Many people enjoy watching basketball and supporting their favorite team. Give your fans a reason to cheer by improving your game. Every member of the team plays a part in the excitement, so make sure you do the work of assessing yourself and knowing where you need to improve. Use these tips to make yourself a more valuable asset to your team.
One of the first things you need to learn when it comes to basketball is how to guard the ball. To help develop the skills needed for this, ask your friends for a friendly game of basketball. Invite some players who are skilled to teach you how to guard the ball.
Never pass the ball and stand still. This is a mistake most often made by those new to the game of basketball. Once you’ve passed the ball, you need to work to get into the best position possible to be passed to again or to grab a rebound from a shot.
When injuries occur on the court, it is unwise to keep on playing. Basketball is physically demanding, and injuries are relatively common. If you keep playing when you are injured, you could end up with an injury which keeps you from ever playing again. See a physician if you think your injury is serious.
Keep your hands active. Use a deflective hand high to block shots and intercept passes. Use a ball hand low to block low passes and try to poke the ball away from your opponent. Always swipe your hand up when playing the ball. Swiping down at the ball could result in a foul.
When you’re working out, concentrate on core strength building and your footwork. Your body will naturally balance well if you have strong core muscles. Exercise your abdominal muscles as well as those of the hips, buttocks and back. Practicing with a jump rope is a great way to increase your foot speed.
Always know where the other players are, both on your team and the opposition. You need to know who is close enough to steal the ball from you, who you can pass to and who might be able to rebound if you miss. Staying on top of the game means knowing the lay of the land.
Quickness is a key skill in basketball. Try to outplay your opponents by being fast to win the game. Regular drilling will increase your speed. Do not try playing faster than you can. By playing beyond your speed capabilities, you will quickly lose control of the ball, which will lead to bad passes, bad shots, and turnovers.
Never throw the basketball at another player. Even if you are angry or aggravated, it’s never smart to take your anger out with the ball. Not only will you draw a foul, you can also do some serious damage to the person you are throwing at. Take a breathe before you do anything stupid.
There may be sneaky or subversive moves that you can make in an attempt to won a game but they are not worth it. Your teammates and fans deserve a player to be proud of, not one whose actions they have to defend. Be a player that your team and the opposing team can both respect.
If you wish to do free throw shots reliably, always do the exact same thing before making each shot. Perhaps you will dribble twice, follow up by bending your knees, pulling your earlobe or performing some other ritualistic action for good luck. As long as you make it quick, if you have a consistent routine, your body will remember how to make those free throws after you go through your ritual.
The only way to become a better basketball player is through practice and hard work. Anyone can better their skills, but in order to truly succeed and be better than other players is by improving your skills. It doesn’t take much, all you need is a hoop, a ball and desire to become better.
One of the best ways to always be in proper defensive position is to never break out of the defensive stance. Stay in the right position by pushing off of your opposite foot. Keep your feet from crossing to make it hard for your opponent to get by you.
To win the game you need to take good shots. Good shots are when you have an open arc to the goal with a high-percentage of scoring. No other players on your team should have a better shot than the one you are taking. Otherwise, it’s not a good shot.
If you are weaker with one hand when it comes to dribbling, only dribble with that hand. In fact, take a ball with you wherever you go and practice while you are out and about. You will find your skills improve the more that you are able to practice with your bad hand.
Don’t read what anyone in the press says about your team. This applies to every level from high school newspapers to the professional leagues. The only opinion about how your team is playing that matters is the one in the locker room. Don’t let anyone contaminate your team’s chemistry and confidence with the doubts of some critic.
Put the ball in your hands as much as you can during off-time. You might have seen ball players holding the ball in random places, and there’s a reason for that. The more you hold the ball, the more you will handle it, and the more you will be able to control it on the court.
There is a lot to know when it comes to basketball. A better player leads to a better team which means a bigger, happier fan-club and cheering section. Every single participant plays a role, from those on the court to those sitting in the stands. As a player, your part is the give the team all the help you can. Use these tips to improve your skills and become a valuable teammate.