How does Basketball Practice Compare to Football Practice?

This week’s submission comes from Jeffrey Hewlett. Jeff is a senior and is playing his second season on the Varsity. In addition, Jeff played both ways, running back and linebacker, for the Varsity Football Team.

Football and basketball are two unique sports in the skill sets they require. What makes both sports great is that there is no other sport quite like either of them.  One thing that really differs in a football practice from a basketball practice is the type of conditioning we do. In other words, being in football shape is not the same thing as being in basketball shape. Our football practices have conditioning where we mostly do straightaway sprints. Basketball is different in that the conditioning involves the same kind of running but with more cutting and changes in direction.  It may not seem like it, but getting in shape for basketball is much harder than getting in shape for football.

However, the two sports are more similar than people think. The greatest part of both of these two sports is the team aspect. In practice, games, or even training for either sport, the team always comes first. One of the things our football coaches stressed this year in practice is that it takes all eleven players doing their job to succeed. The same goes for basketball, in that all five players on the floor must do their respective job together.

One of the things that people do not realize about basketball is the physicality that it requires. When compared to football, people generally think of basketball as a “non-contact” sport and that is not the case. Whether you are driving the lane for a basket or lining up for a charge, there is never a shortage of contact. Basketball practices, and especially games, require great physical strength toughness.