physical education basketball activities

• Pete Charrette

Basketball PE Games: 6 Versatile Lead Up Games to Boost Physical Education Engagement

When teaching basketball to students, it is important to keep them active and engaged. One way to do this is by using lead-up games. These games are a fun way to get the class excited about playing basketball and help them learn and practice the skills needed for the sport. Lead-up games for basketball help to break up the monotony of traditional PE class practice-style or station-style activities and get the students moving and thinking in game situations.

In this blog post, you will learn about the importance of incorporating lead-up games when teaching basketball lessons in a PE setting. I'll go through the advantages of employing them in PE classes, and I will present six different basketball games that may be readily incorporated into your PE classes.

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Why incorporate basketball lead-up games?

Tips for incorporating basketball lead-up games into your classes, basketball lead-up games.

Basketball Flag Tag

Pac-Man Dribble

Basketball Golf

Spaceship Passing

Knock it Off

Final Thoughts

Free Resources

Need some basketball activity stations for your PE class? Cap'n Pete's PE Basketball Stations- 20 Fast Break Zones are ideal for a physical education teacher to teach manipulative skills such as dribbling, passing, rebounding and shooting and developing movement skills such as dodging and running without a ball ? You can find the 20 activity set here on Cap'n Pete's website  or on TPT

A good approach to teaching fundamental basketball skills is to use a practice-style format or stations to work on basketball skills. However, at some point, the students must apply what they've learned in a fun basketball game-like situation. Traditional basketball games are usually limited to small groups of players, but by implementing lead-up games, you may increase the number of participants in a single game or split your students into smaller groups to play at the same time.

Basketball lead-up games are designed to help players improve their basketball skills. Pics from from Stephanie Newcomb @ILoveMyLabs4

They are usually played in larger groups and typically involve specific skills and strategies necessary for basketball. These activities can be engaging, active, and fun.

Games that work on dribbling, ball control, passing, and shooting are all great basketball lead-up games.

These games are valuable for physical education classes because they get students active and engaged in a basketball-specific activity. Not only this, but basketball lead-up games for PE are essential for developing positive personal and social traits such as teamwork, communication, and cooperation. By playing these games, students will also be better prepared for traditional basketball games.

In addition, the highlighted PE games in this blog article directly correlate with SHAPE America Standard 2 which states: Applies knowledge related to movement and fitness concepts.

National Physical Education Standards are used under license from SHAPE America.

Before beginning the game, make sure everyone understands the rules, regulations and boundaries for the game

Have select students demonstrate before you begin

Encourage students to be active, play fair, and have fun

Discuss basketball terms early in the basketball unit

Make sure students have enough room to maneuver safely in their playing area

Stop the game from time to time to redirect behavior or provide resting periods

Have an ending discussion to highlight successes and discuss things to work on for next class

Discuss and practice basketball skills earlier in the unit

Need some basketball games for your PE class? Cap'n Pete's PE Basketball Games- 25 “Slam Dunk” Basketball Activities are perfect for bringing your class to the next level ? You can find the set here on Cap'n Pete's website  or on TPT

Now that we understand how important basketball lead-up games are and have some tips on incorporating them, let's look at six different games you can use in your basketball units.

1. Basketball Flag Tag

Students dribble a basketball inside of a court, using the proper techniques and control. The objective is to try and steal other students' flags while avoiding having their flags stolen. Skill Focus: Dribbling

One basketball or playground ball per student playing

One flag belt & 2 flags per student playing (juggling scarves in pockets works as an alternative)

gym lines for boundaries

multiple basketball goals

Game Instructions and Rules

Students put on belts and flags and start inside a designated playing area.

On a signal (preferably music), students dribble the basketball in various directions inside the boundaries of the playing area (a basketball court or other gym lines)

While players are dribbling, they are to look up and attempt to ‘pull” any of the other player’s flags They can pull it from either hip. When the flag is pulled, they throw it on the gym floor at the spot that they stole it

If a dribbler’s flag is pulled, he/she must pick up their flag and go outside the boundaries and perform an exercise (i.e., push-ups, curl-ups, jumping jacks) or a ball handling skill (i.e., figure 8’s, around the back, toss and catch, etc.) and then they must make a successful shot at any basket in the gym

Once they have finished their exercise or ball handling skill, and successfully made a shot, they may return to the court and attempt to pull other’s flag

Players must maintain control of the ball at all times and use a legal dribbling form

Dribble Tag and Basketball Relays Video from Stephanie Newcomb @ILoveMyLabs4

2. Pac-Man Dribble

Students dribble their own basketball on gym lines attempting to keep control of the ball and avoid getting trapped (or tagged) by a dribbling “Pac man” or “Ms. Pac Man” Skill Focus: Dribbling

One color basketball or playground ball for 80% of the students (players)

A different color basketball or playground ball for 20% of the students (Pac-Men)

Scrimmage vests can be used as an alternative

Regular players and Pac-Men and Ms. Pac-Men start the game on any gym line.

On a signal (preferably music), students dribble the ball in various directions but must stay on a line (80% of students have a certain color B-ball- others are Pac-Men and Ms. Pac-Men)

Pac-Men and Ms. Pac-Men are also dribbling, and they attempt to capture or trap the regular dribblers as they dribble the lines

The dribblers move around the lines continuously dribbling and trying to avoid the Pac Men. The dribblers may not hold, catch, or stop dribbling their ball

Players must maintain control of their ball at all times while they are dribbling

If a dribbler gets trapped by the Pac men, they must exit the playing area and perform a teacher-designated exercise such as push-ups, jumping jacks or curl-ups before they return

Change Pac Men and Ms. Pac-Men for the next game

3. Basketball Golf

Players attempt to shoot the “lowest scores” in rounds (holes) of golf-style basketball games Skill Focus: Shooting

One basketball per group

One basketball hoop per 2 groups of students (2 - 5 in each group)

Free throw line set at an age-appropriate distance

Students break out into groups of 2 to 5 players at various basketball goals and decide upon a shooting order.

The line starts at the free-throw line. Player #1 starts by shooting from the free-throw line. If they make the shot, 1 point is awarded, and they go to the back of the line. If they miss, they get the rebound and must shoot from exactly where they picked up the ball (no rolling the ball closer to the hoop)

The shooter keeps shooting and rebounding until the shot is made and his score for that round is the number of shots it took him to score... so if it took them four shots, their score is 4. Important- Limit the number of shots... i.e., 5 - if a player misses 5 times, he/she gets a score of 6 and is finished for that round

If the ball bounces out-of-bounds, behind the basket, or somewhere where it's impossible to score, the player can either shoot it there or take an additional "penalty shot" and shoot from the free-throw line

The next person in line repeats the process

Each player takes his turn and records their score. A game ends after 9 or 18 holes as in golf with the lowest score being the winner

Check out my other PE basketball article that looks at skill stations for physical education: 

Basketball Stations: 10 Essential Drills and Small Group Activities for Elementary PE

4. Spaceship Passing

Players (Astronauts) attempt to pass around a basketball from mat to mat, trying to avoid having the ball stolen from an alien player. Skill Focus: Passing

1 or 2 basketballs per group (full or half court)

3 or 4 mats per group

4 cones can make a square as an alternative if there no mats are available)

Each Mat (or 4 coned area) is a “spaceship” and has two astronauts aboard it. Each spaceship will be facing another spaceship

The astronauts/players must pass two secret NASA files (basketballs) from ship to ship without having the files stolen by aliens

Players (Astronauts) use fakes, chest passes, bounce passes, and overhead passes to pass the NASA files

Three students will stand in the middle of the spaceships (in outer space- gym floor) to act as “aliens” and they attempt to steal the “data files” before they can make it to another spaceship

If an alien can steal the basketball (files), they quickly switch spots with the astronaut on the spaceship who made the pass

The Astronauts may pass to any of the other spaceships during the game

Spaceship Passing Video from Coach Kem @TheCoach_K

5. Knock it Off

Small teams (two teams of 4 to 6 players) work together to dribble and pass just a basketball down the court, aiming to eventually knock a small ball off a cone using either a bounce or chest pass.

