When playing basketball, the goal is to get better and better. That being said, wouldn’t you like to learn a few tips and tricks to help you out? Keep reading so that you can find out some great information so that you can take those other players to school, so to speak.
Practice catching the basketball while you are moving and stopping cold for a shot. Basketball is a fast paced game, and the constant movement can throw your shot off during game time. This is especially true if you’ve practiced your shooting standing still. That is not as common in a game experience. Get the feel for moving, stopping, and shooting.
To be successful with free throws, you need to be sure you’re taking the best approach. When at the foul line, have your feet about a shoulder’s width apart. Now, use both hands to dribble the ball. Bend your knees and and picture the ball going into the basketball as you take your shot.
Work on becoming a more clever basketball player, rather than trying to master a few clever plays. Your opponents will eventually figure out your plays, but will have difficulty if they cannot anticipate your overall playing ability. Learn to be surprising, quick thinking and more agile in your ability to get the ball and work the court.
Learn the positions on a basketball court. Each position has different roles to fill on both offense and defense. There are guards, point guards, forwards, power forwards, and centers. If you want to really enjoy basketball, learn the needs of all of the positions, not just the one you are most interested in.
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.
Ask a friend to record your games so that you can see how yourself in action. Do you see how you could’ve handled a situation differently? Be honest with yourself but don’t be too harsh. It can help you to see how you really are instead of what you imagine you are.
Moving without the ball is an important skill to master if you want to become a better scorer. Standing still while on offense just makes you that much easier to guard. Instead, you should stay active and constantly be moving around. You’ll not only wear down your opponent, but you’ll also get more open shots.
To be a great basketball player, you have to make the ball part of your body. It may seem silly but roll it in your hands, dribble in the driveway, go for walks with it and take it with you wherever you go. The more time that ball spends attached to your body, the harder it will be for defenders to take it from you on the court.
Strive to be a player that everyone can respect. You are representing your team both on the court and off. That means that you need to be a good sport and to not think that your status as a player makes you better than anyone else. The most popular players are often popular because of the way they deal with teammates and fans.
Listen to your coach. Even if you don’t agree with him or her, your coach is the one with the plan. Remember, you’ve got four other people on the court with you, so a team plan of action is vital to your success. If just one person goes a different direction, then you’ll fail.
Know your place on the team and play it. You may be better as a support player than as the one who can dunk the basketball. That doesn’t mean you will never make a winning shot, it just means that you don’t neglect other players or interfere with them in pursuit of scoring points.
Your forearms and hands should be strengthened in order for you to handle the ball better. Exercises that involve strengthening the wrist are especially helpful for dribbling. Don’t just think you’re able to stand around, catch the ball and then shoot it. Strength and flexibility in your hands will allow you to move the ball more gracefully and swiftly.
When playing defense, practice slapping the ball up instead of down. If you slap the dribble down, the offensive player will have a better chance of regaining control of the ball. If you slap up at the dribble instead, it is much harder for the player to regain control of the ball.
Take care of your feet. Your feet are important to your game so take the time to make sue they are taken care of properly. Even something as seemingly silly as an ingrown toenail can become a major pain issue if not treated properly. So Get minor health issues taken care of so they don’t become major ones that affect your whole game.
You need to focus on the person you are defending and the ball both at the same time. If you focus on just one or the other, you are going to end up either guarding a player who is out of the play or not guarding your player because you are focused on the ball.
Now that you’ve read this article, you should now be excited about using the tips on the basketball court. Remember that you must practice what you read, so get motivated so you can become a better player. There is always room for improvement, and you’re about to step it up.
