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How does basketball improve your health
How does basketball improve your health
Basketball - health benefits - Better Health Channel
Summary
Read the full fact sheet
- Basketball teaches you about being a good team player and can be a great social sport.
- Adults should check with their doctor before taking up basketball.
- Basketball puts a lot of stress on the body and injuries can happen, so warming up, stretching your muscles and joints, and cooling down is important.
- Make sure you have plenty of fluids on hand and rehydrate regularly.
Basketball is one of the most popular sports in the world and one of the most widely viewed. It is a team sport that involves two teams of five active players each trying to score points against one another by throwing a ball through a 300 cm (10 feet) high hoop (the ‘basket’) under organised rules. It is played on both indoor and outdoor courts.
The size of the court, height of the basket, size of the basketball, and length of time that the game is played, can all vary according to the age, size and skill level of players.![]()
Basketball is a fast moving game that involves a lot of variety, including shooting, dribbling, passing, rebounding, defence and much more.
Health benefits of basketball
Basketball involves a lot of starting and stopping. While not renowned as an aerobic sport, it is still a great workout that can help you:
- burn calories (an hour of basketball can burn 630–750 calories)
- build endurance
- improve balance and coordination
- develop concentration and self-discipline
- build up muscle.
Other benefits of basketball
As well as being a great way to stay fit, basketball can also:
- help you to make new friends and see them regularly teach you about being a good team player
- be played by people of all ages and all abilities
- be played all year round because it’s usually an indoor sport
- be a fun game that kids of all levels and ages can enjoy
- be practiced alone – all you need is a ball and a hoop (and you can find a hoop in most local parks and school grounds)
- be played and enjoyed with as few as two people (although official games require 10 players).
Getting started with basketball
Although official games of basketball require 10 players, you can play a game of basketball with just one other person. You can also go out and shoot baskets by yourself. If you want to play basketball competitively, you can become a member of a team and get involved in local competition. Check out your local sports centres and associations for information on how to join a team, or start your own.
Basketball equipment
One of the great things about the game is that apart from having a basketball, you require very little other equipment to play. However, as basketball involves a lot of running and jumping, it can also be wise to have:
- basketball or sports shoes that provide good ankle support
- mouth guards
- protective knee and elbow pads.
Basketball and children
Basketball is a great way for kids to get active and have fun. ‘Aussie hoops’ is a national introductory basketball program for primary school children, started by Basketball Australia and the Australian Sports Commission.
It provides primary school girls and boys of all ages, abilities and skill levels, with the opportunity to play basketball and develop sport and social skills in a safe environment.
The program is delivered at local schools, community centers and local stadiums throughout Australia, by local associations and trained professionals. To find your local association, contact Basketball Victoria on (03) 9927 6666.
Some general tips
Suggestions include:
- Adults should check with their doctor before taking up basketball.
- Be aware that basketball is a fast-action game with lots of running, jumping, pivoting and twisting, so injuries and accidents can happen easily.
- Basketball puts a lot of stress on the legs, especially the knees and ankles, and puts pressure on tight shoulders.
- Protect yourself by becoming strong and flexible, as basketball is a very physically demanding game.
- Warm up and stretch your muscles and joints before hitting the court.
Also cool down and stretch after playing. - Make sure you have plenty of fluids on hand and rehydrate regularly.
- Don’t overdo it (this will depend on your age and condition). Mix it up with other low-impact sports.
- While playing in a full team competition is great, you can also have fun and benefit from a small space, a basket and a game of one on one.
Where to get help
- Local council
- Local basketball club
- Basketball Australia Tel. (02) 9469 7200
- Smartplay Tel. (03) 9674 8777
Things to remember
- Basketball teaches you about being a good team player and can be a great social sport.
- Adults should check with their doctor before taking up basketball.
- Basketball puts a lot of stress on the body and injuries can happen, so warming up, stretching your muscles and joints, and cooling down is important.
- Make sure you have plenty of fluids on hand and rehydrate regularly.
