Basics of Basketball
However, in the process of becoming a great basketball player, a lot of youngsters tend to skip the basics. These basics form the foundation of your game and cannot be done away with. So if you are looking to be the next Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant, get some of these basics right.
To be a great player, you must be a great athlete
The most important thing for you to do in order to become a great basketball player is to improve your athleticism. Working on your strength and stamina will surely improve the way you play the game as well. Towards this end, you will have to put in the same amount of time, if not more, in physical training as you put into your game. You can start your regime with 15 minutes of jogging or running. You can continue dribbling and shooting but the key here is to keep moving. Do not move to quickly as you need to build your stamina gradually. However, before you can start any exercise; do not forget to warm up.
Holding the ball right
Another fundamental that youngsters often miss out on is holding the ball. If your grip is not proper, you will not be able to make accurate shots. Again, holding the ball correctly will also improve your dribbling, passing and handling skills. If you have the problem of poor shooting, improper rebounds, jamming fingers etc. it is a clear case or incorrect ball handling. To hold the ball correctly, you need to make your hands take the shape of a claw with your fingers far apart. Practice your grip by holding the basketball in your hand for as long as possible.
Emphasize on the use of wrists
The wrist plays an important role be it dribbling, passing or shooting. The best thing about the wrist is that it helps players improve on a consistent basis and it also gets stronger. You can find a lot of useful exercises that are dedicated to making the wrists stronger and more accurate in a game of basketball. Strong wrists mean you will be able to give the ball accurate direction and also provide the required amount of power when shooting.
Work on close range shooting first
This is another area of basketball where most youngsters get it wrong. Sure long range shots look cool and fetch more points. But there is no way to get this right unless you work on your close range shots first. Start your practice by shooting from a couple of feet and perfecting your technique. You can take a few shots from one spot, then change your position and angle and continue the same routine. Make sure you use the backboard to position your shots as well.
Always play full court
When it comes to basketball, there are a lot of changes in strategy when it comes to full court and half court games. In fact, playing half court may hamper your skills and judgment in the full court game. Again, half court does not require as much stamina as full court games. No transitions from one basket to the other also play an important role in strategy. Again, there are more one-on-one encounters in half court games. This underplays the importance of passing and other related techniques.
The most important thing you need to know about this game is that you cannot master it in a day. So put in those hard hours and you will surely make for a better player.
