How Can My Child Become a Pro Basketball Player?

While the odds of your child becoming a professional basketball player in the UK are relatively slim, there are still things you can do to give them the best chance possible. Here are a few things to remember if you hope to see your child playing basketball professionally.

Start Them Young 

The best way to give your child a chance of becoming a professional basketball player is to start them young. The younger they start playing, the more time they'll have to develop their skills. They’ll also be more likely to stick with it since it will become a part of their routine. However, if they show no interest in basketball at a young age, don't force them to play. It's important that they're the ones who want to play, not you.

Teach Them the Importance of Hard Work 

Becoming a professional basketball player takes a lot of dedication and hard work. If your child isn't willing to put in the effort, their chances of making it will be slim. Make sure your child understands this, but don’t be too hard on them when they’re very young as you may put them off.

Join a basketball club

Even if your child already plays basketball at school or in the park with friends, they should go a step further and join a club. They’ll have access to professional coaching and they'll be able to learn from and compete against other players who are also striving to make it to the next level. All 11 to 15-year-olds in a basketball club are eligible for selection to the first stage of Basketball England's talent pathway, which is the first step towards becoming a professional player.

Basketball England's Aspire Programme

The Aspire Programme is the first stage of the talent pathway and is available to all 11 - 15-year-olds in a basketball or school club.

The Aspire Programme aims to identify and support the development of talented young basketball players.

The programme provides players with the opportunity to:

• Be selected for regional training camps
• Attend national training camps
• Be selected for international representation

Players who are identified as being talented enough will be offered a place on the programme and will be supported in their development.

Basketball England's Talent Programme

Players over 13 who excel in the Aspire programme are invited to join the Talent Programme. This scheme aims to allow players to develop their skills and knowledge to progress to the senior national team.

Those who are selected get access to the best coaches in the country, a structured training programme, and the opportunity to compete against the best players in the country. 

Players who are chosen for the Talent Programme have the opportunity to work towards representing Team GB at the European and World Championships.

While there's no guarantee that your child will become a professional basketball player, there are still things you can do to improve their odds. Enrolling them in a club and starting them young are great ways to get started. Additionally, ensure you teach your child the importance of hard work, so they understand what it takes to succeed.

Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash