Showing posts with label Basketball Tips. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Basketball Tips. Show all posts

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

The facts that can improve your game!

Increase Your Game by Increasing Your Jump

Many basketball players wonder how they can move their game to the next level. Today, more than ever, basketball is a game played 'above the rim'. This means that the most important feet movement is how high they can propel you in the air. If you want to increase your game, increase your jump. Point guards will look to you more if they think you can get to the ball. Increasing your jump will also make you quicker all-around, which will give you the edge when chasing a loose ball down the court. Take advantage of the tools that have been developed just to help increase your jump and you will be happier with your game.


Advantages of Increasing Your Vertical Jump

Recent basketball stars have made it abundantly clear that increasing your vertical jump can give you an edge on your opponents. How many times a night do we see highlights of a player who was able to convert an assist because they had just an extra second of time before landing to pass the ball? You can all but count on it every game. From Michael to Lebron, the game now requires you to be able to float as long as possible. Defense has adjusted to these changes as well which means you definitely need that extra time. Get the training equipment that can help you increase your vertical and do the drills that come with them.. You will be leaping higher in no time.


Tricking Your Muscles to Make You Jump Higher

Only two things keep us grounded on the earth; resistance from gravity and from our own muscles. There is not much we can do about gravity, but your muscles do not need to know that. New training accessories have been developed that can help you in your battle against gravity and trick your muscles into helping you jump higher. Among the most reliable of of these new tools is a weighted belt. These have been around for a while, but the new incarnations of this classic utility are made for more comfort and effectiveness. By weighing yourself down as you practice, your muscles think you have more weight to propel on your body. When you are done using the belt, your body will remember that extra weight and you will move quicker and jump higher as a result.


Methods to Jump Higher

Jumping has become as much what basketball is about as dribbling is. Everyone wants to increase their vertical leap so they can make airborne moves to the hoop. If you really want to increase your vertical jump, try these tips. Have you thought about the jump shoes? I know, you never see people playing in these, but that is because you are not supposed to. These shoes with the 'high-toe' as opposed to 'high heel' are made for training and doing specific drills. These drills are the fastest way to build your calves, quads, and hamstrings. These are the muscles that will make you jump higher, fast. If you want to jump high and are willing to use the training, the jump shoes are the way to go for the results you are looking for.


Build Your Jumping

In order to better your jumping, you need to increase your leg strength and stamina. A great way to do this is by doing a consecutive jumping drill. Begin by jumping as high as you can off both feet. Your hands should be above your head and rotating to help you jump high. As soon as you land, go right back up. Repeat this twenty-five times. Next, jump twenty-five times off your right foot, then twenty-five times off your left. Keep your hands up and go up as quickly as you can after landing. Next, jump twenty-five times bringing your knees to your chest. You can now bring your arms down in order to maintain balance, but continue jumping as quickly as possible. Then jump twenty-five times trying to kick your heals into your rear end. Finally, perform twenty-five Jerry Wests. A Jerry West is a jump in which you bend forward at the waist extending your arms at forty-five degree angles. Try to touch your fingertips to your toes.


Flexibility - The Key to Jumping Higher

Often overlooked as a factor in leaping ability is a player's flexibility. Jumping high is based on the elasticity of your muscles and tendons. Without extreme flexibility, you will never jump as high as you could with proper training. Be sure that before you practice you employ a series of stretching drills to help with your flexibility. Basic hamstring and quadricep stretches can be done in just a few minutes either standing or seated on the floor. There are also many basketball training accessories now available to provide you with a stringent warm-up routine for flexibility. Take advantage of these to increase your flexibility and increase your jump.


A Great Drill to Help You Jump Higher

If you want to jump higher, here is a great drill for you. All you need is a medicine ball or overweighted basketball. Hold the ball against your chest as if you were curling with freeweights. Try to touch your knuckles to your chin when holding the ball. Crouch down low like you were doing a leap frog. In a fixed position, begin bouncing at the knees to propel yourself upwards. Bounce with more force each time until you are coming off of the ground as high as you can. After many reps, bring the ball over your head and repeat the reps. Doing this exercise will not only increase your jump, but will provide you with a great warm-up for any game.


Jump Shoes - Increase Your Vertical Jump With Ease

By now, you have surely seen those shoes that look like high-heels tuned inside out. Jump Shoes have been in the marketplace for over a decade now and their effectiveness has been proven over and over again. Many people see these shoes and do not understand their benefit. It is simple, these shoes raise your heels off of the ground as you walk, forcing you to use your calves and quadriceps in all of your motion. These are the muscles that aid in you jumping higher, and if you wear the jump shoes for just 10 minutes of a workout, you won't have any more doubts about their effectiveness. When it comes to accessories that can help you jump higher, there are none more proven that these unique pieces of footwear.


