Sports are America’s greatest pastime. From the players to the coaches, parents and spectators, it seems a majority of people are involved in sport somehow. Basketball is one of those sports that garners a lot of attention. But in order to help your team gain the wins and get the attention they deserve, you have to bring skills to the court and score points. So here are some ways to get those skills and bring your team to a winning season.
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.
You must have good balance to shoot well. While the all-time greats have shown time and time again how they can shoot while off-kilter, this is not the ideal way to score. They are going with the flow when this occurs. By focusing on balance in your shot, you will develop the consistency needed to be a great scorer.
When learning to dribble, you need to learn to dribble with both hands. This is important because you may have to switch hands when dribbling during a game. Also, learn to dribble behind your back and between an opponent’s legs. This may seem silly, but you may actually use this technique.
Make it your goal to dribble well with both of your hands. You’ll obviously start with your strongest hand when learning, but if you want to play basketball well, you’ll need to learn how to switch it up. This way you can keep your body between the ball and your opponent, no matter what the angle.
When prepping for the basketball season, walk around with the basketball as often as you can. Take the time to throw the ball from one hand to the other, and even flip it around your back. Your goal is to improve your hand/ball coordination so that the ball feels as if it’s part of you.
Prior to basketball season, and even during it, you can play solo games. It is possible to enjoy this team sport even in the absence of your team. No problem! Playing on your own can give you the chance to work on isolated areas of your game. Practice pivoting or doing free throws. There is no shortage of things you can do.
If you want to improve your jump shot, try shooting free throws blindfolded or with your eyes closed. Your free throw percentage ought to be pretty good before you try this. However, once it is, you can use this technique to really get down a fluid and instinctive shooting motion with your arms and body. Just make sure to do this alone in a gym, as to not errantly hurt anyone or break a window.
To properly handle the ball, you have to spread your fingers out. That makes sure that you don’t lose the ball when you hold it. Your palm should touch the ball as little as possible. Your fingers should be all that is holding the ball when you pass it or shoot it.
As you can see, learning a skill can be easy bit practicing and perfecting it may take time. But that is fine because as long as you are enjoying what you do, you will only get better at it. Practicing as often as you can may mean that you spend time alone doing it with no one to cheer you. But keep in mind that every bit of practice will lead you to the moment when your skills will be called into play and you can make that move on the court that every player dreams of.
