Basketball is played all over the world. This is one game of skill and teamwork that has really resonated all around the world since its humble beginnings, and is only getting more popular. If you want to know more about this sport, keep reading for some great basketball tips that will help you.
When you’re passing the ball, make sure that you pass the ball to the location of where the person should be headed. You don’t want your pass to be the reason a person needs to slow down or double back. Your pass should be aimed for a little bit in front of the person that you are passing to.
If you are trying to figure out how to improve your ability to pass in basketball, think visualization. Visualizing where the player you’re going to pass to is going and will be by the time the ball reaches him is crucial. Being able to predict the exact spot will result in amazing passes!
When you are dribbling the ball, be sure that you are doing so with your head up. If you have your eyes on the ball instead while you are dribbling it, you cannot keep an eye on those defending you. This could lead to them stealing the ball away from you.
Once you’ve passed the basketball while on offense, consider doing a hard cut straight towards the basket. Sometimes this action will break your man-to-man coverage or, at the very least, confuse the zone you are playing against. It can open you up for an easy lay up or distract the defense long enough for an easy perimeter shot for whoever currently has the ball.
When you dribble, make sure that you use fingertips instead of palms. This gives you much more control over the ball. Using your palms can cause the ball to go all over the place on the court, whereas using your fingertips keeps it under your control when you have to run.
Remember to practice a lot of different possibilities so that you will not limit your game. Always try to anticipate when your opponent is going to switch up their game to catch you off guard. Practice with each type of defense so you will know what to expect.
If your child is training to be a high school basketball player, make sure that they train their core muscles properly. The core muscles include the lower back, hips and abdonimals. The core muscles link lower and upper extremities. Without a strong core, they won’t have strong athletic performances. Strong core muscles help you with many movements associated with basketball.
When a teammate passes you the ball, make the most out of it. If you have an open shot, go ahead and shoot. If you do not have an open shot or think that you can get open, do the right thing and pass it along to another teammate. They may have the shot that you don’t.
Proper aim is crucial when trying to make baskets. Ideally, you should aim for the small square found on the backboard. Doing this increases your chances of the ball actually going down the basket. Avoid trying to aim for the next; you are less likely to be successful when doing so.
Always know where the other players are, both on your team and the opposition. You need to know who is close enough to steal the ball from you, who you can pass to and who might be able to rebound if you miss. Staying on top of the game means knowing the lay of the land.
Always know what spots on the court players are good at scoring from. You want to know this about yourself so you can make high percentage shots. You want to know this about teammates so you can pass the ball to them when they are in a killspot and open. When possible, know this about opponents in order to defend them better.
Pay attention to who has the hot hand. If a player on either team makes more than two or three consecutive baskets they are “on fire” as the saying goes. If they’re on your team, do what you can to make sure their streak keeps going to help your team. If it’s an opponent, put a little more defensive pressure on him.
Walk on all sides of your feet as much as you can to strengthen your ankles. This means walking on the outsides of your feet for a while, then switching and walking on the insides. Follow up with steps primarily on your toes, and then heels. This helps prevent or minimize sprained ankles, which are among the more common basketball injuries.
If your team is in foul trouble, playing a zone defense can get you out of a jam. Playing the zone prevents the opposing team from driving to the basket, which makes it less likely your team will commit a foul. Playing the zone can also force an unprepared opponent to take poor perimeter shots.
You don’t want to double dribble while on the court. This happens when you cease dribbling once and begin again within a few seconds. After you stop dribbling, your only options are to shoot or pass. You are not allowed to recommence dribbling. A turnover means you will have to give up the ball to the other team.
Now that you’ve read this article, you know more about what you need to do in order to be a great baskbetball player, or to be a better basketfall fan, if that is what you desire. Just use the tips here in order to make your appreciation of basketball deeper and more satisfying. Play on!
