Your first basketball match was a whole different ballgame. You learned to get the ball around from player to basket. After playing for awhile, you may feel you have learned all you need to know. But, after reading the piece that follows, you will discover that there remains a lot yet to be learned.
It is easy to be focused on offense when you are learning how to play basketball, but you really should focus your practice on defense. Basketball games are won more often by defense than offense. Offense may score points but defense keeps the other team from scoring points that your team will have to match.
Learn how to block out movement, noise and other distractions when taking a free throw. You must be mentally strong to be a consistent free throw shooter. Take a deep breathe, relax and block out all outside distractions before taking the shot.
Work on catching passes frequently. When practicing make sure you drill yourself to catch errant throws as well as picture perfect passes. When a game is underway, not every throw will be perfect. Make sure that your teammates also practice this type of pass with you.
Playing basketball does not require excessive muscle development. While muscle mass is good for any basketball position, perimeter play requires less than other positions. Overdeveloped muscles could actually interfere with your score percentage.
Do you want to fool the other team? You should try a back pass. You want to grip the basketball with your strongest hand. Now hold the ball behind you. Finally, flick your wrist towards the direction in which you wish that ball to travel. This should trick the opposing team.
Try playing basketball games alone before and during the season. Even though you play on a team, practicing alone can be helpful. That’s OK! There is still much you can accomplish playing alone. Whether focusing on foul shots or how to pivot with the ball, you can look for ways to improve. There is no shortage of things you can do.
If you experience a basketball injury, don’t keep playing. Basketball is physically demanding, and injuries are relatively common. By “playing through the pain” you take a huge risk that the injury will become much worse. Visit a doctor if you think it’s serious.
If you need some help seeing where you need work, try to get a friend or relative to record your games. Are you able to see what you’ve missed or things that you could improve on? Be honest when assessing, but avoid being overly critical. It can help you to see how you really are instead of what you imagine you are.
If the opposing team is guarding you to much, you can try a pass between your legs. Bounce the ball very hard through your legs while stepping to the front or the back. This is a tricky move, but it will provide you a good advantage when you play.
Try to get the basketball from one side of the court to the other in about five dribbles. This may seem to be too difficult at first, but once you’re able to do it you’ll have a lot of speed and stride length. You will have easy layups on fast breaks and you will be able to advance your team easily.
Always attempt to remain low when you are playing defense. That helps you stay quick when it comes to the jump and will help you react more quickly to the person just ahead of you. You must always utilize the proper defensive stance. If you need to block someone’s shot, quickly get back into your stance.
Continuously dribble the ball until you have an opening to pass it to one of your teammates, or you are prepared to shoot. You have few options remaining to you after you stop dribbling. You can’t do anything but pivot if you don’t shoot or pass. This will leave you open for double teaming from opponents and you may lose control of the ball.
Work on dribbling the ball while switching the momentum of the body from side to side. When you’re playing a game, you have to dribble when you’re in a lot of different situations. You’ll have people guarding you on all sides. You will have to know the right way to dribble when the body is doing different things. This can help you out of jams.
Keep all motion below the knees if possible. The opposing team will have a harder time separating the ball from you. To help this occur, you must be bending, however it will speed up your efforts to move down the court.
Dribble with a rhythm, that is until you need to outsmart your opponents. You can surprise the opponent by changing up your dribbling. The change in speed and sound can surprise your opponent.
Be sure not to double dribble. When you stop dribbling and then begin again is double dribbling. Once dribbling is done, you must either shoot or pass the ball. You can’t just start dribbling again. That is also referred to as a turnover, and the ref will call it for your opponent.
Nothing is impossible with the game of basketball, now that you have these tips. Start working towards your goals and you can start bettering the skills you have. When adding these tips, use them within the strategy you made to start seeing the improvements you’ve wanted.