How Basketball can turn your life around?

Basketball is a world famous game, but if you are sitting in India you might be quite unaware of this sport's charisma! Well, to be frank for many years it was the same for me. While surfing through the sports channels on a lazy Sunday morning, I would come across the NBA games being telecast, but I would move on to other channels showing some exciting cricket or football highlights. For me, then, basketball was just as boring as snooker! But all this changed soon after there was a basketball court inaugurated in our residential complex. Though apprehensive at first, I decided to give it a try one fine evening. Some of the bystanders even laughed at my clumsy efforts. From that day onwards, basketball has changed everything about me! This blog is my token of thanks to this great game.

Mental Agility:

• Team Building: I am the only son of my parents and at home have only the company of my father and mother. Like all single children out there sharing and working as a team was never one of my strengths. I either would have it or not, that was my attitude. Basketball molded my self-centric psychology. It taught me the skill of playing for the greater sake, playing to win for the team. Whether it was dribbling my way past the point guard to pass the ball to power forward or just snatching a foul to be converted by another team member – I was happier to see the team win then finding the net myself!
• Analytics: In the early days, when I was still a novice at basketball, it was all about ball handling and dribbling. But as I grew into the game I realized you have to keep half an eye on what your opponent is doing. You have to analyze their style of play and how they are maneuvering. Now that can be of no use in studies, right? Quite wrong! This analytical capacity helped me score good marks in my examinations. I would analyze my strong areas for each subject, and then start answering my questions likewise. I had a fixed time within which each section should be completed. And believe it or not, from the time I have used such a ploy my marks have taken an upward climb!
• Discipline: As with all other sports, you need to follow a strict set of rules in the game. When you break certain rules you give penalties to the opposition and let down your team. No sports person wants to do that! So, you learn self-discipline and focus. You learn to tread that extra mile even when your body is aching! And when you do it for sports, it becomes a general practice. You will never arrive late for tuitions, no matter how much time constrictions you have you will still find a way to complete your homework!
• Multi-tasking: Now, this was a real problem area for me. I could not focus and it reflected in my marks-sheet. But while practicing basketball I learned the hand-eye coordination as well as full body coordination. Each dribble in basketball needs superior coordination and multi-tasking capability. And even superior dribbling and ball passing capability is not enough, you have to also watch out for the moves opposition team is making. So, gradually I got my focus and now concentrating on studies and lessons is like a breeze to me.
• Leadership and Responsibility: Due to my superior ball handling capability, I was soon elevated to the position of a Point Guard. The position required me to carry out the pre-set strategies and game plans on the court. It was my responsibility to feed the offensive players and defend against attacks. Such a leadership role changed my outlook on things. There was a lot of responsibility vested in me, and I put in extra efforts so as not to let down my team. At home, I was able to take my decisions better and act responsibly when some task was assigned to me.
• Healthy Competition: Who does not cheat during the exams, it is part and parcel of the process! But not if you are a spirited sports person. Sport encourages you to play fair at all costs. There are many great instances, when glory has been sacrificed for the sake of playing it fair. And that is another aspect I learned from basketball.

 Physical Endurance:

• Strength and Fitness: I was never a muscular and perfect bodied boy, while growing up. In fact I was quite feeble and would often fall sick at intermittent season changes. From the time I embraced basketball, my body had more strength than ever. Now, I was fitter and better than most other guys in the class. Basketball is one such sport where muscles of your hand, legs and most other parts of the body get a real workout. You would not only burn the extra calories, but also gain muscles in the process.

• Stamina: I still remember playing in a crucial game, with a sore knee. Though the pain was excruciating but when the final beep sounded I was happier than ever to have overcome the pain! That is the type of stamina basketball or any other sport for that matter teaches you. You forget personal pain and understand the depth of endurance you have.

Positive Side effects:

• Get rid of TV or Video games addictions: There are many teenagers, even many of my friends, who like to laze it off in their idle time watching television or movies. Not that I do not enjoy them, but I like to spend the same idle time practicing and honing my basketball skills. When one sits idle, there is a great chance of adding weight and being susceptible to medical conditions. Why risk your health when you have such a fun filled way of passing time!
• Not too demanding a sport: To play a game of cricket or football, you need a large company of friends, which may often be hard to find. But, basketball needs only ten players to comprise two teams. Apart from that you can always play it one-to-one or two against two formations. So, whenever you want to just take to the court with a friend and play the game. At home, you do not need any elaborate arrangements to practice. Just have a small space in your house vacated, clamp in a basket at a desired height and you are ready to practice whenever you feel like. 

Basketball, for me, is a much understated game which will boost your mental, physical and other capabilities. The learning from the game, when applied in real life can transform you as a person. So, hit the court and enjoy the thrill!