Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Warm-up

Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Warm-Up

Basketball helps young people build emotional, physical, and mental skills, and it can set the stage for a healthy, active life. That’s why creating a positive, safe playing environment—one that keeps kids on the court and lowers their risk of injury—is so important. 

The Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Warm-Up is designed to help coaches, parents, and players of all ages and skill levels boost performance and lower the risk of injury. 

Warming up before practices and games takes 15 minutes or less and improves your strength, quickness, and speed. Find Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Warm-Up resources below to incorporate it into your routine.

  • Impact of Warming Up

    The NBA and WNBA recommend neuromuscular injury prevention warm-ups at every level of basketball, as these programs have been shown to significantly reduce the risk of injury. (DiFiori et al., Sports Med 2018) 

    • Nearly one in three youth athletes experiences a sport related injury each year, but neuromuscular warmup programs can make a major difference—research shows they can reduce injury rates by up to 60%. (Lutz D et al., Br J Sports Med 2024).  
    • Neuromuscular warm‑ups take just 10–15 minutes and include simple aerobic, balance, strength, and agility exercises. These routines help players get ready to perform on the court while also building the strength, stability, and movement skills linked to fewer ACL injuries and other serious setbacks in youth basketball. (Lutz D et al., Br J Sports Med 2024).  

  • Coaches
    • Because many youth teams lack regular access to strength and conditioning coaches or athletic trainers, coaches often take on this responsibility. The Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA supports them by offering the Warm-Up Course, which teaches coaches how to lead neuromuscular warm-ups and correct improper movement patterns. 
    • The course materials were developed by NBA and WNBA team health and performance experts, and leading clinicians and researchers, and have been empirically shown to enhance athletic performance and reduce injury risk. 

  • Parents
    • It can be hard to find trustworthy resources on injury prevention and athletic development. To help, the Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA not only created age-appropriate warm-up routines but also a course that teaches coaches how to lead these warm‑ups safely and effectively.
    • The program was developed by NBA and WNBA team health and performance experts, and leading clinicians and researchers, and studies show it improves performance and reduces injury risk. You can ask your child’s coach if they’ve completed the Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Warm‑Up Course to ensure they’re prepared to support the team.
    • Even during pickup games or workouts at home, a simple 10–15-minute warm‑up supports healthy physical development. Explore the age‑specific resources below to help your child build strong movement habits.