physical education basketball games

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Grade level: 3-8 Equipment: Ball Game Description: Catch-5 is a top notch team game! It’s definitely one of the better games out there to promote and enhance the passing skill, as well as other skills such as moving to open spaces, pivoting, and intercepting. Lots of action and lots of fun as players work together to score points by completing 5 passes before losing control of the ball or before the other team intercepts them. Highly recommended for use as part of a basketball or team handball unit, or as a stand-alone game for physical education class.

• Form 2 teams in the playing area (use a half-court or full court basketball or volleyball court). Introduce the ball.
• The goal of the game is to complete 5 successful passes, without the other team intercepting or knocking the ball away, to earn a point.
• Passes must be counted out loud…’1,2,3,4,5!’
• Upon completing the 5th pass, that player puts the ball against the ground and scores a point.
• If the ball goes out of bounds, it’s the other teams ball. Same thing with fouls (no contact allowed) or if a team knocks it away.

12 Comments

My 5-8 th graders loved this game! Fast paced and inclusive. Having a number of passes to reach as a goal instead of a basket made the focus on teamwork instead of traditional scoring

One way I modified this game was by placing a hula hoop under the basket and they get a point when a player on the team catches and sets the ball down in the hoop. They advance the ball by passing and can pass as many times as needed.

The big difference between this version and the one presented in the video is that they need to move the ball into the key to score. We can then progress to where they need to do a lay up once it’s in the hoop in order to score.

Great idea!

Can you move when you have the ball?

I play with the “pivot” step, so players can pivot around but not take any steps when they have the ball. But you could add a step rule if you want.

Great Game! I do this game in 4 grids and divide the class into smaller teams (4 kids). Everyone has to have the ball 1X before anyone can have it again. The kids love it and everyone is engaged!

I’ve played this game for a few years. Great activity. My only problem is getting the kids (especially 3rd grade) to move in open areas to have a better chance of catching the ball. Good team game for teaching the concepts of defense, offense, pivoting, deceptive movements, guarding, etc…I play 3 on 3 for more participation. Three catches equals one point, 3 point wins the game. They have 3 seconds to pass the ball or the other team gains possession. each round lasts 3 minutes (concept of 3’s-S.P.A.R.K.).

How do you initiate the game? thanks

how do you initiate the game?

I play with small sided teams (4). The teams rps to see who gets to start with the ball.

We allow our students to complete more than 5 passes for more points! They have to get to 5 and then anything after 5 earns them that number of points… (i.e. 6 passes= 6 points) Also, we allow the defense to get points too! If you knock down a pass, you get 1/2 the points they were trying to get and if you intercept, you get the number of points they would have scored if they completed the pass.

My Middle school students love this game too. We play where we divide the class into two even teams or we have two seperate games going on at the same time. We will have winners go against winners and losers against losers. We call it 5 to 5. Objective is 5 consecutive throws and catches scores a point first team to 5 wins. If there is a turnover the player must tap it on the ground or bounce it to them self to begin play. They must give a 2 foot safety circle around each other or pass interference will be called. THey have 5 seconds to throw it and no traveling. No handoffs allowed.

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5 Skill-Based Basketball Games for PE! [Video]

I asked my K-8th grade students to share a list of the best Physical Education basketball games for kids that we play. Below are their top five picks, including a video demonstration of each!

Around the Gym Knockout

This fun basketball game for PE is played just like the original knockout game, where you try to get the person in front of you out by scoring a basket before them. However, in ‘Around the Gym Knockout’, when you are eliminated from one goal you move on to the next goal and join that game. In our gym, we use four to six basketball goals at a time. To start the game, we divide up among the goals and each goal is treated as a separate game. Students enjoy this game because they don’t have to wait till the end of the game to keep playing. Once eliminated, they move on to play with a new group of students at the next goal.   Check out Around the Gym Knockout in action!

Team Knockout

Evenly divide your students into 6 lines; each line has their own basketball. It’s best to color code your equipment in this game to avoid confusion as seen in the video. On the whistle, the first person in each line takes one shot from their cone . If the basket is missed the students quickly rebound their ball and shoots from everywhere until a basket is made. The first of the six people to make a basket is safe and returns to the end of their line, while the others are out. Once out, the only way back into the game is if your teammate makes the first shot from the cone, all players from that team rejoin the game. **House Rule** If there is one player remaining from a team and they make their first shot by the cone, all players eliminated are back in the game regardless of their team color.

Dribble Tip Over

Scatter cones all over the gym floor, various sizes if available. On signal students dribble around the gaming area tipping or set up cones on the various signals, then switching out with the next person in line. Variation: have two groups of students each with different jobs, picking up or tipping down cones. Check out the Dribble Tip Over basketball games for PE in action!

Pass, Dribble, Shoot, SCORE!

Scatter polyspots on the gym floor surrounding the basketball goals. On the signal, a student in front of each line passes the basketball over their head to the person behind them. The line continues to pass over their head until the last person in line receives the basketball. The last person then dribbles to any poly spot on the floor and shoots the basketball. If the student makes the shot, they pick up the poly spot and bring it back to their line. While the person is shooting the line moves back to make an empty spot at the front of the line for the shooter to start passing the ball overhead when they return. When all the poly spots are taken up, the game is called and a point value is given to each different colored spot (Don’t give point values to the spots until the end, so students will focus on shooting not adding spots). Have the teams add up their spots, and the line with the most points wins the game.

Dribble Mania

Dribble Mania is a great PE basketball game for kids! Students dribble in the gaming area trying to stay in control of their ball. While dribbling with one hand, students use their other hand to knock away someone else’s ball. Students must remain in control of their ball. If a student loses control of their ball their turn is over. When your turn is over the student returns to their line and hands the ball to the next player.

Promoted: ACTION! 4-Point Play

Get four balls in a row by passing and shooting in this strategic, fast-paced basketball games for PE of Gopher’s ACTION™ 4-Point Play ! Place the goal at one end of the play area and create a shooting line in front of the goal. At the signal, two players from each team start at the other end and work together to advance a ball towards the goal by dribbling and completing at least four passes before shooting. If the player misses the shot, players rebound the ball and try again. If the shot is made into the goal, the next pair of players take their turn. Teams collect points by connecting four basketballs in a row! The team with the most points after all 42 balls have been scored, wins! Dribble, shoot, and score big when you get four balls in a row!

10 Responses

For the game Pass, dribble, shoot score, what happens if the student does not make the basket? Do they go back to the line? do they shoot again?

