Basketball is not only for competitions and gym class. It is possible to play basketball at a sports center, the park, or even at home. Learn more about the game to enjoy it as much as possible.
Correct dribbling is key. When you dribble a basketball you have to use the fingertips instead of the hand’s palm. This gives you the best ball control. Dribble to the side of your body rather than directly in front of you, bouncing at waist level. Keep your head up, do not stare down towards the ground.
It’s natural to be drawn towards offense as a novice, but the pros know defense is where the game is won or lost. Defense is what wins basketball games. The offense gets lots of attention, but if the defense is lacking no basketball team will ever win a game.
Always keep your head up when dribbling instead of focusing on the ball. Looking directly at the ball means you aren’t good at the game yet. One of the best ways to improve your dribbling is to bring your ball along anytime you need to walk somewhere. Practice in your home and wherever you walk. Remember, if you are directly staring at the ball, there’s no way for you to see what’s happening on the court.
Every great player understands how to properly perform a bounce pass. A bounce pass that’s good is going to end up hitting the other player near their waist. One good rule is for you to bounce the basketball most of the way toward the other player. There are other things to keep in mind, though.
One great way to pass good is to drill when you can without dribbling. It is tough to play when not dribbling, but your accuracy is sure to inprove. It may seem nearly impossible at first, but over time your team will learn to throw accurate passes and be in good position to receive them.
Frequently train yourself on your pass catching moves. You want to practice catching perfect passes and bad passes. When the game is going on, every pass isn’t going to make it to its target. By learning to catch errant passes, you will do your team a great favor.
If you post up, you need to use good footwork to get open and make sure you get a good shot. You must beat the opposing playing to an open spot. When you are in position, you must secure your spot. Strong footwork is key.
Passing quickly without dribbling is a great way to practice. Playing the game without the use of dribbling is a challenge, but it can help you and your team learn to make more precise passes. The accuracy of passes will greatly improve over time and the drill will become a lot easier.
When exercise, concentrate on perfecting footwork and strengthening your core muscles. With a stronger core, you’ll be able to balance better. The most important muscle groups include your back, stomach, and pelvic region. Your speed and footwork can be improved by jumping rope.
Would you like to learn how to fool your opponent? Try using a back pass! Use your dominant hand to palm the basketball. Then, move the ball so it is behind your back. After determining which direction you want the ball to go, use a quick flick of your wrist to send it that way. You can use this action to deceive your opponents.
Have a friend or family member videotape your games, then view the video to see the result. While reviewing the tape, look for opportunities you may have missed during the game. Assess yourself honestly, but don’t be a harsh critic. You can learn a lot by watching your plays instead of just trying to remember what you did.
When an injury occurs while you are playing ball, don’t keep playing with pain. Basketball is physically demanding, and injuries are relatively common. By “playing through the pain” you take a huge risk that the injury will become much worse. Seek medical advice immediately if you have more than a minor muscle strain.
Look away when you practice passing. This throws your opponents off. Not only will they not see the pass coming, they may think a pass is going in the opposite direction. It’s quite a play when done properly.
Have your team mates critique your playing skills. You may have a certain skill that you have perfected. They may say you’re fast or that you share well. Discover what other people feel are your strongest skills and then set about perfecting them.
You must disrupt your opponent’s game when you’re playing defense. Do not allow your opponent to become comfortable with their style, or yours. Make assertive moves, keeping your opponent unsure of your next move. Never allow them to decide what plays will be made. If they do, they’ll dominate you. Force them to act and their rhythm will get disrupted.
In order to perfect your layup shooting technique practice, take off with your left foot if you shoot with your right hand and vice versa. Thus, if you use your right hand for shooting, you need to push off using your left foot. Your body will be better balanced and moving in the direction of the basket. Your body will also be kept between the defender and yourself.
Dribble hard to make it less likely for the ball to be stolen. A hard dribble returns the ball back to you faster, leaving less chance of it being snatched by the other team. If another player is getting too close to you, it is best to pass the ball if a teammate is open.
If you want to better your dribble, start practicing with your weaker hand. Getting by an opponent should be a lot easier if you can dribble using both hands. You can focus on the strength of your weak hand by tying your dominant hand behind your back. You will improve dribbling with your weak hand soon enough.
