When it comes to learning basketball in Singapore today, there are many more options than what you would get 7-10 years ago. The 3 most common avenues for people to learn basketball are: Schools, Basketball Academies and Self-Learn.

Self-Learn through YouTube videos

Pros

Self-Learn is probably the easiest and most affordable option compared to the other options.

You will just need any media device that has an internet connection, so that you can learn from YouTube videos, and a Basketball for you to practice with. This method was also very popular during Circuit Breaker and the early phases of the Covid-19 pandemic, due to the strict social distancing measurements, and people were not able to play/train together as a team or even be on the basketball court as sports facilities were all ordered to close.

For experienced players that wish to learn or revise about a new move or imitate their favorite NBA basketball players, this option also allows them to understand the breakdown of the moves and try them out at their own convenience.

Cons

Poor Positioning: Players’ poor positioning when shooting, defending or when they drive towards the basket if not corrected, can lead to bad habits, physical trauma or even injury. Self-Learn also means the lack of professionals (e.g. Coaches) on hand to guide and correct your posture. You may imagine yourself doing a move in your mind one way, but in reality, you may not be doing it with the same form as what you see on videos.

Overestimate Themselves: Sometimes players, especially beginners attempt to learn moves that may be more advanced than their current level. This may cause a gap in their learning, as they may not have built enough foundational skills to execute the moves correctly. In the worst case scenario, you may suffer a long-term sport injury going through training without anyone teaching or checking you properly.

Lack of Teamwork: Going to schools or academies to learn Basketball allows players to get to know their peers, and create a sense of community and belonging that will take you through the long journey of mastering the various basketball skills. Self-learning through YouTube videos disables the player from building connection with a team and enjoying team play (which is the essence of basketball as a team sport).

Lack of Structure: Self-Learn through YouTube videos does not provide a guided progress or structure. In order to maximize growth, lessons should be tailored to the student’s own individual personal development. This also leads to gaps in techniques, theoretical knowledge, difficulty in keeping on track, lack of motivation as there are no goals set up, and no proper learning curve is maintained.

Distractions: Players might be distracted by other non-related videos.

Schools

Pros

Schools are probably the most common place that people learn basketball at. Many basketball players picked up the sports when they were in Primary or Secondary school. Basketball is also under the Physical Education (PE) curriculum, which allows the majority of the students to get a taste of the sport.

Learning Basketball in school, be it during PE lessons or during CCA, helps students to form a sense of camaraderie amongst their classmates/teammates, as they are able to work on their skills and stamina together as a team. How many of us actually started playing basketball because our good friends are also playing it? It also helps to establish a sense of pride and honor at representing the school, giving them a sense of belonging to this collective family.

Cons

Due to the large number of students in the team/class, and the minimal school training time allotted, it is difficult for the coach to plan and execute an individual training menu for each player. Thus, the lack of individual tailored programmes may hinder the student’s own individual personal development. Some coaches also ‘lock-in’ certain players into a specific mold based on their physical attributes, such as allocating taller players to only play as Centres or Forwards, and only teaching them post moves or operate near to the basket while not handling the ball much.

Also, those who do not make it into the school team may be asked to move to another CCA due to insufficient coaching resources to attend to both recreational and school team players. After all, the focus for schools with better basketball teams is usually on developing the best players so that they can send out the strongest lineup possible to participate in the annual inter-school tournament.

Academy

Last but not the least, interested individuals can go to structured basketball academies to learn the sport in an organised and professional setting. Amongst the growing number of basketball academies in Singapore, SG Basketball is the premier service provider for basketball in Singapore. We offer programs and events that cater for players of all ages, from beginner to advanced skill levels.

Daily Group Classes

Timing: Weekdays, 3.30 pm - 5pm | 5.15- 6.45 pm | 7 - 8.30 pm

Location: SG Basketball@Shotzone (Chai Chee) | Turf City

Age Group: 4 - 18 years old
*Players will then be further split according to their age and skill level

Leagues

In order for our trainees to gain further exposure and experience through competitive basketball, SG Basketball also organizes a multitude of tournament leagues, catering to all ages, gender and skills level. Some include:

Community Basketball League
- Weekly competitions for U8 - U18 trainees
- Intermediate/ Advanced skills level with an interest to play competitively
- Every Sunday, 9am - 2pm at Tanglin Trust School.
Jammers Basketball League
- Weekly competitions for Mens
- Every Friday/Saturday, 8pm - 11pm at SG Basketball@Shotzone (Chai Chee).
Mini Basketball League
- Weekly competitions for U6 - U10 trainees
- Beginner/ Intermediate skills level with an interest to play competitively
- Every Sunday, 9 am - 1pm at SG Basketball@Shotzone (Chai Chee).

Most importantly, SG Basketball also offers personalized individual training through the Coach-Up program. Through the Coach-Up sessions, our coaches offers personalized attention and coaching, creating personalized training menus for you to improve on your fundamentals and basketball skills.

Cons

Pricey, but if the quality of coaching, environment and access to all things basketball matter to you, it will be worth every cent.

Where can I learn Basketball in Singapore?