Being a young athlete is a busy time - especially while you're trying to balance sports, school, personal relationships, and everything in-between. This is especially amplified while playing multiple sports.
While there is a tremendous benefit to getting involved in a variety of different athletic teams, it can also take away from valuable off-season practice time and reps it takes to be an elite basketball player. So how do you do it?
Here's 7 ways you can balance playing multiple sports even if your primary one is basketball.
1. Play Multiple Sports!
While this may seem a little counter-intuitive to the article, we still advise every young athlete to get involved in at least one other sport. This is a great way to broaden your athletic profile, whether it's getting faster in track, improving hand-eye coordination in baseball, or improving mental and physical toughness from football - it's all extremely beneficial to support your basketball journey.
Plus, it's a great way to branch out from your traditional basketball friendships, and increase your social circle with other people who have some of your shared interests.
2. Always Find a Sliver of Time for Extra Reps
While it may be difficult sometimes, especially after long day of school and practice for other sports, always try to find at least 15 minutes in the day were you're putting shots up (A Dr. Dish Home makes this easier!), getting some type of skillwork in, or just studying the game.
The elite players always find a way to keep basketball central in their life!
3. Have Dedicated Basketball Training Days in the Off-Season
Something that's beneficial for every athlete is to have structure to their week. And when you can plan out activities before they happen, it oftentimes makes the day a bit easier to account for. So, If you know you don't have practices on certain nights, that's probably the best time to get a full training session in.
4. Prioritize Rest and Recovery
While you should have dedicated basketball training days, you should also prioritize rest and recovery, especially if you are feeling burnt out from any of your previous sessions.
So if you have two free nights out for the week, maybe one of those is a dedicated basketball training session, and the other is a rest and recovery day. Prioritize low-impact activities and make sure you're getting adequate time hanging with your friends and working on your relationships. That recharges you to come back stronger the next day!
5. Communicate with Your Coaches
Schedules are crazy, and when you're a coach trying to get countless numbers of players back in the gym or training in the off-season, it can get a little hectic. Make sure you clearly communicate with your coach what priorities you have, and how you are still going to find the time get valuable reps in.
On the other side of the coin, make sure you're dedicating ample amount of time to your current sport, your teammates are depending on you to be locked in and focused on winning in the moment as well.
6. Use Your Secondary Sport to Support Your Basketball Goals
Every sport you play can be a tool to make you a better basketball player. Think about what skills transfer: football might build toughness and agility, soccer can improve conditioning and footwork, and track can increase speed and explosiveness. Instead of viewing your secondary sport as a distraction, see it as a complementary piece to your basketball development. Approach practices and games with the mindset of sharpening tools that will carry over onto the court.
7. Fuel Your Body the Right Way
Balancing multiple sports, school, and life takes a lot of energy, so how you fuel yourself matters. Prioritize eating balanced meals with enough protein, carbs, and healthy fats to keep you energized throughout the day. Staying hydrated and getting consistent sleep are just as important as your workouts. If you treat your body like an elite athlete—fueling it with the right foods and rest—you’ll perform better, recover quicker, and avoid burnout or injury.
If you're looking for any inspo, checkout our FREE In-Season Strength and Nutrition Guide!