Basketball is one of the few team sports that doesn't have a lot of traditional, or mandatory protective gear.
But that's not to say that many don't benefit from using the permitted gear available.
This post discusses a few of them.
Before we get into what they are, let's discuss what's permitted in Rep Tournaments in Ontario. While the rules may vary from region to region, the general rule we've experienced is that undershirts, compression socks & sleeves and soft padded elbow pads and knee pads are permitted in OBL games. However, all players must wear the same colour, and only black or white are allowed. So if one player on your team is wearing black sleeve, and another player has white knee pads, one of them has to switch to the other colour. It's not always the case, but be prepared to deal with it if it comes up.
Let's start with knee pads. The most commonly used knee pads in Rep Basketball are the hex pad variety. These are flexible, and don't impede movement like hard pads can.
Disclosure: If you click on any of the pictures below and purchase the items from Amazon, we might get a small commission
These offer some cushion for the knee, along with a minimal amount of compression and support. If you are crashing the boards, or driving the lane, these will give you a bit of extra confidence that you're not going to get thrown off by a little contact.
Theses are soft pads, meaning its not a hard surface on the exterior. Please know that they are not invincible, and will wear down, sometimes sooner than you might want.
But the value is there, because it could have been your player's knee hitting the ground instead of the pad.
Elbow pads, like knee pads, offer a bit of cushion for your player when they're going elbow to elbow for the rebound, or scrambling to the floor for a loose ball.
Again, these soft pads, with no hard exterior shell like the ones you use for skateboarding, so they're not as restrictive, but they will wear down
They have saved my sons elbows on more than a few occasions.
These also provide similar benefit to a shooting sleeve in keeping the elbow warm.
A huge variety of these are available on Amazon, we like McDavid, so those are the ones we have showcased.
Compression sleeves can help to reduce soreness, cramping and fatigue, and generally, you will see players wearing these on their shooting arm.
If you click on the images, you can see more details about the McDavid products on Amazon, as well as the different colours that these, and the pads come in.
Just a reminder again that in our experience, white and black are the only colours permitted, so ask your coach and they will more than likely be able to guide you on the rules for your league.
Compression socks are just like compression sleeves in that they can reduce soreness, cramping and fatigue.
However, in the case of socks, generally these are worn on both legs, and in some cases, run from the thigh to the shin as a knee sleeve.
So does your player need any of these? Short answer for me is: If it makes my player more confident, because they feel more safe while being fully engaged in the game, then yes.
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