By Dr. Chad Peters | Precision Performance Concepts
This one is for parents and Fans that just aren’t sure of the game.
My kids play a lot of basketball. My wife coaches, and I jump in to run the show from time to time. Recently, I was asked to write a quick guide for parents who are brand-new to the game (I also did one for soccer, triathlon and football.)
This is a good one for parents whose kids are just starting and who find themselves in “catch-up” mode.
If that’s you — this cheat sheet is your ticket to development.
As a coach, I’ve seen firsthand how much faster kids improve when their parents understand the sport. And frankly, it makes the experience so much more fun to watch. There’s nothing more awkward than shouting “Great job, Junior!” only to lean over and whisper, “What just happened?”
Why Basketball?
Let’s start with why I love this sport — and why you will, too.
1. It’s accessible.
All you need is a hoop and a ball. Courts are everywhere — parks, driveways, gyms, barns, even mounted on telephone poles. You can shoot around by yourself or play full games. That’s rare.
2. Improvement happens fast.
Basketball offers instant feedback. A kid can make a mistake, hear a quick correction, and have a chance to fix it… on the very next trip down the court. That kind of rapid-fire learning is addicting — for players and coaches alike.
3. It’s emotionally charged.
Your child will miss the game-winner. They’ll airball a shot. They’ll pass it to the other team.
But they’ll also hit a shot when it counts. They’ll block a key play. They’ll erupt with confidence when they do something they couldn’t do last week.
Basketball teaches resilience — fast. It’s life… played out in 4 quarters.
The Parent Sideline Code
Cheer loud. Be proud. Celebrate your kid like crazy.
But let’s get you yelling the right things.
🔍 The Basics
5 players on the court per team. Each team tries to score while defending the other end. The team with the most points at the end wins.
🎯 Scoring:
Any basket inside the arc =2 points
Shots behind the large outer arc = 3 points
Free throws: Worth 1 point. These are earned when a player is fouled while shooting or after a team has committed enough fouls in a half.
📝 Quick Notes:
Layups — those easy shots close to the basket — are the foundation of scoring at all levels. If your kid learns to finish a layup, they’ll have success fast.
🚩 Fouls and Free Throws
Fouls are part of the game. They aren’t “bad.” In fact, players get 5 fouls before they “foul out.” A good foul at the right time? Totally acceptable. Often stated as, “That’s a good foul Jack!”
🏀 Free throws are awarded:
When fouled during a shot Or after the opposing team racks up 7+ fouls in a half (or 5 in a quarter) – Cumulatinve fouls as a team are called a ”Bonus” – sometimes “We’re IN bonus now.” -different states and organizations are in flux with how many fouls lead to Bonus shots.
🎁 An “And-One” Play: If your kid scores and gets fouled, they get one bonus free throw — a chance to turn 2 points into 3. Huge momentum shift! Crowd (and proud parent) favorite.
💡 Coaches hate dumb fouls — ones out of frustration, revenge, or poor awareness. This game requires emotional control.
🏃 Dribbling, Movement & Turnovers
To move with the ball, players must dribble — bounce the ball while walking or running.
🛑 Once you stop dribbling, you must pass or shoot. If you start dribbling again? That’s a double dribble. A Turnover.
👣 If you run without dribbling? That’s called traveling. A Turnover.
Basketball is filled with subtle rules like:
3 seconds in the key, 10 seconds to cross half court, Carrying (palming the ball), Moving screens or offensive fouls.
You don’t need to memorize all of these. Just watch, ask, and learn.
You’ll pick it up quickly. Trust me.
📣 The Ref Isn’t Out to Get You
There’s usually only one ref for an entire kids’ game. It’s a tough job. Sometimes they let younger or less-skilled kids slide on minor violations to build confidence. Other times they enforce rules more tightly.
It’s not unfair — it’s developmental.
Stay cool. The refs are trying.
