Fitness & Wellness

Basketball: what it is and its benefits

You’ve probably already played basketball in physical education classes, right? However, in addition to being a recreational sport in early childhood education, basketball is a sport practiced by athletes around the world and even in competitions.

Therefore, whether you are a professional or an amateur basketball athlete, know that regular practice of this sport brings many benefits to physical and mental health, not to mention that it is a way to keep the body moving, preventing health problems in favor of quality of life. life.

Do you want to include basketball in your routine? Stay with us to learn about this modality!

Who created basketball?

The history of basketball began in the United States in 1891 by James Naismith, a physical education teacher, to meet the needs of practicing sports in winter, preferably indoors. However, it was also designed to be practiced in open places.

Unlike the basketball hoops that many people are used to, it was necessary to improvise at that time, as it had been a sport developed practically from scratch. Therefore, Naismith used peach baskets and, from there, asked the students to throw the ball to score the point.

As time went by, after a few plays, he had the brilliant idea of ​​cutting the bottom of the object, allowing the ball to go in and out, since, in the beginning, it had to be removed from the inside. After two years, in 1893, the basket was developed with metal hoops, modernizing the sport.

What is basketball?

We provided you a spoiler about basketball above since it is a sport that you most likely played as a youngster or adolescent because it is taught in physical education classes.

Simply described, basketball is a game played by two teams of five players each. The goal is to cross the court from one side to the other and then hit the ball into the opponent’s hoop to score. Each move’s point value can range from one to three.

Next, check out how the scoring scheme in basketball works:

  • 1 point: during free throws in designated locations during the competition, specifically in penalty kicks;
  • 2 points: when the basket is made from the inside of the three-point line;
  • 3 points: when the athlete scores from the back or outside the three-point line.

Furthermore, basketball can be played on two types of courts: closed and open. As for the height to the basket, it needs to measure 3.05 meters from the floor.

Regarding basketball techniques, players can use the following tactics during the game against opponents: dribbling, passing the ball, shooting, rebounding and blocking. Furthermore, some technical failures may occur during the game, such as personal, technical, unsportsmanlike and disqualifying, and when the athlete receives the fifth penalty, he is removed from the game.

The rules of basketball are varied, so it is important to look for a professional skilled in this sport to answer all your questions, okay?

What are the benefits of basketball?

The most important benefit of basketball is the fight against a sedentary lifestyle , since the practice allows you to move and/or work different muscle groups at the same time, such as legs , arms and shoulders , improving muscle quality, preventing, for example, stiffness problems. joint and bone problems.

Consequently, it can be said that basketball helps improve motor coordination and increases body awareness . Furthermore, many other physical and mental health benefits can be gained through this sport:

  • Improves strength;
  • It helps to have discipline;
  • Increases speed;
  • Improves the cardiorespiratory part;
  • Helps with daily movements;
  • Promotes healthy weight loss ;
  • Contributes to gaining flexibility ;
  • Helps improve cardiovascular health ;
  • Reduce symptoms of stress , anxiety and/or depression ;
  • And much more!

We can’t forget about the community-building benefit, right? After all, because basketball is a team activity, it is crucial to concentrate on interpersonal connections, developing camaraderie and empathy, which are important at all phases of life, from infancy to maturity, and will benefit workers, for example.

Can everyone play basketball?

Many people wonder about whether or not they can play basketball, especially when it comes to height, since the athletes are all tall, right? So, if at some point you stopped playing or started playing basketball because of this, we have good news: you just can’t, but you should include this sport in your routine , if you want to.

This is because, contrary to what many people imagine, there is no minimum height to play basketball. Regarding sex, know that all people, both men and women, are welcome. The same goes for age, okay? All age groups can do it.

The sport is also accessible to persons with physical disabilities, such as wheelchair users; after all, it is an inclusive sport that welcomes everyone.

Conclusion

Basketball is a game that is flexible and a synthesis game; it was one of the inventions by James Naismith in 1891. This indoor game was invented mostly to be played during the winter season; later, it transformed into an international game for professionalism and recreation as well. The basic game includes two teams, each containing five players. They play goal-oriented play to score in their account by passing the ball through the opponent’s hoop in the air. The score is varied accordingly.

In addition, basketball offers many physical and mental health benefits. It helps fight passiveness by working out various groups of muscles and improving motor coordination and cardio fitness. It helps to lower the levels of stress and anxiety and maintain some key life disciplines also, including teamwork and empathy. The game is also inclusive and welcome to players of any height, from both genders, any age group, and even those with some physical limitations, including wheelchair users.

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