Youth Basketball Participation and Program Design Rules

Canada Basketball's Youth Rules Guidelines cover more than what happens during a game. They also guide how much young athletes play, how often they compete and how far they travel.

Playing-time expectations change by age. Some age groups call for equal playing time. Others apply it during the first three quarters. In some competitive environments coaches have more flexibility, but every athlete must play.

The guidelines also limit how much basketball is packed into a day. Older and competitive players generally play no more than two games per day, with a minimum of one game of rest between games for most age groups. Travel starts within the club for the youngest recreational players and extends to about two hours each way for competitive U13–U14.

The guides below cover each part of program design, including Jamboree and Festival-style events for younger players.