Basketball is a popular sport, especially among children and young adults. But the sport carries a risk for injury, whether played in an organized league or with friends on a local park court, More than 200,000 basketball-related injuries occur to young people under age 15 each year requiring treatment in hospital emergency departments, and basketball is the fourth leading cause of injury in both unorganized settings and organized community team sports.
Selecting the right basketball depends on the age and gender of the child, whether the ball is for indoor and/or outdoor use, and how much a parent wants to spend.