Photo by Kenny Eliason on Unsplash

The most important reasons you should take up basketball during your academic life and some of the benefits you stand to gain from this wonderful team sport despite the numerous challenges you experience in school.

We can all agree that being a student is not easy. Despite being one of the most critical times of our lives, many of us never really get the whole experience because of the numerous challenges we experience during our academic life. As a student, one is forced to deal with a myriad of issues which, in most cases, pose many challenges to study, life, social life, and play. For example, it is common in school to come across students experiencing trauma, depression, lack of sleep, academic failure, homesickness, and increased stress levels. This is usually associated with learning complex subjects, the desire to perform well, the need to complete numerous assignments, and many other factors associated with modern student living. Luckily, incredible and well-organized companies such as peachyessay offer excellent student help services that can quickly help you adjust to school life when it seems highly complex.  

As a team sport that can be played as a hobby, basketball has been seen to benefit the players, especially students. Not only does the game promote high discipline levels, but it also helps one to relax and have a tremendous amount of fun after a long day in school. Although many schools do not disclose these benefits, research indicates that individuals engaged in sporting activities or an active lifestyle are likely to have positive experiences and an enjoyable life compared to those who choose to remain inactive. Since the sport is physical, it is good for the body, mind, and soul and offers many benefits to the student, as discussed below. 

Basketball helps students perform better academically

Basketball is considered a time and energy-consuming sport that would eventually distract students from the primary goal of attaining academic success. This is, however, not true since it is a game that needs a lot of learning, practice and memorization. From a professional point of view, all these skill sets are highly relevant in the classroom and other learning environments. The sport allows students to learn how to memorize learning materials, practise harder in cases where they fail, and greatly aids the learning process. The game also forces the players to remain determined to win, no matter the obstacles. This can, in turn, be transferred into the learning process, where the students keep pushing on even in cases where they are forced to learn and memorize very complex concepts in the classroom. As a result, playing basketball helps the players (students) to perform better academically. 

Helps students attain a higher self-esteem

Self-esteem is essential during the learning process. Students with high self-esteem are seen as confident individuals capable of tackling the different challenges they face during their academic life. Basketball is a game that allows students to improve their playing skills over time and constant practice. Attaining sporting goals or becoming better at the game improves your confidence as a student and allows you to work harder to attain other goals, including academic ones. As a result, students that play basketball can overcome more challenges and thus do well in class and later on in life.

Basketball promotes the growth of problem-solving skills

As a team sport, basketball dictates that teammates work together to attain the common purpose of beating their opponents. The different members of the team are forced to communicate and work together to solve the problems. When students learn how to solve problems during the game, it also develops their ability to solve other problems away from the court. Individuals that are involved in these sports, therefore, acquire better problem-solving skills, including in the classroom and the home setting. As a result, they can improve in other areas of their life and overcome different challenges that once seemed impossible to get over. 

Helps improve physical health

School life is highly stressful, and students, in most cases, can barely get enough time to exercise or engage in any form of physical activity. Due to the sedentary lifestyle associated with studies, many individuals develop different conditions later on in life that, in most cases, affect their lives. Students who engage in this beautiful sport are forced to move around, run, jump, and engage in other physical actions. To become a good basketball player, you need to be very fit, and, in some cases, people tend to hit the gym, which is also encouraged. Good physical health is essential and helps one perform better in class and other parts of everyday life. 

Helps reduce stress and pressure associated with student life

It has become evident that many students experience high-stress levels due to the numerous demands of academic life. Students are expected to attend classes, earn income, and participate in many other activities that leave them feeling stressed and immortalized. When students play basketball, they can forget their different problems and enjoy their life. They are also forced to think strategically to solve most gaming problems and be at their opponents. As a result, they feel more relaxed and get rid of the various stressful situations in their life. This is considered a significant benefit because when you are stress-free, you can concentrate and perform better in school.

Improves mental health and concentration

When your body is relaxed, your mind will likely follow the same trend. Working out and engaging in sporting activities like basketball has been proven to impact mental and physical health positively. When you are relaxed and stress-free, there is an excellent chance that you will be able to concentrate more on other aspects of your life, including academics and family life. Students who play basketball exhibit higher concentration levels in class and also do well in social circles. Not only are they more confident, but they also become more popular and can easily make friends. All these favourable impacts generate the trend of a better and healthier academic life. 

Unlike in the past, when people used to think that sports and other extra-curricular activities were meant to distract learners, it has been found that the positive impacts of such activities outweigh the negatives. When individuals are engaged in good games such as basketball, they can have a better quality of life and perform better in school and other areas. Students should be encouraged to participate in basketball and other sports to become better-rounded and exceptional learners.