10 Things I Wish I Knew as a Basketball Parent

Knowledge is king - and we all want what is best for our hoopers at the end of the day. Recently, Dr. Dish surveyed over 500 basketball parents to give insights on certain topics related to training, costs, support, etc. We were blown away by the amount of great responses we got, so we want to share them with you all.

We compiled a list of “10 things I Wish I Knew as a Basketball Parent'' based upon the responses we received from this select group. We hope this helps guide parents on some important topics or questions they’ve had.

1. At-home training is essential for developing outside of practice and other team activities.
   a. 87% of players are practicing at home.
   b. Practicing drills and exercises at home ranked the #1 most effective method to help improve player's skills outside of organized practice.
2. Invest as much as finances allow for your child’s development with training tools, camps, etc.
3. Basketball guides, videos, podcasts, and other media are underrated ways for your child to learn the game.
   a. 71% of parents rely on instructional videos and tutorials as a basketball skill development tool.
4. There isn’t one “right” way to be involved in your child’s journey. Whether you train them directly, or support them from the sidelines with loud cheers, do what feels right for your situation.
5. Tracking your child’s stats and progress is essential to knowing where their game is, and where it needs to get to in order to achieve their goals. The Dr. Dish has advanced analytic capabilities to do this.
   a. Only 14% of parents do this!
6. You're not alone in having trouble balancing family priorities with basketball.
   a. This was listed as the #2 challenge parents face in supporting their hooper.
7. Burnout and mental fatigue can impact your player tremendously - always be sure to check-in and see where their confidence is.
   a. Managing confidence of their player was listed as the #1 challenge parents face in supporting their hooper!
8. Breaks and time away from the game are OK! Players need a mental reset before jumping back in.
9. A personal trainer isn’t the end-all, be-all solution to advanced practice - there are other tools out there like the Dr. Dish Home that accomplish this for a lesser price.
10. The Off-Season is THE MOST IMPORTANT time for growth in a player’s year.
    a. 95% of players train in the off-season.
    b. 97% of parents noticed significant improvement in their players skills/athleticism as a result of off-season ttraining!

Every family is different, but hopefully some of these answers provide some key insights when thinking about your child’s basketball journey. And if you are looking for an advanced at-home training solution that will take their skills development from A to B, faster, then checkout the Dr. Dish Home.

Also, if you are looking for a structured program for your child this summer, our Dr. Dish Off-Season Player Guide has it all. With nothing like it before - The guide features countless professional-level trainers, players, coaches, and even nutritionists to help you elevate your hooper’s skills when it matters the most.