You can modify what works best for your class. I only allow one shot to keep the lines moving.

Thanks for the information, it’s very useful for people who love sports

You’re welcome! Basketball is a crowd favorite sport at our school 🙂

Great ideas! Thank you!

I am glad you liked them! I love sharing.

Just Great!

Simple Great!

This is a great article for basketball coaches and players alike! I appreciate how you’ve highlighted various basketball games that can help players develop key skills like ball handling and shooting. Your tips on how to modify the games to suit different skill levels are also helpful. Thanks for sharing these fun and effective ways to improve basketball skills!

All great games that my students love to play during our basketball unit. Our students even play these games on their own during their classroom outdoor recess time.

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Featured Resources

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• The Ultimate Basketball Pack

Would you like to deliver high-quality basketball lessons for PE? If so, then this pack is for you! It has been developed by highly-qualified and experienced PE teachers for specialists and non-specialists alike who want to deliver fun, engaging basketball lessons where students can make exceptional progress.

In the Ultimate Basketball Pack by the PE Project you will find:

• Over 50 basketball activities
• Skill Cards
• Lesson Plans
• Assessment Criteria for Elementary, Middle-School, and High-School
• Basketball Rules
• Non-doer sheets
• Plus lots of additional extras like questions, teaching recommendations, differentiation strategies.

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The Ultimate Basketball Pack will help you deliver high-quality basketball lessons for PE! It has been developed by highly-qualified and experienced PE teachers for specialists and non-specialists alike who want to deliver fun, engaging basketball lessons where students can make exceptional progress.

It was helpful to me to have different activities broken down to help teach specific skills. I'm a science teacher and have found myself also teaching a PE class this year. This has helped me be prepared to teach specific skills.

Teaching basketball to the intermediates is intimidating, especially since I don't play basketball, myself. The activities are described and organized so well. Very professional. It will make me look like I know what I'm doing. Thanks for this.

Great resource! PE Project has changed the way I teach. Super supportive tool.

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March Madness Basketball Ideas on PE Central

It's March Madness and basketball is here! The following are lesson ideas, instructional cues, instant activities, assessment ideas, bulletin boards and Best Practices taken from PE Central that all have to do with basketball. These are not all of the basketball resources published on PE Central so make sure to go to our lesson ideas page and find more ideas either by browsing the categories or doing a search.

March Madness Basketball Lesson Ideas Mini Book (PDF)

7 Tips to Effectively Teach Basketball in Physical Education

• Phys Ed Units

This post may contain affiliate links. You pay the same and I get a small commission. Yay! (Please see my/our full disclosure for further information.)

So, you want to teach basketball to your Physical Education class? Your students have probably played basketball a hundred times in PE before they come to you. What can you do to make your unit engaging?

Today I am going to give you 7 tips for teaching basketball in Physical Education.

Looking for a free basketball dribbling lesson plan? Click here to join my Free Resource Library Ready to purchase my pre-made basketball unit plan with detailed lesson plans? Click here to go to my Teachers Pay Teachers Store.

Why Should You Teach Basketball in Physical Education?

Basketball is a classic sport that most Phys Ed programs teach. But, to me, that isn’t the best reason why we should teach basketball. Here are some of the top reasons I think you should teach basketball in your Physical Education class:

Preparing Students for Tryouts

By having a basketball unit before school tryouts, students will develop fundamental basketball skills and it may ignite a desire for a student to try out for the school team. One of my jobs as a PE teacher is to provide students with the opportunity to develop skills that they may not have been able to in previous Phys Ed classes. I find that this is particularly important when teaching Middle School because some elementary schools do not have Phys Ed specialists teaching their students. 

Basketball is Low-Prep

Basketball is a gem to teach if you feel overwhelmed with teaching units that have a lot of set-up and preparation. Almost every single basketball drill, modified game, and relay requires very little preparation to complete. If you need a bit of a break, basketball is a great option!

Lifelong Activity

Although some curricula do not include basketball as a lifelong activity because it is a team sport, I would argue that the skills learned in basketball can be used as a lifetime activity. For example, my 75-year grandfather shoots some hoops and dribbles a basketball around as one form of his daily physical activity. Is he playing basketball competitively? No. Is he playing with a team? Also, no. But he finds it a great way to stay healthy and spend some quality time with his grandkids.

Basketball Teaches Teamwork

One of the most important skills that is learned in Phys Ed is teamwork. It is really hard to be successful in basketball if you are not working as a team. Because of this, basketball is a great way to provide opportunities to work on teamwork skills

Basketball can be an intense cardio workout. We all know that we are more likely to exercise if we are doing a workout that we find fun. Our students are the same. Basketball can be a very fun workout for our students without being a traditional fitness program 

When Should You Teach Basketball in Physical Education?

Like with most things in Phys Ed the answer is, it’s up to you. Do what works best for you and your students! Here are my three suggestions for when to teach basketball:

1. Before School Team Tryouts

Like we talked about before, I think it is a great idea to teach your basketball unit a couple of weeks before the school team tryouts. This gives students the opportunity to develop and hone their skills so that they can try out for the team if they want to. It also gets the students pumped up for basketball season!

2. During March Madness

March Madness is huge! At my school, students get really into it. Because of this, teaching a basketball unit in March would be an awesome idea. Students are already excited about basketball, why not have a basketball unit at the same time that they are already focused on it.

3. When You Need to Stay Inside

Weather can be a big determining factor for different units.

I live up north, so we only really have PE outside in September, a little bit of October (if we’re lucky) and from April to June. Because of this, we spend a lot of time indoors during the fall and winter seasons, so basketball is the perfect unit to have during these times.

If you live further south, then September and April to June may be way too hot to be outside. In which case, basketball would be a great indoor unit during these times.

Tips for Teaching Basketball in Physical Education

Now that we know why we should teach basketball and when, we can focus on how to teach a basketball unit in PE.

Also Read: How to Make a Physical Education Unit Plan in 30 Minutes or Less and Your Guide to Making Physical Education Lesson Plans Easy

1. Teach Basketball Skills in Physical Education

This may seem like a no-brainer, but when we are teaching basketball in Phys Ed, we should be teaching students basketball specific skills. In my opinion, playing sports is a lot more fun when I am actually able to successfully complete the sport-specific skills. Basketball is no exception. Because of this, we should focus on teaching the students to correct technique for each of the basketball skills.

2. What Basketball Skills Should You Teach in Physical Education?

Now that we have determined that we should teach basketball skills in PE, we need to decide which skills we want to our students to develop. 

