On a scale of 1 to 10, how much would you say you know about basketball? Whether you said 1, 10 or somewhere in between, the great thing about basketball is there is always something to learn. Continue reading to find out some helpful advice about improving your basketball game.
If you want to excel, you have to play to your strengths. You can contribute to the team by consolidating your best skills, even if these skills do not make you one of the star players. Knowing what you excel at and then practicing that can help you become perfect at it!
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.
Never leave the practice court without taking some practice shots. Do some free throws, lay-ups and 3-point throws every practice before you leave. Of course you are doing some shooting during practice, but this additional practice will help you in the long run. Keep practicing your shooting on a daily basis.
Being a good player isn’t all about displaying physical skills and making all the shots. There is a lot of mental preparation that goes into being a team player. Don;t just focus on what you can do to be better but think about what you can do to be a better team member too.
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.
Speed and agility is important, but you need to know how to practice to improve those skills. Running yourself ragged by training for long lengths of time or by running long distances won’t benefit your play on the court. Instead, practice sprints and other short bursts of exercise. This better mimics how on the court play really is.
To get offensive rebounds in basketball, you have to learn how to follow the basketball off the rim. Get used to watching people shoot, and see how the ball caroms off. Then get used to anticipating those bounces, so you can get around the defender before he even thinks to box you out.
Practice passing while looking the opposite direction. This will easily confuse your opponents. The look will cause your guard to turn away. If you can master this move, it can really work in your favor.
Always share with your teammates. When someone begins to guard you, start looking for someone to pass to and stop dribbling. If you don’t, your teammates won’t bother trying to find an open spot as they will know that you are a ball hog who doesn’t pass when the time is right.
A good rebound player can be a huge advantage for his team. Rebounding is about attitude more that skill. Think of every shot as a potential miss and be ready to position yourself to get the ball. Be alert for team members who are in a good position to make the shot.
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Lateral quickness is a very important part of becoming a good basketball player. You have to be able to move to your left and right quickly on both offense and defense. You can practice and improve your lateral quickness by moving left to right and back as quickly as possible with training exercises.
To warm up your hands for a game, hold the ball ahead of your chest then slap it hard as you pass it from one hand to the other. This helps you to truly get a feel for the ball while the blood begins to flow through your hands, getting them ready to play.
Put the ball in your hands as much as you can during off-time. You might have seen ball players holding the ball in random places, and there’s a reason for that. The more you hold the ball, the more you will handle it, and the more you will be able to control it on the court.
Always practice from all spots on the court. Start out by practicing grip and balance. While it is possible to shoot off balance, it isn’t always accurate. To get a perfect grip, use the basketball valve as a point of reference. Your fingers of the dominant hand can be placed on the ball with your palm centered on the valve.
Know that basketball isn’t everything. You still may have school to deal with or the things that everyone has in life. It’s OK to have an “off” day where you don’t play the game that you thought you should have. Having the right attitude to everything and being able to manage it all makes you a better player.
Be careful not to double-dribble. This occurs when you halt the dribble once, only to begin dribbling immediately thereafter. Once you’ve stopped dribbling, you can only pass the ball or shoot the ball. You cannot start dribbling again. When you do that, it’s called a turnover. It will cause you to have to surrender the ball to the opposing team.
When catching a rebound, be sure to land with legs that are spread wider than your shoulder span, to help keep your balance. Keep your hands along any side and hold it up to your chest tightly. Take care with elbows, since it is a foul if you strike someone on the opposing team.
Do you feel like you could get better by using these tips on the court? Well, it’s time to put them to the test. Take what you’re learned about, and see how it betters your basketball game. You might just surprise yourself, and who knows, you could be the next star.
