play the five position 
In youth basketball should an eight year old player always play the five position because he is the tallest although he is one of the quickest players ...

SOULD THE CENTER PLAY ALWAYS IN THE MIDDLE 
IN THE OFFENSIVE SIDE SHOULD AN EIGHT YEAR OLD CENTER OR FIVE POSITION BE ALWAYS BACK TO THE BASKET AND IN THE MIDDLE?

OR SHOULD HE ALSO PLAY IN FRONT ...

Who should inbound the basketball? 
Who should in bound the ball in youth basketball?

The shooting guard, forward or the center?

Is it right to put the five, or biggest player, inbound ...

When to press 
In youth basketball, eight years old, when should a team use a half court press or full court press?

If the team is winning by ten points do you recommend ...

Having 5 Players 
We recently played a team in which they had 5 players but the coach wanted 6 so that she could rotate in and out so she picked a high scoring kid from ...

Basketball Nerves 
How do I get my nerves in check at the free throw line.

I get so nervous I can't shoot the basketball.

When I'm alone I can hit them.

What do ...

Scoreboard Keeper For Basketball 
Are there rules for keeping score in basketball?

I am a parent of a new youth girl basketball player, and I was asked to run the scoreboard. I did ...

Basketball practice & sprints 
What percent of basketball practice should be running?

How to get the basketball when I'm face guarded 
My basketball question has to do with being face guarded.

I am a point/shooting guard and many times, I am face guarded or double-teamed.

Are there ...

3 Second Violation 
This is gonna sound dumb coming from a high school basketball player but....if you only have one foot in the lane on offense does the referee still count ...

Too much play time. 
On our Junior High basketball team, the coach has twelve girls in ages of 8th through 9th grade. He insists that he needs to bring up three 7th grade girls ...

5th Grade Girls Basketball Rules 
How have the rules of basketball changed from the 80's to now?

Where can I find the rule book?

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"Team Ball" for 10 year olds 
I coach 10 year old boys basketball. We focus equally on fundamentals and "The Game".

The trouble I'm having is this; My assistant and I have avoided ...

WHY is the free throw line that far back? 
Why is the free throw line 15 feet from the hoop? Does anyone know the history there?

Basketball Question on a Running Offense 
My basketball question has to do with the fast break offense.

Does a run and gun offense work in basketball?

Unfair Basketball Tryouts 
My daughter tried out for the 8th grade basketball team. Since last year she has played on a club basketball team and even played up a level.

I like ...

Basketball Question on Shooting 
My basketball question is about shooting.

How long will it take me to be able to start making my shots?

I practice 6+ hours a week with my team ...

Offensive Fouls- Youth Basketball 
I have a 4th grade daughter who loves basketball and is the primary person bringing down the ball. She has been called for an offensive foul 3-4 times ...

Basketball Warm-ups 
I'm a good basketball player but it usually takes me a while to get warmed up.

How do I help myself speed up the warm up process so that I'm ready to ...

Playing Catch Up 
My basketball question...

I play high school basketball, and I was starting at the beginning of the season. I won’t lie; it's been a rough year for ...

Ball Handling Question 
My basketball question has to do with ball handling.

I just started coaching intra-murals with 4th & 5th grade boys.

After the first game I noticed ...

Teaching Lay Up to Beginners 
After several years of coaching youth and senior players, I am still looking for an answer on this (important) basketball question:

How do you start ...

Basketball Question on MakingThe Initial Pass 
I teach a town league basketball team of 10 and 11 year old boys. I have one player that is skilled. Most others are developing their skills.

I ...

Student-Athlete Question 
Well it's not really a true basketball question, but does anyone have ideas on how to play my best basketball while making my best grades?

I play on ...

How Do You Line Up When Shooting a Foul Shot? 
Obviously, the shooter stands behind the foul line but what is the correct positioning around the key for everyone else?

How many people are allowed ...

