Whether you're looking to become a hoops star yourself or a coach or parent trying to develop the abilities of your young players, running through a series of skill-building drills is the most effective means of improving at basketball. Sure, it's always fun to shoot around for a while or scrimmage, but if you're truly focused on improvement, you'll need to focus on the fundamentals.
Scissor Dribble
Ball handling may be the most important facet of basketball; accurate shooting or high-flying leaps have little benefit if you can't dribble the ball first. Stand in the triple-threat position, with your knees slightly bent and feet shoulder-length apart. Dribble the ball through your legs with one hand, and then use the other hand to dribble it back to your side in one bounce before dribbling it back to the other side between your legs again. As you become proficient, focus your eyes on the basket while doing the drill to develop your ability to keep your head up while dribbling.
Shooting on Your Back
Shooting on a basket can help you become more accurate, but there are a few catches. You can lose focus on your form, and if you don't have a rebounder, you have to chase down the ball after every shot. Try lying flat on your back and shooting the ball into the air above you. Since there's no hoop, your only focus will be your shooting form, and the ball comes right back every time. Focus on keeping your non-shooting hand on the side of the ball, with your shooting hand cupping it from just above your forehead. Flick your wrist and follow through every time.
Gassers
To take the next step in your basketball career, you need to strive for peak physical conditioning in addition to actual hoops skills. Basketball is a game of near-constant running and jumping, with body-bumping mixed in. Gassers, also know as "suicides," are a traditional drill to build stamina for basketball. Line up as a sprinter would, with one hand on the ground, at the baseline of the court. When you reach the free-throw line, bend and touch it, sprint back and touch the baseline, and then take off again. This time, run and touch the 3-point line before returning. Continue with the half court line and opposing 3-point line, free throw line and baseline. They call these suicides for a reason, but you'll benefit.
Passing
Shooting and dribbling are vital, but you also must be able to create scoring opportunities for teammates. Improving your passing skills will make you a more versatile threat to opposing defenses. Start by dribbling up and down the court with a teammate, passing the ball back and forth after one dribble and alternating between bounce passes and chest passes. When you feel more comfortable in your skills, incorporate a behind-the-back pass -- a flashy yet effective weapon to add to your arsenal -- by palming the ball with your outside hand, hooking it at the waist and wrapping it behind your back while snapping your wrist to whip the ball to a teammate.
Member Comments