Registration is now open for the 2023 Jr. NBA Skills Challenge! View the tabs below for competition information, program timelines, and to register to host a local competition.
- OVERVIEW
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
The Jr. NBA Skills Challenge provides boys and girls, ages 13 and younger, the opportunity to improve upon and showcase their fitness through five fundamental basketball skills: shooting, lay-ups, dribbling, passing, and defense. The program is free for all participants and organizations. Boys and girls compete separately in two different age groups: 11U and 13U. Participants will compete in local competitions for the opportunity to qualify for the National Finals in New York City.
To view an overview of the Jr. NBA Skills Challenge, please CLICK HERE.
- HOST REGISTRATION
We thank you for your interest in hosting a Jr. NBA Skills Challenge Local Competition. To provide this opportunity to the boys and girls, ages 13 and younger, in your community, click on the register button below:
Once registered, a Jr. NBA Skills Challenge representative will contact you via email and phone to confirm your registration and provide you with additional information to successfully host your Local Competition.
After registration, Local Competition Hosts will have access to everything needed to successfully host a Local Competition, including the Jr. NBA Skills Challenge Local Host Digital Tool Kit, and a unique URL for their online player registrations. The Local Host Digital Tool Kit includes the following:
- Program Handbook
- Tips to host
- Court set up diagrams
- Scoresheets
- FAQ’s
- Promotional items
- Participation card
- Award certificates
- Skill instructional video
To see Frequently Asked Questions for Local Competition Hosts, please CLICK HERE.
To see the Jr. NBA Skills Competition Official Rules, please CLICK HERE.
Please note that Local Competitions can only be held within the United States.
- PLAYER REGISTRATION
The Jr. NBA Skills Challenge is open to all boys and girls ages 13 and younger. Boys and girls will compete separately in 2 different age groups: 11U and 13U. A player MUST be registered online for a specific Local Competition in order to participate and be eligible to advance.
In order to participate in a local competition, encourage your child’s youth basketball organization or coach to register as a host. If your child is not part of a youth basketball organization or team, check back here to view local competitions in your area that are open to the public. To stay up to date with the latest program information, please register for the Jr. NBA .
- COMPETITION SKILLS
Participants will compete in each of the five standardized skills to earn a total cumulative time resulting in a final score:
- Dribbling – Challenges participants in stationary, zig-zag, and speed dribbling.
- Shooting – Challenges participants to make jump shots from the elbow.
- Lay-Up – Challenges participants to make lay-up shots.
- Passing – Challenge participants to accurately pass towards a wall target and receive a pass.
- Defense and Bonus Free Throw – Challenges participants in defensive lane slides, sprinting, and free throw shooting.
- TIMELINE
Local Competition: January 2023 – April 2023
- Each host may conduct as many Local Competitions as they would like during the Local Competition timeframe. Local winners do NOT automatically advance to the National Finals. Local winners will be contacted by the Jr. NBA as to their possible advancement to the National Finals.
- Local Competition hosts may choose for their event to be public or private. If public, then the event and player registration details will be found on the Jr. NBA Skills Challenge website under the Player Registration tab. If private, only community members directly invited by the Local Host will have access to event and player registration details.
National Finals: June 2023
- The top scorers from the Local Competitions will be ranked and invited to compete at the National Finals during the 2023 NBA Draft presented by State Farm in June 2023.
- CONTACT
Please visit the FAQs for additional assistance.
The staff of the Jr. NBA Skills Challenge is happy to answer questions regarding the program. Please email JrNBA@nba.com and a representative will be available to assist.