A good dribbling exercise to start with is to dribble twenty times in a row with your right hand and then switch and dribble twenty times in a row with your left hand. Do three sets of this when you start a basketball routine and three sets of this at the end. Stay still at first, but keep your knees bent and bounce on your toes to stay moving. When you get comfortable dribbling from a stationary position, do this same exercise while walking. When you get comfortable walking, start running.
Set up a row of cones fives yards apart in a straight line to dribble around. [4] X Research source
Try not to let the ball touch your palm. A good dribble comes from your fingers. [7] X Research source Spend any free down time you have dribbling the basketball. Dribble up and down the court or wherever you’re practicing. Dribble a basketball when you walk to school or to your friend’s house. It’s very important to practice as much as you can.
It’s all in the wrist. To develop your power dribble, alternate bouncing the ball as you normally do and then with a few degrees more power. Don’t bounce it so hard you lose control: bounce it firmly several times in a row without letting your arm come way up when you dribble it back down, then alternate back to a casual dribble. Try dribbling in the dirt. [9] X Research source You’ll have to bounce the ball extra-hard to get it to come back at the same speed you’re used to. When you get used to that, move inside and dribble like you’ve been dribbling before.
Start by power dribbling four times with your right hand and make the fifth dribble a hard crossover to your left hand. Do the same thing with your left. Then, make it three before the crossover, then two, eventually switching between your hands a few times with your power dribble, then build it back up.
B=Balance. Make sure you are balanced before you shoot. Your feet should be planted at shoulder-width, your knees should be flexed, and you should be ready to jump E=Eyes. Keep your eyes on the basket while you shoot. Imagine there is a dime balancing on the front of the rim and that you’re trying to knock it off with your shot. E=Elbow. Keep your shooting-elbow tucked in towards your body when you shoot. F=Follow Through. Make sure you follow through with your shot; your shooting hand should have an arc shape. C=Concentration/Awareness. This is the most important part of shooting. Focus on where the ball is going. Once you’ve made the decision to shoot, commit to it and focus on making the shot.
Use the pads of your fingers and hold the ball so you see light through all of your fingers. As you shoot, push the ball toward your target while rolling it back toward you. This is called “English” or “spin. " Practice this while lying down. Shoot your basketball straight into the air so it comes back down onto your hand. You can do this for hours, while listening to music, or when you’re having trouble sleeping. The ball should feel like part of your arm, extending into the hoop.
Dribble toward the basket from the three-point line at a diagonal. When you get to the lane line, you’ll have two more steps to the hoop. If you’re on your right, dribble one last dribble when you step on the lane line with your right foot, then plant and jump from with your left. If you’re on the left, do the opposite. On your right side, bring your right hand up with the ball in it and your right knee up at the same time. Imagine your elbow was attached to your knee with a string. Lay the ball off the backboard by aiming at the top right corner of the box behind the rim. Don’t try to bounce it off with any force–your momentum coming in and up should do most of the work.
Start by shooting a lay-up. Run immediately to the baseline at a point in between the lane line and the three-point line. Have your friend pass you the ball and keep shooting from there until you make it. From there, run to a point in between the corner of the lane and the baseline and shoot again. Then move to the corner, then the free-throw line. Keep moving around the lane until you’ve made your way around. Expand the game to include the same points on the three-point line when you’re consistently making shots in the lane.
See how many free-throws you can hit in a row. Practice shooting free-throws when you’re cold and when you’re totally winded. If you can consistently make free-throws while breathing heavily after running lines or doing dribbling drills, you’ll be in good shape for a game.
A quick turn-around or fade-away shot will require you to over-correct with your arm for going backwards. [19] X Research source You’ll lose the strength you get from pushing off with your legs.
Keep a wide base with your body weight on the balls of your feet. Keep your butt down and your hips back. Your arms should be always up and out. Don’t reach in or touch the offensive player too much or you’ll be called for fouls. Use them to distract the player and try to block passes and shots. Focus your eyes on the player’s waist and chest, not the ball. This will give you more of an idea where he will try to go. [22] X Research source Make sure that you don’t focus on the opposing player’s stomach or feet. They will beat you to the basket every time if you do so.
Have a teammate dribble down the court from one baseline to the other. Play defense with your hands behind your back, forcing the dribbler to change directions with your feet. You’ll need to quickly shuffle step down the court to stay ahead and direct the person with the ball.
Simulate a fast break. In a group of five, move all the way down the court without dribbling the ball, letting the ball touch the floor, or moving your feet when the ball is in your hands. Play hot potato (literally). Having someone control some music playing in the background and pause it suddenly. Whoever is holding the ball when the music stops is out. You should be passing quickly and crisply, without dribbling. As you as you get the ball, look for someone to pass it to.
The point guard is the court general. At this position, you need to see the court and set up the offense. You need to be a selfless passer and good shooter. You also need to have a good handle of the ball and court vision. The shooting guard is the back-up to the point guard. Usually, this is the best shooter or offensive player on the team. The small forward is the most versatile. You need to be a good shooter with the ability to go up for rebounds on offense or defense, and good vision to be able to kick the ball back out to the guards to set up the offense again. The power forward is a good defensive player, shot blocker, and an excellent player in the lane. This is maybe the most physical player on the team. The center is (among other things) probably the tallest player on the team. You should also be an excellent rebounder and passer, with the ability to control the lane game on offense. Use other players for inspiration. When you watch an NBA or college game, specifically watch the players who play the same position you do. Where is the power forward while the shooting guard takes a three-point shot? What does the guard do while the center goes up for a rebound on offense?
Stand still and up straight, your hands clutched at waist-level in front of you and your feet flat on the floor. Let your teammate come around you. Be strong, and be prepared to absorb a blow.
The most basic play is for one of the forwards to come out and set a pick for a guard. The guard then drives to the inside lane and kicks it back to the forward, who should be either open, or matched with the (probably) shorter defender originally guarding the guard.
Superman Drill. On a court, start on one baseline and run to the nearest free-throw line. Drop and do 5 push ups on your fingertips, then stand and run back to the original baseline, then run to the three-point line, drop and do 10 push ups and continue on that same idea for every line on the court, back and forth, until you reach the first line again. Shoot at least 10 free throws after the drill while you are tired. “Kill Drill”: this is a full court, down and back timed drill. If you’re really out of shape just start with maybe 4-6 “down and backs” in 1 minute 8 seconds (starting at 1 baseline running to the other and returning to the original). Sounds like a sufficient amount of time until you run the 160 feet (48. 8 m). After you build up some stamina, try 13 down and backs in 68 seconds. Again, shoot at least 10 free throws while fatigued.
Talk to other players, check websites, ask coaches for their tips. Knowing the historical rules also helps too. Watch old games, watch streetball games, read about the invention of basketball.
Try jumping rope. Jump rope as fast, long, and hard as you can. The better you can do this, the faster footwork you can have on the court.