Problems With Shooting Form  
I'm currently coaching in three youth basketball leagues for girls (grades 5TH thru 8TH).

The biggest problem I'm facing is when the girls prepare ...

From Guard To Post 
I'm a high school basketball SHOOTING GUARD and I'm pretty daang good at it too!!!

I wish someone would tell my coach that because he's got me playing ...

Fun Basketball Drills 
What would be some fun basketball drills for kids ages 4 to 6?

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First Time Basketball Coach 
I am coaching my first grade daughter and some other girls (K thru 3rd grade). I played high school basketball quite a few years ago, but have never coached....

The Coaches Of My Kids Basketball Team 
I don’t know if this is the type of basketball question you were expecting, however, myself and other parents of the team are becoming upset with the coaches....

Lack of Strength on Free Throws 
Hi, I was wondering how I could get strong enough to shoot from the free throw line without jumping.

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5 Basic Basketball Questions 
I have a few basketball questions for you:

1. When did you start playing basketball?

2. Where did you start playing?

3. What things do you ...

Long Range Shots 
Should you throw your hand like you’re throwing a football when taking a long range shot from beyond half court?

Or should you shoot it normal as if ...

Scoring 
What was the highest professional basketball score ever?

One team's score and combined total score.

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Now that we can press any time, should we? 
I coach 10 and under girls. This is the first year that we are able to press at any time (unless the mercy rule is in effect).

Should we start out ...

Girls Youth Basketball Question 
I have some basketball questions about coaching girls.

How can you make a team out of girls who have never played together in such little time?

What ...

Basketball Question: Distance of Free Throw Line?  
I have a basketball question about the free throw line.

What is the exact length from the free throw line to the basket?

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Basketball Question: Increase Vertical Jump  
My basketball question has to do with increasing my vertical jump.

Can you please give me some simple exercises that I can do to help increase my vertical ...

Teaching Defense 
I have a basketball question about playing defense.

I need some help on how to teach man on man defense to 4 and 5 year olds.

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Height regulations for 6 year old boys 
Hello,

I think I know the basketball size, (women's regulation standard), but I'm not sure about the height of the rim standard for 6yr old boys.

Thank ...

How To Improve My Shots  
My basketball question has to do with shooting.

How can I improve my free throws and 3-point shots?

Can you give me some tips or advice on what I ...

How To Shoot Like a Professional 
My basketball question is how do I shoot the ball like a professional basketball player?

Are there any tips or advice you can give me?

What do I ...

Basketballs Used in the Beginning of the Sport  Not rated yet
We have a dark leather basketball with leather lacing and an internal bladder (we had a sporting goods place put in the bladder). The lacings have to ...

What`s the difference?  Not rated yet
IS THERE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A SCORER AND A SHOOTER IN BASKETBALL?

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Fixing Shooting Footwork  Not rated yet
Been working with my sister, who's in middle school and plays AAU basketball.

Her form is very good overall, but she has some footwork issues that ...

Foul line  Not rated yet
How many feet is the foul line from the basket?

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Points  Not rated yet
How many points do you get for shooting into the basket?

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Going to the basket  Not rated yet
My daughter if a very good at her defensive basketball skills but hesitates to go to the basket.

What can you suggest to her to overcome this.
Thanks
...

Alright, I'm a guard...  Not rated yet
My strong points are shooting, handling the basketball, etc., but I'm out growing everyone on my team...How do I become versatile and develop a post game....

Overlooked Girl's Basketball Team  Not rated yet
I come from a small school where the girl's basketball program is overlooked. We haven't had a very good record and are always looked down upon.

They ...

Consistency  Not rated yet
How is it that some basketball players are so good all the time.

Me, I'll have 3 great games and then 5 bad ones.

How do i et it to where I'm always ...

Foul shot  Not rated yet
After how many foul shots does the other team get to shoot a free throw?

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HOW FAR IS A 3  Not rated yet
How far is a 3 point shot in high school basketball?

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