Don´t over do it

Platform shoes keep you off your heels, allowing a wider range of movement for your calf. Each jump is therefore more effective and can help you reach new heights. Many training programs will tell you to jump every day, hundreds or even thousands of times. This causes wear and tear on your body, especially your knees and back. Jumping fewer times with more effectiveness is the way to go, which is why platform shoes have been used for decades with great success. Because of this, our training program recommends only one to three workouts a week, depending on the season of your sport!
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Saturday, June 21, 2008

Fade-Away Jump Shot Drill

If you watch an NBA game, you'll notice that a lot of players shoot fade-away jumpers. There's a reason for that: players in the NBA are so tall, such good athletes, and such good jumpers, that it can be very difficult to shoot the basketball. Jumping straight up and taking the jumper isn't an option, because the shot can easily be blocked.

So players look for ways to create enough space to shoot the basketball. One technique to create space is the fall-away. Try this drill and start practicing working on a fade-away jump shot. Start on the block with your back to the basket. Now, shoot a turnaround jumper to the baseline, falling slightly away from the basket. Concentrate on shooting the ball with perfect form, getting good arch on the ball, and keeping your body on-balance, even though you are drifting slightly back from the basket. Shoot 20 jumpers from each side of the basket.

Shooting these from the blocks is a good way to start learning the fade-away jumper, especially for inside players. After several workouts of shooting the fade-away from the block, move to other spots on the floor (such as the elbows, the wings, shorter shots in the lane).

Body control is very important in the game of basketball, and shooting the fade-away tests your ability to shoot the ball under control. Most coaches teach jumping straight up while shooting jump shots, and this is the right thing to teach. But as you move from one level to the next, and players get taller, and have better jumping ability, learning and using the fade-away will be a big part of your game. Now, if you have an open jump shot, then use classic jump shot form (jump straight up or slightly forward for the jumper). But if you are playing against a good defender, and he is playing you tight, a fade-away may be what you need to get room to take the jumper.

Click here to watch this one of the best fade-away jump shot in NBA.

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Wednesday, October 3, 2007

How to Pivot.


The pivot is a fundamental skill that can get a player relief from pressure defense, and can be a great skill to have to begin an offensive move. To pivot, turn on the ball of your foot. Once you choose your pivot foot, it must maintain contact with the ground until you dribble, shoot or pass. (You can go airborne to shoot or pass) If your pivot foot moves and you do not dribble, shoot or pass, it is a violation called traveling, and the ball is awarded to the other team. A reverse or back pivot is when you turn backwards and when you turn forwards it is called a forward or front pivot.
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Sunday, September 30, 2007

How to have a good vertical leap

Having a good vertical leap is important to playing the basketball games. It's not a necessity, but it can help you improve some of your basketball skills, such as rebounding, shot blocking, jump shot or fade away jump shot, to hang in the air, and dunking abillities.

So, don't assume that having good hops will make up for a lack of skill in other areas of the game. It won't. But having good leaping ability can add another dimension to your game.

Training your vertical leap
Being able to jump high is the result of a combination of things:
- Natural ability
- Leg strength
- Explosive power
- Overall athleticism

In otherwords, if it's not in your genes, you probably won't ever be able to jump like Michael Jordan. Then again, none of us can.

But no matter what your vertical leap is now, you can always make it better. Even if it's just a small improvement. And that will end up helping you and your game.

Here are some of the thing that will help you get stronger, and hopefully improve your vertical leap:

- Play lots of basketball
If you play a lot of ball, that will tranlate into being in better shape. There's no way your vertical leap will improve if you aren't in good shape. Also, there are lots of quick movements you make in a game that you can't recreate outside of actual game play. These help build your overall basketball abilities, as well as your athleticism (explosiveness, jumping ability, etc.).

- Workout with a jump rope
It's an old school exercise, but it works. Jumping rope is a great way to build stamina, and work on your leg strength. In addition, it builds jumping ability (explosiveness, calf strength, etc.). It's really a great exercise.

- Run stadium stairs
Another old school exericse...and a great one. Running stadium stairs can really help your vertical leap because it build stamina, leg strength, and when done right, explosiveness. To work on explosiveness, use "bounding" movements. In otherwords, don't just get from one step the the next, but really leap and bound up from one step to the next.

- Wall sits and squats
Strength training (like wall sits and squats) will help you build leg strength, which is a key component of athletic fitness, and therefore jumping ability. Remember to only use a weight that is comfortable for you, and to always have a trainer or training partner work out with you. You don't want to get hurt lifting too much weight, or lifting it improperly.

