Whether you
enjoy shooting hoops by yourself, playing a game with friends or competing at
an elite level, basketball offers many health benefits. This fast-moving sport
will have you working up a sweat while improving your agility, coordination and
speed.
Here are
five health benefits of basketball.
1. Supports Cardiovascular Health
Basketball
is a fast-moving sport that gets your heart pumping. It’s an excellent
cardiovascular workout that will improve your endurance and potentially reduce your risk of stroke and heart disease.
2. Improves Bone Strength
Basketball
is a physically demanding sport that can help build stronger bones. Any type of
weight-bearing exercise will help strengthen your bones and potentially prevent
osteoporosis later in life.
Basketball
involves a number of skills that help promote this effect, including jumping,
shooting and dribbling.
3. Promotes Weight Loss
Playing a
sport is a great way to burn calories while having fun. Basketball is no
different. The running, jumping and quick lateral movements help deliver a
great cardiovascular workout that burns calories and fat.
A person
weighing 150 pounds can burn about 204 calories playing basketball for an hour. The
harder you work and longer you play, the more calories you’ll burn.
If you enjoy
playing basketball, you’ll be more motivated to continue playing and burning
calories. Exercising regularly will help you maintain a healthy weight and
fitness level.
4. Encourages Goal-Setting and Self-Improvement
Whether you play competitively or just with a group of friends, basketball promotes goal-setting and self-improvement. You can even add a touch of self into the games and play custom or Personalized Basketballs with friends in your health group, or gym.
When playing
on a team, you’re encouraged to give every practice and game everything you
have, and you’ll work to set new achievement goals as you progress in your
skills. On a professional level, coaches use analytics systems to help their players (and team as a
whole) better improve their game.
The
self-improvement and goal-setting aspects of the game will set you up for
success later in life. After all, these are the foundations of success in
virtually every aspect of life. To reach your goals, you must be disciplined
and prepared to improve yourself.
These traits
will carry on into other areas of your life, helping you enjoy more fruitful
academic and professional careers.
5. Boosts the Immune System
Playing
basketball or any other sport can help reduce stress, which ultimately helps improve your immune system function.
Stress puts a strain on your immune system, making you more susceptible to
illness.
Playing an
active sport that gives you an aerobic workout will lower levels of cortisol
and adrenaline – stress hormones – to give your immune system a break.
6. Improves Mental Development
Basketball
is more than a physical sport – it’s also a mental sport that requires you to think on your
feet.
To progress
in this sport, you must stay focused and aware of the action on the court to
make quick decisions. The wrong move could put your team behind.
Basketball
also requires you to train yourself to be observant of your teammates and
opponents, predict their actions, and take actions based on those predictions.
7. Improved Coordination and Motor Skills
Like many
other sports, basketball requires excellent hand-eye coordination. Each time you practice or play this
sport, you’re developing these skills. Dribbling improves hand-eye coordination
while shooting and rebounding missed shots improves full-body coordination.
These
improved skills will further enhance your fitness level, agility and endurance.
Having better coordination can also help prevent injuries that could keep you
off of the court.
8. Improved Confidence
Playing
sports is a great way to boost your self-confidence. As you improve your skill and
progress in the sport, you improve your self-esteem. Confidence will help you
face life with a more positive disposition and overall outlook on life.