If you need to improve your basketball shooting ability, try wide basketball shoes and practice as if you were really in a game. Rather than taking your time to throw the perfect shot, act as if there are defensive players around you, trying to distract you and take away the ball. This will help you shoot better under pressure and make the shots that count.
Try practice rebound drills that will help you learn to rebound outside your area in basketball. Great rebounders will try to get the ball no matter its location. Poor rebounders will remain still and watch the ball since they think they can’t reach it. To learn rebounding out of your area, run some drills that causes the ball to go far away from you. One way is to throw it off the back board and go after it.
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 some NBA players are able to launch a ball to the net mid-fall, this is not appropriate for most people. Those who do this are improvising. You need to maintain good balance while shooting, which is sure to produce greater consistency.
If you feel you’ve been spending too much time on the the bench, ask your basketball coach what you can do to help the team the next time you are in practice. Hang on every word he or she says. This will demonstrate your intense interest in helping the team win by improving your own play and should get you more game time!
Always remember that to be a great basketball player, you’ve got to be a great athlete first. Put as much time into conditioning your body and increasing your endurance as you do shooting and passing. This will improve your play under even the most excruciating circumstances, making you an invaluable team member.
Keep your footwork in mind while playing defense. Taking short steps will give you a better foothold on your opponent. Remember to push off your front foot. When you take long steps, it is more difficult to defend against a driving opponent. Check your distance from your opposing player by extending one arm.
Learn to pass more in basketball, even if it means giving up a good shot. Unless your team is down and must have the score, letting other players take a chance will improve the team as a whole. Taking all the shots that you can will cause other players and probably the coach to view you as selfish and not a true team player.
Where loose fitting shorts and a sports shirt that lets you move. Basketball is a very physical sport. There’s a lot of running, a lot of physical contact, and a ton of jumping. You want to wear clothes that let you move as well as possible. If you don’t, you’ll find your time on the court to be pretty miserable.
As the old saying goes, there is no “I” in team. So don’t focus exclusively on trying to be the one to make all the winning points. Make sure you are just as determined to help your team members score their winning points as well. Being a team player means the whole team working together, each playing their own part to win the game.
Speed and agility is important, but you need to know how to practice to improve those skills. Running yourself ragged by training for long lengths of time or by running long distances won’t benefit your play on the court. Instead, practice sprints and other short bursts of exercise. This better mimics how on the court play really is.
To shoot a basketball outdoors, you have to be ready for the conditions. On the blacktop, the wind can send your shot off, so as you start shooting around beforehand, get used to factoring that wind in by aiming to one side or the other. This will boost your accuracy.
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.
To rebound a free throw attempt by the other team, you get the advantage of having four people on the lane, as opposed to three for the other team. Take advantage by boxing out, putting your body on the person next to you and moving him away from the basket. This gives you the best chance at grabbing a board.
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.
If you want to be a better jump shooter, learning the proper way to jump is one way to improve. It is extremely important your jump does not drift from side to side. If you begin to drift your shooting arm will lose aim at the basket. Jumping straight up and coming straight down will increase your accuracy and consistency.
Basketball is a sport that is loved by folks far and wide, due in large part to its fast pace and thrilling action. The best way to really appreciate basketball, however, is to familiarize yourself completely with its nuances. The article above should serve as a useful resource for just about anyone.