Skill Focus: Dribbling and Passing

One basketball/playground ball per group

Scrimmage vests for each team

Two large cones (behind each teams line)

Two hula hoops

Two whiffle/foam tennis balls

Cones or court line boundaries

Students break out into groups of 4 to 6 players and play in segmented playing areas inside the gym or outside on a blacktop area.

After rock, paper, scissors the ball goes to one team to begin the game in their own end zone.

The first team begins by dribbling and passing the ball up the court attempting to get to the other team's side of the court

Regular basketball rules apply however, defenders may not steal/swipe the ball out of an opponent’s hand. They raise their arms to block passes and trap the players so that they have to make a pass or shot within 3 seconds. You can use student referees to make a 3-second count

There is no contact in the game

Players score by using basketball-type passes (i.e., chest, bounce, baseball, or overhead) to knock a small ball off the top of a large cone (on their opponent's end of the court). The cone is inside a hula hoop and no one can step inside the hoop

3 passes must be made by a shooting team before they can attempt to throw it at the cone

6. Five Alive

The objective of the game is for teams to dribble and pass a basketball around a designated court, making 5 consecutive passes before either having the other team intercept the ball or losing possession. Skill Focus: Dribbling and Passing

Four cones or lines to mark off a playing area

One basketball per small group (own ball)

Scrimmage vests to designate teams

Students break out into groups of 4 to 6 players and play in small courts in the gym or outside on a blacktop area. A court should be approximately 30 feet by 30 feet to 50 by 50 feet and marked using cones or lines. Multiple games are taking place around the gym/blacktop at one time.

One team begins with the ball and attempts to dribble and move around the court and make 5 consecutive, connecting passes (that are not dropped or intercepted)

The other team plays defense and attempts to intercept or bat the ball down when it is in the air. There is no contact in the game

If 5 consecutive passes and “complete” catches are made by the offensive team, they score 1 point, and the ball then goes to the other team and their roles reverse- Offense becomes defense and defense becomes offense

If the ball is dropped, knocked down, or intercepted, the defensive team becomes the offense and the game resumes from that point

Games go for a set time or until a team scores “10 points” first

Now that you’ve read about six fun basketball lead-up games, it’s time to get your class active and engaged. These games are not only fun, but they also help improve students' ball control, dribbling, passing, and shooting skills. Make sure students have the proper equipment and know the rules before starting each game. As you monitor each group, encourage collaboration and sportsmanship while providing corrective and encouraging comments.

Be sure to mix up the games every once in a while so that students don’t get bored. And, most importantly, have fun! With a little bit of planning, you can easily incorporate these games into your physical education class and provide your students with an enjoyable basketball experience.

Need some volleyball information, stations, and games for physical education classes? Click the links below for 2 articles that will help you plan your PE lessons: 

Volleyball Games for Kids: Integrating 6 Volleyball PE Games into Physical Education Lessons

Volleyball Activities: 10 Dynamic Volleyball Stations for PE Classes

Need some FREE physical education games?

Do you need some FUN games for your physical education program that include detailed instructions and play diagrams? Cap'n Pete's Power PE has you covered!

Fill in the form below to download the FREE Physical Education Games Packet- 18 Game Set to use in your PE program! Inside this package are 18 fun and exciting PE games for students, designed for a wide range of ages.

This set is a PDF digital download that includes selected games (3 from each) from the following sets from Cap’n Pete’s PE Games Super Bundle.

1. PE Base Games, 2. PE Basketball Games, 3. PE Soccer Games, 4. PE Volleyball/Net Games, 5. PE Disc Games, and 6. PE Small Group Multi-skill Games

150 PE Games

If you're looking for a ton of PE Games that are ideal for large, medium or small-sized groups, check out Cap'n Pete's PE Games: Super Bundle- Basketball, Soccer, Net, Disc, Base & Small Group Games.

This Super Bundle includes 150 games from 6 PE game sets that originate from the following resources: PE Base Games , PE Basketball Games, PE Soccer Games, PE Volleyball and Net Games, PE Disc Games, and PE Small Group Multi-Skill Games. Each set has 25 top-rated games that can be used by PE and classroom teachers to teach skills and keep students HAPPY and ACTIVE!!!

You can download them from either of the following platforms: Cap'n Pete's Power PE Website or Teachers Pay Teachers- Cap'n Pete's TPT Store

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PHYSEDGAMES

…click a category above for great p.e. games, category: basketball, spot shot basketball.

Grade level: 4-8 Equipment: Basketballs, Poly Spots Game Description: New basketball shooting game definitely worth playing (idea thanks to Deric Hafer)!

Noodle Basketball

Grade level: 5-8 Equipment: Basketballs, Nets, Pool Noodles Game Description: This is a basketball-type game that uses the typical skills in basketball, though with it’s own twist for a unique basketball tag type game. Two teams will faceoff against eachother. The object of the game is for your team to score as many points as possible into the bball net, or trash can or something if you don’t have nets. But if your ball gets touched by a noodle (held by one of the taggers) then you must return back to your side and start over. Give maybe 1/4 or 1/3 of the players a pool noodle, the rest of the team gets their own basketball. If you have a pool noodle then you must stay on your own side. Change the taggers each round. Round 1: layups only. Round 2: add jump shots. Round 3: add 3-pointers. Round 4: Taggers can go everywhere, and if a player is tagged then he or she must perform some sort of exercise. (Thanks to Randy Eich)

Dice Dribblers

Grade level: 4-8 Equipment: A foam dice, basketballs Game Description: Fun little activity to work on the all-important dribbling skill! Groups will start along one of four sides of the court, each with a basketball in hand (or a ball at their feet for soccer, or stick in hand for hockey). The teacher will roll the big dice to see what number it lands on. Depending on the number it lands on, something will happen: Numbers 1-4 are for each of the four groups… if it lands on their number, they will complete a wave of dribbling to the other side and back. Numbers 5 and 6 are for rotations clockwise and counterclockwise. The players who aren’t moving while others are performing their wave of dribbling can simply dribble on the spot, weak hand, strong hand, figure 8s or whatever you’d like! Try it out and hope you and your students enjoy another Physedgames original game!

Mini Basketball Relay

Grade level: 5-8 Equipment: Basketballs, hoops Game Description: A simple relay idea to practice basketball skills: dribbling, shooting, rebounding. Players are sure to have a fun time playing off against each other to try to be the first team to score 10 baskets (or most baskets made in a certain time)! Best to use small groups/teams of 2-3 players per team on half courts, but could also be done on full court. Each player has their own ball. Each team faces their own hoop. On the go signal, the first player from each line dribbles the ball towards their hoop and takes a shot where they feel comfortable. Players continue to shoot until one of them scores a basket. At that time, the team who scored must yell out their score (for example, “THREE”!) and then the players must retrieve their ball and return to their teams line. As soon as they return, the next player in line can go. Game continues on and on like this! One rule you can add is that the students waiting in line can practice their dribbling skills so that they’re not just standing there (although they shouldn’t be standing for too long anyways). Should be LOTS OF FUN! (Thanks Zane Gardner for inspiring this game idea).

Steal The Ball

Grade level: 2-8 Equipment: Type of Ball (Soccer, volleyball, basketball, etc. The more the better), hula-hoops Game Description: Start by placing a whole bunch of balls in the center area, equally spaced between anywhere from 4-8 teams. At each team area, place a hula hoop for the balls to be placed after they are taken from the middle area. On the go signal, players from each team go one at a time to the middle, dribble the ball back to their hoop and tags the next person to go. The object is to take as many balls until all are gone from the middle. When all the balls are gone from the middle, then take one ball from any of the other teams. After a designated time limit count to see which team has the most! For soccer, the balls are to be dribbled along the ground. For volleyball, the balls are to be “set” or “volleyed” to self all the way back to the hoop. For basketball, dribbling. For football/baseball, the balls can be thrown from the middle back to partner at hoop. AS ALWAYS, HAVE FUN (WHILE PRACTICING SKILLS)!

