Benefits of Playing Basketball for Kids

Basketball is a full-body sport that strengthens muscles, promotes teamwork, and develops self-esteem. Discover more advantages of playing basketball below!

Reviewed and approved by the psychologist María Alejandra Castro Arbeláez.

Written by Editorial Team

Last update: 24 September, 2024

Basketball is a great team sport that is not only dynamic and fun, but also has great physical, cognitive, and social benefits. Learn about the advantages of playing basketball for kids in this article.

Physical exercise is very beneficial and promotes healthy development in children for a number of reasons. That’s why many parents decide to enroll their kids in a sport. The problem is which type of sport?

Before making this decision, the first person you should talk to is your children. Often, they will be the one that asks you to join a sport that interests them. A popular choice among children is usually basketball.

Physical Benefits of Playing Basketball

Children are full of energy: they need to move, jump, and run constantly. Basketball will allow them to channel and control that energy in a positive way. It’s a full body sport. This means that it strengthens muscles in their whole body and simulates various skills and systems:

• Basketball helps children develop balance and coordination. Basketball requires paying attention to a few different things at once. In addition to concentrating on what you’re doing, you also need to constantly watch other players. This sport especially stimulates hand-eye and upper torso coordination.
• Agility and reflexes. Since it’s a fast and dynamic sport, children need these skills to follow the game and the continuous movement of the ball.
• Improves endurance. In basketball, there is no stopping. The ball moves quickly from one side of the court to the other, and the kids move at the same pace. This helps improve both resistance and speed. It also stimulates their cardiovascular system, as well as bone and muscle development.
• Endorphins are released with basketball. These are the so-called “happiness hormones.” Therefore, after practicing this sport, players are in a better mood.

At What Age Should They Start?

Your child’s physical abilities are important when choosing a sport. However, that shouldn’t be the only thing you consider. Remember that with practice, their skills will improve. They will get stronger and will be able to do more difficult and demanding activities.

For basketball, 5 years old is a good time to start. This is the recommended age since it’s a complete sport, but kids can start practicing throwing the ball at any age. The only thing that will change depending on their age is the height of the hoop, which can reach as high as 3 meters from the ground.

Cognitive Benefits

Children who practice basketball develop skills that help them dodge opponents, strategize and move around the court. This sport helps them increase their ability to concentrate. It also makes them more aware of the environment around them.

The fast pace of the game encourages quick decision-making. Children will learn to assess situations and problems that may arise, as well as find the best and fastest solution. Basketball simulates their creativity, as well as abstract and concrete thinking.

Social and Emotional Advantages of Basketball

Since it’s a team sport, basketball promotes sociability, coexistence, and respect among peers. It’s ideal for shy children because they will have to learn to interact with other players. This is important both to get better at the sport and to have more fun.

This will also improve children’s autonomy. They will feel part of a group, which will help them learn to integrate into society. They will also learn important values like cooperation, teamwork, camaraderie, and competitiveness.

However, these aren’t all of the advantages of playing basketball. The most important thing is that it’s a very fast and fun sport. This tends to make the vast majority of children enjoy it.

Playing basketball will keep your children active and teach them healthy habits without them even realizing it! With so many benefits, it’s not surprising that this is a favorite among parents and kids.