You’ll need information to be able to enjoy basketball no matter what role you have in the game. Just starting out? Don’t let it worry you. Basketball is a great game, and it is not hard to learn the rules. Read on for advice you can use for either viewing or playing basketball.
When you have the ball, make sure you change your direction frequently. The entire court is open to you, and it is important to take advantage of that fact. As you move to the right or the left, make sure you shift your weight accordingly to have the easiest experience moving with the ball.
When shooting the basketball, it is important to maintain good balance. Jumping and leaning to the right or the left can result in a missed goal. Learn to jump straight up while maintaining your balance for best results. You can practice this by running and shooting the ball during your practice time.
Always remember that to be a great basketball player, you’ve got to be a great athlete first. Put as much time into conditioning your body and increasing your endurance as you do shooting and passing. This will improve your play under even the most excruciating circumstances, making you an invaluable team member.
When prepping for the basketball season, walk around with the basketball as often as you can. Take the time to throw the ball from one hand to the other, and even flip it around your back. Your goal is to improve your hand/ball coordination so that the ball feels as if it’s part of you.
If you have a kid that wants to play basketball in high school, be sure they’re working on their core muscles. The core muscles include the lower back, hips and abdonimals. The lower and upper extremities are linked by the core, and athletes with a weak core will exhibit limited performance. A strong, sturdy core allows force from the legs to fuel movements like running and jumping.
When you play basketball, be sure that you remain properly hydrated. Drink plenty of water before, during, and after playing. Becoming dehydrated can negatively affect your game and your health. It is possible to lose up to 2% of your body weight through dehydration. That can also cause between a 10% and 20% decrease in your athletic performance.
When a teammate passes you the ball, make the most out of it. If you have an open shot, go ahead and shoot. If you do not have an open shot or think that you can get open, do the right thing and pass it along to another teammate. They may have the shot that you don’t.
Beware of picking up bad habits from street basketball games. Street games are often rougher and flashier than team basketball. It’s a game to impress through individual showmanship, not from your work as part of a bigger group. Therefore, you can bring the wrong skills to the table if you base your team play on what you’ve learned from street games. Remember, you are part of something bigger than just 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.
Have someone taper your games and then watch it to see how you look on the court. Are you able to see what you’ve missed or things that you could improve on? Don’t get yourself down about your performance, but stay honest with yourself concerning where your game needs some work. Sometimes, it helps a lot to see yourself as you really are and not as just you imagine yourself to be.
High percentage free throw shooters typically have the same free throw routine prior to each and every shot. For example, many people touch their foreheads or tap their chest before making a free throw shot. When you have a steady and consistent routine, your muscles will remember what to do to shoot those free throw shots.
Always keep your eyes up when dribbling the basketball. You need to be looking for a lot of things when dribbling. First, you want to be able to see teammates open for a good pass. You also want to be looking for any weaknesses in the defense, especially in transition.
Good footwork can really help you to get those rebounds. Try to anticipate the move of the defender between yourself and the basket so that you can maneuver around him and to the hoop. This will get you a rebound without having to commit a foul.
Learn how to make the offensive or defensive player go where you want them to go as opposed to forcing you to go where they want you to go. This means that you need to pay attention to your surroundings and watch out for traps and screens. You can avoid them if you encourage your opponent to go where you want them instead of falling into a trap.
Don’t read what anyone in the press says about your team. This applies to every level from high school newspapers to the professional leagues. The only opinion about how your team is playing that matters is the one in the locker room. Don’t let anyone contaminate your team’s chemistry and confidence with the doubts of some critic.
Get your hands up when playing defense. Get your hands in their face and obstruct their vision. They might be taller or faster than you, but if you get your hands up in their face and obstruct their field of view, you have a better chance of disrupting what they are intending on doing.
These tips should help you get started on improving your game. Now that you know some things about basketball, you can see how much fun the sport is. Take what you have learned in this article and apply it to your game today and you’ll be a better player in no time.