Hula Knockout

Grade level: 4-8 Equipment: Hula-hoops, basketballs (or soccerballs) Game Description: This is a dribbling practice game. Players will partner up so there will be pairs spread out in the gym. In each pair, 1 player will start as the dribbler and have a basketball (or soccerball depending which game you want to play). The other player will place a hulahoop on the floor and stand with at least 1 foot inside of it. The player inside the hoop will try to knock away the balls of other players who come too near (remember that 1 foot must always be inside the hoop). If a player’s ball gets knocked away, they simply retrieve it and continue dribbling. After a couple of minutes, players switch roles and play again. Another great dribbling practice game, and modification of the original Knockout.

Tricky Dribbling

Grade Level: 3-8 Equipment: Basketballs (or soccerballs), plastic bowling pins Game Description: Here is a quick game that helps players improve their dribbling skill (not just basketball, but could be done in soccer or hockey for example as well). Partners build their own ‘mini-course’ in whatever shape or line they’d like. Then they dribble through, inside, or around it, trying to NOT knock over the pins. Lots of different ways this basic idea could be turned into games of sorts, as can be seen in the video… all-in-all just another fun little way to spice up a routine skill and development.

The Ultimate Shooting Game

Grade Level: 5-8 Equipment: Basketballs, nets Game Description: Thanks to Sarah (@SMS_PhysED on Twitter) for this idea: another awesome basketball shooting game that keeps players moving and shooting! At each hoop, 2 teams of 3-5 players per team face-off against each other to be the first team to get 5 baskets. Winning team will rotate to the next hoop; losing team stays at the hoop and play against a new opponent (winner from the game on their other side who rotates to them). This happens at every hoop. The goal is to try to be the first team to rotate around every basket. Lots of repetitions, lots of shooting, and a great idea to use as part of a basketball unit.

Grade Level: 5-8 Equipment: Basketballs, hulahoops, lilly pads Game Description: Hot Shots is a basketball shooting game where teams compete for the win! Colored lilly pads are placed on the floor all throughout the gym as shooting spots. Each player has a basketball. When a player scores a basket from a shooting spot, he picks up the lilly pad and places it in his teams collection hoop. Game goes on either for a few minutes, or until one team has 15 points (up to the teacher).

The Layup Wheel

Grade level: 5-8 Equipment: Basketballs, nets Game Description: This basketball mini-game is all about lay-ups. After you’ve gone over the proper technique and progression for shooting lay-ups, use this game to practice, practice, practice!  This game gives players a chance to perform lay-ups from both the left and right sides, and can be played competitively or non-competitively. Read More →

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March Madness Basketball Ideas on PE Central

It's March Madness and basketball is here! The following are lesson ideas, instructional cues, instant activities, assessment ideas, bulletin boards and Best Practices taken from PE Central that all have to do with basketball. These are not all of the basketball resources published on PE Central so make sure to go to our lesson ideas page and find more ideas either by browsing the categories or doing a search.

March Madness Basketball Lesson Ideas Mini Book (PDF)

• The Ultimate Basketball Pack

Would you like to deliver high-quality basketball lessons for PE? If so, then this pack is for you! It has been developed by highly-qualified and experienced PE teachers for specialists and non-specialists alike who want to deliver fun, engaging basketball lessons where students can make exceptional progress.

In the Ultimate Basketball Pack by the PE Project you will find:

• Over 50 basketball activities
• Skill Cards
• Lesson Plans
• Assessment Criteria for Elementary, Middle-School, and High-School
• Basketball Rules
• Non-doer sheets
• Plus lots of additional extras like questions, teaching recommendations, differentiation strategies.

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Ready to use immediately in your PE lessons.

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Tried and tested activities that maximize participation and engagement.

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Lesson plans, activities, ideas and more at the click of a button.

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The Ultimate Basketball Pack will help you deliver high-quality basketball lessons for PE! It has been developed by highly-qualified and experienced PE teachers for specialists and non-specialists alike who want to deliver fun, engaging basketball lessons where students can make exceptional progress.

It was helpful to me to have different activities broken down to help teach specific skills. I'm a science teacher and have found myself also teaching a PE class this year. This has helped me be prepared to teach specific skills.

Teaching basketball to the intermediates is intimidating, especially since I don't play basketball, myself. The activities are described and organized so well. Very professional. It will make me look like I know what I'm doing. Thanks for this.

Great resource! PE Project has changed the way I teach. Super supportive tool.

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The Fundamental Movement Skills Pack

The Full Fitness Pack

The Full Track & Field Pack

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The PE Specialist

Awesome Resources for Physical Education Teachers

Teaching Basketball – Passing and Shooting

Wouldn’t it be great to get Kentucky’s coach John Calipari to teach teach Passing to your kids and have some NBA players demonstrate it?

Well with technology this is now possible.

During the second lesson our basketball unit we focus on passing and shooting skills.  Check out the video below to see how we quickly teach passing through a youtube video and demonstration.

The kids really liked seeing NBA players and I think it helped some of the more advanced students buy into doing some basic passing practice – it helps kids to see that even advanced players need to work on basic skills to get better.

Here is the youtube video we used for the demo, if you want to use it in your lessons:

Teaching Shooting with BEEF Cues

After the passing practice we do a quick review of B.E.E.F. shooting cues that we learned during the previous week.

After allowing students some practice time, we play a fun game called Hot Spots.

If you’re interested, check out a run through of the game below: 

This is an awesome game to play with any level.  For our younger students we just crank the goals down or use our shorter wall mounted goal ( the one we have is from Bison but most equipment retailers have something similar to this) and we use Gatorskin balls instead of basketballs.  We also move the dots in closer to the goal to make it easier for them ( see below for an example ).

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Ben Landers (@thepespecialist)

Note : If you have 4 students on a team, use 3 gator skin balls per team to reduce any waiting around and to give students more practice time.

Example of the game being played below:

Instant Replay (AKA PIG)

If you’re looking for a shorter quick game that’s perfect for partner work or a group of 3, you can teach your kiddos the classic “PIG” or Instant Replay as I call it.  In this simple game, you take turns shooting and when a goal is scored your partner must try and copy your shot.  If they are successful play continues, but if they are unsuccessful they receive a letter.  The first person to make their partner spell the designated word (PIG in this case) is the winner.

Many of us have played this at some point in our childhood, see how I explain it in the video below:

Another fun shooting game for K-2nd (or even older kiddos) is Smackball

Check out the video below for an example of how to play

This one works great with partners or groups of 3 and you can vary the goal height and swap out partners to mix things up if you want to.

Using a Smaller Ball for Shooting Skills

For a long time I found it hard to teach younger students to shoot properly.  It’s tough for them because they don’t have the physical strength to get the ball up to the goal.

I’ve had way more success using 6” gatorskin balls or the 7″ Mini Basketballs with my younger students and even offering them as a choice with my 3rd and 4th grade students if they want to use them. It’s also good to remind your students to use their legs to jump up when they take a shot to help them get some more power behind the ball.

See an example of the smaller ball below as I teach B.E.E.F. to 2nd graders.

Another CLASSIC shooting game that I teach my 3rd – 5th graders is the popular basketball game Knockout.

I play a version I call “Round Robin Knockout” which you can check out below if you’re interested:

Basketball Station Activities

With my K-2nd Graders I also do lots of Station Work ( more info on teaching with stations here ) so they can build up the fundamental skills needed to play modified games when they get to  the 3rd – 5th grades.  You can purchase my Station Signs at the bottom of this post if you’re interested (see a few examples of the signs below)

https://www.instagram.com/p/B9AAbsxBTI3/

3 v 3 Basketball Tournament

For most of my 3rd – 5th classes (unless I don’t think they can handle it, some classes are a different breed, am I right? ) I end the basketball unit with a 3 v 3 basketball round robin tournament.

