If you have wished you were a basketball star, you know you’ve got to commit and practice enough. Even if you’re only playing fun, don’t you want to play well? The information presented here is sure to help you improve your game, no matter what level you play at now.
When dribbling the basketball you should keep your head up. Lack of practice will manifest itself in looking down towards the ball when dribbling. Bring the ball no matter where you go. Dribble as you walk down the street. Staring at the ball doesn’t allow you to watch the other players.
Every great player understands how to properly perform a bounce pass. If done properly, the pass will land near waist level with the opposite player. One thing you should do is always remember the ball should be bounced three quarters on its way towards the person you’re passing too. There are other things to keep in mind, though.
Don’t just practice playing against a zone defense. While much of the game is played in zone, the opponent can flip to man-to-man coverage, changing everything and surprising you. If your practice hasn’t included this type of scenario, you might lose control rapidly.
Play by yourself to practice. Sometimes you cannot find a team of people to play basketball with. There is nothing wrong with that. You can still practice when playing alone. Practice pivoting or you can practice doing free throws. There is no shortage of things you can do.
Strong Core
If your son or daughter wants to play high school basketball, they need to work on core muscle training. These core muscles for basketball include your lower back, hips and abs. The core links both the lower and upper extremities. Without a strong core, they will have limited athletic performance. A strong core helps you jump higher and run faster.
Never turn away from the ball so that you can always be prepared for what’s coming. This keeps you aware of what is going on so you aren’t surprised. Also, you need to stay aware of areas which might open up and give you an easy basket.
Use small weights and resistance training to build the muscles in both forearms and hands. Wrist curls can be effective at helping you to control the ball as if you’ll be dribbling in your sleep. You can’t just stand and shoot for the whole game. You need to be able to move the basketball to make things happen.
The trick to grabbing a rebound on a teammate’s missed free-throw is to plan your footwork in advance. Guards will be attempting to stop you, so get around them. This allows you to grab the rebound legally.
Dribbling hard helps you protect the ball. If you dribble hard, the ball will go back to your hand quickly and the offense will not be able to snatch it easily. If someone is guarding you closely, stop dribbling and pass to someone else who is open on your team.
It can help your basketball skills when you strength train. Stamina and strength are two things you need to do well in this sport. Proper exercise allows younger players and older players an improved physical presence on the court. As players mature, weight training can begin. The adult years are where strength training is crucial to maintain solid performance on the court.
Maintain a lower position as you play defense. This helps your reaction time against your opponent. You always want to have a strong defensive stance on the court. If you break the stance to shot-block, then recover the proper form immediately after the pass or shot.
When dribbling you want to keep your knees bent. The farther the ball has to bounce, the less control you will have of it. Bending your knees slightly will enable you to control the ball more efficiently.
Switch your body’s weight from side to side while practicing your dribbling. Basketball games are fast and you will encounter different scenarios while dribbling. While the court may be open at times, this only means you’re likely to get swarmed. It helps to master control of your body as you dribble in a variety of positions. Dribbling can help get you out of trouble.
Stay low and dribble the ball below the level of your knees. This makes it difficult for the ball to be stolen. This will help you move the ball down the court easier.
Be certain to practice moves off the court that will truly help you on the court. You could, for instance, work on your sprint so you can perform plays faster, while running on a longer distance will help you build your stamina. Strength training helps, too. The confidence this gives you will help you with your shooting.
It is time for you to take the tips here and put them into action. Apply what you have learned in this article to your basketball game. Implement the strategies discussed in this article and talk to your coach about additional steps you can take to become a better player.