Dr. James Naismith is credited with inventing basketball. History-of-basketball.com reports Naismith was employed as a physical education teacher at the YMCA Training School in Springfield, Massachusetts. Naismith's supervisor, Luther Gulick, instructed his employee to design a new indoors game to condition athletes during the cold winter months. In December 1891, with a soccer ball and two half-bushel peach baskets, Naismith established the game of basketball. To succeed on the hardwood, proper fitness and endurance are essential.
Importance of Conditioning
Ninety percent of basketball involves running and jumping, according to the website Best Basketball Tips. The average Division I basketball player can run the 40-yard dash in five seconds. Physical conditioning for basketball players is different than that of other athletes. Basketball players must cover a short amount of distance quickly. Therefore, conditioning and training for basketball players should concentrate on short, quick bursts of speed rather than long-distance running.
Jump Rope
Basketball-Drills-and-Tips.com lauds jumping rope as a fundamental conditioning exercise for hoops. Jumping rope can enhance your coordination and cardiovascular capabilities. Furthermore, the workout can burn a significant amount of calories and allow you to shed excess pounds. With practice, aspire to complete 350 rope jumps without interruption in less than three minutes.
Sprints
Sideline and full-court sprints are staples of physical conditioning for basketball players. Short sprints will help you become acclimated to rapid eruptions of speed that are necessary in hoops. Sideline sprints are completed by dashing from one sideline of the basketball court to the other sideline as many times as possible without rest for a minimum of a minute. This exercise will gradually increase your stamina, conditioning and endurance. Similarly, full-court sprints are achieved by darting from one baseline to the other baseline. Full-court sprints differ from sideline sprints because you are forced to hustle the entire length of a basketball court. Consistently performing full-court and sideline sprints will bolster your muscle endurance. Improved muscle endurance will enable your muscles to continue to function without becoming overly fatigue.
Defensive Slides
Basketball-Drills-and-Tips recommend defensive slides to improve your defensive skills and conditioning. To correctly execute this drill, get into a defensive stance and slide up-and-down the basketball court as you would if defending a ball-handler. It is essential not to cross your feet when doing defensive slides because it reduces balance. Repeat this exercise as many times as you can for one minute. After a brief rest, duplicate the same movements for another minute.
References
- Youth Basketball Tips: Essential Physical Training for Basketball
- Sports Fitness Advisor: Basketball Training Section
- Basketball-drills-and-tips.com: See Below For Tons Of Awesome Basketball Drills!
- History -of-Basketball.com
- Kansas Heritage: History of Basketball
- Best Basketball Tips: Basketball Training and Workouts
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