Jump shooters should not also be iron pumpers. Muscle is good, but you can have too much. If your arms are too big, your field goal percentage will go down.
If you have a high school level basketball player for a kid, be sure their core muscles are properly trained. Core muscles include the hips, abs, and lower back. The core connects the lower extremities to the upper extremities. Without a strong core, your performance may be limited. A strong core provides a center of force that can be tapped through the legs while running and jumping during games.
See if your teammates admire something in particular about your game play. Find out what they perceive as your best skill. You could potentially be excellent in one area while you are busy focusing on another, unaware. Find out what others perceive as your natural gifts and build upon those more completely.
Your fingers should always be spread out when handling the ball. The ball will not get away if you always keep your fingers spread when handling the ball. Also, keep your palm off the ball. Whether you are passing or shooting the ball, your fingers are the only part of your hand that should be touching the ball.
One of the best ways to play a strong defensive game is to know your opponent. Follow the scouting reports and watch tapes of their games. Learn which of the opposing players are left-dominant and which are right-dominant. Knowing an opponent's dribbling, passing and shooting styles gives you a definite edge on defense. A defender with an education will be good at what they do.
Quickness is a key skill in basketball. Speeding up the temp allows you to out-quick your opponent. You need to really drill to get to the point where you can play fast. However, don't try to be faster than you're physically able to be. If you play basketball past your own speed ability, then you can lose control of you game with bad passes and needless turnovers.
Passing the ball through your legs is a useful maneuver if the opposing team is right on top of you. You can train for this maneuver by stepping forward or backwards as you bounce the ball real hard in-between your legs. If this move is something you master, you'll have an advantage when you go out to play a game.
To make your layups count the most, take off from the foot opposite your shooting hand. Thus, if you tend to shoot with the right hand, make sure to jump off with the left. This helps to maintain balance throughout your body and allows you to use yourself as a barrier between the defender and yourself.
If you wish to dribble the ball better, you have to start using your hand that's considered the weak one. When you are ambidextrous, you'll be a better player. Bind your dominant hand so you will be forced to make use of your weaker side. Eventually, your weak hand will be able to dribble well.
Upset and disrupt your opponent's play. All successful basketball players do this. Force them out of their comfort zone. Use aggression with your moves. Do not allow them to decide which plays to make. If don't play aggressively, you opponent will run you down. Instead, you move first and throw them off their game.
Be certain that your vision is the best it can be. Not to just be able to see the scoreboard, but to actually make a shot and catch a pass. Great peripheral vision is an asset. If you scan the entire court instead of keeping your eye on the basketball, you will be aware of oncoming defensive pressure as well as the positions of your open teammates.
Basketball players can greatly benefit from strength training. In order to be the best you can at basketball, you need to be strong and hardy. Small kids who play stand to reap real benefits from strengthening their legs and arms. If you have been exercising regularly for years, it might be time to introduce weights into the mix. Adult players must use strength training to prevent loss of mobility, speed, and power.
If you're playing regulation basketball, you need a hoop that is ten feet high, a large court and ten players. If you have the urge to boost your skills, knowledge is important. The tips here are a good place to begin, but keep learning all that you can.
