Do you like the sport of basketball but feel as though you do not know too much about it? You are not alone in this. There are many people out there who love to take in a basketball game and are very curious as to how the pros play so well. This article is packed with useful ideas and insights to help you become a better player.
Make sure you learn how to shoot free throws. This looks easy, but it is actually very hard to do. Practice this technique regularly. Start by holding your basketball right in the front of your own face. Focus on the basket and picture the ball slipping into the net. You should then shoot and try following the trajectory you visualized.
Look forward when dribbling. You should never be looking at the basketball while dribbling. Take your basketball everywhere. Dribble as you walk down the street. You will not be able to see what’s happening before you on the court while beholding the ball.
Free Throws
Connecting on your free throws is as much mental as it is physical. Training your body is important, but you also have to be mentally ready for the shot. Relax and concentrate on your basket to increase your free throws.
Even professional basketball players spend a lot of time watching other people play basketball. Try to go to games, watch televised games, or check out videos of the pros playing. You will notice great skills from different players that you can practice.
One good way to learn good passing is drill often without dribbling. It is quite challenging to play the game without dribbling, but it does make sure you and your teammates make accurate passes. Work through the initial frustration and see how the challenge will improve your game in the long run.
Keep your weight lifting to a minimum as a jump shooter. Strong muscles are certainly useful for basketball, but you can overdo it if you plan to play on the perimeter. Certain pro guards ended up increasing their arm size so much that their shooting started to suffer.
Core Muscles
Your child should work on their core muscles if they want to become a basketball player in high school. The core muscles are the hips, lower back muscles and the abdominal muscles. 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.
When you work out, try focusing on building core strength and bettering your footwork. With a stronger core, you’ll be able to balance better. You should get a good workout in your hips, buttocks, back and abs. Your speed and footwork can be improved by jumping rope.
If you are shooting as well, pay attention to the position of your shoulders. If your shoulders aren’t correct, you may not be able to make the shots. One area of focus should be to keep your shoulders aligned straight toward the hoop. You want your strong-side shoulder in perfect alignment with the rim.
You want to always be aware of foot placement and what you’re doing. If you fall on a baseline, you will be out of bounds. If you take too many steps and don’t dribble, then you are walking. Moving your feet as you are setting a screen or pick usually results in you being called for a foul.
Passing between the legs is great when you are being closely guarded. To practice, simply bounce the basketball between your legs while stepping either forward or backwards. If you get this down, you will have a major advantage on the court.
Look away when you practice passing. This trick can be used successfully to confuse defenders. If you do it right, this draws your opponents’ focus the wrong way. When executed properly, this is a powerful play.
Sly feet will help you get the rebound of your team mates free throw. The defender may be coming toward you, so its important to slip away from him and get the ball. This helps you avoid the foul call and also grab the rebound.
You want to strive in practice to bring the ball all the way up the court in no more than five dribbles. This will help you to gain speed, stride length and control of the ball. This will help you accomplish great layups on those fast breaks.
Make sure your vision is good. This isn’t just for reading the score, but for catching passes and making shots. Your peripheral vision should be at its best. You need to know the location of other players on the court in order to make good passes and avoid turnovers.
In conclusion, you may enjoy basketball and just didn’t know much about it before you read this. By this point, you are enjoying a stronger sense of confidence in your abilities. Now, use these tips and get on the court!