I keep it pretty simple and use an app called TeamShake to make my teams quickly and evenly and use an app called Round Robin to track all the scoring and tournament info.

You can check out the clip below for a walkthrough of how I explain the tournament to my students and some important points to go over before trying to do any type of tournament in PE class (purpose of the tournament, importance of good sportsmanship and basic review of rules/procedures of the game).  I feel like setting the tone for the culture of your tournament ahead of time make a HUGE difference in how much fun the kids have while playing and reduces your management and behavior issues.

Hope those ideas are helpful!  Thanks for reading.

If you have some more tips leave them in the comments!

Also, if you missed my previous post about teaching Ball Handling and Dribbling Check It Out Here

More Basketball Resources

If you want to check out our Basketball Resources you can see an overview of them in the videos below.   Each resource is available to all teachers in our membership program ( info on our membership here ), just login and download them straight from the membership area.  They are also available in our Teachers Pay Teachers Store for anyone who isn’t a member.

Basketball Unit Resource Pack

The Unit Resource Pack will provide you with a ton of printable resources to plan an AMAZING basketball unit.

Included in this download:

• Sample Unit Plan with 50 pages of activities
• Printable Station Activity Signs
• Basketball Cues Poster
• Create Your Own Basketball Routine Worksheet
• Basketball Tricks Checklist
• Player of the Day Certificate
• Basketball Golf Scorecard

Check out the Basketball Unit Resource Pack (TPT)

Basketball follow the leader pack.

All of our follow the leader packs are a “technology upgrade” for anyone with a screen that goes along perfectly with the Unit Resource Packs.

• 3 Follow the Leader Videos (Basic, Intermediate, Advanced)
• Animated GIF Looping Videos
• Powerpoint Slideshows with all Animated GIFS
• Create Your Own Ball Handling Routine Worksheet
• Basketball Trick Checklist

Check out the Basketball Follow the Leader Pack (TPT)

Have fun and teach on.

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Reader Interactions

January 4, 2022 at 1:33 pm

Where is the basketball resource pack for members? I am only seeing the link to the basketball resource pack in teacher pay teachers.

January 4, 2022 at 4:12 pm

As a member you get access to everything we’ve ever created in the membership.

You can get all of the E-books, Unit Plans, Activity Guides, Videos and Trainings (and ever single other resources we’ve ever created) inside the membership area.

You can check out the page below for a walkthrough of how to sign in and get into the members section on the site:

https://membership.thepespecialist.com/start-here/

Once you get logged in you can go here (our Members Home Page): https://membership.thepespecialist.com/forums/forum/general-discussion/

We also created a Table of Contents for the Membership with a link to EVERY RESOURCE! You can find it below:

https://membership.thepespecialist.com/table-of-contents/

Link to Basketball Resources Page HERE

Lastly, you should’ve gotten an email explaining all of this when you signed up, so we just want to make sure you’re getting our member emails – if not make sure to check your SPAM folder – sometimes we get filtered because of the links. If you find us in SPAM add us to your contacts so you can receive all the member updates.

If you haven’t gotten any member updates and would like to use another email, you can do so HERE (Gmail works great)

Let us know if you have any other issues!

March 9, 2020 at 12:26 pm

I’ve started a sports club in our school’s afterschool program and this was incredibly helpful for us! Thank you so much!

March 9, 2020 at 7:44 pm

Awesome – Pumped to hear that, hope the club goes well!

March 8, 2020 at 7:51 pm

Can you please explain to me the breakdown of the lessons you would do with a Kindergarten class for your Basketball Unit?

For example – Lesson 1: Ball Handling and Dribbling Lesson 2: …? Lesson 3: ….?

Thank you so much!

2 – Passing and Shooting 3 – Modified Game (like the spot shot game you see in this post by using gatorskin balls) or stations

I teach in stations A LOT with kindergarten, so after teaching them the basic skill, we work on the skills in station format

December 16, 2019 at 1:18 pm

Thanks for sharing, this is an awesome video for young students.

December 16, 2019 at 6:21 pm

Sure thing, glad it was helpful!

January 7, 2019 at 11:52 am

Hi Ben, I purchased the jump rope unit for $25. I loved it!!! Thank you, as it was very helpful. Is there a basketball unit that I can purchase? If so, where can I find it?

January 9, 2019 at 5:22 pm

Hey James! Thanks for the purchase and so pumped to hear it was helpful, currently we don’t have the bball unit for sale outside of the membership, but in the future we hope to get more products out to folks for stand alone purchases.

May 9, 2018 at 9:04 am

I have my students 3 days a week for 45 minutes each day (approx. 25 students), so they get a lot of practice dribbling, passing, and shooting. Just wondering if after those games you play small sided games such as 2v2 or 3v3 with grades 3-5? I was going to set up 6 half courts and let them try 2v2 to ensure everyone is getting playing time.

May 11, 2018 at 4:18 pm

Yep, we usually shoot for 3 or 4 on a team. Play 5 minutes and report your scores – I use the round robin app to track the tournament.

February 20, 2018 at 8:52 am

Do you have any Basketball skills or lessons for 6 through 8th graders?

February 21, 2018 at 4:21 pm

I teach Elem, but I think all the activities and ideas in this post would be relevant to teaching middle school as well.

February 22, 2018 at 7:37 am

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Basketball Activities

For PE teachers, summer camps, and youth basketball coaches

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Ball Handling Skills

Ball handling skills are the key to teaching basketball, especially at young ages. These make great warm ups and help kids get used to handling the ball (and can help assuage the fear of the ball in kids who aren't used to them). Check out the gifs below (there are 11. Use the arrow in the image to see the next one).

100 Bounces

Spread dots around the ground. If you don't have dots, the cheap solution is to use a deck of playing cards. The goal is to progress through the levels. Players dribble 10 times at a dot, then move to another dot and dribble 10 times again. Once they've done this at 10 dots, they have passed level one and can move to level 2. Check the game card below for the levels. With younger kids, I call it 50 bounces and only have them go to 5 dots before leveling up.

Take it to the Bank

Setup: Divide kids into a couple teams (ideally 3-4 per team). A basketball for each team. Throw out a lot of things to pick up (I use fluff balls, but you can use playing cards or small toys). Call them "coins".

One player dribbles to a "coin", picks it up, and dribbles back to their team. The next player does the same. They must dribble the entire time.

If you're running low on "coins", have them exchange them for bigger items. For instance, I call the fluff balls "quarters" and when they get 4, they trade them in for a dollar (a dot).

Try the Mine Field variation. Give each team several objects (cones, dome cones, balls, etc) to set out in the playing area. These will be the mines that dribblers will have to avoid.

Lumberjacks & Planters

Setup: spread out a bunch of cones. Divide into two teams (A and B). Need a ball for every player. If balls are limited, just give balls to the Lumberjacks.

Team A starts as "Lumberjacks" and B starts as "Planters." The Lumberjacks job is to dribble around, knocking down cones with their other hand. Planters dribble around setting them back up. After a while, switch the jobs so that team B is the lumberjacks.

If there are enough players to have a third team, it can be helpful (especially with young players) to rest. They could be lumberjacks, then planters, then rest, then back to lumberjacks.

Dot Spot Shot

Setup: Toss out a bunch of dots (or playing cards) near the basketball goal. Divide kids into several teams (ideally 3-4 per team).

The first player dribbles to a dot, shoots a basket from that spot. If they make it, they take the dot (and ball) back to their team. If they miss, they just dribble their ball back to the next player. This is a good opportunity to have them pass the ball to the next player. The goal is to collect as many dots as possible.

Pro Tip: You can get by only setting a few dots (or playing cards) at a time. As shots are made and they're collected, set more out. This keeps the game going longer and allows you to keep the dots spread out, while encouraging shots from ideal locations.

Setup: Need 2 basketballs and one goal.

Imagine a race around a track where players line up at the starting line. Player 1 starts running around the track Then Player 2 takes off after them, trying to catch them. When Player 1 gets back to the starting line, Player 3 can go, trying to catch Player 2. If Player 3 passes Player 2, then Player 2 is out. The game continues until only one player remains.

