My little guy turned seven last week, and like any other kid his age, he’s all about running around and having fun. I figured it’s about time I got him into some sports, and basketball seemed like a good start. But, I had no clue what size basketball to get him. I mean, they come in all different sizes, right?
So, I started by doing what any clueless parent would do – I googled “what size basketball for 7 year old.” I got a bunch of different answers, and honestly, it was a bit overwhelming. Some websites said a size 3, others recommended a size 5, and a few even mentioned a size 4. I was like, “What’s the deal with all these numbers?”
I decided to dig a little deeper. I started reading about the different sizes and what they’re meant for. Apparently, size 3 balls are for really little kids, like toddlers. Size 7 is what the pros use – definitely not what I needed. Size 6 seemed too big too. It’s for like teenagers. Then there’s size 5, which, according to several websites, is the “official” size for kids aged 7 to 9. And size 4 is kind of a middle ground between size 3 and size 5, for ages between 5 to 8.
After gathering all this info, I still wasn’t completely sure. So I decided to go to a sporting goods store to check them out in person. I grabbed a size 3, a size 4 and a size 5 ball and held them in my hands. The size 3 felt way too small and light, almost like a toy. The size 5 felt just right in terms of size and weight, and the size 4 is just in between.
I even asked one of the store employees for their opinion, and they confirmed that size 4 or size 5 is generally a good choice for a 7-year-old, while size 5 is more suitable for 7-9 years old and size 4 is more for 5-8. It depends on the kid’s size and strength, they said.
Since my son is a bit on the smaller side, and he might get frustrated with a ball that’s too big or heavy, I ended up getting him the size 4. He’s been playing with it for a few days now, and he seems to be handling it just fine. He’s having a blast dribbling and shooting, and that’s all that matters.
So, if you’re in the same boat, wondering what size basketball to get for your 7-year-old, I’d say a size 4 or size 5 is a safe bet. But it really depends on your kid. If you can, try to get them to hold the different sizes and see which one feels best for them.
- Size 3: Too small for a 7 year old, these are for toddlers.
- Size 4: Good middle ground, suitable for ages 5-8, better for smaller 7 years old.
- Size 5: The standard choice, meant for kids aged 7-9.
- Size 6: Too big for a 7 year old, these are for teenagers.
- Size 7: Way too big, used by adults and professionals.
My final take?
Don’t overthink it too much. Just get them a ball and let them have fun! Seeing my son enjoying the game is way more rewarding than getting bogged down in the technicalities of ball sizes. But if you ask me, for a 7-year-old, size 4 or size 5 is usually the best choice.