Wrestling vs. basketball

[gman8]

I was wondering which one you guys enjoyed more and which one would make me a better football player? I have never wrestled before but I want to try it and I have been playing basketball for six years so I am trying to decide which one to play at school. Thank you for comments in advance.

[jpez]

Why don't you just play football if you want to be better at that?

[vongSTAA]

I am guessing it's because the OP is now in the off-season so he needs another sport to play in the meantime.

Both sports seem to have benefits towards your performance in football, but basketball seems better for explosiveness and agility?

How about focusing more (if possible) on your strength training?

[LiftingNerd]

It depends what position you play in football. If you play in the trenches then wrestling would not doubt help more than basketball. Wrestling would also let you put more emphasis on strength training. Since most basketball players I've known aren't too keen on putting in serious time under the bar.

[Shoke]

i've only played basketball and i enjoy it...but i think wrestling has more crossover to football.

[muddy]

It's hard to come out of the wrestling season as strong as you went into it. A lot will depend on the weight class you are in and how that fits with your natural weight once you're in competition shape. If you can avoid being one of those people who are always cutting to make weight, I would really recommend it.

I don't know if this is still true, but in the peak of our season, we could be competing between 1-3 times a week. Or a Saturday meet would have us competing up to 5 times. Between that, the practices, and maintaining weight, you will likely not see the inside of the weight room during the season. You'll still be very strong, and likely still doing bodyweight things as part of practice (rope climbs, handstand pushups, pullups, wall sits), and wrestling itself will maintain a pretty high level of strength. Your cardio, agility, body awareness, etc will be through the roof.

If you don't do freestyle in the spring, that would leave you 4 months to hit the weights before football season started.