When you have the chance, take charge. By taking charge you can create a defensive stop so you can get the ball, and allows you to create setups so that the opponent will foul you. This is play that’s powerful.
To be a strong defender, you must have the ability to disrupt and interfere with the opponents’ plans. Force them to leave their comfort zone. When you are guarding, do so aggressively. Do not let them choose the plays to make. If you allow this to happen, your opponent will have the upper hand. Instead, disrupt their rhythm by making the first move.
Mix things up offensively to keep the other team’s defense off-balance. As you are heading towards the net, straighten up and plant down your foot. The guard is going to think you’re starting to slow and will straighten up too. As they do, push forward hard and run by them.
To avoid having the ball stolen, dribble hard. The ball bounces faster, giving the guard less time to steal. If you have somebody guarding you very closely, pass the ball to an open teammate.
In order to help develop your non-dominant hand, you should use that hand only when trying to open things, and also when brushing your teeth. If you can train yourself to be ambidextrous, you will gain complete control of that hand. This also can significantly help your basketball game.
Perform drills where you attempt to get the ball up full-court in 5 dribbles or less. This might not seem possible, but if you can do it your speed and length will strengthen. It can mean easier lay-ups when dealing with fast breaks and it can help your teammates for just a moment.
AS you dribble the basketball down the court, keep your knees bent. You will have a hard time controlling the ball if you always stand straight and opponents will be able to steal the ball. Just bending a little bit at your knees can really help you to control the ball better.
Ensure that you have good court awareness. This will help you to secure the ball during the game. Try making your peripheral vision the best it can be. If you’re looking around the whole court and not only at the ball, you’ll be able to look to the defense to see if pressure is coming and you can see who’s open.
Learning to pivot is important when playing basketball. Practice often so you do not have to think about pivoting during a game. Work on your stance as well as your ability to react.
Strength and flexibility training can help your skills in basketball. It’s important to have stamina and strength when playing basketball. Young children that play can even benefit from strengthening arms and legs through proper exercise. As they reach their teen years, bring weights in to further enhance exercise. Continue training throughout the adult years to maintain a constant performance.
A great way to beat teams in zone defense is a penetrating dribble. Getting by a defender and into the lane will cause the defending team to either shift or collapse on the ball. If you manage to get all the way into the lane, then now is the time to shoot the ball. If another teammate is open, throw the basketball towards them so they can shoot.
A powerful play called the trapping machine, is to have your guards wait for the point guard to come just past midcourt. Then, they need to run at the point guard to trap him. While this is going on your forwards can be sprinting to the players located on the wings. Their point guard will probably hurl a pass that is easy for your own forwards to steal.
When dribbling, be sure to bounce the ball with a lot of force. Normally, you will be dribbling the ball to your side but during fast-break opportunities you will need to dribble the ball in front of you. Dribble very hard, if you can.
To improve 3 point shooting, practice from NBA distance, at least. The international line is much closer. If you can make a basket from there, you will open up the defense because they will have to play you closely.
Make your opponent go into the sideline. Allowing the opposing players to rule the middle court will give them too many options. If you can push them toward the sideline, however, their choices will become more limited.
Use exercises that are adapted to your level and needs. Running for long distances will increase your stamina, while running sprints will help you with fast-paced moves. Lift weights to build your power. Building your muscles and your confidence will help you game in many ways.
Write down your plan for your workouts. A lot of players have no plan for working out. This makes it easier to become distracted and miss out on excellent opportunities to improve yourself. A plan in writing is one you can easily adhere to.
It is important to take your diet seriously if you want to be the best player you can be. If you play all the time, you need to eat carbs on a regular basis. Don’t neglect protein and fat, though. Peanut butter and nuts are great choices. Avoid using excessive sugar and salt.
For basketball players with an advanced skill set, dribbling ends up being more mental than it does physical. You must gain control of the ball’s position, the force of the dribble and how it spins. Change your momentum and shift your body to keep your defenders on their toes.
No matter what kind of basketball you play, you will enjoy it more with more skills. After reading this article, it is time to put these tips into practice. You’ll be a better players when you know all about the sport.
Never let emotions get the best of you when speaking with officials. It is OK to disagree, or even ask a question. When you confront them, you will get in trouble. The job that the officials have to do is not easy, so have patience with their calls and do not let them affect your performance.
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