Basketball is one of the most popular team sports ever. You can play basketball both indoors and outdoors, and it can be a very fun hobby as well as a professional career. Basketball usually involves 2 teams of 5 active players each that try to score points against each other by throwing the ball through a high hoop (the basket) under organized rules. Details like the height of the basket, the size of the ball, can vary depending on the age, size, and skill levels of the game players.
Playing basketball relies very much on your speed and agility, and it involves a lot of fast movements such as shooting, passing, rebounding, dribbling, defense, and more. Because of the 'starting and stopping' involved in playing the game, this can be a very fun and efficient workout even if you do it just for fun, without having a professional goal in mind. If you play basketball for just one hour, you can burn up to 750 calories, but there are many other health benefits you can reap from playing this game.
- Burn more calories
- Build stamina and endurance
- Improve your balance and coordination
- Build up muscle
- Develop self-discipline and concentration
5 Reasons to play Basketball
If you thought that the 5 health benefits mentioned before were the reasons why you should play basketball – there are more! If you are already convinced by the health reasons, that's great! But an experienced fitness enthusiast could come up with many other workouts that help you build up muscle, burn more calories, or improve your balance and coordination. That's why we are going to take a closer look at what makes basketball special.
1. Teamwork
Basketball teaches you to work with others towards a common goal. This is a critical life skill that you can benefit a lot from. Children especially learn how to work with a team when they start playing team sports such as basketball at an early age.
2. Fitness
If you play basketball on a regular basis you will not only build and tone your muscles, but also improve your coordination, speed, strength, and of course, cardiovascular health. But the distinctive trait of basketball is that the ball handling and dribbling involved in the game improves your fine motor skills.
3. Mental Skills
Because it is a game that requires teamwork and strategy, this will help you develop your critical thinking and problem analysis skills. This is another positive quality that you will benefit from in daily life.
4. Cost-Effective
This sport is very cost-effective for both children and adults. Basketball allows players to reap all the health benefits of exercise without the prohibitive costs of forms of exercise that require a lot of expensive equipment. All you need is a hoop and a basketball to fully enjoy the game.
5. It's fun!
Basketball is fun, it has simple rules, and you can play it with your team – which is a great opportunity to socialize with like-minded people, or even on your own. All you need is a basket, a ball, and a good pair of shoes. Basketball is not popular because everybody plays it, but because everybody loves to play it.
Although an official basketball game requires 10 players, you can easily play with just another person, or even on your own. You can shoot baskets by yourself to practice, have fun, or simply to exercise – all you need is a ball and a hoop. If you want to take a more competitive approach, you can join a team and get involved in your local basketball competitions. Basketball is super popular, so you'll certainly be able to find a team at your local sports centers and associations.
A great thing about basketball is that it can be played by people of all ages and abilities, and while it can be played all year round because of it being an indoor sport, you can also play it outside. It's also a fun game for children of all ages to enjoy. You need very little equipment for this sport, aside from the basketball.
Because it involves a lot of jumping and running, it would be wise for you to have basketball shoes or other sports shoes with ankle support, knee sleeves, elbow sleeves, and mouth guards. If you are an adult and you've never played basketball before, check with your doctor before you try it. This is a fast-action sport that involves a lot of running, pivoting, twisting, and jumping, so injuries can easily happen.
Basketball also puts a lot of stress on tight shoulders and legs, especially your knee and ankle joints. It's a very physically demanding game, so if you want to do it regularly, maintain your strength and flexibility. Never start a game without a proper warm-up first! Stretch your muscles before you hit the court, and remember to cool down and stretch after the game is over.
Make sure you don't overdo it. You can mix your basketball games with other low-impact sports, for better results. You could just incorporate a game or two per week into your routine to meet your friends and vary your fitness routine. Remember to warm-up before your games and to protect your joints when you play, and you'll have the best basketball experience you can have!