Knockout is like this, except instead of running around a track, they're shooting baskets. The starting line is the free throw line. Player 1 shoots from the free throw line, then shoots from anywhere until they make it (then they pass to next player and go to the end of the line). As soon as Player 1 takes their first shot, Player 2 tries to catch up and make the basket as quickly as possible. If they pass the player in front of them, that player is out. If not, they keep shooting until they make it or the person behind them makes it and gets them out.

Players cannot interfere with the other player's ball. However when you shoot, your ball can knock out the other person's ball, saving yourself and making their job harder. Any interference results in being eliminated from the game.

Fun-Size Knock Out

I have a "fun-size" "gym" (about the size of a classroom), with 8 foot ceilings. I had to get creative to make Knock Out work. Turns out, this solution works great in small spaces but also allows more games in a larger space. You don't even need basketball goals. I started the game using 10-gallon water coolers.

Setup: Need 2 basketballs and a small basketball goal (a trash can or water cooler would work). Then make a box or circle around it with floor tape (or chalk or nylon webbing). The perimeter should be at least 2 feet away from the goal. I call this The Box . Then make a Free Throw Line. Optional, make a Lane from the box to the Free Throw line.

Paid links to my setup equipment.

Game Play: Just like Knock Out (above). Except you cannot shoot from inside The Box or The Lane (if you choose to use it. It's a good way to keep players out of the way of the next shooter). The official rule is that your feet and shoulders cannot be in The Box or The Lane . If they're inside those areas and they make the shot, it doesn't count and they'll need to shoot again.

Ultimate Basketball

In college, I coached 3rd-6th grade basketball and had so many players that thought they were on the AND1 Mixtape Tour. All they wanted to do was dribble and subsequently give away the ball. So the solution in practice was to not let them dribble at all in scrimmages. I've always been a big fan of Ultimate (Frisbee) so I just converted the rules to basketball.

If the ball touches the floor, it goes to the defense. If the ball hits the rim, any team can recover the rebound.

Of course, this gets rid of bounce passes, so you can also play where a single bounce is allowed. But if it bounces twice then it goes to the other team.

We became the best passing team in the league after my players embraced the game and realized how great passing makes them better together.

Recommended Reading

The Ultimate Guide to Teaching Four Square - Using mini-games to teach all the skills and rules

Ultimate Kickball - Kickball without all the problems that come with Kickball. Also insanely fun.

The Ultimate Sub Plan - A fool proof plan for emergency sub days

A Better Way to Make Teams - Give children the power of choice

Basketball in Physical Education

The game of Basketball was invented in the United States of America. Dr. James Norsmith of the U.S.A. developed it in December 1891 at Spring Field college. The origin of this game is very interesting. In the beginning, 40 to 50 players used to be in one team. This game used to be played in a gymnasium. A pair of baskets were nailed on the walls facing each other One had to climb up to get the ball out whenever a goal was scored. Indeed, it was a difficult task. After that, Dr. Smith framed the specific rules of this game.

What are the Rules for Playing Basketball?

• Basketball – Ground, Players, Rules
• Rules of Basket Ball in Hindi Medium
• Class 11 Physical Education
• Class 12 Physical Education

This game was played the first time on 22nd January 1892. The first time, five players formed a team. From 1895 to 1900 A.D., a lot of amendments were made to the rules of the game. American Basketball Training Association made its efforts for the demonstration of this game in the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics, but it could not get success. After that, in the 1932 Olympics, efforts were also made to introduce Basketball.

At last, in the 1936 Olympic games, which were held in Berlin, Basketball was included. In 1932 International Basket Ball Federation was constituted. From the very beginning, U.S.A. dominated in Basketball. Approximately 85 years ago, in India, the game of Basketball was introduced by Y.M.C.A. College Madras (Now Chennai). Since then, Basketball became famous in every part of India. The Indian Basketball Federation was formed in 1950.

• 1. Now the length and breadth of Basketball court is 15 m × 28 m
• 2. Now the feather ball is used in Basketball competition.
• 3. The last 2 minutes play before the end of the game should be played in real sense and not to pass the time.
• 4. Now three time-outs can be provided during the second half of the game to each team but in first half only two time-outs are given.
• 5. The Basketball poles should be at least 2 m away from the end line.
• 6. Now the throw can be given from the end line.
• 7. 30 second rule has been changed to 24 seconds.
• 8. Now there are four periods of the game i.e.10 – 10 – 10 – 10 minutes.
• 9. A rectangular shaped restricted area has been introduced.
• 10. The distance of three point line has been extended to 6.75 m,whereas, earlier it was 6.25 m.
• 11. No charge semi-circles have been introduced. The radius of the circles shall be 1.25 m from the point on the floor beneath the exact centre of the basket to the inner edge of the semi-circle.
• 1. European Cup
• 2. American Cup
• 3. Asia Cup
• 4. Services Trophy
• 5. William Tod Memorial Trophy (National-Men)
• 6. Prince Vasalat Jha Trophy (National Women)
• 7. B.C.Gupta Trophy
• 8. Federation Cup
• 9. Bangalore Blues Cup
• 10. C.Munni Swami Cup
• 11. All India Ramu Memorial Trophy

Some important things about Basketball

What are the measurements of basketball court.

28 m × 15 m

What is the height of the board from ground?

What is the circumference of the ball.

75 to 78 cm

How many players are there in a team?

Total 12 players (5 players + 7 Substitutes)

What is the duration of a time-out?

One minute.

What numbers are printed on the shirts of players?

Numbers 4 to 15 are printed on the shirts of players.

What is zone to zone defence?

It is a system of defence in which players are responsible for defence of their sides.This system of defence is mainly suited against a team that is slow in making moves.

What is the duration of substitution?

The duration of substitution is 20 seconds.

Which type of ball is used in competitions?

Leatherette ball is used in competition.

From where the free throws are taken?

Free throws are taken from the end line.

Copyright 2024 by Tiwari Academy | A step towards Free Education

The leader in quality Physical Education, Athletics, and Fitness equipment for 75 years.

7 Innovative Invasion Games for PE

** This blog is being shared to provide activity ideas for future use. Gopher strongly recommends following your district, state, and CDC guidelines for practicing safe Physical Education during the pandemic.

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For 60+ more Invasion Games .

1. Ricochet Ball

Objective: Score more points than the opposing team by catching balls from their team’s ricochet rally ball.

Scroll to next game (Ricochet Triple Ball)

Fundamental Movement Skills : Locomotor (Dodge, Run), Manipulative Send (Throw), Manipulative Receive (Block, Catch)

Equipment List:

• Ricochet Rally Set
• One Ricochet Ball
• Two Ricochet Rally Shields

Setting Up:

• Use a basketball court   
• Each team begins on their half of the court
• One player from each team stands in the basketball crease in the other half of the court. This player holds one Ricochet Rally Shield
• One goalie from each team stands on the goal line between the goal posts -no other players may enter the crease

Instructions:

• Give the ball to a player from one of the two teams.
• Players with the ball can only pivot and cannot otherwise travel while holding the ball.
• Players pass the ball to each other in efforts to move the ball closer to their ricochet rally player.
• Players score by throwing the ball, at their player holding the ricochet rally shield, who attempts to ricochet the ball into the goal.
• When the ball lands on the floor (not including the ricochet on the goal) or is intercepted or after a point is scored, the other team gets possession of the ball.

Questions & Notes:

• What are some of the best strategies to score points?
• What are some of the best strategies to prevent the other team from scoring points?

2. Ricochet Triple Ball

Scroll to next game (Drag’N Tails Dunk)

• Three Foam Balls
• Use a basketball court
• One player from each team stands in their basketball crease in the other half of the court. This player (Ricochet Rally) holds one foam ball–no other players may enter the crease.
• Give the remaining ball to a player from one of the two teams.
• Players score by catching a ball ricocheted off their ricochet player’s ball. Defense can attempt to knock the ball away.
• When the ball lands on the floor or is intercepted or after a point is scored, the other team gets possession of the ball.

