Players cannot just show up at the first day of basketball practice and expect to play their best. Preparation for basketball season must begin months in advance, with players building up their cardiovascular endurance and muscular strength to get ready for a long season. Running and weightlifting aretwo basic areas to focus on, and there are many detailed exercises within each realm that players should focus on.
Running
Aerobic work provides the necessary training in the preseason to make the transition to full-time basketball easier. Running provides aerobic exercise and pushes the player to the brink of exhaustion, plus it prepares the player for the miles he will end up running in each game. According to the Sports Fitness Advisor, players should "Focus on continuous type training. This is lower intensity aerobic conditioning. After two to three weeks gradually begin to move into more intensive interval type training. Jogging is preferable to swimming or cycling at this stage in your basketball training program." By gradually increasing the intensity and length of runs, players will reduce the chance for injury and will be able to ease into mid-season form.
Weightlifting
Getting stronger for the season is a necessary task players need to take seriously. While it is not required to lift like football players, basketball players need to stay strong and build lean muscle. According to the Guide to Coaching Basketball, the type of weight program depends on the player's body composition and the position he plays. "Generally speaking, guards and small forwards should be concerned with adding muscle tone--i.e., using less weight and doing more reps--while centers and power forwards should be concerned with building bulk--using more weight and doing fewer reps." Building muscle in the wrong parts can hinder a player's progress, so it is important to follow guidelines according to position and body type.
Agility
Running and weight training fall into the big picture, but an important small thing is agility training. Most of basketball is based on footwork and agility drills can help players with that aspect of the game. According to Best Basketball Tips, "Agility training is an intense progressive series of exercises aimed at integrating many muscle groups and mimicking sports related activities." Some exercises that will help include lateral slides, line hops and low hurdles. The goal is to build muscles in the calves and improve explosiveness on quick movements in preparation for the season.
Jumping
Jumping is one of the necessary tasks in basketball if players want to get the ball. Coming into the season without the muscular endurance for jumping will leave those players at a huge disadvantage. Players need to do hundreds of jumps in the preseason to make sure their bodies are ready to do the same at a feverish pace during the regular season. No equipment is needed for jumping drills. The important point is repetition and building the muscles.
Shooting
Putting the ball in the basket is the name of the game. Though it is a natural motion for many players and one that is not easily forgotten, players need to get out and shoot baskets during the preseason to get their senses back in line for jump shots. The repetition of free throw shooting needs to be reestablished in the preseason, and the same goes for shots from other parts of the floor.
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