If you’ve ever thought about taking up another sport but haven’t made that move, why not?
Even if you’re already in a sport that you know is your one true love, the one thing you definitely want to keep playing for as long as you can, it doesn’t hurt to branch out. I’m sure you’ve seen two-plus sport athletes get some clout in the media from the high school level all the way up to the pros, and I promise that if you and I had a dollar for every time a football broadcaster talks about a tight end who played basketball or “boxes guys out in the end zone like a basketball player,” we’d have enough money to buy a Maybach.
It’s more than just a talking point for some suit in a broadcast booth or a point of pride for someone involved in your career, though. The things you’ll learn by playing other sports can and will carry over to your favorite and make you even better than you are.
Do you like playing football? We already covered how tight ends benefit from basketball, but now you’ve got great NFL quarterbacks like Pat Mahomes and Russell Wilson who came up playing baseball and can do things on the field that nobody else can. A lot of skill position players end up running track and field to stay fast and in shape, and a lot of linemen end up there to compete in the strength events. My number one recommendation for any football player on the offensive line or anywhere on defense is to take up wrestling — your tackling, balance and technique can get so much better after you spend some quality time on the mat.
If volleyball’s your thing, give basketball a shot and work on your timing in another vertically-oriented game. If you’re a basketball player, take up track or cross country and get your conditioning up. If you run track or cross country, your speed can be a big help on the football, soccer or lacrosse field. If you’re into baseball or softball, sports like golf, lacrosse and hockey can help boost your hand-eye coordination. What I’m saying is, for every sport you already play, there’s another one out there that will benefit you.
So, next time you see an opportunity to give something new a try and join a school or club team, don’t hesitate to sign up.