3. Drag’N Tails Dunk

Objective: Score points by dunking a ball into the goal without losing your dragon tail.

Scroll to next game (Mobile Baseline)

• One dragon tail per player—different color per team
• One ball (or disc)
• Two baskets
• Use a volleyball court (or play outdoors on soccer field)—there needs to be a center line to divide the teams into two zones.
• Place a basket in the middle of the two zones.

Each team begins on their half of the court.

• Players with the ball can only pivot and cannot otherwise travel while holding the ball; players can use one step to dunk the ball.
• Players pass the ball to each other in an effort to move the ball closer to their end zone.
• Players score by dunking the ball into the basket.
• When the ball lands on the floor, it is intercepted, after a point is scored or if a ball carrier’s tail is removed, the other team gets possession of the ball.
• When any player crosses the center line their flag can be pulled. When flags are pulled those players must return to their half of the court and reattach their flags.
• What are some of the best strategies to score points? ​

4. Mobile Baseline

Objective: Teams try to be the first to fill their basket with all their balls

Scroll to next game (Mobile Fill Own)

• Two mobile goals
• Two sets (different color) of 12 balls.
• Use a volleyball court with a center line—the end of the volleyball court is the end zone.
• Each team begins on their half of the court with all of their balls.
• One player from each team is in the opposite end zone with a mobile goal.
• On the signal to begin, players attempt to toss balls from their half of the court into their mobile goal, the other team cannot go in the end zone, but can, on their own half,  otherwise attempt to deflect the other team’s balls from successfully making it into the mobile goal.
• When a ball does not make it into the mobile goal, players can run into the other team’s zone to pick up the ball and run it back to their half (players cannot toss the balls back).

Team which fills their basket first scores a point. Spread the balls out again, and play again…

• What are some of the best strategies to fill your cart? ​
• What are some of the best strategies to prevent the other team from filling their cart?

5. Mobile Fill Own

Objective: Teams try to be the first to fill their basket with all their balls.

Scroll to next game (Ultimania Ball)

• Use an open space.
• Place a basket in the middle of the two zones—one goalie for each team is at their team’s basket.
• Players are in scattered position in playing area.
• Balls are scattered throughout the playing area.
• On the signal to begin, players pick up balls and attempt to toss them into their team’s basket or pass it to players closer to their team’s basket.
• The goalie may move with the Mobile basket to get closer to their teammates with balls.
• The opposite team can play defensively by knocking away the other team’s balls.
• When all balls from one team are in their basket the round is stopped, the team that filled their basket first scores a point, disperse the balls, play again…
• Any balls tossed into the opponent’s goal, score minus two when counting points when all balls from one team are in the baskets.

6. Ultimania Ball

Objective: Score points by tossing a ball or disc through the Ultimania target

Scroll to next game (Ultimate Basketball Hoops)

• One foam ball or disc
• Two Ultimania Nets
• The Ultimania targets are placed in the middle of a basketball key–no players may enter the crease.
• Players pass the ball to each other in efforts to move the ball closer to their Ultimania Target.
• Players score by throwing their ball or disc through the Ultimania Target.
• When the ball/disc lands on the floor or is intercepted or after a point is scored, the other team gets possession of the ball.

Questions for Understanding:

7. ultimate basketball hoops.

Objective: For each team to score more baskets than their opposing team.

Fundamental Movement Skills : Locomotor (Run), Manipulative Send (Throw), Manipulative Receive (Catch)

• Eight cones to define two creases.
• One hula-hoop per team.

One OMNIKIN® ball per game.

• Place a square crease (two to three paces across) on either end of the playing area.
• One player from each team stands in their crease holding a hula hoop–must always be held horizontally.
• Other players are in a scattered position in the playing area.
• One player is given the ball.
• Players with the ball can take three dribbles with the ball and, when stopped, can only pivot, and have three seconds to pass the ball.
• Players attempt to pass the ball to teammates and toss the ball into the hoop held horizontally by their goal-keeper.
• When a goal is scored another player switch roles with the goal-keeper.
• Defense cannot attempt to knock the ball away from the player holding the ball.

Any ball that hits the ground or is intercepted goes to the other team.

• Have four teams play at the same time with one or two balls.
• Thanks to OMNIKIN® and Scott Williams at NYS AHPERD  2019.

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Basketball Lesson Plans

• Doug Curtin
• May 9, 2024

Basketball lesson plans aim to provide every student with a foundation in which they can develop their basketball skills, eventually leading to fun and successful gameplay. To do so, students can get comfortable and confident with a breakdown of basic dribbling, passing, and shooting techniques. 

While working on different skills and drills, students can also explore the basic rules and strategies of basketball, with an added bonus of different games and activities they can play at any time or place! Check out awesome resources and activities for your basketball unit. 

Skill Development Basketball Lesson Plans

Students who play basketball outside of physical education might be eager to jump into full 5 on 5 basketball games. However, within physical education, regardless of grade level, jumping right to full-blown games of basketball will leave many students in class feeling frustrated and left behind. 

Therefore, basketball lesson plans for physical education can focus on skill development. That doesn’t mean teachers can’t create an amazing basketball unit that engages all students in class. Through a skill development approach, teachers can differentiate and modify the fundamental skills of basketball for every experience and ability level. 

For example, one aspect of basketball lesson plans is developing students’ dribbling skills. To start class, teachers could start students with a basic warm-up focusing on a stationary dribble technique. Beginner-level students could start by dribbling with their dominant hand (e.g., right hand), while more advanced students could practice dribbling with their non-dominant hand (e.g., left hand). Everyone gets to practice basketball dribbling skills! 

Different Elements of Basketball Lesson Plans 

At PLT4M, we break down basketball lesson plans using the following categories: 

Rules & Game Play 

A great way to plan a basketball lesson is to put together a lesson using one material from each section and finish the class with a game.  (Note: Modified games are a great way to introduce students to all the different ways they can play basketball, not just 5 on 5.)

Let’s examine a sample lesson plan that teachers could create using the basketball unit resource pack in PLT4M. 

Sample Basketball Lesson Plan 

Teachers can introduce awesome basketball lesson plans using the resources and materials from PLT4M basketball. 

Dribbling: Stationary (5 Minutes) 

5 rounds of: 

30 seconds Right Hand

30 seconds Left Hand 

30 seconds Rest 

Passing: Two-Handed Push Pass (5 Minutes) 

Partner Passing – Starting just a few feet away from each other, accumulate 10 passes before taking a step back and repeating. See how far you can spread out from your partner while still getting your pass to reach your partners chest (no bounces!) 

Lay Ups: 2 Footed Lay Up (10 Minutes) 

In small groups, students must drive to the hoop and land on two feet before going up for a lay up. Students can practice different strategies like pump faking, pivoting, and laying the ball up right away.

Shooting: Free Throws (10 Minutes) 

In small groups, students can practice free throws. Have one student take 5 free throw shots in a row before the next person in the group shoots. Other group members can retrieve rebounds and return the ball to the shooter. Have each student be the shooter twice to see if they can match or make more free throws than the first round. 

Rules & Game Play: Knock Out (Remaining Time) 

Now that students have practiced lay ups and free throws, introduce the game of knockout, which combines both skills.

Have students explore the rules and instructions of knock out with PLT4M’s Different Types of Basketball Games PDF. (Additional PDF’s come with PLT4M’s basketball lesson plans including types of defense, types of defense, parts of the court, basics of basketball, and more.) 

Bonus! Classroom Management Strategies For Basketball Unit

Here are a few tips and strategies for implementing the skills and drills within your basketball lesson plans. 

After reviewing the skill or drill, teachers can have students break off to practice in three different settings: 

Individual 

Small Group

To practice, teachers can have students work through the skill and drill in a variety of ways: 

Set A Timer

Ex 1: How many non-dominant hand dribbles can you accumulate in 60 seconds? 

Ex 2: You have 10 minutes to go practice different types of lay ups in your group. 

