Mark your space
Mark it once. Every card in basketball starts from this space and adds what it needs.
The space
An empty 3 m by 3 m for ball handling; a wall with a chalk target for passing; a hoop or a bin on a table for shooting. Lower the ring and use a smaller ball where possible, and keep shooting close for young players (shoot from close enough to score). The full ring is 3.05 m high; heights and ball sizes by age: ask the club. Lay-ups and drives only at a hoop with open space under and behind it.
Where it fits: lane, terrace, indoor room, park, school ground.
Mark in this order
- A throwing or shooting spot 2 m from the wall or hoop
- Chalk lines for the lines game
- Two cones 5 m apart for dribbling
Chalk or tape is enough. Tick each mark as you make it.
Practice kit first
Any ball (a football or a volleyball works for handling), a bin on a bench, cones from bottles, a coin for the bounce-pass game.
Real basketball and hoop only for the shooting cards.
Safety
No tackling or grabbing; keep the shooting area free of walkers; stop on a loose ball near the road.
No hanging from or grabbing the ring; check the hoop and backboard are fixed securely.
No hard concrete if you can avoid it; watches and jewellery off, long hair tied back; for beginners a light, grippy, not-too-hard ball to protect fingers.
awiseathlete.com/sports/basketball/setup