Last Updated on: 18th September 2023, 11:31 pm
In this article, we will talk about how many calories basketball burns. Of course, this depends on various factors, such as your weight and the level you are playing if you shoot some shots or play the full game. But we have good news for you! You can burn several calories while practicing your more beloved sport, so hang tight, and let’s see the numbers.
Let’s Start with 30 minutes of Playing Basketball.
- Short Answer: The ordinary person who plays at an average level should burn between 250 and 360 calories for just 30 minutes of playing basketball.
- Long Answer: You need to note that the number of calories burned while playing basketball is a rough estimate and can vary depending on various factors. It’s impossible for anyone to accurately determine the number of calories they will burn while engaging in a specific activity for a given amount of time. Several factors, such as age, gender, metabolism, and intensity level, can impact the number of calories burned.
Despite this, the rough calculation of burning 250 to 360 calories through playing basketball can still give you a general idea of the amount of energy expenditure. This can help you create a weight loss plan that involves basketball activities. Don’t forget, if you play basketball regularly, you can expect to lose around 2 pounds every month, which is a great achievement towards your weight loss goals.
Factors that Affect the Number of Calories Burned in Basketball
Body Weight: The more you weigh, the more you burn. Simple no? Theoretically, the answer is yes since you move a larger amount of weight each time you move if, let’s say, you are heavier than someone else. This would only be 100% true if you could measure the effort, and it had to be the same.
The intensity of play: The more intense the basketball game is, the more calories you will burn. High-intensity activities involve more energy expenditure and, thus, more calories burned.
Duration of the game: The longer you play basketball, the more calories you burn. However, it’s essential to note that the body’s energy expenditure tends to decrease over time, so the number of calories burned may not be directly proportional to the length of play. This means that you play with a different intensity after 10 minutes of playing and after 2 hours of playing.
Player’s fitness level: Your physical fitness level impacts the number of calories you burn. This means that the more fit you are, the fewer calories you burn since your body is used to that type of exercise and doesn’t spend as much energy as a person who is not in good fit conditions.
Rest intervals: This one is easy. If you are not moving, you are not burning. So, doing pauses breaks the calorie-burning cycle. Also, when you are playing but not moving, no one can run all the time, so it has to be just a good combo.
Playing position: The position played can also impact the number of calories burned. For example, a person playing a more active position, such as a point guard or small forward, may burn more calories than someone playing a less active position, such as a center.
Metabolism: This is also very important and can not be measured. A person’s metabolism can impact a lot of how much you burn. People with fast metabolism tend to burn more.
Also Read: How Many Quarters Are in Basketball?
Tips for Maximizing Caloric Burn While Playing Basketball
Increase the intensity: The most effective way to increase the calories you burn is to increase the intensity of your play. Do your best to play at your highest speed and make an effort even when you don’t have the ball. The unnecessary runs that you keep making will make all the difference in the end. This is the most important of all the tips.
Incorporate strength training: Strength training exercises can help increase muscle mass, leading to a higher metabolic rate and more calories burned. Incorporating strength training exercises like squats, lunges, and push-ups into your workout routine can help you burn more calories during a basketball game. Incorporate some fitness or strength exercises before playing basketball. This is not directly related to how many calories you will burn during your basketball game, but, therefore, after the match, if you still can do a small fitness session, it would be great.
Stay hydrated: Drinking enough water before and during the game can help keep your body functioning optimally, leading to more calories burned.
Play for longer periods: Playing basketball for longer periods can help increase the calories burned. Try to play for longer periods each time you play basketball to help maximize your caloric burn.
The Numbers!
Shooting baskets
- If you weigh 150 lbs, usually 160 calories per 30 minutes.
- If you weigh 200 lbs, it is usually 215 calories per 30 minutes.
- If you weigh 250 lbs, usually 270 calories per 30 minutes.
Playing basketball (recreational)
- If you weigh 150 lbs, it is usually 215 calories in 30 minutes.
- If you weigh 200 lbs, usually 285 calories in 30 minutes.
- If you weigh 250 lbs, usually 360 calories in 30 minutes.
Playing a basketball game (competitive)
- If you weigh 150 lbs, usually 285 calories in 30 minutes.
- If you weigh 200 lbs, usually 380 calories in 30 minutes.
- If you weigh 250 lbs, it is usually 475 calories in 30 minutes.
Conclusion
To summarize, we’ve covered a lot of ground in this article, including the number of calories burned during a 30-minute basketball game, why basketball is a great option for burning calories and different factors that can affect the number of calories burned. We hope this information has been useful for you and motivates you to try playing basketball, which can be a fun and engaging way to stay active and burn calories. Thank you for reading, and we look forward to covering more interesting topics in the future!
