Parents

What sticks out in my head as I write this article is the movie Happy Gilmore. I don't want to ruin the plot for many of you, but Adam Sandler at one point checks in a golf tournament and says, "I'm a hockey player, but I'm playing golf today."  

 Sports that specifically enhance your basketball ability. 

GUARDS:

Soccer improves your defense. 

I have found that the best defenders are often soccer players. They are used to moving their feet without using their hands. 

Result: A better defender, less reaching fouls, they are often in the right position when guarding their man. 

Running Track improves your stamina. 

I have found that when players are middle-distance runners (400m, 800m, 1600m relay, 3200m relay) they are well conditioned. 

Result: They aren't tired at the end of games. Late in the game when opponents are tired, these guys often have the mentality that they have trained and put in the time for their overall conditioning as a whole and that confidence and stamina late in the game can result in easy baskets. I also believe there is a strength mentally, with ability to push through tough times. 

FORWARDS / BIG MEN: 

Football improves aggressiveness. 

I have found that the more hard-nosed big-men I played with and have seen all played football at some point in their athletic careers. The football days may have ended in 7th or 8th grade in some cases, others continued to play even in high school - but there is clearly a more aggressive approach by the big-men that also played football at some point in youth sports. 

Lacrosse has a start stop pace like basketball (longer periods of rest) but add in a more physical element to play. 

I have seen this be a good off-season sport for youth basketball players - particularly if they play 3, 4, 5 spots. 

When I was in high school, as I ran track, I often felt the same way as Adam Sandler in the movie Happy Gilmore-- only totally different. I was a basketball player, running track that day. In my mind, I knew basketball was my first love. It wasn't that terrible running on a track team with a great coach, on a great team that competed for a state championship every year. Track provided comradery that isn't as much there in basketball. In track, we had many guys competing each practice, wanting to have a chance to run in the HS meets on Saturdays. The times don't lie. Track coaches have it a littler easier than basketball coaches as the stopwatch determines who runs - less of a human element on the decision (don't get me wrong, many HS track coaches should get credit for great workouts and developing great runners - similar to basketball coaches developing basketball players). We had 1,800 students in our school, but had more guys running track than on the football team.  I can't say everyone will have the same improvement mentally and with physical stamina that I experienced, but I do know that running track did nothing but help my basketball. 

Please feel free to reach out with questions if I can help in any way.

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