- Smartplay Preventing Basketball Injuries Fact Sheet. 2007, Smartplay Victoria. More information here.
- Why is basketball a great sport for kids?, Basketball Victoria. More information here.
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10 Physical and Emotional Benefits
Basketball is an enjoyable sport that suits many skill levels and ages, owing to its worldwide popularity.
A standard basketball team has five players per side. You can also play two-on-two or three-on-three games, or even on your own. With indoor courts, you can play basketball year-round.
The main objective of the game is to score points by shooting the ball through the hoop. You use defensive strategies to prevent the other team from scoring.
You can play basketball with a playful or competitive spirit. Either way, it’s a fantastic way to gain strength, coordination, and muscular endurance.
Plus, you’ll have the opportunity to be a part of a team and a larger community.
Read on to learn more about how the physical, emotional, and social benefits of playing basketball can improve your overall health and well-being. You’ll also learn how to get started if you want to pick up the game.
1. Strengthens muscular endurance
Playing basketball requires agility, strength, and stamina. You must quickly move and change directions using high-intensity, short-duration muscle contractions.
You’ll also need muscular endurance, which is the ability of muscles to repeatedly apply force for an extended period. You can increase your muscular endurance by playing basketball and doing exercises to build lower and upper body strength.
You can also focus on strengthening your core and back muscles. This will have a positive effect on your stamina, energy, levels, and performance.
2. Builds healthy bones
Playing a team sport, such as basketball, can provide unique physical and mental health benefits.
Research from 2018 found that playing a team-based sport has a positive effect on bone strength.
People who played handball and football were shown to have more bone mineral density than those who were sedentary.
3. Improves balance and coordination
Playing basketball requires you to develop hand-eye and foot coordination as you maintain your balance throughout the movements. As you play, you need to move your body quickly as you jump, pivot, or change direction.
Basketball requires you to use motor skills such as shooting, passing, and dribbling. You’ll also become skilled in rebounding and defensive moves. Maintaining a strong body will help you perform all of these movements with greater ease.
4. Develops fundamental movement skills
Playing basketball offers youth the opportunity to develop the motor skills necessary for development. Research from 2018 points to the effectiveness of basketball in enhancing the fundamental movement skills that children need to learn.
Playing basketball helps to improve motor coordination, flexibility, and endurance. It also encourages speed, agility, and strength. These skills are shown to have a positive effect on promoting a healthy body weight and encouraging more physical activity, which can enhance cardiorespiratory fitness and self-esteem.
5. Improves body composition
In a 2018 study, researchers found that playing basketball had a positive effect on overall body composition. In this study, untrained men underwent 3 months of street basketball training, which had a positive effect on overall fitness and body composition. After the training, the men increased their lean body mass and lowered their body fat percentage.
6. Boosts heart health
Regular physical activity helps to improve heart health and overall fitness levels. According to research from 2019, basketball increases resting heart rates, which has a positive effect on cardiorespiratory fitness. This is linked to a lower chance of developing cardiovascular disease.
7. Develops self-confidence
You may develop self-confidence as you find your voice and learn more about who you are in a new situation. As a team, members can encourage, motivate, and support each other. They can also point out areas that need improvement, which can lead to positive growth.
Success on the court can extend into other areas of your life, and you may find that you have a newfound belief in yourself and your abilities.
8. Lowers stress
Engaging in physical activity releases endorphins, which are the feel-good, or happiness, hormones. Endorphins may boost your mood, promote relaxation, and reduce pain. They can also alleviate depression, boost self-esteem, and enhance your work performance.
Playing basketball will also help you hone your concentration skills by staying focused on the game. This may also help you develop present-moment awareness or mindfulness. These tools may be effective in allowing you to deal with anxiety in other areas of your life.
9. Encourages team spirit
Playing basketball helps foster a sense of community and teamwork. You may have the chance to positively interact with people from different backgrounds, which can broaden your perspective.
Plus, you’ll learn to play fairly and graciously regardless of the outcome of your performance. Your teammates and you can aim to be supportive, positive role models for each other.
