Why you Should Play Basketball (And How to Start!)

As one of the most popular sports in the world, basketball has never been easier to get involved in. Over 300,000 people in the UK play basketball each month and this is thanks to the variety of clubs available, from after-school kids clubs to wheelchair basketball clubs, and everything inbetween. Also, with the great influx of Multi-Use Games Areas (MUGAs) in public parks, there’s no excuse not to give it a try.

Healthy Weight Loss

Why do so many people give up their New Year’s resolution to lose weight? It’s because they miss out one crucial element: enjoying themselves. Finding an activity that you enjoy is half the battle when improving your health. Basketball is active, intense and strategic – it’s no wonder so many people enjoy it. A great side effect of all the fun you’ll have is the 200 calories per half hour that basketball burns. Find a taster session, join in and in no time you’ll be on your way to shooting hoops and healthy living.

Stay Fit

You’ve gone out, got your blood pumping and what’s more you have a taste for competition. Why stop there? To progress and excel in the sport, continue to play and talk to current players. This way you’ll build on existing skills, learn new ones and further improve your health. When ready, join a team that plays against other clubs to test your ability. Setting yourself goals helps in every part of life, so apply it to basketball and see where it takes you.

Be Social

Chances are, your basketball addiction will take you to a new-found group of friends and like-minded sportsmen and women. Friendly games are a great way to get the adrenaline rush of a match with the added bonus of socialising with all players, no matter what colour their jersey.

Wheelchair and Walking Basketball

Accessibility is one area where basketball excels beyond all other sports. The smooth, hard surface of a basketball court is perfect for variations such as wheelchair basketball and walking basketball. For many wheelchair users, wheelchair basketball is the most fun way to keep fit, make friends and be competitive. Its popularity is marked by the number of wheelchair basketball clubs that run alongside their basketball equivalent. Walking basketball is a favourite of those who are recovering from injuries resulting in reduced motor function, or who have limited mobility but want to play sport and keep fit. It’s low intensity compared to basketball, but it still requires the turns, pivots and motion of basketball, just at a walking pace.

Junior Basketball

Like any self-respecting sport, basketball encourages the young to get involved and discover their talents in an exciting way. Junior basketball teams and leagues are rife, and popular in schools throughout the UK as well as locally organised clubs. If your child is interested, take it as an opportunity to learn new skills alongside your child. They will probably be better at it than you, but you can sure give them a run for their money. Find your local club to get involved. Basketball England, Basketball Northern Ireland, Basketball Scotland and Basketball Wales are good places to start. Charles Lawrence construct the finest basketball, netball and tennis courts in the UK. Schools, colleges, public parks and international standard facilities all get the same expert team of builders who use 30 years of experience to lay the best playing surfaces. Our clients are the people who play on our courts. Whether they’re school children or Olympic athletes, we believe they should practice and compete on nothing less than a perfect playing surface. We also design and build Multi-Use Games areas, so if you want as much sport for your money and a versatile gaming court, contact the friendly team at Charles Lawrence.