The NBA and USA Basketball announced a series of guidelines created to keep young players safe as they grow up, U.S. News reports.
Here's what you need to know.
1. The NBA urges all athletes to avoid single sport specialization until they are at least 14-years-old.
2. Athletes should take one day off from organized competition a week, and take an extended period of time off once a year for physical and mental recovery.
3. The NBA developed the guidelines for 6-year-olds to 14-year-olds after consulting with medical experts and former players and coaches.
The NBA's Director of Sports Medicine John DiFiori, MD, said, "There's a concern that single sport specialization may contribute to injuries and may contribute to basically loss of interest in the sport from sort of the repetition on incessant participation in one activity."
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