There are many sports which are popular today, but not all are as fun to play as basketball. It requires little in the way of equipment, so anyone of any means can start playing right away. If you want to learn how to become a better player, read the text below.
For lightening fast dribbling, just like the pros, only use your finger tips on the ball. When you use all of your fingers, your dribbling will be much slower. Make this a part of your daily practice sessions until it becomes second nature to dribble with only the tips of your fingers.
When handling the ball, make sure you spread out your fingers. This makes it less likely that the ball will slip away from you. Also, keep your palm from making contact with the ball. Only your fingers should be involved in the process of getting the ball to where you want it to go.
Try practice rebound drills that will help you learn to rebound outside your area in basketball. Great rebounders will try to get the ball no matter its location. Poor rebounders will remain still and watch the ball since they think they can’t reach it. To learn rebounding out of your area, run some drills that causes the ball to go far away from you. One way is to throw it off the back board and go after it.
One way to help improve your overall basketball skills is to spend some time watching what the pros do. Watch professionals play or go check out talented local teams to see who has the moves that you want to learn. You will notice great skills from different players that you can practice.
In the off season, it is important to stay in shape so you can be at your best when the games begin again. Formulate a few goals, but make sure they are goals that you can actually reach. For example, jogging may be a part of your routine. Start slow and then increase your time as your endurance goes up. You are more likely to stick with your program this way.
As you attempt to keep up your skills in the off-season, make sure you have fun with your fitness routine. Mix things up and include workouts that focus on endurance, strength and basic basketball skills. When the new season rolls around, you will feel sharp and be ready to go!
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.
Stick with full court basketball during practice. It might be fun to play some half court ball games, but you aren’t teaching your team how to deal with the full court. Plus, the rules of a half court game may be quite different than a full court game. It’s best to practice what you’ll be doing during game time.
A bounce pass is a good option if you are being heavily defended by one opponent. A defender who does not see the bounce pass coming will be thrown off his game. Keep your bounce passes as simple as possible to avoid a turnover. This maneuver helps get the ball to a teammate who is in a better position to score.
Keep low when you play defense. Staying low gives you a better chance to play the ball and helps you move more quickly. Remain in a good defensive stance always. If you find you have to abandon your stance to do some blocking, get back into formation as fast as you can.
Although a slam dunk may seem like the easiest and most reliable shot to make in basketball, there is still room for error. Using one hand to dunk the ball can invite turnovers and missed dunks off the back of the rim. Whenever possible, always use two hands while dunking.
When playing defense, practice slapping the ball up instead of down. If you slap the dribble down, the offensive player will have a better chance of regaining control of the ball. If you slap up at the dribble instead, it is much harder for the player to regain control of the ball.
Switching up your dribbling rhythm can really throw the defense off. Dribble consistently, then break it up by dribbling fast. This will keep your opponent off balance so you can get in a good shot. Not only the speed change, but the sound change is what confuses them most.
You need to focus on the person you are defending and the ball both at the same time. If you focus on just one or the other, you are going to end up either guarding a player who is out of the play or not guarding your player because you are focused on the ball.
You cannot stand under the net in a static manner if you want to catch a rebound. Where the ball will end up changes as the player with possession moves, so your position also has to be in flux. Continually readjust so you are in the best place to receive the ball.
To play basketball you need to be generating lots of energy. The key is to have your body burning calories throughout the day through metabolism. If you consume 5 to 7 light meals during your day, it will be easy to keep your metabolism fueled. This will produce the energy you need to get on the court and start making the plays.
While hockey means buying a ton of expensive equipment, and football can lead to concussions, basketball is a safe game to play which doesn’t cost a ton. As long as you keep reading articles like this one, you’ll become better and better. Enjoy this game every day to bring you exercise and fun!
