People in many different countries love to watch and play basketball. You can play a game with friends, or become a professional with enough effort. Read this article to learn more about the sport of basketball.
Look forward and hold your head up while you dribble the ball. If you need to look at the ball while dribbling, you’ll need to practice more. Carry your basketball everywhere. You can practice dribbling when you have to walk to the store. If you’re trying to look at the ball then you’re not concentrating on what’s going on down the court.
Don’t bulk up if you want to be good as a jump shooter. You do need muscle conditioning and strength, but you can have too much when it comes to shooting field goals. Some professionals develop their muscles so much that they are actually having a hard time with shooting.
If you have a kid that wants to play basketball in high school, be sure they’re working on their core muscles. This includes their abs, lower back, and hips. The core connects the lower extremities to the upper extremities. Without a strong core, your performance may be limited. The stronger your core, the higher you will jump.
Opposing Team
Boost your defensive abilities by studying the opposing team and its players. Watch replays and follow scouting reports. Also know which is their dominant and weak hands. When you know more about the opposing team, you will play a better defense. Knowledge is power, even in basketball.
As you exercise to improve your game, it is important to work on your footwork and strength. Your body is going to be more balanced and be able to move faster when you have strong core muscles. You should get a good workout in your hips, buttocks, back and abs. To help get even quicker and have better footwork you can jump rope.
You must have a consistent practice routine if you want to learn to shoot free throws well. If you stay inconsistent, you miss a shot. A great way to get better at free throws is to practice, practice and then practice the same routine some more. If you have a glitch in the routine, you are likely to miss your shot.
Ball Handling
A good way to develop ball handling skills is to make your forearms and hands stronger. Wrist curls are great for bettering your ball handling in basketball to the point where you could practically do it sleepwalking. Don’t think you can just go somewhere on the court, catch a ball and then make a successful shot. You must move the ball to have things happen.
In order to improve your game, make sure you do plenty of strength training. Being physically tough is as important as having the stamina to keep up with the game. Even young children can benefit from strength training. As players mature, weight training can begin. Strength training is essential once you reach the adult years.
To trap with a 2-3 zone, have your guards cover the point guard once he gets a few feet past midcourt. Then they should run to the point guard and trap him. While they are doing that, the forwards should move out to the wings. The point guard throws a pass that can be easily stolen by your forwards.
AS you dribble the basketball down the court, keep your knees bent. The ball is harder to control dribbling when you stand up straight. It also leaves you open to a steal from the opposing team. You only need to bend your knees slightly to improve your control of the basketball.
Switch the weight of your body while you are dribbling. Games require you to be able to dribble under all types of conditions. You might be swarmed by various opponents or get an open court. Going through the court will be easier if you can quickly adjust your direction without interrupting your dribbling. In this way, you can escape all kinds of difficult situations.
Use workouts to better your game. Sprints help you gain skill in individual plays, while running longer distances will increase your stamina. In addition, lifting weights will improve your strength, and hopefully, your shot. The resulting sense of confidence and power will help when you shoot.
Your diet is key to being a better player. You need to eat carbs, fats and protein on game days. Some good things to add to a diet would be peanut butter, nuts, chicken, and wheat breads. Conversely, avoid salt and sugar whenever you can.
Be careful not to double-dribble. That happens when you stop one time, and start again in a few seconds. Remember that if you do stop dribbling, your options are limited to shooting or passing to a teammate. 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.
If you’re in possession of the ball, learn when you should be passing the ball to a player with a better shot and when you should be taking the shot yourself. It’s much better being a piece in your team’s winning shot than being the one player with the shot that costs your team the game.
Passing should be an integral part of your game. Passing causes confusion among your opponents. Players who don’t know how to pass or refuse to do so may be termed ‘ball hogs’. You will have a chance to showcase your abilities at some point. Those moments will come, but you need to be a team player first and foremost.
After reading this article, you should better understand how to play basketball effectively. Practice often to gain the necessary skills and knowledge needed to play a good game. Begin playing and before you know it, you will be playing every day. Whatever you do, remember to have fun!