Basketball is now the third most played sport in Canada. More young people participate in basketball games and leagues each year. On a professional level, more Canadians get recognized in the NBA, the biggest basketball league in the world.

However, you shouldn’t look at basketball only as a physical fitness activity. It can help shape a young person in a myriad of ways, affecting how they turn out as adults and how successful they can become.

Still on the fence about basketball? Not sure if this is the right sport for your kids? To help ease your mind, here are 8 life lessons young people can pick up from playing basketball.

The Inevitability of Failure

People remember basketball legends like Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James for their victories. They each aided their team to claim the NBA championship multiple times and each grabbed the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award.

That doesn’t mean they didn’t go through losses.

Legendary players fail. People remember the times they threw the ball and made the shot but in between those bouts of success were numerous misses and miscalculations. Their teams didn’t always win the game nor the championships.

Kids playing basketball will learn these life lessons. They’ll learn to accept defeat but still keep their head high, ensuring they still have the courage to move forward.

Value of Teamwork

You can’t play basketball on your own. It’s a team sport and this means your kids get to interact with others, both on their team and the opposing side. They’ll learn how to cooperate with their team and build a sense of camaraderie.

Teamwork also means respect for each other.

Even from the beginning, basketball included rules against harming one another. Kids will learn life lessons about playing competitively but still maintaining a sense of safety. They’ll learn how to forgive players who hurt them on the court, understanding that physical accidents are an inevitable part of the game.

Fitness and Physical Health

Basketball is one of the few big sports that involves the whole body, making it ideal for cardio exercises, like tennis. One of the most important life lessons kids can pick up from basketball is to value their body and take better care of their health. Otherwise, they won’t be able to play.

The sport demands strong feet, knees, and hands. Basketball players need to take care of their eyes and ears to coordinate while gaming. Achieving peak physical condition also means a lot of exercise and practice.

If your kids aren’t accustomed to this amount of physical activity or if they exhaust too quickly, basketball is a fun way to start. Even though the practice is tough, doing it with friends at campmakes it enjoyable.

Life Lessons of Patience

Patience is a virtue, as the saying goes, and basketball embodies this saying despite it being a physically active sport with a lot of fast movement. Aiming for the right shot, knowing when to pass, and mastering the ins and outs of the game all require a level of patience.

Getting good at basketball doesn’t happen overnight. Gaining the skills to win also take time and patience. If your kids never played basketball before, this is the right sport to teach them how to wait and let time do its job as they continue to exercise and practice.

Of course, patience becomes important outside of basketball too. Kids who wait and keep persevering will succeed in their careers.