The point guard is one of the most important positions on the basketball court. As the leader of a team's offense, the point guard handles many different responsibilities, including ball handling, passing and knowing the team's plays in order to execute them correctly. Training for the point guard position involves preparing for these situations as well as being a leader on the floor.
Significance
As with all skills, developing proficiency at the point guard position takes specific training that goes beyond the normal training other basketball position players must go through. Being a point guard means developing not just basketball skills, but also mental and cognitive skills, says long-time varsity boys and AAU basketball coach Tony Alfonso.
Ball Handling
Handling the ball is one of the point guard's most important responsibilities, according to coach Alfonso. As such, the point guard must spend as much time practicing ball handling as he does shooting in order to improve those skills. Ball-handling drills can be a great way to train for game situations. Players should focus not just on basic dribbling, but also on the crossover, hesitation and behind-the-back dribbles, says coach Alfonso.
Passing
As the leader of the offense and the primary ball handler, the point guard also has a major responsibility for passing the ball to her teammates. In order to train for this skill, players must learn how to perfect the different basketball passes, including the bounce pass, chest pass and baseball (or overhand) pass. Many point guards also train and practice "blind" or "no-look" passes. These can be effective for throwing off the defense and getting easy baskets. A point guard should practice passing as much as shooting, says longtime high school basketball coach Jim Gels.
Considerations
Not everything about training to be a point guard is about on-the-court training. Point guards act as a coach on the floor, says Gels. Serious point guards know their team's plays inside and out. Training to become familiar with offensive patterns and plays involves studying the plays on paper and seeing them implemented by watching film of practices and games. The best point guards spend time training their minds in order to know the plays by heart so they can direct traffic out on the floor and make sure their teammates are in the right position in order to make easy baskets.
Leadership
The most intangible of all point guard qualities, it is perhaps also the most important, says Alfonso. Since the point guard is the leader of the offense, he must train constantly in order to lead his team on and off the court. Practicing good leadership qualities is essential not only to be a leader, but to gain the trust of your teammates. Point guards work with the coach to communicate what the coach wants the team to do and how to execute. Point guards must always be "on," and set the example for the team in terms of training and practice in order to help the team constantly improve.
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