Set A Number 

Ex 1: Complete 10 succesful bounce passes in a row before moving further apart. See how far you can go! 

Ex 2: Attempt 20 one-handed form shots from 5 feet away and see how many you can make. 

Key Takeaways on Basketball Lesson Plans 

Basketball is an awesome addition to your physical education curriculum! From manipulative skills to motor skills, students can learn a lot from the popular game of basketball. A few key takeaways for teachers as they set out to implement basketball lesson plans include:

Focus on Skill Development – Each drill from PLT4M has written and video instruction. We recommend taking about 5-10 minutes on any drill to introduce the skill and allow time for students to practice.

Make It Fun – Teachers can add fun twists and different variations to make the different skills and drills fun and challenging for students. Based on your age group and class dynamics, you can always tweak and modify drills to mix things up!

Add Assessments – Create custom metrics to log different types of basketball data relevant to your group/audience. Example: Free Throws Made (10 Attempts)

Want to tap into the basketball resources and technology to take your basketball plans to the next level? Reach out to PLT4M to schedule a free consultation on how to incorporate these resources and lots of other awesome PE lesson plans and topics!

What other types of lesson plans and workouts does PLT4M have?

Consider PLT4M your full learning management system for health and physical education.

PLT4M has a full slate of PE lessons for physical education teachers to choose from! From PE games to fitness activities, PLT4M has countless options. Check out some of the most popular below:

• Weight Training 
• Dance Fitness 
• Mindfulness 
• Remote Learning 
• Personal Hygiene
• Drug and Substance Education 
• Physical Literacy
• Social Emotional Learning
• Health Education Lesson Plans 

Is PLT4M aligned to Shape Standards?

Yes, every program is aligned to the PLT4M to the  Shape Standards.  SHAPE America’s National Standards & Grade-Level Outcomes for K-12 Physical Education define what a student should know and be able to do as result of a highly effective physical education program. This guide demonstrates how the PLT4M programs align with grade level standards, helping you achieve and accomplish a standards-based curriculum.

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5 Benefits of Playing Basketball, According to Experts

Sports & activity.

The benefits of playing basketball extend off the court. Learn more about what all this sport has to offer.

Basketball has loyal fans — and players — of all levels around the world. No matter how you enjoy the sport (whether you love to review game tape with pals or you play some pickup on the weekends), basketball draws a global appreciation due to its demand on endurance, technique and quick thinking.

Here are a few reasons why you may want to take up basketball — and why it has universal appeal.

5 Benefits of Playing Basketball

1. basketball can help develop fundamental movement skills..

No matter your age, fundamental movement skills — the foundation for all physical activity — are key for an active lifestyle. Fundamental movement skills are categorized as locomotor (think: running or jumping), object control (catching and throwing) and stability (balancing and twisting) skills.

“Fundamental movement skills such as [sprinting], vertical jumping and overhead throwing are very basic to physical movement,” said Koco Eaton, M.D., orthopedic surgeon, founder of Eaton Orthopaedics and a former basketball player (including three seasons of professional basketball in Venezuela). “Basketball promotes speed, agility, strength, power and endurance. It [has] also been shown to increase flexibility and motor coordination. As a result, basketball is uniquely oriented to improve fundamental motor skills that are shown to be beneficial in promoting general health.”

A 2012 study suggested that mini-basketball drills — such as ball handling, chest passes and layups — can considerably improve fundamental movement skills in children 7 to 10 years old (kids typically develop these skills between the ages of 3 and 10).

Marco Lopez, P.T., D.P.T., C.S.C.S ., a physical therapist and co-founder of The Basketball Doctors, said that basketball “combines sprinting, change of direction, and jumping,” which you don’t often see in other sports.

2. It can have a positive effect on bone mineral density.

A 2020 study comparing basketball players to athletes participating in swimming, soccer and volleyball, suggested that basketball players have some of the highest bone mineral density or BMD. A 2018 study came to similar conclusions, noting that playing basketball long-term can positively impact BMD in the legs.

“Basketball is one of the best sports for bone density,” Lopez said. “As we know, once we get older we start losing bone density. We can help decrease the rate of loss by loading the bone through jumping, running and weight lifting, so basketball hits almost every category.”

RELATED: The Best Weights for At-home Workouts

Research has also suggested that when you do high-impact, weight-bearing exercises (Think: jumping, dancing and hiking) in tandem with strength training, or resistance exercises (such as squats, deadlifts and barbell curls), it can yield a positive effect on overall bone health. Though it was noted that resistance training may have the greatest effect on BMD.

3. It’s a type of workout that fluctuates in intensity.

As discussed in the introduction of a 2021 study in Frontiers in Psychology , a typical basketball game consists of periods of both high- and low-intensity exercise. Think about it: One minute you might be sprinting down the court with the ball, and the next, you might be jogging. One of the simplest ways to increase the intensity of a basketball game is to play full court.

A 2012 study found that full court games did elicit a higher heart rate response, but that doesn’t mean you won’t get benefits playing half court. In fact, a 2018 study suggested playing basketball improves overall health whether you're playing half or full court.

“Although full court basketball provides a greater benefit than half court basketball, [the study found] half court basketball was still beneficial to the health of the participants," Eaton said. [It] looked at the effects on blood pressure, body composition, cardiovascular fitness and maximum oxygen uptake. Significant benefit was noted in half court basketball but a maximum benefit was noted in the participants who were playing full court.”

4. Basketball gets children active at an early age, which can carry into adulthood.

“The most significant positive benefit from basketball is [the] increase in activity that carries into adulthood,” Eaton said.

A 2018 study revealed that 74 percent of children and adolescents in the U.S. report their top reason for playi n g basketball is to have fun. And research has found that those who are physically active during childhood are more likely to be active in adulthood than those who are more sedentary as children. In fact, according to the U.S. President’s Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition Science Board , 73 percent of adults who currently play sports also did so when they were children.

5. Basketball may improve communication skills through team building.

This may be one of the less obvious benefits of playing basketball. Eaton said that because basketball is a team sport, it requires players to communicate with one another, often without words. A 2010 study supports this, observing players continuously changing teammates they interact with as they play. Much of this communication didn’t involve verbal cues, but instead took place through ball passing and visual cues during plays. Off the court, non-verbal communication is used in everything from business to interpersonal relationships. While research varies, a study found in a 2018 issue of The Hearing Journal estimates at least 70 percent of all communication is nonverbal (a figure which extends outside of sport).

Other skills gained on the court transfer to everyday life: In addition to building crucial communication skills, basketball also has a positive impact on mental coordination, with 2015 research noting players must constantly adapt to gameplay and cognitively switch their physical coordination to keep up. Psychologists suggest that adaptability comes with higher levels of overall life satisfaction, especially when combined with high levels of social support (such as support from friends when settling into a new job).

Words by Ashley Lauretta

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Originally published: May 13, 2022

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Exercise for weight loss: Calories burned in 1 hour

Being active can help you lose weight and keep it off. Find out how much you need.

Being active is vital to losing weight and keeping it off. When active, the body uses more energy in the form of calories. And burning more calories than you take in leads to weight loss.

To lose weight, most people need to cut the number of calories they eat and move more. This is according to the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Most often, that means cutting daily calories by 500 to 750 to lose 1 1/2 pounds (0.7 kilograms) a week.

Other factors might be involved in losing weight. Because of changes to the body over time, you might need to cut calories more as you age to keep losing weight or to stay at the same weight.

Diet or exercise: Does one matter more?

Both are important. Diet affects weight loss more than physical activity does. Physical activity, including exercise, has a stronger effect in keeping weight from coming back after weight loss.

Losing weight with diet alone and without physical activity can make people weaker. This is because of age-related losses in bone density and muscle mass. Adding resistance training and aerobic exercise to a weight-loss program helps prevent the loss of bone and muscle.

These are the exercise guidelines for most healthy adults from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services:

Aerobic activity. Get at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity a week. Or get 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity a week. You also can get an equal mix of the two types.

