Basketball came about because of Dr. James Naismith, way back in 1891. It has developed into an extremely popular sport. People of all ages love the sport of basketball. It then went from him to Magic Johnson to make the best players into celebrities. To get more out of their success, read below.
Constantly practice layups. In a typical game, up to four-fifths of all shots are layups. When you practice, be sure to run at the goal with full speed, jumping and shooting in a smooth series of motions. Perfecting this skill will enable you to get to the rim effortlessly during a game.
Make sure to practice catching passes. During practice you should come up with drills where you perfect catching bad passes along with the good ones. During a game, not all of your passes will hit the mark. So you should do the team a favor by knowing how to take in any kind of a pass that comes from someone.
Don’t dribble during your drills. It is quite challenging to play the game without dribbling, but it does make sure you and your teammates make accurate passes. Don’t be frustrated by how hard it is at first; you will get used to it.
Do you want to fool the other team? Try a pass back! You want to grip the basketball with your strongest hand. Keep control of the ball while it is behind your back. Pass the ball from behind your back by flicking your wrist in the direction you want the ball to go. This is a good way to trick your opponents.
Ask your teammates what they like about how you play. Can they tell you what you’re really good at? They may say that you are a great team defender or are always playing with excellent speed. Develop your strengths even further and look for ways to improve your weaknesses.
Quickness is a key skill in basketball. Speed always gives you an edge over your opponent. Steady drilling is the key to playing fast. Do not try playing faster than you can. This can cause you to get out of control and make careless mistakes.
Be aware of your own actions and the position of your feet. If you have the ball and you step outside the baseline, then you’re out of bounds. If you take several steps while holding the ball, you could be called for traveling. Also, moving a foot when setting up a screen can result in a foul.
Try practicing looking in the opposite direction when you pass. This throws your opponents off. When done properly, this technique distracts the opposition and gives your pass recipient a chance to focus on the basket. It really can be a powerful technique.
You need to take charge when the opportunity presents itself. A charge leads to a turnover by the opposing team and gives you the ball back. This can be devastating to the other team.
Once you are in your defensive stance, remember to hold your ground. Shifting your weight back and forth between your feet will help you to stay in position. Remember to never let your feet cross and you will be a difficult player to get around.
Alter your pace to confuse the opposition. When you’re going towards the net you should plant the foot in front and start straightening up. Your opponent will assume you are slowing up, and thus will also straighten up. Like them, push and run past them.
Strength Training
It can be great help to do strength training when you’re training for basketball. You need both stamina and strength to be a good player. Even younger kids will benefit from strength training. As they age, begin adding weights to their exercise routine. Strength training is essential once you reach the adult years.
Bend your knees when dribbling the basketball. Standing while dribbling will make it much easier for the opponent to steal the ball from you. You will gain a lot of ball control by bending your knees just a bit.
Make sure you don’t pick up your dribble unless you are prepared for a shot or pass. Once you stop dribbling, you are extremely limited in your options. If you don’t have the chance to shoot or pass, you can just pivot with the foot in the back. That will allow your opponents to double team you and potentially steal the ball.
Always practice from all spots on the court. You will want to learn how to be steady and have a good grip on the ball. You can shoot when you’re not balanced, but it isn’t very accurate. You can use your basketball’s valve to improve grip. Center your dominant hand over the valve, and spread your fingers out from there.
For example, a misfired shot launched from the corner of a basketball court usually hits the net, bounces off the site, and lands on the opposite side. Pay attention to this as you prepare for a rebound.
Try to alter the path of your opponent. It does not matter if you are on offense or defense, being able to control where the opposing player goes is very important. This opens up passing lanes and shooting chances when you’re on offense and can help create turnovers when you’re on defense.
To play in regulation basketball, you’ll need ten players and a hoop that’s at least ten feet high. A strong knowledge is required if you want to play it well. This article is a great start to you becoming the best player that you can be.