10. Develops communication skills
As you interact with your teammates, you may learn new ways to communicate verbally and nonverbally. You’ll have the chance to talk to your teammates and listen to what they have to say.
Most likely, there will be time to communicate before, during, and after a game or practice. Whether you learn to speak up or stay silent more often, positive communication skills will bring benefits to your athletic, personal, and professional life.
Basketball is suitable for a variety of abilities and ages, making it accessible to a wide range of people.
If you or your child wants to start playing basketball, there are several ways to begin.
If you want to play basketball competitively, join a team or league in your area. Check out local athletic or basketball clubs or sports associations. If you want to play basketball informally, you can shoot hoops on your own or with a few friends.
Here are a few basketball drills and practice ideas.
Once you find a public or private court, the only equipment you’ll need is a basketball and comfortable, supportive athletic shoes. Shoes designed especially for basketball are helpful, but they’re not essential. Optional safety gear includes mouth guards, knee and elbow pads, and ankle and knee braces. You can also use athletic tape and protective eyewear.
Talk to your doctor if you’re new to fitness or have any medical conditions that affect your performance. If you have injuries, especially in your shoulders, hands, or lower body, talk to a doctor.
Basketball is an excellent way to get in shape and stay active.
You can play it at a moderate or strenuous intensity. Putting in some time on the courts can help you gain strength, flexibility, and endurance.
You’ll learn to move your body in different ways as you jump, pivot, and twist. Plus, you’ll have the opportunity to connect with fitness-minded individuals and work on being a good teammate.
People of a variety of ages and skill levels can participate in basketball, whether it’s a neighborhood pick-up game, competitive league, or weekend tournament. You’ll be certain to gain satisfaction as you reap the benefits of the game, progress on your own path, and most importantly, have fun.
Health benefits of playing basketball 🏀| Basketball as a healthy lifestyle
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📝 Rules and features
Before we talk about the actual benefits of this sport, we must clarify its basic rules and concepts.
So, basketball is a team game involving the use of the so-called basketball. Two teams participate in the competition, each of which is responsible for its own basket, which is a ring with a net, a basketball backboard, equipped on a rack.
To win, you need to throw the ball into the opponent's basket and at the same time protect your own basket from being hit by an "enemy projectile.
The venue for this game is a sports field where five players from each of the participating teams meet. It should be noted that in basketball you can only touch the ball with your hand, and you need to move it through bouncing on the floor, which makes the game very reckless and difficult.
A goal scored brings the team from one to three points, since the size of credits is determined by the area of the site where the player was at the time of the throw.
📈 Why is basketball good for health?
From the above, it is clear that basketball is a very maneuverable and fast sport that provides a variety of physical activities.
The gameplay here includes running, jumping, throwing and many other movements. Of course, participation in such a game provides training for various muscle groups and develops muscles to a large extent. If extra pounds are your problem, basketball will help you quickly lose weight and gain long-awaited harmony .
Other positive aspects are the strengthening of the vestibular apparatus and a natural increase in dexterity. In addition, basketball fans have excellent coordination and endurance. The positive effect of this game on human immunity has been proven, because it trains the protective functions well, as well as the respiratory apparatus . If you do it for a long time, you can increase your lung capacity.
The benefits of basketball do not stop there, because it improves the health of the nervous and cardiovascular systems, and also has a beneficial effect on the organs of vision. For the latter, the game becomes a kind of visual gymnastics, including constant observation of the ball, namely, this is necessary for training the eye muscles and developing peripheral vision .
How does basketball affect human psychology? Very positive, because it forms in us many useful qualities and skills. For example, endurance, ability to focus on a set goal, take initiative, work in a team and take responsibility .
🏀 Basketball for the younger generations
It's no secret that young athletes prefer those games that are spectacular and dynamic. This is exactly what basketball is - a favorite sport of many boys. The positive impact of this game on the physical development of children is obvious, but one cannot fail to note the enormous pedagogical benefits.
