General

No matter how talented your child may be, there are going to days when he doesn't play his best, or when, despite his best effort, his team loses.  How you manage both the ups, and the inevitable downs, will play a large role in whether your child has a successful youth sports experience.  Here are ten things to keep in mind after your child's team loses or he doesn't perform up to his expectations.

Kids, especially under twelve, are always seeking their parents' approval. Negative labels and generalizations and criticism can have a devastating emotional impact. If you critique your child's performance, she will interpret your anger, disapproval, and disappointment as meaning that you don't love her anymore-that your love is conditional.

USA Basketball is a nonprofit organization that is recognized as the
national governing body for men's and women's basketball in the United
States by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and the United
States Olympic Committee (USOC). USA Basketball oversees all aspects of
basketball in the United States , from amateur to professional, and is
responsible for selecting the U.S Olympic team.

State high school associations will have the option to adopt a "mercy" rule in high school basketball beginning next season. The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Basketball Rules Committee voted that a state association may institute a running clock when a specified point differential is reached at a specified time in the game.