Basketball is simple, right? Run, dribble, shoot and score. What else do you need to know? Plenty, to be honest. Learning the game and improving your skills is never ending. The moment you think you have it all locked down, someone comes along and shows some moves you never expected. This article might just have some tricks to give you some moves of your own.
If you feel you’ve been spending too much time on the the bench, ask your basketball coach what you can do to help the team the next time you are in practice. Hang on every word he or she says. This will demonstrate your intense interest in helping the team win by improving your own play and should get you more game time!
Stamina is key to playing a good ball game. Basketball games are filled with running back and forth along the court. By increasing your stamina, you can stay in the game longer. One way to increase your stamina is by running a few miles each day, followed by a cool down workout.
Stay low when playing defense. Keep your shoulders lower than the offensive player you are guarding will give you a better chance of moving more quickly. A lower stance will help you play the ball as well. Try to remain about an arm’s length away. When you get too far away, the other player can shoot easily.
Stop and ask your coach what you can do to help the team improve. Basketball is a team sport and every component must be working towards a common goal. The coach is there to offer guidance and provide instruction. Ask if there’s anything specific you can do to help and follow his advice.
If you are the parent of a young up and coming basketball player, make sure the coach you trust them with isn’t too obsessed about winning. Although this may sound counterproductive, it’s actually more important that your son or daughter be encouraged thoughtfully and with care, rather than screamed at and threatened. Check out the reputation of any coach first.
In order to shoot the basketball properly, you need to have good balance. For starters, to have a good base, you need to keep your feet roughly one shoulder length apart. Next, have your stronger foot half a step in front of the other foot. Finally, make sure your head is centered.
Keep your hands active. Use a deflective hand high to block shots and intercept passes. Use a ball hand low to block low passes and try to poke the ball away from your opponent. Always swipe your hand up when playing the ball. Swiping down at the ball could result in a foul.
Don’t let the ball go behind your back. It’s all about court awareness, and always facing the ball will make it so you are less surprised by passes. That means less turnovers. Knowing where the other players are on the court helps you open passing lanes and gives you more opportunities to take a shot.
To develop an accurate shooting stroke, put your dominant hand under the ball and use your other hand on the side of the ball, as a guide. If you develop this consistency, you will be able to follow through with your shooting hand and get a high, looping arc that is more likely to go through the hoop.
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.
You should ensure that you can clearly see. This is not just to make reading the scoreboard easier, but also to facilitate the making of shots and catching of passes. You want to make sure that you see what is going on to the sides of you. If you view the entire game without focusing on the ball, you’ll see defensive pressure advance, along with open teammates.
One of the best ways to always be in proper defensive position is to never break out of the defensive stance. Use your opposite foot to push with or slide your feet around. Keep your feet from crossing to make it hard for your opponent to get by you.
Aim your overhead pass to be caught at chin level or higher. An overhead pass gives you the ability to get the greatest length from your pass. It is a good option for a turnover breakaway. You can also use the overhead pass to get the ball to a player who has a strong inside position.
Increasing the strength of your hands is a great way to improve your ball handling skills for basketball. Finger pushups should be a regular part of your basketball practice routine. You can also increase hand strength by squeezing a tennis ball on and off throughout the day. Begin by doing this every other day and build up to 6 days per week.
It is easy to see that there is more to learn about the great sport of basketball. It is a constantly evolving sport that demands the same from your skills. Learn, as you did with this article, and get what you want from your game. Keeping your game fresh is the way to win.
