No matter if you are in the stands or on the court, information helps appreciate the game. Know nothing about the game? Don't give up! As exciting as basketball is, it's also an easy sport to learn. Read on and gather up some fun tips to help you better your skills and make the game more fun to watch.
To be successful with free throws, you need to be sure you're taking the best approach. When at the foul line, have your feet about a shoulder's width apart. Now, use both hands to dribble the ball. Bend your knees and and picture the ball going into the basketball as you take your shot.
Stay low when playing defense. Keep your shoulders lower than the offensive player you are guarding will give you a better chance of moving more quickly. A lower stance will help you play the ball as well. Try to remain about an arm's length away. When you get too far away, the other player can shoot easily.
Learn the positions on a basketball court. Each position has different roles to fill on both offense and defense. There are guards, point guards, forwards, power forwards, and centers. If you want to really enjoy basketball, learn the needs of all of the positions, not just the one you are most interested in.
Remember that refs don't see, catch or call everything. You're going to get fouled sometimes and not hear the whistle. Just remember that works both ways. You will also get away with some fouls that aren't called. Respect the refs, but remember that they don't determine the winner and loser.
There may be sneaky or subversive moves that you can make in an attempt to won a game but they are not worth it. Your teammates and fans deserve a player to be proud of, not one whose actions they have to defend. Be a player that your team and the opposing team can both respect.
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.
Remember that being good at basketball starts with being athletic. That means working on all of your skills, not just those which involve a ball. Run to build stamina and your cardiovascular health, and lift weights to build your strength. The harder you work on your overall condition, the better you will play.
Balance is an important aspect in basketball, especially when taking a shot. When shooting, make sure you are balanced both side to side and from front to back. Do not be leaning away from the shot or lunging forward. If you keep your balance on shots, you will make baskets more consistently.
You can use your guards and point guard to trap an opponent with a 2-3 zone defense. They can then trap the point guard. While that is happening, your forwards should race out to the opposing wing players. This will likely cause the point guard to make a high, short pass, which your forwards will steal quite easily.
In order to improve your weaker hand, make use of it for everyday things, such as brushing your teeth, eating out of a spoon, etc. If you gain more mastery of it in all walks of life, you improve overall control. Keeping your opponents on their toes is an important part of basketball.
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.
Don't show up your teammates. Remember basketball is a team sport. If you spend time turning your team against you, you'll find that your opportunities on the court will quickly dry up. Soon you could even be riding the bench. This is a team game that takes trust, so do your best to earn it.
Be careful when attempting to get a rebound off a very long shot. A lot of power goes into launching the ball in the air that far away, and this often leads to very powerful rebounds once the ball hits its mark. They traditionally go wild and can hurt you if you are in the way.
Double dribbling is a huge no-no. A double dribble is when you stop dribbling, then start again. Once you've stopped dribbling, you can only pass the ball or shoot the ball. You're unable to restart that dribble again. This will make a turnover occur which means the opponent will get the ball.
As you go for a rebound, jump off both feet at once. Jumping off just one foot leaves you slightly off balance and potentially not able to jump as high as when you are able to launch off both of your feet. Better control will lead to catching more rebounds.
Keep your hands away from the face of the person you are defending. Poking them in the eye could get you ejected from the game, and one rogue thumb is all it takes for this injury to happen. Keep your hands where the ball is and away from eyes, ears, mouth and nose.
Was that as difficult as you thought it would be? Since you have now expanded your basketball knowledge, you will be well aware of the joy that can be gained from the game. If you are prepared to make a change, now is the best time to do so. While you may not be the next NBA star, you will improve nonetheless.
To be successful with free throws, you need to be sure you're taking the best approach. When at the foul line, have your feet about a shoulder's width apart. Now, use both hands to dribble the ball. Bend your knees and and picture the ball going into the basketball as you take your shot.
Stay low when playing defense. Keep your shoulders lower than the offensive player you are guarding will give you a better chance of moving more quickly. A lower stance will help you play the ball as well. Try to remain about an arm's length away. When you get too far away, the other player can shoot easily.
Learn the positions on a basketball court. Each position has different roles to fill on both offense and defense. There are guards, point guards, forwards, power forwards, and centers. If you want to really enjoy basketball, learn the needs of all of the positions, not just the one you are most interested in.
Remember that refs don't see, catch or call everything. You're going to get fouled sometimes and not hear the whistle. Just remember that works both ways. You will also get away with some fouls that aren't called. Respect the refs, but remember that they don't determine the winner and loser.
There may be sneaky or subversive moves that you can make in an attempt to won a game but they are not worth it. Your teammates and fans deserve a player to be proud of, not one whose actions they have to defend. Be a player that your team and the opposing team can both respect.
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.
Remember that being good at basketball starts with being athletic. That means working on all of your skills, not just those which involve a ball. Run to build stamina and your cardiovascular health, and lift weights to build your strength. The harder you work on your overall condition, the better you will play.
Balance is an important aspect in basketball, especially when taking a shot. When shooting, make sure you are balanced both side to side and from front to back. Do not be leaning away from the shot or lunging forward. If you keep your balance on shots, you will make baskets more consistently.
You can use your guards and point guard to trap an opponent with a 2-3 zone defense. They can then trap the point guard. While that is happening, your forwards should race out to the opposing wing players. This will likely cause the point guard to make a high, short pass, which your forwards will steal quite easily.
In order to improve your weaker hand, make use of it for everyday things, such as brushing your teeth, eating out of a spoon, etc. If you gain more mastery of it in all walks of life, you improve overall control. Keeping your opponents on their toes is an important part of basketball.
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.
Don't show up your teammates. Remember basketball is a team sport. If you spend time turning your team against you, you'll find that your opportunities on the court will quickly dry up. Soon you could even be riding the bench. This is a team game that takes trust, so do your best to earn it.
Be careful when attempting to get a rebound off a very long shot. A lot of power goes into launching the ball in the air that far away, and this often leads to very powerful rebounds once the ball hits its mark. They traditionally go wild and can hurt you if you are in the way.
Double dribbling is a huge no-no. A double dribble is when you stop dribbling, then start again. Once you've stopped dribbling, you can only pass the ball or shoot the ball. You're unable to restart that dribble again. This will make a turnover occur which means the opponent will get the ball.
As you go for a rebound, jump off both feet at once. Jumping off just one foot leaves you slightly off balance and potentially not able to jump as high as when you are able to launch off both of your feet. Better control will lead to catching more rebounds.
Keep your hands away from the face of the person you are defending. Poking them in the eye could get you ejected from the game, and one rogue thumb is all it takes for this injury to happen. Keep your hands where the ball is and away from eyes, ears, mouth and nose.
Was that as difficult as you thought it would be? Since you have now expanded your basketball knowledge, you will be well aware of the joy that can be gained from the game. If you are prepared to make a change, now is the best time to do so. While you may not be the next NBA star, you will improve nonetheless.
