The Ultimate List of Basic Requirements of Basketball
Basketball is a sport that is loved throughout the world. In fact, according to one recent study, basketball is ranked as the third most popular sport worldwide with a whopping 2-billion fans. However, before you lace up your basketball shoes and jump on the court, there are a few basic rules and requirements of the game that you should know.
That’s why, below, we’ve compiled the ultimate list of basic requirements of basketball. This list goes through the basic requirements needed to not only be successful on and off the court but also the requirements needed to fully and thoroughly understand the sport.
You Need to be Both Fast and Agile
Basketball is a sport that requires players to be both fast and agile. Speed alone won’t be enough as agility will help you to pass defenders and spin through a heavily trafficked lane of blockers. In basketball, cardiovascular endurance is of utmost importance.
Although you won’t be running as much as some soccer player, with some players clocking in over ten-miles of total running length, you will still be putting in over 2.5-miles per game. This means you need to train your body for cardiovascular strength and endurance to ensure you are ready for the intensity of the game.
Muscular Strength for Powerful Moves
Basketball differs from so many other sports in that not only does it require a high degree of cardiovascular strength but also requires a high degree of muscular ones as well.
In basketball, muscular strength, including both upper and lower-body strength, can help you to not only take more difficult, away from the basket shots, but can also help you to efficiently box out an opposing player and grab an offensive and defensive rebound from mid-air.
Similarly, training and working out your lower-body muscles will help you to elevate like never before. Even if you are unable to dunk the ball, training your lower body will help you to elevate closer to the rim for a simpler layup, to block a shot, to put back a missed shot, or to grab a particularly onerous rebound.
Confidence is Key
Basketball, like so many other sports, is a game of confidence. The best players are often the best because they believe they are. And this is not meant to discount the time, effort, and practice that is required to be one of the best. But to be an effective basketball player, you need to have the confidence within yourself that you truly are.
As-such, it is important to begin each game with the right mindset and attitude. Visualizing yourself scoring, defending, passing, and rebounding will help you to increase your own confidence and your own abilities.
Practice Really Does Make Perfect
Okay, we admit, there is no such thing as a perfect basketball player. But when it comes to some basic requirements of basketball, then practice is at the top of the list. Basketball is a sport that requires both skill and precision and those two can only be perfected by practicing them both during practice and in a game time situation.
Height and Age
While these aren’t requirements for basketball, per se, they can definitely give you an advantage and an edge in your game. Statistically, basketball players are taller than the average person, with the average NBA player standing in at 6’6”. This is compared to the average height of men in the United States standing in at 5’9”.
Again, while being taller is not a strict requirement for basketball, it is a useful advantage. You will be able to better effectively block, rebound, and score with the added inches to your height and will have an easier time guarding players on the court.
Similarly, age is a big factor when it comes to playing basketball. The average age of NBA players is just over 26-years old. Again, while not a strict requirement for playing basketball, age plays a role in your quickness, speed, dexterity, and ability to perform grueling workouts and games.
Mental Toughness
Perhaps one of the most important aspects and basic requirements of basketball is mental toughness. Basketball is not only a physical sport but also one that requires mental toughness and the fortitude needed to succeed.
There are a number of other players, both in the United States and around the world, who are not only willing to put in the time and effort and practice needed every day but also willing to work though the obstacles and issues they may face.
Mental toughness means not only being willing to put in the time and effort but also having the internal confidence and decisioning needed to succeed. It also means being able to move past mistakes, whether made in practice or in a live game, and continue to believe in yourself.
Willingness to Sacrifice Time and Recreation
While basketball may just be a game, when it comes to some basic requirements, in order to succeed and be one of the best, you will need to have the willingness to sacrifice your personal and recreational time.
Being one of the best in the game requires minimum levels of time commitment and practice per day. You will need to wake up early, complete both cardiovascular and muscular conditioning, and complete basic basketball drills until perfection.
Undoubtedly, you will need to sacrifice time from your family and friends and will need to have 100% focus on the game. You will literally need to eat, breathe, and sleep basketball and always be training and competing at a minimum to be one of the best.