If being a basketball player is something you want to do, you have to work hard at it and practice a lot. Even if you happen to be a purely recreational player, you probably still wish to play well. You can gain valuable knowledge when you read this article.
Work on improving your strengths to become an even better player. Your strengths might not make you a star player, but you’ll be contributing a lot to your team. Realize your limitations, and roll with your talents.
Be sure to get lots of practice on layups. 80% of all shots in a game are usually layups. When you practice, run toward the net, and then get a high jump in so you can smoothly shoot. Running and jumping well in practice means better jump shooting in actual games.
Connecting on your free throws is as much mental as it is physical. You must train both your body and your mind. Stay calm and collected to increase your free throw percentage.
Shake things up rather than focusing solely on a zone defense. Usually, a big part of the game is probably going to be in zone; however, the opposing team can suddenly switch to man-to-man to catch you off guard. If you haven’t trained yourself to counter this, you could lose any control you have over the game.
If your kid is going to try out for the basketball team, they should be properly training their core muscles. The core muscles include the lower back, hips and abdonimals. The core is what holds the body in balance and allows the limbs to work well. When your core muscles are strong, you become a more powerful force on the court. This means greater speed and higher jumping skills.
Try using hand signals to ensure that your passes are received. Passing is tough, especially if you and your teammate are not in sync with one another. Hand signals can be a great way to find out if a teammate will be able to receive your pass. No signal, no pass.
When playing basketball, it is important to always keep your eye on the ball. Passes and turnovers won’t take you by surprise because you will be more aware of what is happening on the court. Also, you need to stay aware of areas which might open up and give you an easy basket.
Develop a routine to use every time you shoot a free throw. This can include the number of times you dribble, how you position your feet, or anything else. Just keep things brief, but make sure you always do the same moves.
If you are being heavily guarded, a pass between your legs might help. Refine this skill by bouncing a ball with force between the legs while stepping backwards or forwards. This technique can really throw off defenders.
Now that you are done reading this article, it’s time to put these tips into practice. You’re going to see improvement as you go on, so remember what you have learned, apply the tips, and keep practicing. That plan will help you see results.