The skills that I teach my students are: dribbling, passing, shooting, offensive strategies, defensive strategies, and foul shots. These skills make the foundation of the basketball game.

Depending on how much time you have for your unit, you could also add more skills such as screening, rebounding, inbounding, etc.

3. What Order Should You Teach Basketball Skills?

Whenever I create a unit plan, I always think about what skills have to be taught first before students can be successful in gameplay. For me, the first thing that comes to mind is moving the ball. Because students can’t run with the ball in basketball, the first skill I teach is dribbling. The next skill I teach is passing. 

After teaching about ball movement, I move onto shooting. Although my students are most excited to learn about shooting, I feel like it is less important for them to know how to shoot right away because they can still play a basketball game without having been taught the technique for shooting, but they won’t ever be able to shoot if they don’t know how to successfully move the ball towards the hoop.

After shooting comes defensive strategies. During this class day, my students learn about man-to-man (or person-to-person) defense through a variety of drills and activities. Next comes offensive strategies. This is where students learn cutting, offensive plays, etc. 

The final skill I teach in my basketball unit is free-throws. My students and I talk about the different types of fouls, when free-throws happen, and how they are set up. After our discussion, the students are able to practice taking free-throws through a bunch of different games.

4. Keep Things Fun!

To keep your unit fun and engaging, add modified games to your lessons. Instead of having drill after drill and ending with a 5 vs. 5 basketball game, add games throughout the lesson that will teach the students and let them apply the skills your lesson focuses on.

If you are interested in how I set up my classes to incorporate modified games, click here to download my FREE dribbling lesson plan.

5. Ensure Students Get Lots of Repetitions

The best way to learn is to practice, so create your lesson plans with repetitions in mind. Have the students get into the smallest groups your teaching space will allow. 

For most of my basketball unit, I split the students up into teams of three. I have six hoops in my gym and I send three groups of three to each hoop. Two groups will play against each other until one of the teams scores. The team that was scored on will go off for a water break, or dribbling / passing on the sideline, and the team that was off will come on. 

This setup allows for a lot of individual practice time.

Read more: ​ 5 Games to Make Your Basketball Unit a Slam Dunk

6. Assess Skill Application

I had a professor in university tell me that I should assess my basketball unit by having all of my students take 10 free-throws. If they made all 10 free throws, they would get 100% in the unit. If they got 1 in, they got 10% for the entire basketball unit.

If Shaq were in this professor’s basketball unit, he would only average at 52% in the unit. SHAQ!

I quickly decided that this was not the assessment approach for me.

My assessment strategy is to always watch students attempt to apply the skills they are learning to game situations. Are they attempting bounce passes to get under the defender’s arms? Have they been using their non-dominant hand to balance the ball when shooting, rather than trying to use it to shoot? All of these components are more important to me as a teacher than how many free-throws they make.

7. Finish With a Basketball Tournament

After the students have worked hard developing their skills, playing modified games, and small-sided games, it is a lot of fun for students to play a full-court 5 vs 5 (or similar) basketball tournament. 

I will often let my students pick their own teams. If I have a particular class that needs more structure when it comes to team selection, then I will have the students pick a partner they want to be on the same team with and I will combine different pairings to make the teams.

My students love tournaments and it is the perfect opportunity to assess my students’ skill application to gameplay!

More Basketball Resources

You can make your own basketball unit plan, or you can purchase my ready-made basketball unit plan on my Teachers Pay Teachers store . This makes Basketball so easy – all you need to do is print and play.

My low-prep Basketball Unit Plan includes:

• 9 Hour-long detailed and specific lesson plans 
• Warm-up Activities: These specific games and activities introduce the students to the focus and objectives of the day
• Learning Activities: Each day includes 3-5 different activities that are accompanied with diagrams or technique photos to help with understanding
• Key Teaching Points: Each learning activity includes a number of key teaching points to help you as a teacher improve students’ form and technique
• Key Questions: Each learning activity includes questions to determine students’ understanding of why skills are performed a certain way and how the skills can be applied in real gameplay. Each debrief also provides specific questions to allow students to reflect on what they learned during the lesson
• Safety Considerations
• Several high-quality PDF bonuses – rules posters, a strategies poster, a court poster, and a shooting technique poster, 
• A final exam with an answer key, 
• Round robin tournament trackers (for 4 teams or 6 teams)

I’m curious, what are your top tips for teaching basketball? Send me a message over on Instagram @teachingpak and let me know!

I can’t wait to hear from you!

Have fun out there!

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Published: 09 September, 2010

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Fun Basketball Games for PE

Gym class, also known as physical education or “PE,” is a time when students can stretch their arms and legs and burn off some of the energy that has been building from sitting at a desk all day. Common activities in PE include sports such as basketball or volleyball. These traditional games may become boring. To spice up a PE day using basketballs, consider playing some alternative games.

Around the World

Around the World is a shooting game designed to improve a player’s shooting skills. At least two players are required to play this game; more players may be added and teams can be utilized. At the start of the game, mark six locations around the basketball court. Typically, the first location is at the baseline and the locations move outward and around the key. The goal is to make baskets at each location. Players advance to the next location after they make a shot. The first player to make it all the way around the key--and thereby all the way around the “world”--wins. Consider adding variations such as second chances. Games-for-All-Reasons suggests allowing a player who misses a shot to take a second crack at it, but if the player misses his second shot, he must go back to the beginning.

Line Basketball

Teaching Ideas suggests playing the basketball-variation Line Basketball. This game mainly utilizes passing abilities and has a slight focus on shooting skills. Divide the class into two teams and line them up parallel to each other at the center of the court. Assign each person a number. Place two basketballs in the center between the two lines. Call out two numbers; those students must race to grab one of the basketballs. After the players retrieve the ball, they must throw chest passes to teammates down their line toward the basket. The last player in line attempts a shot. The first team to make a shot earns one point. The person who shot the ball goes to the other end of the line and the game repeats.

Dribble Mania

Lesson Plans Page recommends for PE class Dribble Mania, which focuses on dribbling and ball-handling skills. Each player must have a basketball to use. Square off a relatively small area on the basketball court; the area must have enough room for at least four people to dribble. Mark the area with cones. Players enter the area and must dribble the basketball without losing control. At the same time, the players must attempt to knock other players’ basketballs out of the square. Play continues until one player is left in the square.

