Are you into basketball as a sport? Do you think that you could benefit from some helpful information? This article is here to help guide you to becoming a better basketball player. Read through the following information so that you can find out what it takes to shine on the court.
When you are in control of the ball, make sure you always pay attention to what is happening on the court. Know where the other players are. Don not stare at the ground. If you do, there is no way for you to have the type of court awareness that you need to be successful.
Footwork is an important skill to practice daily if you want to improve your basketball game. Players with exceptional foot work can move around their opponents at will. It is essential to include both slow paced running and fast sprints in your practice sessions. You can practice first without a ball and then add dribbling to your footwork sessions.
Never pass the ball and stand still. This is a mistake most often made by those new to the game of basketball. Once you’ve passed the ball, you need to work to get into the best position possible to be passed to again or to grab a rebound from a shot.
If you want to improve your game, concentrate on your strengths. While you may have a particular skill that isn’t going to make you stand out as the star player, honing it can help you become an integral part of your team’s success. Clear self knowledge and dedicated practice will make you the best at what you do.
If your child has a hard time learning to dribble a basketball with their fingertips, you can try using naugahyde gloves. They will help them learn proper dribbling since it forces them to use their fingers instead of their palms. Eventually, they will learn to just use their wrists and fingers. You can find these gloves in sporting goods stores or online.
Never practice only against the zone. While a great portion of a game will be concentrated in the zone, your rivals could opt to go to man-to-man covering to keep you guessing. If you haven’t practiced against it, you could end up losing your grip on the game quite quickly.
To keep passes under control, make use of hand signals. Often in basketball, a player makes a pass at the exact same time the receiving player heads to another part of the court. Hand signals can be a great way to find out if a teammate will be able to receive your pass. Without a signal, there shouldn’t be a pass.
Everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses. Learn to play to your strengths and practice to improve your weak points. Not everyone on the team can be the guy who scores every point. Your position may be better suited on the defensive end. You can only learn these things through practice and play.
Avoid turning away from the ball so that you can always be prepared for what occurs on the court. This provides court awareness and prevents you from unexpected turnovers or quick passes. Pay attention to open areas for passes, too.
Make sure you have prepared for your games by taking care of yourself. Don’t see your team short by staying up all night, eating junk food before games or skipping practice because you have things you would rather do. make a commitment to your team by being there for the team on the court and off the court.
As you attempt to keep up your skills in the off-season, make sure you have fun with your fitness routine. Mix things up and include workouts that focus on endurance, strength and basic basketball skills. When the new season rolls around, you will feel sharp and be ready to go!
When shooting free throws in basketball, make sure you properly line up with the basket. Your lead foot needs to be lined up with the rim’s center. If you’re right-handed, your lead foot will be the right foot. If your court has a hardwood floor, check it for a dot. If it has one, put your toe on it for a straighter shot.
To stay hydrated while playing basketball outside on a hot day, make sure you drink plenty of water or sports drink before you head outside, and take a bottle with you. When you sweat, you not only lose water, but you lose electrolytes and sodium. Sports drinks like Powerade help you replace those and keep your edge on the basketball court.
Dribble the ball hard to keep it from being stolen. This makes the ball come back to you faster so the people on defense aren’t able to steal it as easily. If someone is guarding you closely, stop dribbling and pass to someone else who is open on your team.
If your defender is playing you low, pass the ball to teammates using the overhead pass. Be aware of where your teammate will catch the ball. If you throw it too low, the ball will be uncontrollable. If you throw it too high, your teammate may not catch the ball at all.
Well are you ready to go make a slam dunk? That’s the spirit! Maybe you’ll hold off on that one for awhile, but surely you’ve learned some great tips to get you going. Basketball is a lot of fun, and as you learn more, you get more confident about your abilities.
