The love that many people have for this game cannot be overstated. The more you know about the sport, the more enjoyment you’ll get out of watching or playing it. Continue on and get educated on basketball.
Always dribble with your head up and looking forward. You haven’t practiced enough if you keep looking at the basketball while you’re dribbling. Always have a basketball handy. On your way to the grocery store, practice your dribbling. If you’re looking at the basketball, you won’t be able to see what is coming at you.
Work on catching passes frequently. When you practice, mix it up so that you can catch perfect passes and errant throws. Some passes may be too high, too low or off target, so you should practice receiving passes often. Learn how to catch any sort of throw.
Ask your fellow teammates if they have an opinion of your skills in the game. What areas are your strong points? It may be that you are quick on your feet or that you are always there to back them up. Improve the skills where you tend to be a bit weaker while maintaining your stronger skills.
Stay conscious of your foot motion and placement. Stepping even a toe on the baseline with the ball in your hands means you are out of bounds. Taking a lot of steps when you’re not dribbling means you’re traveling and that’s a turnover call. If you move either foot while trying to pick, take a charge or set a screen, it will result in a called foul.
To dribble the ball better, it is important that you practice dribbling with the hand that’s weaker. If you can dribble equally well with each hand, it is simpler to get past your opponents. Try tying the dominant hand behind you and forcing yourself to just using your weak hand. Your weak hand won’t be that for long!
Workout to increase flexibility and strength in your hands and forearms. One important exercise is wrist curls, which help you with your dribbling. Making a goal isn’t just standing there as the ball miraculously comes to you and then shooting it at the basket. Things rarely happen unless you are actually moving the basketball.
Prevent the opposing team from stealing the ball by dribbling hard. This causes the ball to return to your hand more quickly, so the offense has less time to try to get it away from you. If your opponent is playing you up close, stop what you’re doing and quickly look to find and open teammate to pass the ball to.
Peripheral Vision
Practice noticing what is in your peripheral vision. This will prepare you for unexpected passes and help you evade defenders. Working to improve you peripheral vision will help you become a more successful player. If you scan the entire court instead of keeping your eye on the basketball, you will be aware of oncoming defensive pressure as well as the positions of your open teammates.
Changing pace can help you keep the offense guessing. While you run at the net, plant the front foot and start straightening your body. The guard is going to think you’re starting to slow and will straighten up too. When that happens, rush forward and power past them.
To improve 3 point shooting, practice from NBA distance, at least. All other three point lines are closer than what the NBA uses. Nailing shots from the NBA line can really help improve your overall shooting skills.
There is hardly a game more loved internationally than the fine sport of basketball. If you are new to the game, the fast pace makes it difficult to follow and enjoy. Whether new to the game or an experienced observer looking for more information, the above guide should hopefully be helpful to a lifetime of basketball enjoyment.