Youth choosing basketball over football
Over the past few years, there has been a shift amongst the youth from a desire to play football towards a desire to play basketball. I think football is still the number 1 sport in the country; however, more and more kids are navigating towards basketball, specifically within the African American community. Kids enjoy playing basketball more and parents believe it is safer than football. Additionally, I think most would opt for a gym with AC over the Florida summer heat. For some kids I hate to see them choose basketball over football to be honest. Although there is nothing wrong with choosing basketball over football, I believe that kids and parents often don’t have all the facts or understand what it really takes to make it in basketball.
The primary reason kids and parents are navigating towards basketball is the cultures associated with the sports. Every kid that has played football in his neighborhood has played a version of football in which everyone tries to tackle the person with the ball. It is possible for one kid to have the ball with eight or more people trying to tackle him. In my youth we called it “Killer Man.” Today my kids and their friends call it, “Throw em up, buss em up.” It’s aggressive, it’s violent, and you quickly find out who’s not afraid of contact.
As a society, however, there is a push to change football to make it “safer” by removing the violent hits. You can’t run from the core of the sport. It’s a constant battle and display of toughness. Your goal is often to hurt your opponent by running them over or bringing them to ground, legally of course. When you physically impose your will on your opponent you can make them quit. Football can be nasty and as a coach you understand, “everybody ain’t built for this.”
On the other hand, in basketball, your goal is to score. The most common played version of the game is called, “Twenty One.” The first person to score twenty one points wins. Yes, there is defense played and it’s also one person versus everybody else. However, it’s far less intense than Killer Man. No one is trying to hurt anyone or cause pain. Often people only guard certain people or wait until you get about 15 points before they play real defense. Sometimes rules are built-in that cause you to lose points because you missed a shot. Then the system plays defense for you.
Due to these cultural differences, basketball is perceived to be easier than football. Additionally, basketball coaching styles tend to be less aggressive because finesse and skill are very important. Football coaching styles tend to be more aggressive because if you can bully or be tougher than your opponent, you can be successful without skills. Also, football practices are more physically demanding than basketball in terms of contact and many times in terms of conditioning.
Another factor? Everyone can see all the players on the basketball team. Basketball players are well-known because they don’t wear helmets. There are more attention grabbing moments in basketball games and everyone can be a part of it. Position-less basketball is the new trend so everyone gets the opportunity to shoot and dribble so they can create their own highlights. Basketball players also get paid more once they make it professionally and at a young age provides more opportunity for travel and exposure with tournaments. Not to mention, the easy tournaments where kids rack up trophies against weak competition
All these factors contribute to the false perception that basketball is “easier than football.” I will not say that one is easier than the other because both sports maintain their own individual challenges. However, I will say it is much harder to reach the desired level of success in basketball than football. I’ve talked to kids who really believe they are going to play in college or the NBA and they are a 6’0 post player in high school. There is nothing wrong with wanting to play basketball over football—if the goal is to play, have fun, and create memories then pursue it with passion.
However, if the goal is to play at the college or professional level, parents and players need to be realistic about the child’s potential and opportunity. Basketball requires a lot more training and practice hours than football, which is contrary to popular opinion. There are examples of players in the NFL who never played high school or college football (Stephen Neal, Patriots). Some basketball players switched sports and became great NFL players (Antonio Gates, Chargers). I do not know of any examples when it comes to basketball where professionals did not play at all during their youth or switched late in their career to play basketball.
Also, the genetics associated with playing basketball at its highest level are inescapable. The average height for an NBA player is 6’7 while for an NFL player it is 6’2. That is a major difference and you can find that some of the best players in the NFL are not even 6’0 tall.
“Myles if you don’t get no taller you’re not going to play in the NBA. You might be able to play the slot (wide receiver in football) but you can’t guard anybody in the NBA at 5”11 so you don’t have a chance.”
That is a real conversation we have. I am going to continue to support his dream with time, training, and money but I have to be realistic. If he is 5’11 and proves me wrong and makes it then good for him! But as he sits out of football for eighth grade to work on his basketball game he is aware that he will be playing football his freshmen year of high school no matter what. I want to be sure that he sees the opportunity available to him with his current stature and athletic ability. In addition, there are lessons, like toughness, that you can get from football that basketball can’t teach you.
If your child wants to play basketball instead of football, support them 100%. If it is fun they seek, then there is nothing wrong with quitting football. However, if your child says they want to play in college or the NBA let them know it is not easy and they cannot wait until they are 15 to start working. They need to spend some time dribbling and shooting almost daily. It does not matter if they are taller than their peers. Every kid that desires to play basketball should be developing their game as if they were going to play point guard! They do not need to play it during the game but that is how they should be taught the game. You have no idea how tall they are going to be until they stop growing.
Basketball is not easier than football. There are actually less players in the NBA than NFL. There are less college scholarships available in basketball than football. You have to be taller to play basketball. You have to be more skilled to play basketball. You will have to spend time working on your individual abilities in addition to practice to be successful in basketball. I will not tell kids not to pursue it but I do want parents and players to understand that the idea that it is easier and has more opportunities is false. Until next time, B U!