Aim to exercise most days of the week. For even more health benefits, strive for 300 minutes a week or more of moderate aerobic activity or 150 minutes of vigorous activity. Exercising this much may help with weight loss or keeping off lost weight. But even small amounts of physical activity can be helpful. Being active for short periods of time during the day can add up and give you great health benefits.

• Strength training. Do strength training exercises for all major muscle groups at least two times a week. One set of each exercise is enough for health and fitness benefits. Use a weight or resistance level heavy enough to tire your muscles after about 12 to 15 repetitions.

Moderate aerobic exercise includes activities such as brisk walking, biking, swimming and mowing the lawn.

Vigorous aerobic exercise includes activities such as running, swimming hard laps, heavy yardwork and aerobic dancing.

Strength training can include use of weights or weight machines, your own body weight, resistance tubing, or activities such as rock climbing.

How much am I burning?

This list shows about how many calories are burned while doing certain exercises for one hour. This is based on a person who weighs 160 pounds (73 kilograms). The calories you burn depend on the exercise you do, how hard you do it, how much you weigh and other factors.

Based on Ainsworth BE, et al. 2011 compendium of physical activities: A second update of codes and MET values. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. 2011;43:1575.

Remember, to lose weight or to keep weight from creeping up on you as you age, you need to eat less and move more. Moving more means adding more physical activity into your life.

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• Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. 2nd ed. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://health.gov/paguidelines/second-edition. Accessed March 13, 2024.
• Physical activity for a healthy weight. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/physical_activity/index.html. Accessed March 13, 2024.
• Ainsworth BE, et al. 2011 compendium of physical activities: A second update of codes and MET values. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. 2011;43:1575.
• 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture. https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov. Accessed March 13, 2024.
• Perreault L, et al. Obesity in adults: Role of physical activity and exercise. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed March 13, 2024.
• AskMayoExpert. Physical activity (adult). Mayo Clinic; 2022.

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5 Exercises for a Better Sex Life

Any physical activity can improve your sexual health. But a few exercises are especially beneficial.

By Danielle Friedman

As far as your muscles are concerned, sex is just another workout. And like most workouts, the more conditioned you are, the more enjoyable it can be.

Yes, you can train for sex.

“It’s important to remember that sex is movement, and it’s exercise,” said Debby Herbenick, director of the Center for Sexual Health Promotion at the Indiana University School of Public Health. If you want to have satisfying sex, she said, you’ll likely benefit from moving your body outside of the bedroom.

If you’re happy with your sex life, a regular fitness habit can help to ensure your body c ontinues to function properly. If you feel like your sex life could be more satisfying, exercise may help with erectile dysfunction , pain with penetration and low sex drive , among other issues.

Regular physical activity can also help you become more self aware. “You learn to listen to your body ,” Dr. Herbenick said, “and then you can carry that wisdom over to your sexual life.”

While pretty much any workout routine can improve sex over time, a few specific types of movement can be especially helpful for sexual function and enjoyment, depending on your needs and physical ability. Here are five exercises that experts in sexual health and fitness recommend.

Work in bursts of high intensity cardio.

Your cardiovascular health directly impacts your sexual health, and not just because sex can sometimes be vigorous and aerobic, Dr. Herbenick said.

The cardiovascular system powers two bodily systems that are important for sex: erections and vaginal lubrication. Without proper blood flow, one will likely have trouble achieving or maintaining either, she said. Research also suggests that, for some people, aerobic exercise itself can stimulate arousal.

If you don’t already do aerobic exercise, begin by establishing a solid cardio baseline through regular, moderate-intensity activity, said Darlene Marshall, a personal trainer in upstate New York who has helped clients train for better sex.

Then, once you can comfortably walk or jog at a “conversational” pace for about 20 minutes, add intervals of high-intensity effort, she said — to train for the bursts of exertion sex can require. Depending on your fitness level, running or cycling sprints, brisk stair climbs or high intensity interval training are all good options.

“The goal is to help your body avoid becoming overwhelmed, cardiovascularly, during sex,” Ms. Marshall said.

Do Kegels — correctly.

The health of your pelvic floor, the hammock of muscles that sits at the base of the pelvis, can make the difference between a gratifying sexual experience and a lackluster or even painful one — for women and men — said Janelle Howell, a pelvic floor specialist in Chicago. Between 10 and 20 percent of women in the United States report pain during sex.

When your pelvic floor muscles are weak or tight, you may not experience as powerful an orgasm. Tight pelvic floor muscles can also make penetrative sex painful. Healthy pelvic floor muscles need both strength and flexibility to be able to contract and fully release on command.

Kegel exercises , which mimic the effort of holding and releasing urine or gas, can be an effective way to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles, Dr. Howell said. The key is to make sure that after every contraction, you fully relax the muscles — something many people don’t do properly.

For women, Dr. Howell suggests imagining an elevator slowly going up, then slowly going all the way back down to the ground floor, to ensure the muscles fully release. For men, tighten your pelvic floor muscles, hold for three seconds, then fully relax for three seconds.

If you have a tight pelvic floor, experts advise skipping the Kegels and focusing instead on diaphragmatic breathing , which can help to relax and lengthen the muscles. (A pelvic floor physical therapist can offer a full assessment.)

Limber up your hips.

Most people spend hours a day sitting, which can lead to tight hip muscles, fascia and ligaments. When your hips are tight, you may experience back and pelvic pain during sex.

“I hear a lot that people can only do one position,” because they’re stiff or other positions hurt, Dr. Howell said.

Improving your hip mobility can help your whole lower body move more fluidly and comfortably, and may improve pelvic pain during sex, she said.

As a first step, Ms. Marshall recommends releasing some of the constricted areas by placing a tennis ball against your glutes and rolling it around, then shifting it to your hips and hamstrings, massaging each area until you feel the muscle release. This can be done sitting or against a wall.

From there, stretch your hips, hip flexors, glutes, back muscles and hamstrings by doing a figure-four stretch , 90/90 stretch , cat cow or happy baby pose , Dr. Howell said, or “any movement that’s bringing your chest closer towards your knees.”

Finally, dynamic exercises such as deep squats and glute bridges mobilize the hips and build strength. And if you want to dial up the intensity, weighted squats , leg presses and kettlebell swings can increase the power in your glutes and hamstrings.

“I love kettlebell swings for sexual training,” Ms. Marshall said, because they involve “a rhythmic movement of flexion and extension in the hips.”

Focus on your entire core.

The more strength you have in your core, the more you will be able to move easily during sex. Most of the nerves and muscles that are involved in sex are integrated into the core, and strong core muscles can also help to reduce back and hip pain before, during and after sex.

“Strengthening the core can really help with endurance during sex, helping you feel strong and solid in your body,” said Rachel Zar, a sex therapist in Chicago.

To work the full cylinder of muscles that make up the core, Dr. Howell recommends doing planks daily. “You can start small,” she said. “Say you can only hold it for five to 10 seconds — that’s going to help you to engage all of your core muscles at one time.”

Another bonus to working the core muscles? Dr. Herbenick and her team have found that, for some people, contracting and releasing their core muscles helped them become aroused. Consider your planks foreplay.

Practice five minutes of daily yoga.

Yoga can help improve hip mobility and build core strength. And practicing slow, deep, diaphragmatic breathing is especially valuable for sex, Dr. Herbenick said, because it helps to relax both the body’s parasympathetic nervous system and the pelvic floor.

“You might find that vaginal penetration is more comfortable. You might find that erections come more easily,” she said. “Stress is the enemy of erections.”

If you don’t feel up to moving through yoga positions, practicing the breath work alone is valuable, Dr. Howell noted. “Even just laying on the yoga mat, putting your hands on your belly and just breathing into your belly can really start to calm that nervous system,” she said, “which can then support more pleasure in your sex life.”

Danielle Friedman is a journalist in New York and the author of “Let’s Get Physical: How Women Discovered Exercise and Reshaped the World.” More about Danielle Friedman

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