• Teachingideas.co.uk: Line Basketball

Based in Traverse City, Mich., George Lawrence has been writing professionally since 2009. His work primarily appears on various websites. An avid outdoorsman, Lawrence holds Bachelor of Arts degrees in both criminal justice and English from Michigan State University, as well as a Juris Doctor from the Thomas M. Cooley Law School, where he graduated with honors.

• Pete Charrette

10 Essential Basketball Stations and Small Group Activities for Physical Education

Basketball is a great sport to incorporate in physical education classes because it can be adapted to all skill levels and ages and allows students to practice and develop several important manipulative and motor skills that they can use for a lifetime. It also encourages teamwork and cooperation among students as they work together on drills or play small-sided games. Physical education teachers have the ability to plan their lessons so that they can have a wide range of activities and stations to choose from, making it easy to create engaging lessons that will keep students motivated.

Pic by Ms. Zarzycki @MsZarzycki27

Basketball stations and small group activities are a fun way for PE teachers to keep students engaged while helping them learn the basics of playing basketball. These stations can be set up with different activities that focus on specific skills such as dribbling, passing, shooting, footwork, rebounding, and more. By offering a variety of tasks that cater to every student’s skill level, these stations and activities that focus on basketball skills provide an engaging learning experience for all students regardless of their prior knowledge or experience with the game. Younger students love performing basketball tasks and learning new skills!

In this blog post I will give you ten practical and dynamic activity ideas that involve fun stations and small group activities, guaranteed to pique the interest of your students! Let's kindle your student's enthusiasm for basketball with this fun and captivating sport - get set to maximize involvement in all of your future classes. It's March madness all year long!!

Pics by TJ Toteno @MrTRaptorsMSAP

Can basketball stations and small group activities help students meet PE standards?

Absolutely! Having students participate in PE basketball activities allows them to gain a better understanding of the game, as well as hone their fundamental skills in a basketball unit. This aids in the development of their competence as learners and helps to bolster motor skills, decision making abilities, teamwork competencies, and physical literacy.

Incorporating basketball skill stations and small group activities into physical education is an excellent way to make it more enjoyable for students, while simultaneously fulfilling district, state and national standards. This blog post's featured physical education activities are directly linked to SHAPE America Standard 1 , which reads: The physically literate individual demonstrates competency in a variety of motor skills and movement patterns.*

Tips for implementing basketball stations and small group activities in PE

Set the Tone: Create an environment that welcomes all students, regardless of their skill level.

Differentiate Instruction: Set up the basketball stations that cater to different learning styles and skills – this will allow everyone to be successful and engaged in the activity.

Pic by Tracy Angel @Mrs_Coach_Angel

Keep them Engaged: Utilize a variety of different stations and activities for your lesson ideas to keep students engaged and motivated.

Concentrate on the Skills: Focus on basketball fundamentals such as dribbling, passing, shooting, and footwork to ensure proper skill development.

Ensure Clarity and Comprehension: Always give students clear instructions and demonstrations before beginning each station or small group activity.

Make Sure the Activities are Appropriate: Use activities that are developmentally appropriate for the age and skill of each future basketball player in your class.

Monitor and Provide Feedback: Monitor each group’s progress during activities and provide adequate feedback and positive reinforcement or guidance when needed.

Adaptability is key: Be flexible with the basketball stations or activities, so that you can adjust based on any changes in student performance or behavior.

Utilize Visuals and/or Technology: Take advantage of printable visual basketball resources or technology, such as apps, screen slides or videos, to supplement your lesson plans and make them more interactive and engaging for the students.

9 Basketball Stations and Small Group Games for PE

Ignite your students' enthusiasm for basketball with these nine interactive activities! With engaging station and small group game ideas, you'll inspire their energy and excitement to learn.

A- Stations

Stations typically involve activities and movements that focus on one or more specific movement skills such as ball handling, dribbling, passing, court footwork, and shooting ( five basic skills) . Through station-based activities, students gain the chance to practice their skills and build confidence in an organized, controlled setting.

Ball Handling Video Above

1: Ball Handling - Students can hone their ball handling skills by using their own basketball to complete a wide variety of ball manipulation and ball control tasks. These tasks can include movements such as; tapping it back and forth above the head, tossing and catching the ball with and without a bounce, passing or rolling it around both legs, waist and head, performing figure 8's between legs, spinning it on a finger, etc.

2: Stationary Dribbling - Students use their own ball to practice a variety of stationary dribbling tasks. These tasks can include movements such as; dribbling with the right hand, dribbling with the left hand, dribbling high & slow, dribbling low & fast, dribbling through legs, dribbling around the back etc.

3: Zig-Zag Dribble - Students weave their way around a set of cones, dribbling the ball as they go back and forth. They must wait their turn at a "wait line" and then they dribble the basketball through the line of cones by zig-zagging around each one. They should try switching hands at each cone that they go around. After going through the set of cones, they should dribble straight back to the start line and “hand off” the ball to the next person in line.

4: Dribble and Wall Pass - Students have their chance to practice dribbling a ball from the starting line to the pass line, while perfecting their bounce and chest passes off of a wall. At the "pass line" they bounce or chest pass the ball off the wall 3 times. They finish by dribbling the ball back to the start line and wait for their next turn.

5: Partner Passing - Students will team up to practice their passing skills, alternating between chest and bounce passes using a basketball. They should dribble first and then perform a

chest or bounce pass to their. Encourage them to use both hands and "push" the ball from their chest. They can vary the distance they pass if they are successful.

6: Shoot From the Hoop - Students take turns displaying their prowess by shooting set and jump shots from hula hoops at varying distances, ranging closer or farther away from the basketball goal. They first shoot a set or jump shot from the closest hoop. If they manage to make it, the player can shoot from the next furthest hoop. Should their attempt be unsuccessful, they are free to either pass it off to another teammate or try again from where they just missed.

Basketball Stations Video Below

B- Small Group Games

Exploring basketball through engaging small group games is an excellent way to not only develop your students' skills on the court, but also cultivate a healthy atmosphere of friendly competition and good-natured fun. These activities allow students to get more involved than a standard game of full court basketball would, increasing engagement and learning.

7: Knock Down - Pick Up (dribbling game) - As students dribble within a designated area, they take turns knocking down and picking up cones in succession. One team will dribble and knock down the cones while their opponents pick them up, creating a dynamic game of agility and teamwork. Teams should switch roles after every minute or so.

