Basketball was invented by Dr. James Naismith (1891). Ever since it was invented, it has been popular. There have been many people who have made basketball a world wide phenomenon. J to Magic Johnson, it has made celebrities out of its best players. Keep reading if you’re looking to learn a few things about the sport.
When you dribble a basketball, you are supposed to use your fingertips. Many people think you are supposed to use your palm, but this is incorrect. Using the tips of your fingers when you are dribbling the ball will result in you being able to dribble more in a shorter amount of time.
One of the first things you need to learn when it comes to basketball is how to guard the ball. To help develop the skills needed for this, ask your friends for a friendly game of basketball. Invite some players who are skilled to teach you how to guard the ball.
When you are in control of the ball, make sure you always pay attention to what is happening on the court. Know where the other players are. Don not stare at the ground. If you do, there is no way for you to have the type of court awareness that you need to be successful.
When shooting, always arc the shot, never throw straight. You have a much better chance of making your baskets when there is an arc on your shots. If you do not know how much arc to put into your shooting, find one that works best for you during practice and try to consistently produce the same arc during games.
Free throws are as much mental as they are physical, like other parts of the game. You may know how to make a free throw but if your focus is off, then you will miss. Relax as you focus on making the shot, and soon you’ll be making more free throws.
Do sprints in your practice drills. Basketball is a very active sport for the entire game. And there are times in it when you need to pull up your last bit of energy for an extremely fast sprint to the opposite side of the court. Your body needs to be used to sprinting, even when worn out. You only accomplish this through practice.
If you have a child who has expressed interest in becoming a basketball player in high school, make sure he trains his core muscles. Focus on hips, lower back and abs. The core links the upper and lower extremities and without a strong one, their athletic performance will be limited. Having a strong base allows the player a solid position from which to jump and accelerate during the game to help speed up their movements.
When dealing with high school basketball players, make sure that they get enough sleep every night. The workouts involved for basketball players are pretty strenuous. That is why it is very important that they get enough rest so that their bodies can recover. They should try to sleep about seven hours each night.
Take your ball with you wherever you go and dribble as often as possible. This allows you to practice handling the ball on all sorts of surfaces. For example, it will react differently on grass than it will on a wooden court. If you can master moving the ball on any surface, you will become a better ball handler.
If you are going to get rebounds in basketball, it is important to get between the person you are guarding and the basket. Then back up against that person and start moving him away from the basket. This way, if he tries to go through you or over you to get the rebound, he has to foul you.
To become a better ball handler, there are two key things you should focus on. Staying low while you dribble will make it harder for opponents to guard you and to steal the ball. Changing speeds is also important. By changing speeds while you move you’ll become more unpredictable to your opponent.
If your opponent is pressing hard, you can give yourself some room to work by dribbling the ball between your legs. You can train for this maneuver by stepping forward or backwards as you bounce the ball real hard in-between your legs. Once you get the move down, you can use it to gain a tactical advantage.
The only way to become a better basketball player is through practice and hard work. Anyone can better their skills, but in order to truly succeed and be better than other players is by improving your skills. It doesn’t take much, all you need is a hoop, a ball and desire to become better.
Use the NBA three point line when practicing your shots. High school lines, International standard lines, and college lines are closer. If you are able to make NBA-range three-point-shots, you will be able to find more open looks during your own games.
If a defender is hot on your heels, a one handed pass is a must. If their hands are up high, fake a high throw and then bounce it under their arm. If their hands are instead low, fake a bounce pass and toss it over their arm to the recipient instead.
All you need is a hoop that is 10 feet high, a long court and ten team members to make a team. In order to play basketball well, you need to have a lot of knowledge. Start with the tips presented here and continue to add to your knowledge of basketball.
