Do you dream of becoming a huge basketball star? Don’t just dream about improving your game; instead, take the pointers and learn how you can get out there and practice right now. Keep reading to learn more about the game of basketball.
Keep your head up when you dribble. If you need to look at the ball while dribbling, you’ll need to practice more. Make the basketball an extension of your body, taking it wherever you are. You can practice dribbling when you have to walk to the store. If you are staring at the ball, there is no way you can know what else is happening on the court.
When using the ball a lot, you must relearn a crossover. This is when you switch hands while dribbling. Your crossovers should be fast, which is why it is important to practice them. When done properly, crossover dribbling is a great way to quickly switch direction or move around the court in an efficient manner.
Balance is essential to shooting. Sometimes you’ll see professional players fall out of bounds while making a shot from afar, but this doesn’t work at all times. Professional basketball players tend to improvise when need be. You need to maintain good balance while shooting, which is sure to produce greater consistency.
Know your strengths and they’ll help you become a better player. Your strengths might not make you a star player, but you’ll be contributing a lot to your team. Know what you are good at, then practice it until you’re absolutely perfect at it!
Pay attention to what you are good at. Your talent might not make you a star; however, learning your strengths will help you become a better team player. Find you best position and then refine it until you are unbeatable.
Make sure that you practice your layups frequently. Layups account for up to 80 percent of the shots taken during a game. Whenever you practice, approach the goal full speed, jump and take a smooth shot. Running and jumping well in practice means better jump shooting in actual games.
Good footwork remains a vital part of basketball. Getting a great position under the goal is the most important. After establishing good position, you need to make sure you hold it. Both of those skills rely on solid footwork.
Even professional basketball players spend a lot of time watching other people play basketball. It is important that you see how other people play the game. Every player has a skill that allows him to succeed. Practice their moves to become better.
You should ask your teammates about your strengths and weaknesses. You may have a certain skill that you have perfected. Perhaps you have good dribbling skills or maybe your footwork is enviable. Learn what the other people around you see while you are playing and it may open your eyes to new areas for practice.
Passing Skills
Always have an awareness of the location and movement of your feet. You will be called out of bounds if even one toe is touching the baseline as you hold the ball. If you walk without dribbling, you will be called for walking and this will result in a turnover. You may get a foul call if you move your foot while you are attempting to take a charge, pick a charge or set a screen.
You can improve your passing skills by practicing a simple drill where dribbling is forbidden. This is very hard to accomplish, but it forces you and your fellow players to work on accurate passing skills. 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.
Work on passing through your legs to add another skill to your arsenal. To practice this skill, bounce the ball between your legs so that it passes through as you step back and forth. Once you get the move down, you can use it to gain a tactical advantage.
Try playing basketball games alone before and during the season. There are times you may not find anyone to play with you. No problem! You are able to do a lot with solo games. Practice pivoting or doing free throws. There is no shortage of things you can do.
When on defense, try to keep yourself low whenever you can. This will help you be quicker on the jump and react to the man in front of you easier. Keep yourself in proper defensive stance at all times. When you block a shot, go back to a defensive form quickly.
Footwork is the best way to find an opening shot. Focus on positioning yourself more quickly than the opposing player is just as important as having someone beneath the hoop. Once you’ve reached a good spot, you need to secure it. Solid footwork can make both of these things happen.
Keep your knees bent while dribbling. The farther the ball has to bounce, the less control you will have of it. Some minor bending of the knees makes a big difference in your ability to control the ball.
Never turn away from the ball so that you can always be prepared for what’s coming. This helps you become aware of the court and lowers chances for surprises from turnovers and quick passes. Scan the court looking for openings to make a basket.
If you wish to do better a shooting three pointers, you should do it from where NBA players shoot from. The International standard line, as well as college and high school lines are all closer. By learning to shoot from NBA distances, you improve your range tremendously.
Ask someone to take a video of you playing and watch it. Looking at tapes can help you identify strengths and weaknesses. Honestly and openly assess your own performance. It is prudent that you look at yourself as others do and not as how you would like to be.
If possible, keep action beneath the knees. This will make your opponent struggle to steal the ball from you. You need to bend your knees to have this happen, but you will be able to move along the court fast because you’ll be throwing off your defenders.
A consistent pre-shot routine when at the line will increase your chance at success. Failure to use consistency may make your shots less accurate. The simplest way to get better at shooting free throws is through constant repetitive motions when shooting the ball. If you have a glitch in the routine, you are likely to miss your shot.