8: Basketball Golf (shooting and rebounding game) - Students compete against one another by trying to shoot the lowest scores possible, beginning with a free throw and striving to make baskets using as few shots as they can. The 1st player shoots from free throw line. If they make it, their score is now 1. If they miss it, they must run to the ball (off the rebound) and shoot from the exact spot that they retrieved it. If they miss, they must keep shooting until they make it! Students “record” their score (max. 6 per hole). The next player in line repeats this process. The lowest score wins after 9 rounds

9: Hot Shot Spot (shooting game) - Students dribble to a poly spot and take a set or jump shot; if they make it they get to take the spot back to their start line and they score a point for themselves. After any missed shots, they must take the ball to the next person in line. Students should be encouraged to keep their feet shoulder width apart and their arm in an L shape when they while taking a shot.

10: Five Pass Keep-Away - Students have the opportunity to test their skills in a fast-paced game of “5 pass keep-away,” competing either 2 v 2 or 3 v 3 while striving to achieve 5 "complete" passes with their teammates against an opposing team's defensive players. The group must stay in a designated area when they play. If a ball is dropped, it goes to the opposing team. There is no reaching in to play defense. Teams attempt to score points against the other team. Five passes = One point!

Final thoughts

To keep your students excited and involved while encouraging them to stay active, try incorporating these or other basketball stations and small group activities in your PE classes. These activities and games can not only make physical education classes engaging and enjoyable, but they also help to foster your student's skills. I'm certain that you will find the activities I have presented to be beneficial as your students both experience joy and learn something new!

Unleash your creative spirit and extract even more fun out of basketball by trying new activities or coming up with your own stations and games; the opportunities are endless! Basketball is an enjoyable sport for people of all ages and skill levels. You can easily adapt the activities and games to suit your learners’ individual needs, so don't hesitate to get out there with them and show them just how fun basketball really is!

What are your students' favorite basketball stations or small-group activities during PE? I would love to hear all of your wonderful ideas in the comments section below!

*SHAPE America. (2013). National Standards for K-12 Physical Education. Reston, VA: Author.

Need resources?

Do you need some sport-related skill stations for your physical education program that includes detailed instructions and state-of-the-art graphics and visuals? Cap'n Pete's Power PE has you covered!

Fill in the form below to download 20 FREE Sport-Specific PE Station Signs. The set is a PDF digital download that includes two visuals (cards/signs) from the following sport stations sets: 1. Base Games, 2. Basketball, 3. Floor Hockey, 4. Football, 5. Lacrosse, 6. Paddle & Racket Sports, 7. Soccer, 8. Team Handball Stations, 9. Track & Field and 10. Volleyball Stations.

This freebie set will be sure to enhance your PE curriculum for years!

If you want even more basketball station ideas...my PE Basketball Stations- 20 Fast Break Zones resource can be downloaded here on Teachers Pay Teachers.

If you're searching for a way to really spice up your PE program, Cap'n Pete's PE Sports Stations- 10 Product Mega Bundle is the perfect supplement. You'll find over 200 fun-filled, sports-themed station signs/cards (20 stations per sport) in this set. You may utilize them in your gym or specialized learning area.

You can download them from either of the following platforms: Cap'n Pete's Power PE Website or Teachers Pay Teachers- Cap'n Pete's TPT Store

This comprehensive collection will help you teach your students important physical education concepts and skills from 10 different traditional sports including basketball, base games, football, floor hockey, lacrosse, paddle/racket sports, soccer, track & field, team handball, and volleyball.

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Awesome Resources for Physical Education Teachers

Teaching Basketball – Passing and Shooting

Wouldn’t it be great to get Kentucky’s coach John Calipari to teach teach Passing to your kids and have some NBA players demonstrate it?

Well with technology this is now possible.

During the second lesson our basketball unit we focus on passing and shooting skills.  Check out the video below to see how we quickly teach passing through a youtube video and demonstration.

The kids really liked seeing NBA players and I think it helped some of the more advanced students buy into doing some basic passing practice – it helps kids to see that even advanced players need to work on basic skills to get better.

Here is the youtube video we used for the demo, if you want to use it in your lessons:

Teaching Shooting with BEEF Cues

After the passing practice we do a quick review of B.E.E.F. shooting cues that we learned during the previous week.  After allowing students some practice time, we play a fun game called Hot Spots.

If you’re interested, check out a run through of the game below: 

This is an awesome game to play with any level.  For our younger students we just crank the goals down or use our shorter wall mounted goal ( the one we have is from Bison but most equipment retailers have something similar to this) and we use Gatorskin balls instead of basketballs.  We also move the dots in closer to the goal to make it easier for them ( see below for an example ).

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Ben Landers (@thepespecialist)

Note : If you have 4 students on a team, use 3 gator skin balls per team to reduce any waiting around and to give students more practice time.

Example of the game being played below:

Instant Replay (AKA PIG)

If you’re looking for a shorter quick game that’s perfect for partner work or a group of 3, you can teach your kiddos the classic “PIG” or Instant Replay as I call it.  In this simple game, you take turns shooting and when a goal is scored your partner must try and copy your shot.  If they are successful play continues, but if they are unsuccessful they receive a letter.  The first person to make their partner spell the designated word (PIG in this case) is the winner.

Many of us have played this at some point in our childhood, see how I explain it in the video below:

Another fun shooting game for K-2nd (or even older kiddos) is Smackball

Check out the video below for an example of how to play

This one works great with partners or groups of 3 and you can vary the goal height and swap out partners to mix things up if you want to.

Using a Smaller Ball for Shooting Skills

For a long time I found it hard to teach younger students to shoot properly.  It’s tough for them because they don’t have the physical strength to get the ball up to the goal.

I’ve had way more success using 6” gatorskin balls or the 7″ Mini Basketballs with my younger students and even offering them as a choice with my 3rd and 4th grade students if they want to use them. It’s also good to remind your students to use their legs to jump up when they take a shot to help them get some more power behind the ball.

See an example of the smaller ball below as I teach B.E.E.F. to 2nd graders.

Another CLASSIC shooting game that I teach my 3rd – 5th graders is the popular basketball game Knockout.

I play a version I call “Round Robin Knockout” which you can check out below if you’re interested:

Basketball Station Activities

With my K-2nd Graders I also do lots of Station Work ( more info on teaching with stations here ) so they can build up the fundamental skills needed to play modified games when they get to  the 3rd – 5th grades.  You can purchase my Station Signs at the bottom of this post if you’re interested (see a few examples of the signs below)

View this post on Instagram Warmup Stations today ???? . Dribble, Pass, Shoot ???????? . #physicaleducation #physed #pegeeks #iteachpe #pe #peteacher #elempe #primarype #basketball A post shared by Ben Landers (@thepespecialist) on Feb 25, 2020 at 10:35am PST

3 v 3 Basketball Tournament

For most of my 3rd – 5th classes (unless I don’t think they can handle it, some classes are a different breed, am I right? ) I end the basketball unit with a 3 v 3 basketball round robin tournament.

