Basketball is not only for competitions and gym class. You can play at the park or right in your driveway. If your passion is basketball, take the time to read the following article to learn more about the sport.
Make sure that you practice teamwork when you are on the court, or people may have a hard time dealing with you. You may want to impress others on the court, and this may give you the idea that you should shoot the ball yourself, but it would be best to pass the ball to someone who is open.
Learn the mechanics of a free throw. This seemingly simple shot can be difficult to execute under game conditions. You should practice as often as possible with this technique. To start off, hold the ball in front of you. Eye the basket and imagine the ball swishing down into it. Shoot the ball how you imagine it going in.
When throwing an overhead pass, it is best to keep the ball from actually going behind your head. If you do, the ball is easier to steal. In addition, it takes longer to throw the overhead pass if you bring it behind your head. Throw it from over your forehead.
Practice your pass catching often. You should practice catching errant passes, along with perfectly executed ones. In the middle of a heated game, not all attempted passes will go exactly where you want them to go. Learn how to catch any sort of throw.
Do sprints in your practice drills. Basketball is a very active sport for the entire game. And there are times in it when you need to pull up your last bit of energy for an extremely fast sprint to the opposite side of the court. Your body needs to be used to sprinting, even when worn out. You only accomplish this through practice.
When dealing with high school basketball players, make sure that they get enough sleep every night. The workouts involved for basketball players are pretty strenuous. That is why it is very important that they get enough rest so that their bodies can recover. They should try to sleep about seven hours each night.
Never turn away from the ball so that you can always be prepared for what’s coming. This helps you become aware of the court and lowers chances for surprises from turnovers and quick passes. Keep an eye open for easy shots.
Learn how to use your hips, eyes, shoulders and entire body while dribbling. This can easily shake a defender off of you while dribbling if you look one way and move another. They are watching your body for clues to where you are going next. Use this to your advantage and throw them incorrect clues to get around them.
To get a jump shot off without having it blocked, release it at your nose or even higher. If your release point is at your chest or even your chin, it is much easier for even a shorter defender to block it. A higher release point means that your shot is more likely to go over that defender.
For more consistency in making those free throws, stick with the same sequence of motions before you take each shot. Whatever you do, from bending your knees to dribbling three times, do every time. When you have a steady and consistent routine, your muscles will remember what to do to shoot those free throw shots.
Master the stop and shoot. Basketball is so much about movement that sometimes the most effective manner to get clear of an opponent is to surprise them with no movement at all. Master dribbling up court fast and when you hit a mark you’re comfortable with, stop short, pull up and shoot. Your opponent will find it tough to stop their forward movement, so you’ll have a clear look at the basket.
When you’re playing basketball, make sure that you dribble with your head up. If you feel that you have to look down every time you dribble, then you need more practice. Try to practice dribbling all over the place when you can without looking to get better at it. Watching good point guards can help since they always look forward and around when they dribble.
Many basketball players want to gain weight to play more physically. This is especially true for taller players who play near the basket. To gain weight, lift weights and eat a balanced diet, including a lot of fruits and vegetables. Of course you should know not to use steroids to gain muscle mass.
To help improve your basketball playing skills you will need to learn how to jump higher. One way that you can get better at this is by doing calf raises. Improving the strength of your legs, especially your calves will help you get more lift. Not only do you need to jump higher, you also need to be quicker, too.
If you have a defender right in front of you, consider using an overhead pass. You can throw the ball so high that the defender can’t reach it, protecting it from their grasp. Aim high on the person intended to receive it so they can catch it near their chin.
Whether it is a pick-up game, H.O.R.S.E. or a competition, becoming a better player will help you have more fun when you play basketball. You’ve taken the time to read this article, now go one step further by making use of it. The more you know, the better player you’ll be.
