Basketball is fun to play for anyone and everyone. There are many people that enjoy basketball. Get a group of friends together and show off your moves. Which new moves can you learn? Read on to find some great tips that will help you get in the game.
Always keep your head up when dribbling instead of focusing on the ball. Anyone who watching the ball while they dribble surely needs to spend more time in the gym practicing. Take the basketball to all the places that you go. Whenever you are walking and it is appropriate, dribble there. Always look ahead when you are dribbling the ball.
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.
When dribbling, make sure to keep your head straight up. If you find that you keep looking down at the ball, you haven’t practiced dribbling enough. You need to gain the advantage of being able to see the court while dribbling. Then you can surprise your opponent with smart passes and quick drives to areas where they are not.
If you are trying to create a charging foul against the other team, make sure you plant your feet to the ground. Don’t shuffle them or lean into the dribbler coming at you. If you do either of these things, you’ll actually be called for a blocking foul instead of getting a charge.
It is not always necessary to dribble the ball. In fact, you should only dribble it when it is part of your play. For instance, you will want to dribble the ball when you are trying to get the ball up the court, to get in a position for passing, or to get the defense off you.
Never turn away from the ball so that you can always be prepared for what’s coming. This will help you stay on top of quick changes in possession or plays attempted by your opponent. Also, watch for areas to open up so you can make an easy basket.
Beware of picking up bad habits from street basketball games. Street games are often rougher and flashier than team basketball. It’s a game to impress through individual showmanship, not from your work as part of a bigger group. Therefore, you can bring the wrong skills to the table if you base your team play on what you’ve learned from street games. Remember, you are part of something bigger than just you.
To become a better ball handler, there are two key things you should focus on. Staying low while you dribble will make it harder for opponents to guard you and to steal the ball. Changing speeds is also important. By changing speeds while you move you’ll become more unpredictable to your opponent.
Strive to be a player that everyone can respect. You are representing your team both on the court and off. That means that you need to be a good sport and to not think that your status as a player makes you better than anyone else. The most popular players are often popular because of the way they deal with teammates and fans.
Master the stop and shoot. Basketball is so much about movement that sometimes the most effective manner to get clear of an opponent is to surprise them with no movement at all. Master dribbling up court fast and when you hit a mark you’re comfortable with, stop short, pull up and shoot. Your opponent will find it tough to stop their forward movement, so you’ll have a clear look at the basket.
Have a good support system off of the court and appreciate their efforts. Whether it is your parents who support you by bringing you to games and financing your necessities or it is the sponsors who support your team, they all contribute to a winning team and should be acknowledged and appreciated.
Repetition in shooting is important to success. Once you perfect your shot, being able to repeat it will ensure you can score often. Practice repetition by laying on your back and resting the ball on the fingertips of your shooting hand. From this position, “shoot” the ball and practice getting the proper spin and rotation.
You can now be confident in your ability to play basketball. Knowing skills and tricks that others are unaware of will give you an edge. Remember, the game is meant to be fun and should always remain so. Play anytime you get a chance and make having fun a priority, even though you should also look for ways to implement the strategies you just read.
