How Many Laps Will It Take Around a Basketball Court to Equal a Mile?
It takes 18.33 laps around an NBA or US collegiate basketball court to equal a mile. Both NBA and US basketball courts measure 94 feet in length and 50 feet wide. To calculate how many laps you need to run around the basketball court to complete a mile, simply add the measurement of all the sides of the court and you’ll get 288 feet. Since a mile equals 5280 feet, divide it by 288, and the result will be the number of laps it takes to reach a mile. Keep in mind, however, that the dimensions of FIBA, Olympic, US high school, and junior high school courts are not the same. This means that the laps needed to complete a mile around these different courts will also vary.
FIBA and Olympic Basketball Courts
The International Basketball Federation (or FIBA) and Olympic standard basketball court length and width are slightly smaller than the NBA and US collegiate courts. FIBA and Olympic courts measure 28 x 15 meters or 91.9 by 49.2 feet. Using the formula mentioned earlier, it would take 18.6 laps around standard FIBA basketball courts to complete one mile. Markings on a FIBA court, as well as the distance of the three-point line from the basket, are also different from those of the NBA and college basketball courts.
High School Basketball Courts
The length of US high school basketball courts is shorter at 84 feet but is just as wide at 50 feet. Those doing laps on such courts will have to run one more lap because one mile is equivalent to 19.7 laps on standard US high school basketball courts.
Junior High Basketball Courts
Although junior high school players can also play on a regular high school hoops court, there are separate standard basketball dimensions for junior high school. Such basketball courts measure 74 feet long by 42 feet wide. To run a mile on junior high school basketball courts, you’ll have to complete approximately 22.76 laps.
Basketball Drills
Running laps around the basketball court is one of the most common, yet effective, basketball drills to enhance a player’s stamina. Other basketball stamina, strength, and speed conditioning drills include the following:
Basic end-to-end run: Players run from one end of the court to the other and back repeatedly for one minute. Over time, players build up their speed and stamina to run several lengths of the court within the prescribed time limit.
Sprints: Full-court sprints is done by sprinting from one baseline to the other and then back, repeating the sprints for five consecutive times. Half-court sprints are done from one baseline to the mid-court and back for 10 consecutive times.
Suicides: From the baseline, sprint to the nearest free throw line and tap it and then sprint back to the baseline. Once you get back to the baseline run to the mid-court and tap the mid-court line, and then run back to the starting baseline. Next, repeat the process but this time, run towards the free throw line on the other court and then back. For the final run, sprint from baseline to the other baseline and then back.
Laps on a Soccer Field
How does lapping a basketball court compare to doing so on a soccer field? Soccer fields are significantly larger than basketball courts, with tournament-rated fields measuring 120 yards long and 80 yards wide. With a playing field this large, you only need to run four-and-a-half laps to complete a mile.
