Getting into Basketball Shape

For this week’s blog post I wanted to go over something that doesn’t really get mentioned much. Your overall health and the shape you are in are key things necessary to keep you strong and safe while on the court. 

As we all know, every sport requires you to be in a different type of shape to excel at it. For basketball, it requires cardio endurance, strength and speed. 

In order to keep your heart in good shape while you’re running up and down a court at game speed, you must focus on your conditioning. Your ability to outlast your opponent for a full game is a huge advantage that is overlooked. When you’re working out, think more sprints over long distance running. 

Weight lifting is also required to be in good basketball shape. Start light and slowly build muscle. This allows you to finish stronger, take hits better and overall be stronger with the ball while it also helps with your cardio endurance. 

Last and most importantly, I want to discuss your sleep and nutrition. These two things are critical when it comes to remaining healthy and being able to continue to play ball at a high level for a long time. 

You have to treat your body well by getting adequate sleep, good hydration and the correct nutrition while you’re growing. It is that much more important when you are an athlete. 

Make sure you are making healthy choices with your meals and snacks. Be sure to be drinking water throughout your whole day and more after games and practices. Try to eat plenty of healthy carbs, proteins and fats so you don’t feel sluggish and heavy. 

If you do these things consistently you will feel stronger, have less injuries, and be a better ball player. These habits aren’t the fun parts of basketball, but they will be the things that set you apart from your opponents and have you feeling good throughout your basketball journey.