Toby

Dark HS and MS gyms are not your friend. I shoot lots of basketball with 2 basic setups. First a f2.8 fixed lens (28-70mm) on aperture priority at 1/320 minimum for MS and girls (1/400 for boys). Select ISO by making practice shots until you have enough light (3400 usually works for me but it depends on when the unacceptable noise starts in your camera). Second scenario is to shoot with an f3.5 to 5.6 28mm to 300mm lens. Aperture priority 1/400, ISO 5000. I like the second lens because I can cover the entire gym if I want to although staying in the 70mm range is best to keep the larger aperture. I should mention, however, shooting in raw and PP using Lightroom is the best combination.

I shoot from the floor in the corners. I think that gives the best shots and you usually don't block anyone's view. Alternate sides so as to get both the right and left handed players faces. You may also try to kneel on the floor, shooting upward makes good shots but be ready to move quickly which I don't do so well any more. The best photos have the face and ball in the picture and the net if you can. Good Luck

PaulR01 Loc: West Texas

Canon 5Diii and canon 7Dii
Here is my favorite shot so far this year.

(Download)

markngolf Loc: Bridgewater, NJ

I have shot a great deal of "youth basketball" - grand kid's teams. I have Canon - 7D MII and 5D MIII. I'm sure Nikon has equivalent. This combo provides some terrific shots. (for me - I'm not a pro, just a grandfather who loves photography and my grand - kids.) I usually shoot from a variety of positions from the stands and from behind the OB line as the players approach from the far half court. I use the 5D MIII with the 24 - 70 f/2.8 for close ups from floor, and the 7D MII with the 70 - 200 f/2.8 II from the stands and behind the basket as the players approach from the far court. I'm very respectful of not interfering or encroaching the foul lines and have never been warned or admonished by the refs. I have also shot soccer, volleyball, horseback riding and baseball with same equipment. My best shots have occurred when I took the time to arrive early and experiment with exposure. Once I have suitable settings, I set that on manual (I usually shoot manual) and concentrate on composition/positioning. Have fun!!
Mark

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

I shoot basketball with a D5 and D500. I use a light meter to get the exposure correct and an Expodisk to set the WB. I use a 35/1.8 DX, a 50/1.8 FX, a 85/1.5 and sometimes my 70-200/2.8 as well as a 180/2.8. My prefered position is close to underneath the basket, or from the corner of the court if that's not possible. With the faster lenses, I shoot at 1/500 @ F2.0 and ISO 1600 on manual and adjust that as needed based upon the lens mounted and the meter reading. I only shoot raw. My usual lens is the 35 or 50, camera dependent. Shooting from the stands will not produce much. In Sports Action shooting, there are two things you need, a face and a ball. One mantra of this type of shooting is "If you see it, you missed it". My shooting consists of short bursts. One additional concept is to follow the ball of a shot, if it's misses and you're on it, you might just get a nice rebound shot. Love those shots of the players in the air shooting the ball. Best of luck. If you want any additional info, please PM me. Best of luck.

markngolf Loc: Bridgewater, NJ

That's a terrific shot. I have the same cameras and shoot BB & other sports. It's fun!!
Mark

PaulR01 Loc: West Texas

It helps when you have great players to shoot. Having back problems makes it difficult to get low all the time. Knee pads are a must in my bag. Hoping to upgrade to a 1Dx before next football season. I just need to sale more pictures.

kenpic Loc: Edmonds, WA

You have everything you need. I would set my ISO to 6400 and shoot in aperature priority (at f4). This will give you the fast shutter speed you need. In addition to the other suggestions you have received, I find that I am often shooting in vertical, especially when I am under the basket. That allows me to isolate the shooter and keep the ball in the shot. Also, I often am shooting in continous high. If you are shooting in Single shot, make sure your AF assist illumination is off (IF the D500 has one.)

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

That's pretty cool.

fstoprookie Loc: Central Valley of California

I have used a D3 & now use a D5 with a 24-70mm f2.8 or have used sometimes an 85mm f1.8 depending on the lighting in the gym (some are pretty dark) and how much room I have around the court.

fstoprookie Loc: Central Valley of California

Forgot to attach a picture

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

Since there are no photos, I guess your problem lies in the use of such a slow lens for this.

Dun1 Loc: Atlanta, GA

If you wish to shoot youth basketball one of the most important facts is where you are allowed to shoot.
The stands ? The Floor ?.
If you can shoot from the floor a great place as some have mentioned is in the area of the basket, to either side.
If you wish to stop or capture the action or stop the action, the minimum shutter speed should be 1/500, in some cases 1/1000 to make sure some items basketballs path from a hand etc.
Most gyms are not designed with great lighting, the majority have many types of lighting, i.e. incandescent, florescent, in some later gyms LED, so you might wish to shoot in RAW, so you can control the color balance. In some cases one end of gym floor may be 180 degrees vs the other end of the floor. I have used an Expo Disc, or some tool to set the white balance, to meter the color balance on one end of the floor, and then use the disc to meter the other end of the floor. If the team you follow is shooting on one goal, after the half the color at the opposite end might be an entirely different color balance.
Yes, knee pads are a necessity, as has been recommended above, shooting your from a low level makes better shots.
I have used a 70-200 2.8 lens, a 24 mm 2.8 lens, a 50 mm 1.4 lens, as well as a 28-135 lens. If the gym where you are shooting has windows that provide natural light it helps, you to keep you shutter at the faster settings. If you have to increase your ISO to be able to get shots that are not blurred, get the shot, worry about noise later.
Be cordial to the referees they control everything that takes place on the floor one the games starts.
If the gym where you shoot has a second or upper level, some newer gyms have a floor level, and a second level where the spectators sit, you can get some great shots from that level near the goals.
About 80% of sports are shot in the AV (Canon) A (Nikon) you can select the lens opening to keep the shutter speed as fast as possible.
Don't develop a "Spray and Pray" mentality, focus and frame your shots so you can get good shots you will want to keep.
Focus on the number area of the players jersey, you want to capture the emotion on the players faces. No body will enjoy the photo of back of a players head as he runs to the other end of the floor.
The players age also the speed of game play, rec league games are played at slower level, middle school or junior high school games are faster, and high school games by far the fastest.
Shoot with one eye open if you shoot from the gym floor, for your protection as well as the players protection. Photograph the game do not become a reason for the referees to ban you floor area.