I keep it pretty simple and use an app called TeamShake to make my teams quickly and evenly and use an app called Round Robin to track all the scoring and tournament info.

You can check out the clip below for a walkthrough of how I explain the tournament to my students and some important points to go over before trying to do any type of tournament in PE class (purpose of the tournament, importance of good sportsmanship and basic review of rules/procedures of the game).  I feel like setting the tone for the culture of your tournament ahead of time make a HUGE difference in how much fun the kids have while playing and reduces your management and behavior issues.

Hope those ideas are helpful!  Thanks for reading.

If you have some more tips leave them in the comments!

Also, if you missed my previous post about teaching Ball Handling and Dribbling Check It Out Here

More Basketball Resources

If you want to check out our Basketball Resources you can see an overview of them in the videos below.   Each resource is available to all teachers in our membership program ( info on our membership here ), just login and download them straight from the membership area.  They are also available in our Teachers Pay Teachers Store for anyone who isn’t a member.

Basketball Unit Resource Pack

The Unit Resource Pack will provide you with a ton of printable resources to plan an AMAZING basketball unit.

Included in this download:

• Sample Unit Plan with 50 pages of activities
• Printable Station Activity Signs
• Basketball Cues Poster
• Create Your Own Basketball Routine Worksheet
• Basketball Tricks Checklist
• Player of the Day Certificate
• Basketball Golf Scorecard

Check out the Basketball Unit Resource Pack (TPT)

Basketball follow the leader pack.

All of our follow the leader packs are a “technology upgrade” for anyone with a screen that goes along perfectly with the Unit Resource Packs.

• 3 Follow the Leader Videos (Basic, Intermediate, Advanced)
• Animated GIF Looping Videos
• Powerpoint Slideshows with all Animated GIFS
• Create Your Own Ball Handling Routine Worksheet
• Basketball Trick Checklist

Check out the Basketball Follow the Leader Pack (TPT)

Have fun and teach on.

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Reader Interactions

January 4, 2022 at 1:33 pm

Where is the basketball resource pack for members? I am only seeing the link to the basketball resource pack in teacher pay teachers.

January 4, 2022 at 4:12 pm

As a member you get access to everything we’ve ever created in the membership.

You can get all of the E-books, Unit Plans, Activity Guides, Videos and Trainings (and ever single other resources we’ve ever created) inside the membership area.

You can check out the page below for a walkthrough of how to sign in and get into the members section on the site:

https://membership.thepespecialist.com/start-here/

Once you get logged in you can go here (our Members Home Page): https://membership.thepespecialist.com/forums/forum/general-discussion/

We also created a Table of Contents for the Membership with a link to EVERY RESOURCE! You can find it below:

https://membership.thepespecialist.com/table-of-contents/

Link to Basketball Resources Page HERE

Lastly, you should’ve gotten an email explaining all of this when you signed up, so we just want to make sure you’re getting our member emails – if not make sure to check your SPAM folder – sometimes we get filtered because of the links. If you find us in SPAM add us to your contacts so you can receive all the member updates.

If you haven’t gotten any member updates and would like to use another email, you can do so HERE (Gmail works great)

Let us know if you have any other issues!

March 9, 2020 at 12:26 pm

I’ve started a sports club in our school’s afterschool program and this was incredibly helpful for us! Thank you so much!

March 9, 2020 at 7:44 pm

Awesome – Pumped to hear that, hope the club goes well!

March 8, 2020 at 7:51 pm

Can you please explain to me the breakdown of the lessons you would do with a Kindergarten class for your Basketball Unit?

For example – Lesson 1: Ball Handling and Dribbling Lesson 2: …? Lesson 3: ….?

Thank you so much!

2 – Passing and Shooting 3 – Modified Game (like the spot shot game you see in this post by using gatorskin balls) or stations

I teach in stations A LOT with kindergarten, so after teaching them the basic skill, we work on the skills in station format

December 16, 2019 at 1:18 pm

Thanks for sharing, this is an awesome video for young students.

December 16, 2019 at 6:21 pm

Sure thing, glad it was helpful!

January 7, 2019 at 11:52 am

Hi Ben, I purchased the jump rope unit for $25. I loved it!!! Thank you, as it was very helpful. Is there a basketball unit that I can purchase? If so, where can I find it?

January 9, 2019 at 5:22 pm

Hey James! Thanks for the purchase and so pumped to hear it was helpful, currently we don’t have the bball unit for sale outside of the membership, but in the future we hope to get more products out to folks for stand alone purchases.

May 9, 2018 at 9:04 am

I have my students 3 days a week for 45 minutes each day (approx. 25 students), so they get a lot of practice dribbling, passing, and shooting. Just wondering if after those games you play small sided games such as 2v2 or 3v3 with grades 3-5? I was going to set up 6 half courts and let them try 2v2 to ensure everyone is getting playing time.

May 11, 2018 at 4:18 pm

Yep, we usually shoot for 3 or 4 on a team. Play 5 minutes and report your scores – I use the round robin app to track the tournament.

February 20, 2018 at 8:52 am

Do you have any Basketball skills or lessons for 6 through 8th graders?

February 21, 2018 at 4:21 pm

I teach Elem, but I think all the activities and ideas in this post would be relevant to teaching middle school as well.

February 22, 2018 at 7:37 am

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Basketball in Physical Education

The game of Basketball was invented in the United States of America. Dr. James Norsmith of the U.S.A. developed it in December 1891 at Spring Field college. The origin of this game is very interesting. In the beginning, 40 to 50 players used to be in one team. This game used to be played in a gymnasium. A pair of baskets were nailed on the walls facing each other One had to climb up to get the ball out whenever a goal was scored. Indeed, it was a difficult task. After that, Dr. Smith framed the specific rules of this game.

What are the Rules for Playing Basketball?

• Basketball – Ground, Players, Rules
• Rules of Basket Ball in Hindi Medium
• Class 11 Physical Education
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This game was played the first time on 22nd January 1892. The first time, five players formed a team. From 1895 to 1900 A.D., a lot of amendments were made to the rules of the game. American Basketball Training Association made its efforts for the demonstration of this game in the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics, but it could not get success. After that, in the 1932 Olympics, efforts were also made to introduce Basketball.

