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Basketball
For a Healthy
Work Life
Balance
have been thinking, wondering if we all
have really picked up any of the sports
we discussed in all our previous edi-
tions of the Lion King this year. We talked
on swimming, skipping, golf and cycling.
Which of these sports have you adopted
as your best form of exercising for healthy
work life balance?
Have you thought of a holistic sport that in-
volves running, shooting, jumping, team-
work, networking, focus and so many oth-
er forms of exercise all happening at the
same time? Think no further; we present to
you a sport that offers a great cardiovas-
cular workout, a sport that really works the
heart and lungs, getting your blood pump-
ing and your breathing is accelerated. It
provides an amazing workout for your
body. Welcome to the world of basket ball.
Basket ball is simply a team sport which
can be played at ease. You do not need to
spend much money to play the game. We
have basketball courts at almost a walking
distance from our various neighborhoods.
All you need do is identify a decent court
around your neighborhood, ensure you
have the right kits which we will discuss
as we go on and you are ready to play,
make new friends, network and burn out
those calories.
Let me clear some doubts here, basket
ball can be played by all, except for
those with extreme medical conditions.
Even the popular Nollywood actors Aki
and Pawpaw can be great basketball
stars. You don’t need to be above 6ft
as the media has projected to play the
game.
To start playing the game, we need to
first gather the equipment. This should be
very easy as the game only requires a
ball and two hoops perched at a height of
ten feet at the opposite ends of the court.
The court can be easily constructed right
within your compound or back yard.
Next, you assemble or choose your team.
Two teams with members per team.
The object of the game, very obviously
is to score baskets. The game is usually
played for a period of 60 minutes with four
15 minutes sessions. The length can vary
based on your level of professionalism of
the players. If you’re playing at home on
your court or with friends, you can sim-
ply play for 15 minutes and above. Just
two or four persons can even play the
game. It doesn’t have to be at competi-
tive level. You and your friends, family
of visiting colleagues can just come to-
gether and play, its all about dribbling
the ball past your opponent and shoot-
ing to score.
Each goal or ‘basket’ is worth 2 points.
However, if a basket is scored from
outside the 3 point line, that is the arc
shaped line outside the free throw line,
then the basket is worth 3 points.
The game starts with a jump ball. A
jump is when one person from each
team goes in the center of the court and
jumps to tip the ball from their team-
mates after the referee throws the ball
straight up. The goal here is to direct the
ball towards your team.
Some very important rules to remember
while playing basketball can be enu-
merated as follows:
• The dribble ends when you stop
and hold the ball.
• If you hold a ball for more than five
LK Sports
I
By Omede Odekina and Abdul Imoyo