A Slam Dunk – The Benefits of Playing Basketball

Basketball is a popular sport played for competition, recreation, and physical exercise. As a game that can be played at any age level and in any physical condition, basketball has many benefits for everyone. Here are some reasons why this sport can have many benefits, especially for your children.

The most obvious benefit of playing basketball is that it’s a great form of exercise. With the rise in obesity, parents are encouraged to help their children be physically active on a regular basis. As a cardiovascular exercise, basketball gets kids running and jumping at a steady pace, which gets their hearts and lungs working. Basketball aerobic exercise can burn up to a whopping 700 calories. Basketball also strengthens and builds muscles, which improves stamina and flexibility. Lastly, it greatly improves coordination skills; You have to coordinate your entire body and work with your teammates and against the opposing team, which helps you focus on your body and your environment as well.

Basketball, like any team sport, is a great social sport. Your children will interact with their peers on a regular basis and learn to be good team players. It is important that children learn to work with others to achieve a common goal; In basketball, each person has a role that contributes to the team’s goal of winning. It will also teach children to accept failure from time to time. Instead of overreacting to life’s failures, children need to be taught how to learn from disappointments and how to work harder to succeed next time. As your child participates in this fast-paced, interactive sport, he or she will reap the benefits of physical exercise, social relationships, and important life lessons.