Just like personalities, writing styles, and hairstyles – different refs will have their own unique style. The more more games you’re around the more you understand what these refs are looking for and when they let the play go on.
It’s a strange thing. But it’s in all sports. There are just some parents who hate the refs.
I don’t get it. It’s weird. Don’t be that person.
🧠 Strategy: Smart Play Wins
The farther your kid progresses in the game, the more this matters:
💨 Passing beats dribbling
Yes, dribbling is fun. It’s cool. Beating an opponent 1 v 1 is cool and the crowd and the benches will erupt. But quick, accurate passes create better shots — especially as defenses improve.
💡 Basketball is a percentage game
The best players aren’t perfect — even pros miss half their shots.
Smart players take more higher percentage shots. Now- they have to work to get these shots, it’s not just “knowing” what’s better. It takes a lot of skill just to get there. Feet set. Eyes up. In rhythm. A you level up it becomes so much more than “chuck it up there and pray.”
⚡ When three defenders guard one player, that means two teammates are wide open. That’s math — and great basketball.
🏀 “Handles” (dribbling skills) are cool, but vision and timing make the play. Passing makes everyone better.
🔁 Streaks and Stats
Basketball is streaky. A kid can make five shots in a row… or miss them all.
Basketball Teams go on Runs:
Because it’s streaky, it works a lot like volleyball, one team may go on a run for 12 points and then all of a sudden the other team comes back with eight.
Almost never will it go back-and-forth with even misses and makes. A couple key stops on defense is all it takes to get you back in the game.
📊 Important stats to know:
Points (duh)
Rebounds (retrieving missed shots) both offensive and defensive. Offensive rebounds are in essence- a second chance. These are huge factors in wins.
Assists (passes that lead to points)
Turnovers (mistakes that give away the ball) Often, these latter 3 just gove your team more opportunities throughout the game. Both teams can shoot 47% but if team A has 12 more chances – they win! It’s math.
🏆 There’s an old saying:
“Points win games, but defense win championships.”
It’s true. There’s not a lot of stats for defense and it’s become more evident the farther and deeper into the game I get with my kids. But some athletes, there’s just no answer for them. They dramatically affect the other team’s ability to play.
It’s cool.
🧢 Positions (Sort Of)
Basketball isn’t like baseball. Players don’t stand in fixed spots. It’s fluid.
But in general:
Guards (sometime called 1 and 2) : Smaller, fast, skilled dribblers. Often the “point guard” runs the offense.
Forwards/Posts (position 3 and 4) : Bigger, stronger, rebounding machines. Play closer to the basket.
Centers (5) : Typically the tallest players, often the shot-blockers or interior scorers.
💡 Don’t worry if your kid isn’t tall — basketball needs every body type. Hustlers. Defenders. Sharpshooters. It’s all valuable.
💥 The Cool Factor
Basketball has a style all its own. It’s hip hop. It flows. It’s a different swag than other sports.
“Ankle breakers,” killer dribble moves, 3 point shots, dunks, Big blocks: crowd erupts, Ball never touches the floor on five-pass magic-
It’s flashy. It’s fast. Its emotional!
Everyone contributes. Every second matters. Every play could win the game.
🏁 Final Thoughts
I love sports because they are microcosms for teaching life.
Basketball works these lessons much faster than any sport I’ve ever seen. Changes, potions, decisions and strategy often evolve in one trip and down the court.
Yes, I like winning — and I think kids should, too. But I care more about growth.
If your team lost 40–10 the first week and only 20–15 the next? That’s a WIN.
If the kid who could barely tie his shoes last week made his first bucket? That’s a WIN.
So get out there. Learn the game. Cheer like crazy. Ask questions. And grab a ball and shoot around with your kid.
My oldest kid is now looking to playing in college – so exciting! He tells me,
“It’s like holding a ball of lightening in my hands!”
This is one of the best games on Planet Earth – I hope you grow to love it like I have.
🗣️ Know a new basketball parent?
📩 Share this with them. It’ll make their season better.
