The Positives of Basketball (Go Celtics!)

Basketball is a great sport for people of all ages. As we age, our bodies change and it can be difficult to find an exercise that works well with those changes. Basketball is one of the few sports that can accommodate various health needs and activity levels. From playing a full-court game to playing HORSE, the sport has something for you.

Go Celtics!

Now is a great time to pick up a basketball and try the sport out. With the Celtics in the championship game the whole town is abuzz with basketball fever. By watching the pros and then emulating their game you’ll put learning into action. And let’s face it, in New England it’s rare that you can watch live basketball and then go play it outside in the same professional season.

Basketball Improves Cardiovascular Fitness

Basketball is a great way to boost your cardiovascular fitness, as it can increase your heart rate and blood flow. These factors, along with increased lung capacity, help reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases later in life. When playing basketball regularly, you’ll notice yourself feeling more energized throughout the day.

You might also be able to improve other aspects of your health by playing basketball regularly. For example:

• You may notice an improvement in your overall strength and muscle tone.
• You’ll have a better sense of balance, which can help prevent falls as you age.
• It can help you get more sleep, as physical activity may boost your body’s production of melatonin (a hormone that regulates sleep).

Improves Coordiantion, Agility, Balance, and Endurance

Basketball is a great way to improve your coordination, agility, balance and flexibility. The fast-paced movement followed by finesse finishes really help to improve multiple physical abilities. Here are some examples:

• Coordination – Having good coordination allows you to perform tasks like dribbling the ball with just one hand or passing the ball quickly from one teammate to another. To build your coordination skills try balancing on one foot while dribbling with both hands or catching two balls at once.

• Agility – Agility is how fast you can move your body in different directions without losing control over where it is going. This is especially true while on defense as you must rapidly responsd to offensive movements.

• Balance – You’ll often see players standing on one foot and shooting. This is to improve their balance and posture in many awkward angles.

• Endurance – Basketball is a physically demanding game. To improve your endurance, try jumping rope for 2 minutes straight to emulate fast-break situations.

Increases Energy Levels

You will feel more energized after playing basketball. This is because the sport helps improve blood flow to the brain, which in turn leads to better oxygenation of the body. The increased oxygen also improves metabolism and increases energy levels! So go play a game of basketball today and see how much more energetic you are when you come back!

Teaches Teamwork and Social Skills, Communication Skills, and Confidence

• Teamwork is a key part of basketball, and it can be a learning experience for life outside the court as well. Whether you’re on an intramural team at the college, or trying to make it big in the NBA, teamwork is important in any setting.

• Communication skills are also important for any team sport. Communication between players on the court helps them work together toward common goals and objectives; likewise, communication with teammates off-the-court serves to build camaraderie and trust among them (which also helps improve their performance).

• Confidence is essential when learning how to play any team sport like basketball—and confidence isn’t just something that comes naturally; it has to be learned over time through experience with past successes and failures alike (hence why some people have more difficulty than others when trying something new).