Basketball is world wide passion. You can play on your own or with a team. You can also play for fun or try and make a career of it. Learn a little more about what basketball is all about by reading this article.
While focusing on offense is fun, you must also make sure you focus on defense. Basketball games are often won by great defensive play. While offense seems to get the praise, defense must be stellar in order to win.
Always dribble with your head up and looking forward. Looking directly at the ball means you aren’t good at the game yet. Take you ball with you everywhere. Dribble the ball as you go about your day doing errands like walking the dog. Remember, if you are directly staring at the ball, there’s no way for you to see what’s happening on the court.
If you hold the ball a lot, you have to learn crossovers. This term refers to switching the hand you use. That action has to be done fast to be successful. By having the ability to move either way quickly, you will become a better all-around player.
To improve your game, concentrate on your strong points. You can contribute to the team by consolidating your best skills, even if these skills do not make you one of the star players. Learn what your strengths are, then practice to perfection!
Make sure to practice your layups whenever possible. Layups sometimes wind up being 4 out of every 5 shots in basketball. When you practice, be sure to run at the goal with full speed, jumping and shooting in a smooth series of motions. Perfecting this skill will enable you to get to the rim effortlessly during a game.
Perfect Passes
Practice your pass catching often. You need to be able to retrieve perfect passes and not so perfect passes. Some passes may be too high, too low or off target, so you should practice receiving passes often. Learning how to catch these errant passes will put you at an advantage.
Play by yourself to practice. Even though you play on a team, practicing alone can be helpful. There’s nothing wrong with that. There’s still a lot that you can do playing on your own. Practice pivoting or doing free throws. There is no shortage of things you can do.
Avoid errant passes by the use of hand signals. Basketball passes can be really frustrating when shot wrong. Hand signals can be a great way to find out if a teammate will be able to receive your pass. Without a signal, players shouldn’t attempt to pass.
Talk to your teammates and find out what they like about your game. Can you get better at something? Perhaps you are great backup or fast on your feet. By understanding what your teammates see as your best skills, you can ensure that you keep a strong focus and hone these abilities even more.
Make sure your fingers are apart from one another when dribbling. This will help prevent the ball from getting away from you while dribbling. Don’t allow yourself to have your palm touching the ball either. When you’re shooting or passing, the only place the ball should touch your hand is on your fingers.
Understanding your opponent is a good way to shut him down on defense. Watch games if you can and look at their tendencies. Remember which player shoots left and which shoots right. Understanding your opponent allows you to effectively play defense. A smart defender is someone who is good at his position.
Your routines must be consistent for free throws. When you stay consistent, you get better success. Practice and repetition are the only way to become a consistent free thrower. If you don’t stick to your routine, you could miss the shot.
To get the rebound from the free throw your teammate is making, you need to do some fancy footwork. Guards will be attempting to stop you, so get around them. You won’t foul as you catch the rebound this way.
Dribble hard to make it less likely for the ball to be stolen. This is because the ball returns to you hand faster, so the opposing team has less of a chance to get it. If you have an opponent who is guarding you relentlessly, it is time to pass the ball.
Strength Training
Basketball players need to engage in strength training. You need both strength and endurance if you are going to excel. Basketball requires a lot of sprinting and jumping. As they reach their teen years, bring weights in to further enhance exercise. Once they transition into adulthood, strength training must continue to be a core part of their exercise routine.
After reading the above article you should have an idea on what it takes to follow the game of basketball. It’s not that hard, but it requires a bit of work and proper knowledge. After taking the court and actually playing, you will most likely want to get out there on a regular basis. And be sure to have some fun out on the court as well.