Am I Too Short to Play Basketball?

Many stereotypes arise in sports. But it may not always be the case and you shouldn’t let these stereotypes limit you from trying many other sports.

In basketball it is stereotypically known to be a tall people sport. But does it mean you are too short to play basketball?

There are many skills that are incorporated into a basketball game like dribbling, passing, shooting and tactical thinking. While tall players might have the height advantage, shorter players also have their benefits. Each player has their own strengths and weaknesses which can complement each other and make a well-rounded team. Hence, there are ways you can be an effective small player. 

Shorter players can be more agile and use the speed advantage over taller players as they have a lower center of gravity and greater stability. Being more agile can allow players to easily shift around and quickly change directions on the court which is great when crossing over and to go past defenders. 

Dribbling is also something short players have initial advantage in as you are closer to the ground. This gives you an upper hand when making quick cuts and during fast-breaks. Making it hard for defenders to block.
By being a smarter player on court with better strategic planning and tactical thinking can hugely benefit you and your team. Especially if you are the point guard, with better basketball IQ, you can read and react to the on-court situation and opponents move better in order to outplay taller players. 

Most importantly, basketball or any sport is as much a mental game as it is a physical one. So it is crucial to have confidence in your skills on court despite being physically shorter. Having self-confidence in yourself and a strong mental game can subconsciously improve your physical performance. 

Although people who are in the NBA are tall with an average height of 6'7″, it doesn’t mean that shorter players are unable to make it there professionally. A prime example is the Japanese women’s basketball team who was able to get the silver title in the Tokyo Olympics 2020 Basketball, just behind the title holder USA team. Despite the US having a distinct height and size advantage Japan being one of the shortest teams in the Olympics of 6-foot-1.5 inches to Japan’s 5-foot-9 inches, 5 inches taller and their starters being 5 inches taller on average they achieved good results. 

This is why you shouldn’t let your sports stereotypes limit you from trying the sports you like and play to a competitive level. So the answer to the question is, no, you are not too short to play basketball as you can find and develop your strengths to overcome the height difference and be an as effective player or even better player than those who are taller.