Basketball has really taken off in popularity. From watching the NBA to playing, it’s so much fun to participate in. Of course, anyone who plays wants to be a star player and win the game. The following tips will help you become an even better player.
Shake things up rather than focusing solely on a zone defense. Most of the game is played in zone, but your opponent may try to switch things up to do man-to-man coverage. Be sure to practice for this eventuality so you will not become rattled and lose the game.
Playing basketball does not require excessive muscle development. Muscle is good, but you can have too much. You will notice that most basketball players have well-defined muscles that are not overdeveloped.
Core Muscles
If you have a kid that wants to play basketball in high school, be sure they’re working on their core muscles. Core muscles are comprised of the hips, lower back, and abdominal muscles. The core links together all of the extremities and if it isn’t strong, they will be dealing with a limited athletic ability. A strong core provides a center of force that can be tapped through the legs while running and jumping during games.
Footwork is what gets you ready for a shot. You must beat the opposing playing to an open spot. Once there, you have to firmly claim the area as your own. Strong footwork is key.
It is best to take a break if you sustain an injury while playing. You can easily tear a muscle or even break a finger while playing. If you try to keep playing, you can hurt yourself worse. In case of serious injury, it is time to see a doctor.
Spreading the fingers is something you have to do to handle the ball right. You will have better luck holding onto the ball as well. Your palm should not be touching the ball. Your fingers must be the only things contacting it when you shoot or pass the ball at the target.
Have someone record the games you play so that you can watch it to check out your form. While reviewing the tape, look for opportunities you may have missed during the game. Stay honest when you’re assessing yourself, but don’t over criticize yourself either. It is prudent that you look at yourself as others do and not as how you would like to be.
To get better at shooting free throws, make sure to keep a consistent pre-shot routine. Whatever you do, from bending your knees to dribbling three times, do every time. Just keep things brief, but make sure you always do the same moves.
Practice dribbling with your weak hand as much as possible. If you have two hands that can dribble the ball effortlessly then it becomes easier to get by your opponent. Force yourself to not use your stronger hand. Your dribbling skills will improve with your weaker hand.
To avoid turning the ball over to the other team, make sure that you’re dribbling hard. The ball returns more quickly to your hand when you do this, giving the opponents fewer opportunities to steal it from you. Stop dribbling when people guard you too closely.
A good drill to try is the five dribble drill. You try to get the ball the entire length of the court in only five dribbles. This may seem like an impossible challenge, but it will increase your stride length and your speed. You will have easy layups on fast breaks and you will be able to advance your team easily.
If an opponent charges at you, let him run into you. By taking a charge, your team will get the ball. This can make for good psychological warfare.
Strength Training
You can really up your performance on the court by doing strength training. In addition to strength, stamina is key in basketball. It can help young kids get the exercise they need. Adding weights in stronger increments is effective as the child becomes a teenager. It’s important to continue strength training when you are an adult to maintain your performance.
Use your weak hand for brushing your hair, doing up your belt and opening bottles so you can build up its strength. Being able to dribble and shoot the ball with both hands will make it much more difficult for opponents to defend you. This will begin to spill over into your basketball game as well.
When dribbling, use your other arm to create a wall between you and your opponent. You don’t want to be pushing any of your opponents (that’s a foul), but you can use that non-dribbling arm as a separator to keep the ball safe. Just keep it up slightly while dribbling with the other hand.
After reading the above article you should be familiar with how to get better at basketball. Some techniques are easy to learn through practice. It is important that you practice as much as possible to improve your game. Whether it is practice with your team, playing a pickup game with friends or even just playing with younger players for fun, it all adds up to better skills and sharing the love of basketball.