Off-season...basketball, does it help?

[equus]

My daughter has played soccer only for almost four years now (U5-U8), and last year played practically year-round with an indoor league.

This winter, she expressed interest in playing basketball, which I totally support for these reasons:

It keeps her in shape and she learns a new sport.
She gets to play for a coach that isn't her dad for a change.
I don't want her to get burned out on soccer.
Does basketball offer a decent substitute for development in soccer, as in moving to space, passing, teamwork, etc.? We play Swedish Handball quite often during soccer season, which is basically basketball without the dribbling and shooting at a basket. Opinions? Thanks!

[threeputzzz]

I have heard from other coaches that basketball is excellent for teaching the importance of movement without the ball. Alas my own kids have no interest in basketball so I have no direct experience.

[uniteo]

Absolutely...tactics are very similar.

Lot's of the skills they learn translate: boxing out = shielding, dribbling with body between ball and defender, head up while dribbling, give and go, immediate transition from offense to defense...

Mostly though, exercise is good.

[flamepruf]

Quick movement foot skills (busy feet), space, and physical play of marking and jostling for the ball.

Can't go wrong.

[Monkey Boy]

Kids playing multiple sports is a good thing for many reasons. One it helps them develop muscles and coordination better -- different movements and focus. It can also help with seeing the game differently -- translating strategy or movement between sports.

Basketball is a very good cross-over for soccer. One thing you might see improve is her leaping/heading ability as her jumping and timing of her jumps are key elements to basketball - not a lot of soccer training spent on that 3rd dimension.

There is way too much specialization for young athletes now days and I definitely think kids should have the opportunities to choose a sport they want to focus on. I've always said that my boys will have be able to choose their sport - the only consideration is that soccer will be one of the options :)

[strike]

Both my kids play basketball in the off season and it really helps their coordination and translates over to soccer in terms of work off the ball. It really helps them find space, open up and avoid defenders instead of clustering with them.

The best part is being able to take a break from coaching, sitting back and watching your kids blossom from the sidelines as a fan :)

[cleansheetbsc]

5v5 basketball looks very similar to 5v5 U-10, so yes.

[man_in_the_middle]

The truth is nothing will improve a player from an athletic standpoint like wrestling. It improves leg strength, body control, gives one a low center of gravity, and greatly improves endurance. I was always a step ahead in the spring because of it.

Basketball is a great game and but I don't buy the tactical similarities at all.

For you're little girl if she is looking to have fun, encourage her to play bball. If she is looking to be better at soccer, indoor or gymnastics is better for her game.

[Twenty26Six]

Wrestling and Gymnastics/Tumbling are great for cross-training.

[meyers]

The truth is nothing will improve a player from an athletic standpoint like wrestling. It improves leg strength, body control, gives one a low center of gravity, and greatly improves endurance. I was always a step ahead in the spring because of it.

Agreed, quite a few players I have been involved with have wrestled also. They are much stronger on the ball, can go all-day, and never complain about training (everything else is simple after wrestling)


Basketball is a great game and but I don't buy the tactical similarities at all.



Completely disagree here. Very, very similar games. Excellent for movement, spacing, defensive coverage (double teaming in corners, cutting out passing lanes). Same idea of shoot, dribble, pass.

[equus]

Both my kids play basketball in the off season and it really helps their coordination and translates over to soccer in terms of work off the ball. It really helps them find space, open up and avoid defenders instead of clustering with them.

The best part is being able to take a break from coaching, sitting back and watching your kids blossom from the sidelines as a fan :)

After coaching two soccer teams this fall, I'm looking forward to sitting on the sidelines as the supportive parent and taking that break. :)

Thanks for the input everyone.

[equus]

The truth is nothing will improve a player from an athletic standpoint like wrestling. It improves leg strength, body control, gives one a low center of gravity, and greatly improves endurance. I was always a step ahead in the spring because of it.

Basketball is a great game and but I don't buy the tactical similarities at all.

For you're little girl if she is looking to have fun, encourage her to play bball. If she is looking to be better at soccer, indoor or gymnastics is better for her game.

At her age, she's not consciously looking to be better at soccer. She likes playing soccer, but she's not driven by it (as it should be at that age.) It's just another activity to try for her. If it helps her at soccer and she doesn't even know it did, that's an added bonus to her having fun.

She may want to try gymnastics next winter if she finds basketball isn't her thing. Good idea.