If you’re one of the 26 million Americans who play basketball, you know that you need to have a certain level of fitness to play well.
There’s no fun in playing if you’re sucking wind up and down the court, being the person that easily gets beat to every ball.
Read on to learn how to get in basketball shape and be the go-to player on the court.
What are the Top Skills Needed for Basketball?
As a basketball player, you need to focus your training on certain movements that are vital to being a top player. You need to jump high, make quick cuts, be an explosive sprinter, and you need the muscular endurance to do that for a whole game.
If you want to know how to get in basketball shape, train for these specific needs.
Top Exercises for Basketball Players
Your training program for basketball needs to include the following exercises to make a difference in playing.
1. Box Jumps
Box jumps are great explosive exercises to work on your vertical jump and endurance. Try doing several box jumps in a row and notice how quickly your muscles get tired.
2. Burpees
The best thing about burpees is that you don’t need equipment to do them. You just need a floor. Burpees work the entire body and help build power and endurance.
3. Sprinting Drills
There are various sprinting drills that you can do to improve your speed and quickness on the court. For example, you can do suicides, where you sprint to a touchline, sprint back, sprint to the other end line, and sprint back. Keep timing yourself to see how your time improves.
Be sure to train in gear that you’re going to wear during games. If you’re wearing custom basketball jerseys during games, you want to be sure your gear isn’t a distraction during games. When you train in-game gear, you are so used to your gear, you don’t think twice about it during games.
4. Flexibility Matters
Many athletes overlook flexibility. If you’re a recreational player at night and desk jockey by day, you’re going to have some tight and weak muscles from sitting all day.
For most folks who sit all day, hip flexors will be incredibly tight and your glutes will be weak. This can throw your body out of alignment and cause injuries to your lower back and knees.
That’s why you want to make sure you want to make flexibility part of your training program, too. Even if you do some stretching exercises 2-3 times a week, it can make a huge difference. You might want to invest in a foam roller or lacrosse ball to work out those very tight areas.
How to Get in Basketball Shape
If you want to know how to get in basketball shape, you have to know what to train for. As you build a training program for yourself, you can focus on the key movements you’ll make as a basketball player – vertical jumps, endurance, speed, agility, and flexibility should all be a part of your program.
For more great training tips, be sure to check out these articles on mindset and incorporating the Keto diet into your program.