How To Get Ready For Basketball Season

Summer coming to a close tends to be disappointing for most people — but for basketball players, it just means that the season is right around the corner. How to get ready for basketball season involves more than just players conditioning their bodies, but also ensuring that the team facility is well equipped to handle practice and game action. In this post, we'll cover how to prepare for basketball season. Here's what you need to know:

Preparing Your Body for Basketball Season

To say that basketball is a physically demanding sport would be an understatement. Players need to build both upper and lower body strength to wrestle away rebounds from the opponent, muscle through ball screens and dribble through traffic. They need endurance to run the floor, which makes conditioning important. Flexibility is also important for maintaining mobility in all of the joints. On this note, here's a look at some key ways to prepare the body for basketball season:

Low-Impact Activities

While jogging is perhaps the most common cardio workout, there are a number of other low-impact ways to build endurance without putting excessive pressure on the body's joints. Two ideal low-impact activities are cycling and swimming, which can help a basketball player keep his or her conditioning at a high level without putting excessive wear and tear on the body.

Getting in Game Shape

Upper and lower body strength are key to finishing shots through contact, playing tough defense, snagging rebounds and so much more. Hence, a fair amount of preseason training for basketball is done in the weight room. Noting this, some good exercises to build strength include:

• Lunges
• Leg curls
• Pullups
• Squats
• Deadlifting
• Dumbbell press

Good Lifestyle Habits

Finally, good lifestyle habits should be back in place before the first day of basketball practice. These include:

• Getting a recommended eight hours of sleep each night: A healthy night of sleep allows the body to rejuvenate and recover.
• Eating healthy: The best meals for athletes are energy-packed foods, such as crackers, cheeses, vegetables, lean meats, fresh fruit and pasta. While it's okay to have a cheat meal every now and then, eating right can help basketball players stay at the top of their game.

Having the Right Equipment

Certain equipment, attachments and accessories are critical to facilitate the ideal practice and playing environment. Here's a look at some of the components you'll want to be paying attention to:

Inspect the Goal System

The goal system is comprised of the backboard, rim and base of the goal. Inspect the system for signs of any visible damage. You might also make sure all the connections are tight and secure.

Other Considerations

Other equipment considerations for how to get ready for basketball include:

• Basketball inflation: Make sure all basketballs are properly inflated. Basketballs should be inflated to between 7.5 and 8.5 pounds per square inch. Also, be sure to check balls for excessive wear and replace them as necessary.
• Ball rack maintenance: The most important component to inspect with any ball racks you use is the wheels. Make sure they're turning well so the gym floor isn't subject to any scratching.
• Court maintenance: Dimensions of the court need to be measured correctly and lines should be clearly marked. If you play in a gym with volleyball sleeve covers on the floor, ensure they are properly secured. Floors should be swept before practices and games to maximize player safety.

Getting ready for basketball season is about more than just preparing the players as individuals, but the gym and any equipment as well. When both the players and the gym are prepared for the first day of basketball practice, coaches can truly work on molding a winning team.