Basketball is a game that is perfect for everyone. All different types of people can enjoy an exciting game of basketball. You can play competitively or play a pick-up game at your neighborhood basketball court. What moves you say? Keep reading here if you wish to figure out what you can do.
Interested in tricking your opponents? The back pass is perfect for this. To properly perform this pass you will need to have the ball in your dominant hand. Then, put the ball around your back. The last step is to flick your wrist in the direction you want the ball to land. This will confuse the opposition.
Dribble the ball the right way. You need to use the tips of your fingers rather than your hand’s palm when you are dribbling. Doing so will allow you a greater degree of ball control. Also, dribble off to the side instead of in front. The ball should bounce no higher than your waist. Keep your eyes up, not on the ground.
If you’re on the offense, you footwork needs to be excellent to stay open for passes and shots. Getting a great position under the goal is the most important. After positioning yourself on the court, make sure that you are secure. Strong footwork skills help to build both types of skills.
Practice shooting free throws. This is one of those shots that seem easy but in real life are difficult. Practice constantly using this tip. Hold the ball level to your face. Focus on the ball and visualize it going toward the goal. Bend your knees to control the arc of the ball.
Don’t play when you are injured! Basketball is challenging physical sport and you can get injured. Playing through an injury can prolong it which is always bad. If it is a serious injury, see a doctor.
If you handle the ball often, you need to learn how to do a crossover. When you do a crossover, you move the basketball very fast from one hand over to the other hand. This should be something you do quickly. When done correctly, a good crossover dribble assists you in being efficient and helping you change direction when you need to.
In order to handle the ball correctly, spread your fingers out. That will ensure that it doesn’t get away from you as you hold it. Don’t let your palm touch the ball either. Fingers need to be the only thing that touches the ball when you shoot it or pass it.
One great way to pass good is to drill when you can without dribbling. It is hard to play basketball without dribbling, and demands accurate passing and teamwork, so it will be a challenge. Do not get frustrated if it it seems difficult at first, over time your team’s passes will become more accurate.
Practice your footwork and control the position of your feet at all times. If you fall on a baseline, you will be out of bounds. Going too many steps with no dribbling is a waking call and turnover situation. Do not move your feet when attempting to set up a screen, a foul can be called.
If you want to take jump shots, don’t spend time pumping iron. Being weighed down by too much bulky muscle can have a negative impact on your jump shot. Some guards increase their upper body to the point of harming their field goals.
In order to become better at dribbling the ball you should learn how to practice using your weak hand. If you have two hands that can dribble the ball effortlessly then it becomes easier to get by your opponent. To help develop your weaker hand, avoid using your dominant hand. You will quickly strengthen your non-dominant hand for dribbling.
Core Muscles
Dribble the ball hard to keep it from being stolen. The ball bounces faster, giving the guard less time to steal. If you are being closely guarded, then halt your dribbling and quickly pass the ball to a teammate who is open.
If you have a kid that wants to play basketball in high school, ensure they’re training core muscles in the right way. Hips, abdomen and back must be worked on. These muscles form a bridge across the lower and upper parts of your body. When the core is weak, it is difficult to coordinate the movements of both halves. Building strong core muscles will allow your to jump higher, run faster and maintain your balance.
Alternating your pace is critical to keeping the defense guessing. As you run towards the net, plant your front foot and begin to straighten up. The guard will assume you’re slowing down and start to straighten up, too. All the while, push ahead hard then run past them.
Try using hand signals to ensure that your passes are received. Passing is tough, especially if you and your teammate are not in sync with one another. Hand signals can be a great way to find out if a teammate will be able to receive your pass. If no signal is displayed, a pass ought not be made.
To increase your basketball playing abilities, consider strength training exercises. Being physically tough is as important as having the stamina to keep up with the game. Even younger kids will benefit from strength training. As they start to get older, get them some weights to help them exercise harder. When you get to be an adult is when you want to concentrate on strength training to help improve durability on the court.
If your shooting is suffering, take a close look at your shoulders. When your shoulders are not properly positioned, then it is almost impossible to perform at your best. Ensure that you line up your shoulders so that they are squared with the basketball net. You want your strong-side shoulder in perfect alignment with the rim.
Make sure you don’t pick up your dribble unless you are prepared for a shot or pass. When you stop dribbling the ball, you only have a limited amount of plays you can perform. If you opt to not pass or shoot, you’re left with pivoting on your back foot. The chances of the ball being stolen is high, and you might be double teamed as well.
When you’re practicing passing, try to look the other way. It can be very confusing to your opponents. When done properly, this technique distracts the opposition and gives your pass recipient a chance to focus on the basket. You must practice this move with your teammates so that everyone on your team understands what is going on.
You’ll want to use the hand that you aren’t dribbling with as a barrier to protect the ball. Don’t push your opponent because that is a foul; however, you can use your arm as separator between your opponent and the ball. By doing this, the ball will be better protected and you will have better control of the ball.
Upset and disrupt your opponent’s play. All successful basketball players do this. Don’t let them get comfortable. When you are guarding, do so aggressively. Don’t let your opponent decide their own plays. The more aggressively smart team is usually the one who wins. It’s important, then, to be aggressive and mess up their game rhythms.
Your off-court practice should mimic your on-court playing. Distance running will help with stamina and sprinting can help with individual plays. You can build muscle to support your shots and ability to hustle by lifting weights and engaging in resistance training. You will be able to shoot well with this confidence and aggression.
Workout to increase flexibility and strength in your hands and forearms. Strong hands make it easier for you to keep control of the basketball. You will not be able to stand in one place and shoot. Learning how to pass the ball ensures that you can get the ball safely to a teammate who has better position on the court.
To help maintain your balance when catching a rebound, try to land with your feet shoulder width apart. Keep the hands on both sides of the ball, and make sure it stays close to the chest. Don’t let your elbows poke another player or you will gain a foul.
You should ensure that you can clearly see. You don’t just want to be able to pass and shoot well. You need to have the best peripheral vision possible. This will help you to find open teammates and keep an eye out for the defensive players.
Try always focusing on the location the ball goes after it exits your teams’ hands or the opponents’ hands. A crucial part of the game is being able to rebound the ball. If you can’t get the ball in your possession, it doesn’t matter how many times your opponent shoots and misses.
Change up your pace so that you are not predictable to the offense. As you approach the goal, plant your foot and then straighten up. The guard will assume you’re slowing down and start to straighten up, too. When that happens, push ahead and run past.
If you want to be a great player, you need to pivot. Work on your footwork to be able to move smoothly. Practice this stance until you get really fast at pivoting with the ball.
You should now be able to be confident when you start playing so you can hit the court with that confidence. Now you know some tips even your opponents don’t know. Never forget that the game should always be fun. No matter what, though, winning is always a great feeling.
When doing a workout routine, write down what you need to accomplish. Do not approach your gym visits without a solid plan of attack. They start chatting and don’t really know what they need to work on. With a good workout plan in place it is possible to focus and improve your physical conditioning in a steady manner.