You can just show up
You can start a pick-up game without any of your friends! Just show up at a court and start shooting around. Usually someone will come join you!
Risks of the game
Risks of the GameI haven't seen too many people with really serious injuries, but basketball has risks.
Sometimes you get knocked around or you're doing the knocking around and you end up getting hurt. You could:
- Twist, sprain, or break your ankle
- Chip your teeth or split your lip
- Cut your chin
Some of the most serious injures are broken bones or torn ligaments.
It's a pretty physical game. I've been lucky enough to only get slightly sprained ankles, but my dad has broken a couple of fingers and his ankle playing the game.
The worst part is that you can't play until you're fully healed, which can take several weeks.
CloseAnother way to play basketball is to try out for your school team. Although I don't play for my school, I think that it would be a lot of fun.
For a school team, only the best players make the team.
I know a guy who played for his high school last year and now he plays for UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles). He's really good!
What are the different positions on a basketball team?
The Basketball TeamDuring a game, a team may have five people on the court at one time, in five positions.
These positions include:
- Point guard
- Shooting guard or off guard
- Center
- Small forward
- Power forward
For a description of the different positions, try Howstuffworks.
CloseWhat's it cost?
Pick-up games at the park don't cost anything, but after that the cost can range from:
My parents pay $350 a year for me to play in the NJB. They both are athletes and understand the benefits and importance of playing a sport.
Why Hundreds of Dollars?If you make the team for your school, or play in a league, you pay fees to cover the cost of:
- Keeping the gym lighted and clean;
- Paying the referees;
- Buying your uniforms.
You also have to pay for travel expenses because not all the games are played at your school.
CloseFor me, I don't worry about costs because I just want to play.
The next LeBron James?
You can play other games with a basketball.
Other Basketball GamesTry a shooting game like "Horse" or "Pig." You can have as many players as you want.
The first person takes a turn shooting from a specific spot. He or she can do a jump-shot, lay-up, slam-dunk, or even bounce the ball off the court and into the basket. The more creative the shot the better.
The opposing players then have to make the exact same shot from the exact same position. Here are the rules:
- If you don't make the shot you get a letter.
- You're out of the game when you spell the entire word.
- The person with the least number of letters at the end of the game wins.
Or you can just practice shooting alone at a hoop in a park. To make it exciting, I imagine it's the final shot of a tied game and I've got three seconds to shoot the ball to win.
CloseWhen I was little I wanted to play in the National Basketball Association (NBA). But I don't exactly have tall parents, which means I didn't get the "tall gene."
Luckily, you don't have to be tall to play point guard or shooting guard.
I may not make it to the NBA, but I could still do something with basketball.
There are so many
jobs I could choose from.
So Many Jobs!
I could be a:- Physical education teacher
- Coach
- Basketball talent scout
- Referee
- Physical therapist
- Recreation director
- Fitness trainer
I could also be an athletic director for a high school or college.
CloseWhen it comes time for me to start thinking about a career, I want it to involve basketball or sports.
But for now I'm looking forward to the weekend when a couple of my buddies are coming over, so we can "lace 'em up and play some hoops."
True or False: Abraham Lincoln's son was in the area for three presidential assassinations.
Click Abe's head for the answer.
TRUE: He was there, although late, for his father's, and he was in the vicinity for the assassinations of Garfield and McKinley.
Brett
Age 10
