Printer-Friendly Logo

Recipe Search

Enter ingredients or recipe title:

Or



More Recipe Search Options

Basketball

Basketball

Exercise Description

Basketball is an excellent way to burn kilojoules, and improve aerobic conditioning, when played at a moderate or high intensity.  

Basketball can be played at various levels - from shooting baskets to playing one-on-one with someone of equal ability, or playing a rigorous, competitive, full-court game. This running and jumping sport is a fun way to get a workout with friends.  

What Muscles You Work:

Basketball players have strong legs for jumping and a strong upper body for rebounding the ball. In particular, you will work muscles in your legs, back, shoulders, wrists, and hands.

Tips To Improve Your Basketball Game:

  • Learn the proper shooting technique. Balance your weight evenly over both feet; bend your elbow 90 degrees so that your upper arm is parallel to the floor; keep your eyes on the rim; and after you shoot remember to follow through by letting the ball roll off your fingers. 
  • Balance the ball on the fingertips (not the palm) of one hand while using the other as a guide. 
  • Keep your knees bent, and use your legs to help propel the ball upward. 
  • Practice endurance-running drills with long, slow runs from 1 - 3 kilometres to improve your stamina. Once you have built up your base level, start interval training. Repeated sprints of varying distances, with short rests in between, will give you the speed and quick recovery you need. 

How Not To Get Hurt:

Make sure to warm up and stretch before playing, and cool down and stretch again afterwards. Basketball is mostly a running game, and you may pull a muscle if your legs are not warm and loose before you go all-out.

Essential Equipment:

  • A good-fitting pair of basketball shoes with a good midsole for cushioning, a broad base of support in the outer sole for stability, additional support from a stiff upper, and ankle support as well.
  • A t-shirt, loose-fitting shorts and (for women) a sports bra. 
  • Water bottle and water, water and more water. 
  • Good-fitting socks constructed of a fabric that keeps moisture away from the skin to prevent skin soreness.
More About This Subject