To become a much better basketball player, try speaking with teammates and learning what they do. Each team has multiple players on it. It is not a one-on-one game. You have to help everyone out. When everyone works together, you can play better as a team.
Dribble very hard to prevent the opposing team players from stealing the ball. This causes the ball to return to your hand more quickly, so the offense has less time to try to get it away from you. If your opponent is playing you up close, stop what you’re doing and quickly look to find and open teammate to pass the ball to.
If you’re determined to do good at basketball, then you have to watch your diet. In order to be ready for practice and games, it is vital that you have the proper energy stored in your body. You should try to include more wheat bread, chicken, nuts and peanut butter into your diet. Limit your consumption of salt and sugar.
When on defense, try to keep yourself low whenever you can. This will let you get to the jump quicker and let you react to your opponent easier. Make sure you always maintain your defensive stance. If you break the stance to shot-block, then recover the proper form immediately after the pass or shot.
Your position immediately before and after a rebound can help determine whether or not you will keep possession. If you wish to have better balance and power, then make sure you use both feet when you jump. Once you have the ball in your position, come down to the ground with your legs spread out to make sure you don’t stumble.
Never stop your dribble unless you are going to shoot or pass the ball. After you have stopped dribbling, your options are quite limited. If you can’t shoot or pass, then you will have to pivot with your back foot. You leave the ball vulnerable to possible steal attempts and yourself open to being double teamed.
If you are aware of a weakness in one of your opponent’s hands, make them work with that side. Use your body position to make the opponent move in a direction that is not as strong. Your body should be lowered slightly and your head must be even with the player’s chest.
If you’re training to become a very good basketball player then start changing your diet. In order to be ready for practice and games, it is vital that you have the proper energy stored in your body. Smart thigns to include in your diet are peanut butter, wheat breads, chicken and nuts. Avoid using excessive sugar and salt.
Try to stay calm as you shoot. Keep focused on the basket. Your eyes should fix a point behind the rim while you shoot. If you are not doing a lay-up, it is best to look at the area from which the ball should bank off.
For example, a misfired shot launched from the corner of a basketball court usually hits the net, bounces off the site, and lands on the opposite side. Anticipate where the ball lands and grab the rebound.
Dribble as hard as you can when practicing. The reason for this is because hard ball bouncing means faster movement, which decreases the chances the defender has to steal the ball. Dribble hard and low.
When you return to the floor from a rebound, make sure your legs hit the floor at wider than shoulder-width apart so that you maintain your balance. Put one hand on each side of the basketball, and hold it against your chest. Watch where your elbows are because if you hit someone with them, that is a foul.
Dribbling is both mental and physical, especially for advanced athletes. You need to control the basketball spin, just how hard the contact is with the court and even where exactly it lands relative to your feet. On top of this, moving your body and shifting your momentum can keep the other team from anticipating your moves and stealing the ball.
Be sure you understand how important good passing is. Your opponent will have a more difficult time stealing the ball if it is frequently being passed. It also demonstrates your understanding of teamwork, which fellow teammates will appreciate. The time will come for you to share your individual abilities. Don’t worry, that moment will come.
Do not argue with game officials. You might not agree with their calls, and you can ask them a question if you wish. Getting up in their face to confront them over it isn’t proper team sport etiquette. Referees don’t have it easy, and being mad at all the calls will not help you play any better.
In order to be as good as you can be, you should be able to pivot while playing basketball. Practice your footwork so that you can pivot without thinking about it, and avoid getting tangled in your feet or disoriented. You should first practice your pivoting stance, followed by practicing your reaction rate once you’ve gotten the ball.
Do some practice with your footwork. Understand how to pivot, defend and shoot. You can improve and quicken your footwork by jumping rope. Your feet must be able to react quickly and but still maintain your balance and get the job done.
This article can give you many pointers in the right direction. Keep your practice consistent, and build your own skills and confidence. Don’t hesitate to put your skills to the test, and don’t be afraid to change your strategy up every now and then.
Whenever your opponent attempts a shot, contest it. It doesn’t matter if you are not assigned to cover the player with the ball. Rushing at the player is a good idea. If a rival sees your openings, the opponent’s coach will learn how to exploit them. Just one mistake may allow the opponents to build up motivation.
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