Introduction:

The excitement and fast pace of basketball makes it a loved sport. However, if you want to thoroughly enjoy the game, you should know all you can. This is an article packed with tips to help make your game better.

It is easy to be focused on offense when you are learning how to play basketball, but you really should focus your practice on defense. Many times, defense actually wins the game. While offense seems to get the praise, defense must be stellar in order to win.

Learn proper dribbling. Instead of using your palm to dribble focus on using your fingertips. When you do this you will have more control over the ball. Dribble on the sides of your body instead of directly before you, and bounce it waist level. Keep your eyes up, not on the ground.

A good tip about passing is try doing it without dribbling the ball. It is hard to play basketball without dribbling, and demands accurate passing and teamwork, so it will be a challenge. The accuracy of passes will greatly improve over time and the drill will become a lot easier.

Mental Agility and Strategy:

You can play basketball solo before and during the season. You may not always be able to find someone to play with you. That is not a problem. Solo games can help you immensely. Whether focusing on foul shots or how to pivot with the ball, you can look for ways to improve. You can always find things to practice.

Your child should work on their core muscles if they want to become a basketball player in high school. Core muscles include hips, abs and the lower back. 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 helps the legs move better, like jumping higher and running faster.

Conditioning and Fitness:

When you’re trying to work out, you should build up your core strength while getting your footwork perfected. When your core is strengthened, you will have more balance and be able to move more swiftly. Concentrate your efforts on the back, abdomen, buttocks and hips. Jumping rope is great for improving your footwork and also helping you to gain speed.

In order to be successful with layups, the foot that is opposite from shooting hand is the one you should take off from. This will allow you to shoot with your comfortable hand. This balances your body when moving towards your basket. It keeps your body in between you and the defender.

Dribble hard if you don’t want the ball taken from you. This will make the ball come back to you faster, and the opponent will have a hard time to get it from you. When closely guarding another player, cease dribbling and pass it to another play on your team that’s open.

Defensive Techniques:

Try some drills that require you to move the basketball from one end of the court to the other in no more than five dribbles. This may not seem feasible, but once you master it, your speed and stride will be truly impressive. It can mean easier lay-ups when dealing with fast breaks and it can help your teammates for just a moment.

Be sure your vision is unobstructed. While it will allow you to catch passes and read the score, there is more to it than that. Working to improve you peripheral vision will help you become a more successful player. If you scan the entire court instead of keeping your eye on the basketball, you will be aware of oncoming defensive pressure as well as the positions of your open teammates.

When playing defense, always try to stay low. This will let you get to the jump quicker and let you react to your opponent easier. Keep yourself in proper defensive stance at all times. If you must break your stance to block someone’s shot, return to formation as quickly as you can.

Conclusion:

Basketball can be one the most fun sports to play, but you must know the basics. The above article proves you need expertise in order to become a pro. These tips will ensure you grow as a player.