Catonsville Boys Rec Basketball is kid-focused and relies heavily on the recommendations and best practices for Athlete Development from USA Basketball. USA Basketball's Player Development Model helps focus programs on the children's health and wellness with consistent game play standards. To help foster player health, age- and stage-appropriate skill development, and a positive and enjoyable on-court experience for young people, USA Basketball and the NBA have developed a set of rules and standards to enhance the playing experience for young athletes. We will be implementing many of these little changes in some of our divisions this year such as:
- Rim heights per age standards (within restrictions of adjustable rim options in Catonsville gyms).
- Strongly encouraging more coaches training through player registration discounts. Research has shown that the single most important factor in kids having positive experiences in sports and returning to play the next year is whether they played for a trained coach. Catonsville Boys Rec Basketball will offer both on-line and in-person training to support and train as many coaches possible.
- Clinic and Elementary divisions implementing drills for Physical Literacy and overall Athlete Development. To learn more about the concept of Athlete Development Model from the USOC, visit: https://www.teamusa.org/About-the-USOC/Athlete-Development/Coaching-Education/American-Development-Model
- As part of the Athlete Development Model, Catonsville Boys Rec Basketball will strive to keep team sizes reasonably small to ensure maximum playing time for kids. We will also encourage more small-sided competition in our younger divisions to maximize touches and skill development.
We look forward to watching your children learn all about this great sport and develop their basketball skills, while making new friends and having fun.