A great thing about basketball is the fact that the fundamentals are easy to learn. The basic strategies of the game can be acquired in a few minutes time. Once you get started, though, you will undoubtedly want to learn more, and this article is a great starting point.
It is tempting to concentrate just on offense when just staring out, but defensive practice is absolutely vital. Basketball games are often won by great defensive play. While offensive players sometimes seem like the stars of the show, it is the efforts of defensive players that allow them to shine.
Dribbling the ball the right way needs to be done. When dribbling the basketball, use your fingertips rather than the palm of your hand. This allows you to control the ball better. Bounce the ball no higher than your waist and keep the ball at your side rather than in front. Always look upwards, never at the ground.
Free throws are an excellent skill to practice in your spare time. It looks simple to do, but it isn’t that easy. Practice this technique regularly. Put your weaker hand in front of the ball and center your stronger hand over the air valve in the basketball. Concentrate on the basket and visualize the basketball going in. Then throw the ball just as you had visualized.
A good way to get your basketball game up to speed is to start trying to see how the pros are playing. You can do this by watching games in person and on television. This is a great way to learn new techniques to try out on the court.
Core Muscles
If you have a kid that wants to play basketball in high school, ensure they’re training core muscles in the right way. Core muscles include the hips, abs, and lower back. The core is the muscle group that links the arms and legs together. If their core strength is poor, then so will their athletic performance be. Building strong core muscles will allow your to jump higher, run faster and maintain your balance.
Stay conscious of your foot motion and placement. Stepping even a toe on the baseline with the ball in your hands means you are out of bounds. Taking excessive steps while not dribbling results in a call of walking as well as a turnover. You can’t move a foot when you take a charge, pick or screen either, or it’s a foul.
Your routines must be consistent for free throws. If you’re consistent, your shots will be too. You can shoot better free throws by making sure you use the same exact routine every time, and of course practice. Failing to stick with your routine can adversely affect your shooting accuracy.
Upset and disrupt your opponent’s play. All successful basketball players do this. Focus on getting them out of the comfort zone. Be aggressive in the moves you execute. Do not let them call the shots. Otherwise, the opponents will win all the shots and dominate you. Rather, you make the initial move and break up their flow.
Dribble very hard to prevent the opposing team players from stealing the ball. When you dribble hard, the ball bounces back to your hand faster. That means there is less time for the other side to grab it. Stop dribbling when people guard you too closely.
A great way to make sure you’re in a good position defensively is to keep yourself in the defensive stance. You will always be in a defensive position if you slide your feet one way and then the other and push off using your opposing foot. Always keep your feet from crossing, and you will make it hard for any opponent to get past.
Altering your own pace is a good way to disrupt the opposition. When you’re moving towards the net, act like you’re going to straighten up. Your opponent will see you as stopping, then will also stop themselves. After that, push hard in a forward motion and scoot by them.
Keep low when you play defense. You will be able to react more quickly and jump higher because of this. Stay in your defensive stance all the time. If you find you have to abandon your stance to do some blocking, get back into formation as fast as you can.
For your weaker hand, to build skills, use it off-court for as much as you can, from brushing teeth to opening jars. If your ability to use that hand starts to improve, the benefits to your basketball playing talents will be substantial. This will show in your next match.
Only stop dribbling when you are prepared to shoot or pass the ball. After you have stopped dribbling, your options are quite limited. Your only option, besides shooting or passing, is to use your back foot to pivot. This will leave you open for double teaming from opponents and you may lose control of the ball.
Landing with a wide stance after catching a rebound will make it easier for you to retain you balance. Keep your hands on either side of the ball and hold it tight to your chest. Be mindful of your elbows, since hitting an opponent with them is a foul.
When shooting the ball you have to be sure not to get nervous. This will help improve your focus during the shot. Focus your stare on the back part of the rim as you are shooting. However, if you’re trying to make a layup, you have to look at where you’re going to shoot the ball on the backboard so it bounces in.
Perhaps you discovered basketball just before you saw this article. Perhaps you played a match or two as a child. Regardless of the reason, this article will advise you on how to improve your game. Try this advice out whenever you can play.