The standard measurement for a professional basketball hoop is 10 feet (3.05 meters). This is the height that should be used by both male and female basketball players from the age of 12 regardless of ability.
Interestingly the 10 feet height of a basketball hoop is very unscientific. When Dr James Naismith first created the sport of Basketball in 1891, 10 feet happened to be the height of the railing that he fixed the peach baskets to. The height worked well and it has never been changed.
Is the NBA rim 12 feet?
No, the NBA rim is not a fixed 12 foot high basketball hoop. NBA games take place on the same sized hoop that all players above the age of 12 should use, 10 feet. Although other dimensions of the game change, size of the court, distance of the shooting lines and length of the game, depending on what level you play at, the height a basketball goal is off the ground should remain constant. There have been numerous instances of NBA players using 12 feet high goals in slam dunk competitions, most recently Dwight Howard in 2009.
How tall is the hoop in high school basketball?
High school basketball competition in North America for both male and female athletes takes place on a basketball hoop that is 10 feet high. This should be the same all over the world as FIBA guidelines recommend that from the age of 12 years old both male and female basketball players should compete using a 10 foot high basketball goal. Below we look at the different heights that are recommended for use before players turn 12.
height of basketball hoop by age?
It is vital for the accurate development of skills that the correct sized equipment is used. In basketball this focuses mainly on the hoop and ball. In this article we are looking at the recommended height basketball hoop children should use before they turn 12 years old and progress to a full sized 10 feet high hoop.
First I wanted to talk a little about why it’s so important to get children shooting on a lower hoop. Quite simply, it takes a lot of strength to throw a ball up above 10 feet high so it can drop down through the hoop. This is strength that a child under 12 may well possess if they over recruit from muscle groups not usually required for shooting a basketball. This is strength they will naturally acquire as they grow bigger and stronger. By shooting on a hoop too high for them a child will adjust from good shooting form in order to generate power. These bad habits can stay with them for life, you can even see it in some NBA players, Lonzo Ball was a great example of this when he joined the NBA as a rookie. It is also a little demoralizing for children if they can’t regularly score, and so they may lose interest. These bad shooting habits can also be caused by shooting from too far away or using a ball that is too big or heavy for the child.
The best way to develop accurate and sustainable shooting technique as a child is to practice with the correct sized ball, on the recommended height hoop and shooting from a distance that allows the child to use ONLY the correct shooting form.
The below Basketball Hoop height guides are for both male and female players.
Children under 5 should use a toy style basketball hoop that they can easily throw the ball through to encourage fun and participation.
- Ages 5 – 7 standard height basketball hoop is 6 feet (1.83m)
- Ages 8 – 10 standard height basketball hoop is 8 feet (2.44m)
- Ages 11 – 12 standard height basketball hoop is 9 feet (2.74m)
- Ages 12+ standard height basketball hoop is 10 feet (3.05m)
From the age of 12 all basketball players, both male and female should be competing on the regulation 10 feet high basketball hoop.
How high should a basketball hoop be for Elementary School Children?
Elementary school children are aged between 5-11 in the United States. Using the guidelines above you can see that a variety of Basketball hoop heights apply during this age range, starting at 6 feet and progressing through to 9 feet as they grow in size and strength.
How high should a basketball hoop be for Junior High School Children?
Children starting Junior High School will be approaching the age of 12 years old. By this point they should be big and strong enough to shoot with the correct technique on the official regulation height 10 feet basketball hoop. This will continue through High School, College and at whatever level they may find themselves playing afterwards.
Height of Basketball hoop in college?
The College Basketball system, including all official NCAA sanctioned games are played using the regulation 10 feet high basketball hoop.
Are men’s and women’s basketball hoops the same height?
Yes, as we have covered in this article there is no need to differentiate between male and female players when it comes to the height of the basketball hoop. As long as the correct sized ball is used and players are encouraged to shoot from a comfortable distance on the recommended height hoop the correct shooting technique should be able to be used by both male and female players alike.
