It is tough to argue with the immense popularity enjoyed by the sport of basketball. Given the incredible numbers of individuals who love playing and watching basketball, there really must be something appealing about it. If you are curious about the sport and want to discover more about it, you have come to the right place.
If you hold the ball a lot, you have to learn crossovers. A crossover is when you move the ball from one hand to the other. The action needs to be performed quickly in order to be successful. If done correctly, a good crossover helps you get past your opponent and to the rim.
Free throws are as much mental as they are physical, like other parts of the game. You can train your body to complete the motions of making a free throw, but if you are mentally prepared to fail, you will. You are more likely to make more successful free throws if you relax and focus on the basket.
If your son or daughter wants to play high school basketball, they need to work on core muscle training. The concept encompasses the abdominal muscles, the hips and the lower back. The lower and upper extremities are linked by the core, and athletes with a weak core will exhibit limited performance. A strong core helps you jump higher and run faster.
Try yoga to improve your basketball game. You might not want to tell your teammates about it, since some of them are going to likely laugh. However, the increased flexibility and agility you get helps prevent injuries or at least leaves able to get back up quicker when you get knocked down. Don’t laugh; Kareem Abdul-Jabaar used it to extend his NBA career.
Proper aim is crucial when trying to make baskets. Ideally, you should aim for the small square found on the backboard. Doing this increases your chances of the ball actually going down the basket. Avoid trying to aim for the next; you are less likely to be successful when doing so.
To play solid defense, if you are guarding the person with the ball, keep your eyes on the basketball. If you look at his eyes instead, he will fake a pass one way, just by looking in that direction, and then dribble around you the other way. The ball can’t lie about where it’s going.
When you have to shoot free throws in a basketball game, make sure that you clear your head before you shoot. Depending on your state of mind, free throw shots can either be your hardest or easiest shots. Try clearing your mind and concentrating on the shot. Many players find it useful to imagine the ball going into the hoop. These shots take skill and finesse so emotions like anger can negatively affect your focus and alertness.
A chest pass is the most effective method of getting the ball from one player to another. This type of pass gives you plenty of strength and allows you to fully control where the ball goes. Using a chest pass is also the quickest way to pass the ball but only use it when there is no defender between you and your teammate.
Use only your fingertips when you are dribbling the ball. It may be tempting when you are first starting out to dribble with the palms of your hand, but you’ll have no control over the ball at all. When you use your finger tips, you’ll see that you’ll have a lot more control overall.
If you want to be a better jump shooter, learning the proper way to jump is one way to improve. It is extremely important your jump does not drift from side to side. If you begin to drift your shooting arm will lose aim at the basket. Jumping straight up and coming straight down will increase your accuracy and consistency.
Be flexible in your body movements. You’ve probably already noticed that when you try to guard someone who is in a stiff position and stays very still, that it is easier to guard them and take the ball. Those who are flexible and always moving around are much more difficult to catch.
Understand that your importance as a player does not mean that you are more important than any other member of the team. Even if you are the person who makes most of the goals, you would not have that chance without the support of your teammates and all of the other team supporters who make your team possible.
In order to help you make a successful pass the ball should always be thrown away from the defender, this way your teammate can use his/her body to shield the defender away. A bad pass will lead to a turnover which you do not want. Learn how to make a great pass, and your team will succeed!
Getting rebounds help your team get or keep control of the ball. Predict where the basketball may go and keep moving. Where the ball ends up depends on where the original shot was made, the force of the shot and where the ball hits the basket or backboard. It is more difficult to predict the position of the ball for longer shots.
Always take a two handed approach to possession of the basketball. Catch passes with both hands. Rebound the ball with both of your hands. Pick up loose balls with both of your hands. Always secure full and safe possession of the basketball before making a pass or starting your dribble.
Learn how to pay attention to two people at once when on defense. If your assigned man has the ball, give him your full attention. However, if someone else has the ball, mind him and your man. You need to know when your man might get the ball, or when the ballhandler might need a sudden defender to approach him.
The numbers do not lie. Basketball is among the most popular sports in the world, both for playing and for watching. The article above was intended to function as a useful guide to help readers maximize their enjoyment of basketball, regardless of their current level of knowledge, skill or understanding.
