4 Important Tips on Playing Basketball Outside

Playing basketball outside is fun and challenging at the same time since everything around you changes during the game.

The sun moves across the sky, rain falls unexpectedly out of nowhere, and humidity makes your skin feel oily all day long.

You can’t control these factors when playing basketball outside but there are ways to manage them if you know what they are.

This article will help players get more comfortable with outdoor games by explaining some important tips about playing this sport in the outdoors, covering things like moisture management and how it affects your performance while playing basketball.

So, without further ado, let’s begin with the pointers!

Tip #1 – wear clothing that wicks sweat away from the body

The first thing you need to understand here is why sweating happens in the first place.

When you exercise or play sports, your muscles generate heat through different activities such as running and jumping.

As this process goes on, your blood carries warm fluid (blood plasma) which contains water vapor onto the surface of muscle cells where the excess liquid turns into sweat.

Sweating helps regulate temperature on our bodies so we don’t overheat.

However, excessive perspiration causes problems because sweat cannot evaporate fast enough to keep up with the cooling effects caused by air movement and evaporation.

Therefore, you must limit the amount of sweat produced by exercising or participating in other physical activity to avoid dehydration.

To prevent this problem, try wearing clothes made using materials that absorb sweat easily without letting it soak inside them.

These types of fabrics include synthetic fibers made from polypropylene or nylon.

They also have special properties called “wick,” meaning that they quickly pull moisture away from the human body and transport it toward outer layers of fabric where it dries naturally.

A great example would be t-shirts made from CoolMax® technology that has an advanced blend of cotton and proprietary polymer designed specifically to move sweat away from the wearer’s skin and retain its warmth.

Other examples of wick able materials include breathable mesh shirts and tops, wool sweaters, and high-quality denim jeans.

Moisture is not only bad for absorbing sweat because it leads to wetness and discomfort.

It may cause bacteria growth leading to rashes and infections.

Now let’s look at the second tip regarding proper storage of basketball supplies.

Tip #2 – carry a good backpack for storing basketball accessories

Many players prefer carrying their basketball stuff in a backpack rather than keeping them in pockets, pouches or bags attached to their waistbands.

Backpacks offer many advantages including:

• Ease of access to the ball;
• Space for additional supplies such as towels and snacks; and
• Freedom of hands for dribbling or passing the ball when the backpack is worn.

There are several kinds of backpacks available on the market today, ranging from cheap models sold at local sporting goods stores to expensive designs specially created for professional athletes.

Cheap backpacks usually come without any padding or insulation and have no waterproof cover to protect contents from sudden rains or direct sunlight.

On top of that, a lot of these type of backpacks are poorly ventilated because they use thin foam pads placed under compartments filled with gear.

Since thick foam does not allow efficient circulation of cool or hot air, these backpacks tend to trap moisture inside.

Moreover, most of them lack sufficient capacity for holding larger loads and contain inadequate spaces for organizing smaller ball related items.

For those reasons mentioned above, I recommend buying a durable backpack with plenty of room for large amounts of basketball equipment.

Look for one with padded insides and wide zippered sections on both ends of the main compartment.

Make sure the backpack fits comfortably and offers adequate protection from elements that could damage ball covers especially from strong light sources.

The last thing you’d want as a player is for your basketball to lose air!

Additionally, consider getting a backpack with separate insulated compartments for each part of the set (i.e., hoop, net, ball).

These compartments should be big enough to accommodate bulky pieces of equipment without crowding.

And lastly, choose a model with adjustable shoulder straps and/or chest strap to optimize comfort and stability.

With these adjustments, you’ll enjoy greater mobility without having to hold heavy amounts of weight on your arms.

The good thing about the backpacks made today is that many manufacturers provide convenient solutions allowing customers to select optional features like padded sleeves that surround hand grips, leg grippers and even built-in pocket organizers.

Tip #3 – stay hydrated as you play

In order to stay healthy and perform well, you must maintain ideal levels of hydration throughout the entire season.

Water provides essential nutrients required for every system within your body to function properly.

It aids digestion, regulates body temperature, transports oxygenated blood to vital organs, improves flexibility, removes waste products, prevents cramps and reduces fatigue.

Most importantly, drinking water helps flush toxins released by working muscles and protects us from catching colds and flu viruses.

So, drink lots of fluids!

Not doing so puts undue stress on your immune system because it takes longer to recover once dehydrated.

You can also keep track of how much water you consume daily by measuring ounces per hour.

Try to drink eight glasses of clean water per day divided evenly throughout the morning and evening hours.

By following the simple rules outlined here, you can enjoy basketball outside safely and successfully.

Tip #4 – monitor the weather conditions

One major factor affecting player safety is unexpected natural disasters like thunderstorms and tornadoes.

Thunderstorms produce lightning bolts that travel hundreds of miles horizontally and strike ground objects thousands of feet below, causing electrical surges capable of igniting flammables and sparking fires.

Tornados spin rapidly in the sky producing winds reaching speeds as fast as 60 miles per hour.

They leave behind massive destruction and devastation in their path.

What this means is that outdoor basketball players should pay close attention to extreme weather warnings issued by their countries national weather service operator.

Even checking the weather through a mobile phone application is recommended.

Admittedly, the likelihood of tornadoes or thunderstorms occurring when you play outside is pretty low on a regular day.

But even a little bit of rain or wind can make the playing conditions unsafe.

A slip caused by a puddle of water lying on the court is all that it takes to cause a serious injury.

So, monitor the natural elements even as you play ball.

Closing thoughts

A final note…

We hope the information shared here proves helpful for anyone interested in learning more about playing basketball outside.

Unfortunately, due to limited resources, we were unable to discuss certain topics in detail.

For example, we did not address the technical aspects associated with choosing appropriate shoes, shooting techniques, etc.

Please refer to other articles on our website to learn more details on specific subjects.

Thank you again for reading and best wishes for all your future endeavors!