Drill Training in Basketball

Drill Training in Basketball
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Basketball drills not only help with the finer points of basketball, they also give players the chance to work on the endurance and strength needed to succeed in the sport. Drill training combines all the aspects of the game into one practice, and when done right, will improve individuals' playing ability. Better individuals means a better team, and a better team means a better chance at winning.

Ballhandling

Drills that teach players to be more careful with the ball will cut down on turnovers during the season. Better ballhandling also can create space for players looking to get open shots or to make passes to open teammates. The Basketball Drill Collection for the Pal Degerstrom website features a handful of ballhandling drills like "Think Fast" and the "Butterfly Drill" that teach being careful and solid with dribbling fundamentals.

Aerobic Endurance

Running boosts aerobic endurance, and since the game requires miles of running in each game, running drills are sure to improve players' abilities. The key is to have players run a large number of short sprints, as that mimics a real game and also pushes the cardiovascular system the hardest. The drills section for the Basketball Plays and Tips website features 10 drills designed to boost endurance, all of which feature many short sprints and short rest periods.

Shooting

Repetition does not trump proper technique when it comes to becoming a better shooter, so shooting drills should focus on using the correct fundamentals rather than hoisting up hundreds of shots. The Best Basketball Drills website says that "having good, solid form is a key element in being a good shooter. To work on your mechanics, use a close to the basket shooting drill." Players often want to shoot from far away, but the best drills to improve shooting are done from close.

Boxing Out

Boxing out is the best way to ensure rebounding success and players need to do drills at practice to make sure they know the basics. The Coach's Clipboard website suggests that teams line up two lines and have the front player in one line shoot the ball while the front player in the other line immediately shifts over to try and box out that shooter. Boxing-out drills need to show players that they must get their body on the opposing player and push back with their hips and legs. Players will see benefits from these drills when rebounding in games.

Agility

Agility drills teach players' muscles the intricate movements that basketball requires. By building little-known muscles in the calves and legs, agility drills enable players to make quick movements to keep up with opponents as well as giving them the strength to recover from incorrect moves. Agility drills can tire players out quickly, so they should be done for small amounts of time. But they should be done at every practice if possible.

References

Article reviewed by Jessica Lyons Last updated on: Jun 30, 2010

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