Basketball is a great sport and it’s easy to learn about. You can learn the basics quickly. There’s much more to learn to become better at basketball, and using the advice below will help.
Never practice only against the zone. You can count on quite a bit of the game being played in zone; however, you should not be surprised if it becomes one-on-one coverage just for the sake of confusion. If you have not practiced against this, you may lose your grip of the game for the remainder of it.
Try using hand signals to prevent passes in error. It can be frustrating making a pass when a player moves away towards the basket. Hand signals help ensure that the player is ready to take the ball. If you don’t see a signal, you shouldn’t pass the ball.
Good footwork remains a vital part of basketball. Being physical under the rim is crucial, but having good positioning on the court is even better. After establishing good position, you need to make sure you hold it. Expert footwork is the key to these skills.
One great thing to do if you wish to be prepared while playing is to make sure your back isn’t turned to the ball. This will make you more aware of the court and you won’t be surprised when turnover potentials come up or quick passes. You will want to keep extra attention on areas that could improve your position as well.
Always know where your feet are and what they are doing. Out of bounds will happen with even one toe over the baseline of the lined play area on the court. Not dribbling when you take more than a few steps will result in a walking call as well as a forfeit of the ball. You may need to keep your feet planted to avoid getting called for charging.
Work on passing in a direction you are not looking. This may confuse your opponents, greatly. If you do this fake the right way, then the receiver of the pass should have an advantage and a great look at the goal. If you can master this move, it can really work in your favor.
When moving in for a layup, push off from your weaker foot and lead with your shooting hand. Thus, if you tend to shoot with the right hand, make sure to jump off with the left. This keeps your body balanced and moving toward the basket and keeps your body between yourself and your defender.
You need to put a damper in your opponent’s plan if you want to be successful with defending. Getting them to do things they aren’t accustomed to doing is ideal. When you are guarding, do so aggressively. Keep them from deciding what moves to make. The more aggressively smart team is usually the one who wins. Instead, take the initiative and disrupt their rhythm.
If you wish to get a free throw rebound from a teammate, you have to stay on your toes properly. The defender that’s below you will move towards you, so try to slip by them to obtain the ball. You won’t foul as you catch the rebound this way.
Maybe you just began learning about playing basketball before you read this. Perhaps you grew up playing the sport. In either case, the information in the preceding article can help you become a better player. Put these tips to work whenever you next hit the court.