Basketball Training Games for Baby: Inside Tips from a Coach's Wife

My husband is a basketball strength coach for a Division I basketball team. When we had our first baby, Coach Dad decided that our baby needed to start training for sports since Day 1. At eight months old, our baby is close to walking, knows how to toss a ball, and can handle Coach Daddy's blocking. Whether that means that professional basketball is in our baby's future, I don't know, but you can enjoy these fun activities that not only build strong bonds between parent and child, but also work on strength and agility.

Super Baby
Coach Dad loves to play "Super Baby". To play "Super Baby", a strong adult needs to lift the child in the air, with hands under the baby's stomach. Be sure to lift the baby only a few feet and over a soft surface, like a rug. Gauge whether your baby is ready for "Super Baby" by the strength in your child's neck. If he or she can lift up their head, then they may be ready for "Super Baby".

This is a great game to play. Our child is always in stitches every time Coach Dad plays Super Baby. It's even more fun when baby plays along and assumes the Superman pose with both arms in front. Believe it or not, this activity builds your baby's back muscles like "tummy time" but airborne!

Catch the Ball
Sit on the floor with your baby. Roll a ball back and forth. See if your baby will imitate you. At first, he or she may not understand, but eventually you will find that your baby will enjoy tossing the ball back and forth to you. My baby and I always enjoy playing with one of those larger plastic bouncy balls. We both flail our arms wildly, allowing the ball to fly back and forth between us. I love hearing the giggles that accompany this fun ball game.

Easy Baby Basketball
Okay, even Coach Dad sort of admits that a baby can't make a basket. Instead, give the baby a box full of wads of paper. Let the baby empty the box. Then show your baby how to "make a basket" by putting the paper back in. Basket! Nothing but net!

Running Laps
A fun activity that we love to do as a family involves all three of us (Me, Coach Dad, and baby), crawling after each other on the floor. Usually Daddy chases baby and baby chases Mommy. To make it fun, we add obstacles, like a bouncer, chair, or pillow. After a few laps around the living room, everyone is exhausted from laughing and crawling!

Go to a Basketball Game
Never underestimate the importance of sports events. Your baby may not understand that he shouldn't cry when your team is getting ready to make a three pointer, but he can enjoy looking at the athletes run back and forth with the ball, watching the dance team, listening to the band, and maybe even sampling the concession stands. Besides, there is a ton of people-watching to do. So dress her up in the team colors and go to the game!