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Why is Basketball so Hard?

Why is Basketball so Hard?

Basketball is one of the most popular sports in America.  Played globally, the sport attracts legions of fans of all shapes and sizes looking to enjoy the game.  And initially created by Dr. James Naismith in 1891, basketball was originally played on two half-bushel peach baskets as an alternative to more injury-prone sports such as football.

And although basketball’s popularity quickly grew, the first game played under Dr. Naismith featured just one made basket. While much has changed since its inception, basketball remains one of the more difficult sports to both understand and become proficient at.

That is why, below, we are going to discuss and review just why basketball is so hard to both understand and become proficient at.  However, within this guide, we will also review some practical, easy steps to take to become more adept and proficient at the sport.

Brief History of Basketball

The game of basketball was originally created by Dr. Naismith in December 1891 in Springfield, Massachusetts.  Dr. Naismith originally envisioned the game as a means to help condition and train young athletes during the colder months.

As a physical instructor at the YMCA, Naismith was originally tasked with creating an indoor sport to help athletes keep in shape during the winter and colder months.  The initial game consisted of peach baskets and a soccer style ball for play, with the peach baskets being nailed to the lower railing of the gym balcony.

And with the invention of the new game, Dr. James Naismith also published his famous 13 rules for the game.  While the objective of the game was rather clear and straightforward, these 13 rules helped to set out a more refined and structured game and sport.

  1. The ball may be thrown in any direction with one or both hands.
  • The ball may be batted in any direction with one or both hands.
  • A player cannot run with the ball, the player must throw it from the spot on which he catches it, allowance to be made for a man who catches the ball when running at good speed.
  • The ball must be held in or between the hands, the arms or body must not be used for holding it.
  • No shouldering, holding, pushing, tripping, or striking in any way the person of an opponent shall be allowed. The first infringement of this rule by any person shall count as a foul, the second shall disqualify him until the next goal is made, or if there was evident intent to injure the person, for the whole of the game, no substitute.
  • A foul is striking the ball with the fist, violation of rules 3 and 4, and such as described in rule 5.
  • If either side makes three consecutive fouls it shall count a goal for opponents.
  • A goal shall be made when the ball is thrown or batted from grounds into the basket and stays there. If the ball rests on the edge and the opponent moves the basket it shall count as a goal.
  • When the ball goes out of bounds it shall be thrown into the field and played by the person first touching it. In case of a dispute, the umpire shall throw it straight into the field. The “thrower-in” is allowed five seconds. If he holds it longer it shall go to the opponent. If any side persists in delaying the game, the umpire shall call a foul on them.
  1. The umpire shall be the judge of the men and shall note the fouls and notify the referee when three consecutive fouls have been made.
  1. The referee shall be the judge of the ball and shall decide when the ball is in play, in-bounds, and to which side it belongs, and shall keep the time. He shall decide when a goal has been made and keep account of the goals with any other duties that are usually performed by a referee.
  1. The time shall be fifteen-minute halves, with five-minute rests between.
  1. The side making the most goals in that time shall be declared the winner. In the case of a draw, the game may, by agreement of the captains, be continued until another goal is made.

Height of the Basket

Perhaps one reason so many newer entrants and players to the game find the sport so difficult is due to the height of the basket.  Regulation sized baskets are propped ten feet above the ground, requiring significant strength and force to allow the basketball to reach that height.

With the basket being propped ten feet in the air, players typically look to work out both their arm and leg strength.  This better allows for them to shoot the ball with more force and more accuracy.  If you are just getting started in playing basketball, we would highly recommend working out both your arm and leg muscles to better assist you in shooting the basketball.

Size of the Basketball

While for many older players the size of a regulation basketball is typically not an issue, it can be for younger or smaller individuals.  With a regulation sized basketball coming at a size 7 or 29.5”, it can be difficult to fully grasp or dribble the ball.

For individuals starting out, younger children, or people with smaller statured, we highly recommend beginning play with a smaller, more easily grasped basketball.  We would recommend beginning with a women’s regulation sized basketball, which will better allow you to begin to understand the game before graduating to the men’s regulation sized basketball.

Rules of the Game

While the basic rules of basketball are pretty straightforward, that is, you simply need to shoot the basketball into the basketball hoop, the more nuanced rules and regulations of the game can be difficult to understand and remember.

While the more nuanced rules and regulations are important to understand, we would recommend sticking to the basics when just starting. 

Admittedly, there are probably ten main rules which every basketball player should fully understand before beginning play and these rules are quite basic and straightforward to understand.

Dribbling the Basketball

Another reason why basketball is so hard and difficult for many newer entrants to the sport is due to the act of dribbling.  Dribbling in basketball is one of the essential rules and not understanding or knowing how to properly dribble the basketball can lead to turnovers and a loss of possession.

To better your dribbling, we highly recommend learning slowly and deliberately.  That is, first begin to learn the basics of dribbling the basketball, the movements needed to be completed, before attempting to graduate to more advanced dribbling techniques.

As you begin to get a better grasp on dribbling, you can begin more advanced techniques, such as wrapping a basketball in a plastic bag, to better help you improve your dribbling skills. 

Again though, take it slow.  Advanced dribbling techniques take time to learn and properly master and can only be done once the fundamentals are fully understood.

Proper Shooting Form

While, for many, the height of the basketball hoop is a challenge, for many others learning how to properly shoot the basketball with both accuracy and force is the greatest challenge.  However, learning how to properly, effectively, and accurately shoot a basketball is a skill that takes time and practice.

That is why we highly recommend recording all your shots and learning from your shooting mistakes.  By recording all your shots, you will be better able to identify points and areas of weakness and where you will need to improve.

However, and within that, you should also ensure that you are practicing an adequate number of shots per day.  We recommend taking a minimum 250 shots per day to better improve your shooting abilities and accuracy.

And while you may not have the same accuracy and efficiency as Steph Curry, by taking 250 shots per day, you will see a noticeable improvement in your shooting abilities and accuracy within a three-month period.

Learning How to Play Proper Defense

While many newer players tend to focus on the offensive end of the game, defense is an equal part of the game.  However, learning and understanding how to ply proper defense can be difficult for both newer and more advanced players.

Admittedly, learning how to play proper defense can be difficult.  However, to better your defensive abilities, it is important to remember some basic guidelines.

  • Stay Low – by staying lower than the person you are guarding; you are better and more quickly able to get to the spot the offensive player is looking to drive to before them.
  • Keep an Arm’s Length – while many newer players tend to play close man-to-man basketball, doing so leaves you vulnerable to a quick side-dribble by the offensive player.  Rather, try to keep an arm’s length away from the offensive player for maximum coverage.
  • Watch the Offensive Player’s Legs – while many newer players tend to look at the basketball, you should be more focused on their footwork and anticipate their next move.  If an offensive player is looking to make a quick move, side-step, or drive to the basket, you can be better prepared to meet them there by watching their feet and anticipating that move.