Basketball Roster Size - Rec

[Anonymous]

what is the typical number of a non-AAU/travel team in the area? DD wanted to join friend's team but was told it's full - at 9 players. wondering if this is the norm or BS. wouldn't 10 make more sense? this is 5th grade. thx!

[Anonymous]

To me that's really small. Even a high school team would have at least 12.

[Anonymous]

My son hasn't played since 3rd grade, but it was between 12 and 15 then for rec.

[Anonymous]

Around 10 is the sweet spot. Plenty of playing time to go around, but no risk of a forfeit if a couple of kids can’t make it.

[Anonymous]

My daughter's rec team was generally around 12, but most were multisport athletes where BB was the side sport.

My son's select team was 8-10 through 5/6th grades.

[Anonymous]

My 6th grade son has 8 or 9 on his team.

[Anonymous]

In Arlington, it’s 9 at 5th grade.

[Anonymous]

I did team formation we would do 9-11, with the assumption kids would get sick and required playing time kids only get to play 1/2 the game.

[Anonymous]

It's 8 here

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's 8 here

For both my 4th and 7th graders on a house league - I thought that was the question.

[Anonymous]

8 or 9 is the norm.
Most leagues require kids to play at least half the game...not sure how they do that with 15 kid rosters!

[Anonymous]

Both my 9 year olds have 8-9 on the team. I’m fairly certain you can’t join late. The rec dept bends over backwards to make the teams ‘fair’ with a draft. You can’t circumvent the draft process and join a specific team later.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son hasn't played since 3rd grade, but it was between 12 and 15 then for rec.

15 in rec!!!! How would they get enough playtime?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:what is the typical number of a non-AAU/travel team in the area? DD wanted to join friend's team but was told it's full - at 9 players. wondering if this is the norm or BS. wouldn't 10 make more sense? this is 5th grade. thx!

I bet if your daughter was really good they would find a way to make ten.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Both my 9 year olds have 8-9 on the team. I’m fairly certain you can’t join late. The rec dept bends over backwards to make the teams ‘fair’ with a draft. You can’t circumvent the draft process and join a specific team later.

+1 Most start taking registration in August and give you a date by which you can request a team. You can’t come in when teams are already formed, which is a complicated process given they have to limit how many travel players are on a given team, and expect to be placed where you want. Especially in fifth grade when some of these kids have already been playing for three years together and have first priority and staying on their same team.