Basketball Excellence: 4 Essentials For Improving Your Game
One of the best things about the game of basketball is that it is fun at every level. It doesn't matter if you've never played a game in your life and couldn't hit a shot to save your life or are a pro player. It doesn't matter if you're an 8 year old kid or a 55 year old grandfather. At every stage, you get a fabulous workout, have a blast, and can find ways to up your game.
And no matter what level you're playing at, you should up your game. Because developing a passion for a recreational sport like basketball is not just about physical activity, it's also about always having a foundation for setting small goals that challenge you and build your confidence in all areas of your life. In this way, sports like basketball are a tool for becoming a better you.
So, if you are playing the weekly hoop games with your friends and want to build your skills a little to get more out of the game, there are some basic areas you can focus to get the most out of your game. Here are 4 of them.
1. Cardiovascular Exercise
One of the easiest ways to improve your basketball game is to start getting a cardio workout a few days a week. Watch an amateur game and it doesn't take long to see who has been getting a regular workout and who is just a weekend warrior who will probably be slugging back some beers later that night—just watch for the huffers and puffers with the red faces.
Getting a regular workout will strengthen your cardiovascular system so that you can play a little more effortlessly without tiring, allowing you to focus on the more skills of the game.
2. Strength Training
Basketball also requires a lot of strength, and a lot of people who play are pretty well-built individuals. They will be shoving you all over the court if you don't build a little strength of your own, and for amateur players, shoving people all over the court is sometimes the only weapon they have to make up for lack of skills. All in fun, of course.
But you also need strength just to keep those muscles from fatiguing throughout the game, lunging back and forth, jumping up for layups, and switching direction on the court. You don't need to be a bodybuilder or anything—just get a decent strength training routine in a couple days a week.
3. Interval Training
One of the best types of training for basketball—and also one of the best methods of both cardio and strength training—is interval training. This is when you alternate slow, easy movements with full power, full speed movements. For instance, you jog along at a healthy pace for a few minutes, break into a sprint for a bit, go back to jogging, and then sprint again. Keep repeating.
If you watch basketball, you can see why this type of start/stop action is perfect training for actual game conditions.
4. Play, Play, and Play Some More
Of course, the best way to get better at basketball is to practice, and there is no better practice than getting in tons of games. Consider shopping for high quality in ground basketball hoops and set up a court at home, and you'll get all the play you need if you're really serious about the game—or really serious about optimal health. Or get a couple of the more serious players at the Saturday games to make it a 3 day a week thing.
The important thing is to start thinking of your weekly game as tool for optimizing your fitness level and providing an outlet for building not just physical skills but life skills. Continually strive to get better at whatever it is you do in life, including playing around, and you are continually working on becoming a better person.
And no matter what level you're playing at, you should up your game. Because developing a passion for a recreational sport like basketball is not just about physical activity, it's also about always having a foundation for setting small goals that challenge you and build your confidence in all areas of your life. In this way, sports like basketball are a tool for becoming a better you.
So, if you are playing the weekly hoop games with your friends and want to build your skills a little to get more out of the game, there are some basic areas you can focus to get the most out of your game. Here are 4 of them.
1. Cardiovascular Exercise
One of the easiest ways to improve your basketball game is to start getting a cardio workout a few days a week. Watch an amateur game and it doesn't take long to see who has been getting a regular workout and who is just a weekend warrior who will probably be slugging back some beers later that night—just watch for the huffers and puffers with the red faces.
Getting a regular workout will strengthen your cardiovascular system so that you can play a little more effortlessly without tiring, allowing you to focus on the more skills of the game.
2. Strength Training
Basketball also requires a lot of strength, and a lot of people who play are pretty well-built individuals. They will be shoving you all over the court if you don't build a little strength of your own, and for amateur players, shoving people all over the court is sometimes the only weapon they have to make up for lack of skills. All in fun, of course.
But you also need strength just to keep those muscles from fatiguing throughout the game, lunging back and forth, jumping up for layups, and switching direction on the court. You don't need to be a bodybuilder or anything—just get a decent strength training routine in a couple days a week.
3. Interval Training
One of the best types of training for basketball—and also one of the best methods of both cardio and strength training—is interval training. This is when you alternate slow, easy movements with full power, full speed movements. For instance, you jog along at a healthy pace for a few minutes, break into a sprint for a bit, go back to jogging, and then sprint again. Keep repeating.
If you watch basketball, you can see why this type of start/stop action is perfect training for actual game conditions.
4. Play, Play, and Play Some More
Of course, the best way to get better at basketball is to practice, and there is no better practice than getting in tons of games. Consider shopping for high quality in ground basketball hoops and set up a court at home, and you'll get all the play you need if you're really serious about the game—or really serious about optimal health. Or get a couple of the more serious players at the Saturday games to make it a 3 day a week thing.
The important thing is to start thinking of your weekly game as tool for optimizing your fitness level and providing an outlet for building not just physical skills but life skills. Continually strive to get better at whatever it is you do in life, including playing around, and you are continually working on becoming a better person.
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