1. Reduced stamina/cardiovascular endurance: Excess body weight puts more strain on the heart and lungs, causing the player to get tired more quickly and struggle to keep up with the pace of the game.
2. Reduced flexibility/agility: Excess body fat can limit the range of movement at joints, making it harder to stretch for a ball, change direction quickly, or jump high for a rebound.
3. Increased risk of injury: Carrying extra weight puts additional stress on joints like the knees and ankles, increasing the likelihood of sprains and strains during the high-impact movements of netball or basketball.
Obesity, a condition of being grossly overweight, has significant negative impacts on sports performance. In dynamic court games like netball and basketball, it can limit key physical attributes. Cardiovascular endurance is reduced as the heart has to work harder to supply oxygen. Agility and speed are impaired because it takes more force to move a larger body mass. Flexibility is reduced, and the constant high-impact movements put excessive strain on joints, leading to a higher risk of injuries.
Expert