It has been proven that the guys attending the basketball section are more creative, responsible, collected and independent than their non-athletic peers. If a child has problems with discipline or self-esteem, parents should introduce him to this game. Recall that this can be done quite early (starting from primary school age).
Adults in Russia are not often fond of basketball, because football and volleyball in our area have much more fans.
However, the situation is gradually beginning to change, and we are seeing considerable progress in this regard. We have already noted above that this game is not only very exciting, but also useful. It is no coincidence that a number of positions from basketball are included in recreational physical education programs.
❌ Contraindications for playing basketball
Unfortunately, not all people can play basketball. Those suffering from diseases of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems, as well as those with problems with the musculoskeletal system, should be aware of the danger this game poses to them. There are a number of other diseases in which basketball is absolutely contraindicated.
In order not to make mistakes and not harm yourself in any way, you should undergo a medical examination before starting classes and discuss its results with a specialist. It must be remembered that basketball is one of the traumatic games, so it is important for novice athletes to follow the safety rules.
Without elementary preparation and a conversation with an experienced trainer, it is impossible to start classes.
A small warm-up before each competition can also help protect you from injury. When forming a team, you need to recruit people with a similar level of physical fitness into it.
In our store you will find all the necessary equipment for playing basketball, for example:
- Stationary basketball stands and mobile stands
- Balls
- Baskets and nets
BASKETBALL: health benefits, contraindications, game rules. | HEALTHY LIFESTYLE
Basketball is considered one of the most exciting and spectacular sports. But do not forget that this type of physical activity can not only provide an opportunity to spend interesting time, but also improve health, both physical and psychological. We will talk in detail about the benefits and harms of basketball today.
Basketball rules:
Basketball is a team game with a special ball.
Basketball is played by two teams, the task of each of which is to throw the ball into a special basket (ring with a net) of the opponent and prevent the ball from being thrown into their own basket. There are 5 players from each team on the court. You can touch the ball only with your hands, while moving around the court you need to hit it on the floor. For each goal scored, 1, 2 or 3 points are awarded, depending on the zone of the site from which the throw was made.
The benefits of basketball:
- Basketball is full of various maneuvers, running and all sorts of jumps and throws. This allows you to use almost all muscle groups during the game, which contributes to the harmonious strengthening of the muscles.
- Basketball strengthens the vestibular apparatus, improves coordination of movements, develops dexterity.
- Regular practice of this dynamic sport well increases the endurance of the organism.
- Excellent effect on the immune system, strengthen the protective properties of the body.
- Train the human respiratory apparatus, increase lung capacity.
- Favorably affect the functioning of the cardiovascular system.
- Basketball strengthens the nervous system.
- This game is useful for the eyes. Looking from close to distant objects, tracking the ball and players strengthens the eye muscles, develops peripheral vision.
- Basketball is a good helper for maintaining a slim figure and fighting overweight.
- This game is very useful for developing such character traits as self-discipline, focus on goals, responsibility, the ability to think outside the box, initiative, communication skills.
Basketball for children:
Basketball is a very interesting and exciting game, so children (especially boys) enjoy playing it. In addition to a wonderful effect on the physical development of the child, this game helps to build character, teaches you to work in a team, make quick decisions, look for non-standard solutions.
In addition, basketball disciplines, helps in the socialization of the child, develops a sense of responsibility, and increases self-esteem. Basketball is usually played by children at an early age.
Basketball for adults:
In our country, adults do not often play basketball, preferring football or volleyball. Despite this, some exercises from this game are included in physical therapy, as they have a positive effect on the body, helping to strengthen and maintain health.
Contraindications for basketball:
Basketball may be contraindicated in diseases of the respiratory system, cardiovascular system, musculoskeletal system and other organs and systems of the body. Therefore, in the presence of diseases, before starting basketball, it is necessary to consult a doctor. In addition, basketball is considered a traumatic sport, so beginners need to pay attention to initial preparation. To minimize the chance of injury, warm up before each game and play with people of approximately the same fitness level.
