Offseason preparation is important in any sport. Working on the parts of your game that may be weak or improving your strengths is essential for reaching your potential as an athlete. To become an excellent perimeter basketball player, there are certain areas that you must master. Your offseason workout should focus on the basics of the game, shooting, ball handling and footwork. An average perimeter player can become a great perimeter player if he spends the offseason perfecting his skills in each area.
Frequency
A perimeter player should pursue at least one hour of individual workout time at least five days a week in order to make progress during the offseason. In addition, playing in live games during the offseason will help you work on your weak spots and test your progress. Find a local gym or league you can join to enhance your offseason workout.
Conditioning
Your offseason workout should contain drills that focus on running, strength and footwork. Ladder drills are common among collegiate and professional basketball players and can help a perimeter player develop the quick footwork needed to be effective. In these drills players use a ladder that lies on the ground, made of PVC pipe and rope. They then perform different drills up and down the ladder such as bunny hops, lateral hops and other footwork-focused exercises.
Shooting
Shooting is important especially to a perimeter player because unlike post players, whose shots are mostly from within 10 feet of the basket, a perimeter player shoots from 15 feet and beyond. Training your brain to execute perfect shooting form on each shot takes time and repetition. Your offseason workout should include shooting drills that focus on your basic form and enable you to correct flaws and improve your overall shooting percentage.
Ball Handling
Every perimeter player must have excellent ball handling. The ball is in a perimeter player’s hands the majority of the game; therefore in order to have a successful offense, a team must have excellent ball handlers. In-season practices do not always include specific ball handling drills, which is why it is important for every perimeter player to work on these skills individually during the offseason. The offseason is the perfect time to practice using your weaker hand and gaining confidence to use it in game situations. Two-ball dribbling is an effective way to work on dribbling with both hands. A ball in each hand forces you to divide your focus and give less attention to your weaker hand. As with shooting, you must develop the muscle memory to be able to dribble with that weak hand without thinking.
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