Basketball: Why It’s A Good Sport For You

Michael Jordan. Kobe Bryant. LeBron James. Your friends and your neighbors. Why is basketball so appealing to a lot of people? So many reasons, actually. If you’re thinking about taking up the sport, here are several reasons why it’s going to be good for you.

It’s great for your Health

Lose weight. Whether you’re making shots or playing defense, basketball involves a lot of movement. And a lot of movement means more calories burned. Actually, if you play on both ends of the floor you can burn around 750 calories in an hour.

Improve coordination and balance. Running while dribbling and getting away from defenders sounds easy when done by NBA players, but if you’re new to it you’ll be tripping on your own toes. Playing basketball allows you to be more coordinated and improve your balance. You do have to start by scratch, which means dribbling drills and footwork.

Builds endurance. Running, jumping, shooting, playing defense is very challenging. Even 10 minutes of it can improve your stamina.

Strengthens bones and builds muscle. All that impact from running and jumping can really strengthen your bones, not to mention your leg muscles. Dribbling, shooting and passing toughens your hand, wrist and arm muscles. While playing defense is great for your core and chest.

Teaches you discipline. There’s a science to basketball. You don’t just take a shot, make a pass or go for a block. There’s a proper way to do things and you will need self-discipline and concentration to do it all properly. You’ll also need to practice regularly to improve how you play the game.

Additional benefits

Develops mental and emotional toughness. In basketball, you’re going to go up against faster, bigger and better players. If you’re going to succeed playing against them-or if you want to be like them-you have to be mentally tough. You have to play smart by keeping track of their weaknesses and strengths and well as your own. Make adjustments in-game. Basketball teaches you to stay confident even if things are not going your way.

Encourages camaraderie. Even if you’re a great player, basketball is still a team game. Basketball teaches you to play with others. Help them play better and let them do the same for you. Most successful basketball teams, professionally or amateur, are closely-knit squads who have grown together despite previous failures.

How do you get started?

Since we’ve got the fitness part covered, you will need the gear. Basketball shoes should be based on the position you play. Guards need a shoe that will complement their speed while still protecting their ankles and feet. This means a mid-cut shoe that is lightweight and has good traction. Small forwards can also use mid-cut shoes. Power forwards and centers may need more support and stability since it gets a lot physical down low.

While basketball courts can be found in many places, having your own can help you practice. And if you’re really shy about making bloopers if you’re a beginner. Brands like Lifetime offers easy to install baskets. The height of the models can be adjusted. The basket, board and pillar and base are made of sturdy materials so it can take even the most physical games.

https://youtu.be/MJTY2wN7Dz4