At last, in the 1936 Olympic games, which were held in Berlin, Basketball was included. In 1932 International Basket Ball Federation was constituted. From the very beginning, U.S.A. dominated in Basketball. Approximately 85 years ago, in India, the game of Basketball was introduced by Y.M.C.A. College Madras (Now Chennai). Since then, Basketball became famous in every part of India. The Indian Basketball Federation was formed in 1950.

• 1. Now the length and breadth of Basketball court is 15 m × 28 m
• 2. Now the feather ball is used in Basketball competition.
• 3. The last 2 minutes play before the end of the game should be played in real sense and not to pass the time.
• 4. Now three time-outs can be provided during the second half of the game to each team but in first half only two time-outs are given.
• 5. The Basketball poles should be at least 2 m away from the end line.
• 6. Now the throw can be given from the end line.
• 7. 30 second rule has been changed to 24 seconds.
• 8. Now there are four periods of the game i.e.10 – 10 – 10 – 10 minutes.
• 9. A rectangular shaped restricted area has been introduced.
• 10. The distance of three point line has been extended to 6.75 m,whereas, earlier it was 6.25 m.
• 11. No charge semi-circles have been introduced. The radius of the circles shall be 1.25 m from the point on the floor beneath the exact centre of the basket to the inner edge of the semi-circle.
• 1. European Cup
• 2. American Cup
• 3. Asia Cup
• 4. Services Trophy
• 5. William Tod Memorial Trophy (National-Men)
• 6. Prince Vasalat Jha Trophy (National Women)
• 7. B.C.Gupta Trophy
• 8. Federation Cup
• 9. Bangalore Blues Cup
• 10. C.Munni Swami Cup
• 11. All India Ramu Memorial Trophy

Some important things about Basketball

What are the measurements of basketball court.

28 m × 15 m

What is the height of the board from ground?

What is the circumference of the ball.

75 to 78 cm

How many players are there in a team?

Total 12 players (5 players + 7 Substitutes)

What is the duration of a time-out?

One minute.

What numbers are printed on the shirts of players?

Numbers 4 to 15 are printed on the shirts of players.

What is zone to zone defence?

It is a system of defence in which players are responsible for defence of their sides.This system of defence is mainly suited against a team that is slow in making moves.

What is the duration of substitution?

The duration of substitution is 20 seconds.

Which type of ball is used in competitions?

Leatherette ball is used in competition.

From where the free throws are taken?

Free throws are taken from the end line.

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5 Benefits of Playing Basketball, According to Experts

Sports & activity.

The benefits of playing basketball extend off the court. Learn more about what all this sport has to offer.

Basketball has loyal fans — and players — of all levels around the world. No matter how you enjoy the sport (whether you love to review game tape with pals or you play some pickup on the weekends), basketball draws a global appreciation due to its demand on endurance, technique and quick thinking.

Here are a few reasons why you may want to take up basketball — and why it has universal appeal.

5 Benefits of Playing Basketball

1. basketball can help develop fundamental movement skills..

No matter your age, fundamental movement skills — the foundation for all physical activity — are key for an active lifestyle. Fundamental movement skills are categorized as locomotor (think: running or jumping), object control (catching and throwing) and stability (balancing and twisting) skills.

“Fundamental movement skills such as [sprinting], vertical jumping and overhead throwing are very basic to physical movement,” said Koco Eaton, M.D., orthopedic surgeon, founder of Eaton Orthopaedics and a former basketball player (including three seasons of professional basketball in Venezuela). “Basketball promotes speed, agility, strength, power and endurance. It [has] also been shown to increase flexibility and motor coordination. As a result, basketball is uniquely oriented to improve fundamental motor skills that are shown to be beneficial in promoting general health.”

A 2012 study suggested that mini-basketball drills — such as ball handling, chest passes and layups — can considerably improve fundamental movement skills in children 7 to 10 years old (kids typically develop these skills between the ages of 3 and 10).

Marco Lopez, P.T., D.P.T., C.S.C.S ., a physical therapist and co-founder of The Basketball Doctors, said that basketball “combines sprinting, change of direction, and jumping,” which you don’t often see in other sports.

2. It can have a positive effect on bone mineral density.

A 2020 study comparing basketball players to athletes participating in swimming, soccer and volleyball, suggested that basketball players have some of the highest bone mineral density or BMD. A 2018 study came to similar conclusions, noting that playing basketball long-term can positively impact BMD in the legs.

“Basketball is one of the best sports for bone density,” Lopez said. “As we know, once we get older we start losing bone density. We can help decrease the rate of loss by loading the bone through jumping, running and weight lifting, so basketball hits almost every category.”

RELATED: The Best Weights for At-home Workouts

Research has also suggested that when you do high-impact, weight-bearing exercises (Think: jumping, dancing and hiking) in tandem with strength training, or resistance exercises (such as squats, deadlifts and barbell curls), it can yield a positive effect on overall bone health. Though it was noted that resistance training may have the greatest effect on BMD.

3. It’s a type of workout that fluctuates in intensity.

As discussed in the introduction of a 2021 study in Frontiers in Psychology , a typical basketball game consists of periods of both high- and low-intensity exercise. Think about it: One minute you might be sprinting down the court with the ball, and the next, you might be jogging. One of the simplest ways to increase the intensity of a basketball game is to play full court.

A 2012 study found that full court games did elicit a higher heart rate response, but that doesn’t mean you won’t get benefits playing half court. In fact, a 2018 study suggested playing basketball improves overall health whether you're playing half or full court.

“Although full court basketball provides a greater benefit than half court basketball, [the study found] half court basketball was still beneficial to the health of the participants," Eaton said. [It] looked at the effects on blood pressure, body composition, cardiovascular fitness and maximum oxygen uptake. Significant benefit was noted in half court basketball but a maximum benefit was noted in the participants who were playing full court.”

4. Basketball gets children active at an early age, which can carry into adulthood.

“The most significant positive benefit from basketball is [the] increase in activity that carries into adulthood,” Eaton said.

A 2018 study revealed that 74 percent of children and adolescents in the U.S. report their top reason for playi n g basketball is to have fun. And research has found that those who are physically active during childhood are more likely to be active in adulthood than those who are more sedentary as children. In fact, according to the U.S. President’s Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition Science Board , 73 percent of adults who currently play sports also did so when they were children.

