Basketball is played all over the world due to it’s simplicity and ease of understanding. Every person on the court is an integral part of the team’s success. If you need to improve some of your skills, keep reading for tips to help you do just that.

Make it a point to concentrate on both your defensive and offensive skills. Focusing only on offense does not make you a well-rounded player. Basketball games are often won by great defensive play. Offense is flashier, so it draws the attention of fans and journalists, but a team that can’t defend well won’t win any games.

TIP! Look forward when dribbling. If you need to look at the ball while dribbling, you’ll need to practice more.

Practice shooting free throws. This is one of those shots that seem easy but in real life are difficult. Try using this technique in practicing. Start with the ball positioned right before your face. Look at the basket and imagine the ball going in it. Then throw the ball just as you had visualized.

When you dribble, look forward, keeping your head up. Looking directly at the ball means you aren’t good at the game yet. Bring the basketball with you everywhere you go. Try dribbling even when walking to a store. If you’re trying to look at the ball then you’re not concentrating on what’s going on down the court.

Perfect your layup technique. Layups comprise approximately 80 percent of all shots. When you are practicing, run full speed at the goal and make the shot. If you can do this right, you can master this shot.

TIP! It is important that you practice layups. During any game, layups make up about 75 percent of the game.

Practice catching passes often. When you practice, mix it up so that you can catch perfect passes and errant throws. During a hectic game, every throw is not going to be perfect. You can do the rest of your team a favor by practicing how you can best complete imperfect passes.

A good way to improve team passing to use a no dribbling drill, that is to play the game without dribbling at all. Playing the game without the use of dribbling is a challenge, but it can help you and your team learn to make more precise passes. Keep your emotions in check if quality passing is not happening right away as it takes time to perfect this part of the game.

Practice playing by yourself. Basketball is a multiple player sport, but other people won’t always be around. For concentration purposes, it can be good to practice on your own. You can accomplish a lot by practicing alone. Whether focusing on foul shots or how to pivot with the ball, you can look for ways to improve. Additionally, you can practice vertical jumping and dribbling.

TIP! Learn how to block out movement, noise and other distractions when taking a free throw. You are able to train your hands and legs to free throw well, but if you think you will fail, you will.

If you are a basketball player, you know how important it is to be a well-rounded athlete. Now that you have read the piece above, you ought to understand how your game can be improved upon. Read over the above info again if you need to, but keep using the tips you read so you’re able to do better.