Basketball

• Start with the basics. You need a basketball to play the game and a smaller basketball is better for youngsters 11 or younger. A typical youth basketball is 27.5 or 28 inches in circumference. A full-sized basketball is 29.5 inches. The difference may not seem great, but a basketball that is 1 1/2 or 2 inches smaller will be much easier to control.
  
  

Adjustable basket

• This is one of the best pieces of equipment to have as young people learn the game. At 10 or under, few players will shoot well if they are firing away at a regulation 10-foot basket. Most adjustable baskets can be lowered in six-inch increments and have a range of 7 to 10 feet. The adjustment lever is in back of the standard holding up the backboard and can be made with a broom handle.
  
  

Cones

• To build a young player's dribbing skills, set up a series of cones 5 feet apart on a court or driveway. Have your young player dribble with his right hand to the first cone, with his left hand to the second cone, his right hand to the third cone and so forth. Instruct him to keep his head up so he does not stare at the ball while dribbling. Run this drill twice every day and you will notice significant progress quickly.
  
  

Jump boxes

• Once your young player has shown serious interest in the game, she may want to improve her leaping ability. Using the jump box will help her improve this vital area. Set up a 12-inch jump box and have her do 10 box jumps from the floor to the top of the box in rapid succession. Have her take a 30-second break and then repeat the set.