What’s the first thing you think of when you hear the word “cat?” A cuddly fuzzball rolling around with a ball of yarn? Pssh. How about a ninja warrior with the ability to spring in attack before you can blink your eyes? Yep, that’s the kind of cat we’re talking about. So, what can they teach us about basketball? Your first answer may just be a resounding, “Nothing!” But that’s not necessarily true. Cats have a lot of incredible skills that you can actually learn from. Have you ever heard about having cat-like reflexes? It’s definitely a thing. And learning about them may help you out on the court.
Cats are incredibly fast.
Most cats have speed in their skill set. (Unless, of course, you’re talking about an obese cat, like Garfield.) Cats can run quickly and climb trees in seconds. Like cats, you can become quicker on the court. Focus on improving your speed and agility through off-the-court training. And don’t focus all of your efforts into running. Instead, remember that becoming quicker with your hands and with your reactions will help you gain speed during the game.
Cats are aggressive.
When cats decide to be active, they can be extremely aggressive. If you’ve ever encountered a stray cat, you know that they are often ready to attack. Cats can, and will, fight tooth and nail for what they want, even if it’s just a toy mouse.
You can become more aggressive on the basketball court. When you want something, absolutely don’t be afraid to go after it with everything you’ve got. Like a cat, fight for what you want out of the game. Fight for more playing time and for more wins. Be aggressive during defense and when you want the ball on offense.
No matter where you look, there are lessons to be found on how to become better at basketball. Take these simple characteristics from cats and see how you can become a better player just by understanding them.