5. Basketball may improve communication skills through team building.

This may be one of the less obvious benefits of playing basketball. Eaton said that because basketball is a team sport, it requires players to communicate with one another, often without words. A 2010 study supports this, observing players continuously changing teammates they interact with as they play. Much of this communication didn’t involve verbal cues, but instead took place through ball passing and visual cues during plays. Off the court, non-verbal communication is used in everything from business to interpersonal relationships. While research varies, a study found in a 2018 issue of The Hearing Journal estimates at least 70 percent of all communication is nonverbal (a figure which extends outside of sport).

Other skills gained on the court transfer to everyday life: In addition to building crucial communication skills, basketball also has a positive impact on mental coordination, with 2015 research noting players must constantly adapt to gameplay and cognitively switch their physical coordination to keep up. Psychologists suggest that adaptability comes with higher levels of overall life satisfaction, especially when combined with high levels of social support (such as support from friends when settling into a new job).

Words by Ashley Lauretta

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Originally published: May 13, 2022

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As the Basketball Games Begin, the N.C.A.A.’s Model Fractures

This weekend, college basketball tournaments will unfurl before millions of viewers and against a backdrop of seismic change.

By Terence McGinley

Times Insider explains who we are and what we do and delivers behind-the-scenes insights into how our journalism comes together.

Billy Witz likes to point out that, in college sports, more has changed in the last five years than in the previous 50.

“When I started saying that, I used to think, ‘Am I being hyperbolic?’” he said.

But Mr. Witz is not exaggerating: The amateur student-athlete model that drives the National Collegiate Athletic Association is unraveling. In 2021, a Supreme Court decision allowed college athletes to sign marketing deals, unleashing a flood of payments to players. Football and basketball stars who, a decade ago, might have chosen a school with plans to attend for three or four years now swap teams one season at a time. This month, an Ivy League basketball team voted to form a union after a federal official ruled that the players were employees of the school.

Mr. Witz, who has covered college sports for The New York Times since 2019, is busy staying on top of these developments. In an interview on the eve of the first round of the men’s and women’s March Madness basketball tournaments, two of the N.C.A.A.’s crown jewels, he put some of the dramatic changes in context and described the broad horizons of his beat. This conversation has been edited.

The Dartmouth men’s basketball team voted to form a union after a National Labor Relations Board official said the players were employees of the school. What are the implications of this?

This has never happened before. Nobody has gotten this far in making the case that college athletes are employees. Ten years ago, Northwestern football players got close . The N.L.R.B. decided not to assert jurisdiction over that case. That could very well happen again.

It doesn’t appear that this is going to be settled anytime soon. Dartmouth has indicated that they are willing to go to the mat for this. I was told by a Dartmouth official that the players’ argument that they are employees cuts too far into an Ivy League belief that sports are not a job; they’re something closer to an avocation. Some of the Dartmouth basketball players acknowledge that this may not be settled before they finish their college careers.

It’s now common for elite student-athletes to transfer schools. Can you explain why?

If you turn on the TV this weekend, you’ll see players in the men’s and women’s tournaments who are playing in their third N.C.A.A. tournament with their third school. There are two reasons behind all that movement, and they’ve created an environment that looks a lot like professional sports free agency, where players move because they’re lured by a bigger financial payday. Coaches overhaul rosters each season.

One of those reasons is the transfer portal, which is in essence a clearinghouse. Players can enter their names in it if they’re interested in changing schools, then coaches all over the country can see who’s in and who they think they can get.

The other reason is name, image and likeness payments, which started three years ago. N.I.L. has allowed schools to pay athletes to come play sports for them. That’s gone on for decades. But in the past that had to be done under the table. Now, those payments are perfectly legal.

The way most of this money is delivered is not through the schools themselves, but through collectives , which are a third party. Collectives operate like a political action committee. Donors pool their money to their team's collective and then, in concert with the coaches, they get a sense of what it’s going to cost to get a starting point guard or a backup power forward. It really is like professional sports free agency, except there’s no salary cap.

What’s on your mind as March Madness basketball tournaments unfurl this weekend?

The tournaments only demonstrate that the athletes who are generating the money — the core of this machine — are not being compensated directly for their performance.

If you go back to Zion Williamson, who played one season for Duke in 2018 and 2019, he generated the type of attention that hadn’t been seen for college basketball players since the early 2000s. A rock star following turned out to Duke games that year to watch him. Mike Krzyzewski, his coach, was making close to $7 million a year. But under the rules at the time , which limited compensation to education-related benefits, it wasn’t permissible for somebody from the school to buy Zion Williamson a cheeseburger. I think the N.C.A.A. tournament forces viewers to confront dynamics like this.

There’s N.I.L. now, but you can see similar dynamics with Caitlin Clark , the University of Iowa star. I’m sure she’s doing very nicely through endorsements and national television commercials. But she’s getting nothing directly from the proceeds of people watching Iowa play basketball .

The topic of college sports is broad. Your recent article on Matt Lynch, a junior college coach, proves that. How do you approach your beat?

Regarding the story on Matt Lynch , the openly gay coach at University of South Carolina Salkehatchie, it’s not often that I’m writing about a junior college basketball program. But the story felt so compelling that I had to.

I look for stories that can explain to readers some of the things that are going on in college sports at a time of tremendous change. The entire model of college athletics is unique to the United States. Everywhere else, education and athletics are bifurcated. You go to school in the morning, and, in the afternoon, if you’re a soccer player, you join the soccer club. Here in the United States, they are connected, which is really tremendous in a lot of ways. But now that athletics has become such a moneymaking enterprise, there are cracks in the model.

Inside the World of Sports

Dive deeper into the people, issues and trends shaping professional, collegiate and amateur athletics..

No More  Cinderella Stories?: Expansion of the N.C.A.A. men’s basketball tournament has been a popular topic. But adding more teams could push small schools like Oakland, which upset Kentucky, out of the action .

Caitlin Clark’s Lasting Impact: People have flocked to watch the Iowa basketball star  on TV and in person. But will her effect on the popularity and economics of women’s sports linger after her college career ends ?

Gambling Poses Risks for Leagues:   The situation involving the former interpreter for Shohei Ohtani, the Los Angeles Dodgers slugger and pitcher, shows that when it comes to wagering on games, professional leagues have more than just the players to watch .

Unionization Efforts: How is a football team different from a marching band? The National Labor Relations Board is considering this question as it tries to determine whether some college athletes should be deemed employees .

Delayed Gratification: Doping rules, legal challenges and endless appeals have left some Olympic medalists waiting for their golds .