- Explosive leaps
This is a great type of exercises. Do these at a park, or on a football field so that you are cushioned by the soft grass surface.

One-legged jumps are done like this: leap as high as possible off of one foot, then come down and immediately leap as high as possible off the other leg. Repeat this for 10 to 15 jumps.

Two-legged leaps are done like this: squat down so you are in the triple threat position. Now explode up and off the ground as if you are reaching for a rebound. Come down, gather yourself for a second or two, then leap up again, as high as possible. Do this 8 to 10 times.

Remember, vertical leap is part leg strength and part explosiveness. In fact, the explosiveness part is the more important of the two. It's not about the size of your leg muscles, or how much weight you can put up in the gym. It's about your athletic ability, coordination, and your ability to explode up and off the ground.
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Tips for rebound, freethrow, and jump shot

Improve your rebounding, free throw shooting and jump shot skills with a fast-paced game of tip-in.

Step One
Establish a set order of player rotation that never alters during the game.

Step Two
Allow the first person to shoot a free throw to start the game. This is called "breaking the ice." The first successful free throw of the game counts as two points no matter who makes it. All subsequent free throws are worth one point.

Step Three
Let the second player rebound the ball and shoot it if the first player misses the free throw. The ball can't bounce more than once before being retrieved and shot. If the ball bounces more than once and the player doesn't get it, the player's turn is forfeited. The next player in the rotation steps out to the three-point line and shoots to restart the game. The three-point shot is only worth two points.

Step Four
Make sure you jump every time before you handle the ball. Unless you're shooting the free throw, you're never allowed to touch the ball while your feet are on the ground.

Step Five
Play continues in this manner, rotating in the set order until a player makes a basket. Any shot made during this part of the game counts as two points.

Step Six
Shoot free throws after making a basket. Each free throw is worth one point.

Step Seven
Continue to shoot free throws until you miss one. There's no set limit to how many in a row you can make.

Step Eight
Play continues after a missed free throw in the same manner as before.

Step Nine
End the game whenever a player gets exactly 30 points. If a player goes over 30 points, the player's score automatically drops to 19 points.


Tips & Warnings
- Rebounding and shooting the ball before it touches the ground (aka "tip-in") is the easiest way to score points.
- Quickly judge what area you think the ball will rebound to and get there before the ball does.
- While you can't touch the ball or your opponents when it's not your turn, you can be an obstacle. Touching the ball out of turn is always automatic goaltending, so be careful.
- This is a fun, fast-paced game that's useful for developing off-balance shots.

[source: ehow.com]
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Step by step shooting drills

Here is a step by step break down on how to shoot a basketball. Print these directions out and go the basketball court and practice. Repeat the process over and over again. You won't be able to shoot as good as a pro quite yet, but if you don't use this process you will never be able to make even 10%. Good form is the foundation for a great shot.

The most important aspect of shooting a basketball is your foot placement. The foot on your dominant side (whichever hand you use to shoot the ball is your dominant side) should be slightly in front of other foot. You want your toes to be “squared up” between the basket. If your feet are pointing anywhere else but the basket you will have a very difficult time making the basket.

Make sure you have a good center of gravity between your feet before you take the shot.

Bend your knee, elbows, and wrists prior to beginning your shot.

Hold the ball in your dominant hand and place your other hand on the side for stability. The ball should rest on your finger pad and fingers, not on the palm of your hand.

For best accuracy your eyes should be focused at the back of the rim

When you raise your arms bring the ball in front of your head slightly above eye level. Make sure your elbow is directly under the ball.

As you raise your hands to this position, but before you release the ball, your off hand should be removed from the basketball. Control the shot with your dominant hand only; leaving your off hand on the ball at the peak of the release point will disrupt your shot.
At the same time as you are raising the ball to a shooting position you should be extending your legs and jumping. The timing is such that just after you leave the ground you release that basketball.

The follow through is very important. Your shooting arm should extend fully while your wrist flicks the basketball at the back of the rim. When you use this wrist flick it gives the ball backspin. Continue the motion fully even after the ball leaves your hand.

Watch the ball go into the net as you make the perfect swish to win the game!
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Tuesday, September 18, 2007

One-On-One Basketball Drills

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The Step Across

When your defender is playing in front of you on the ball side in the low post, you will never be able to receive a good pass unless you can get back in front of your man.

The best way to do this is to do the following:

1. Make a strong step in the direction away from the ball.

2. Come back quickly and step in front of your defender with the foot nearest the ball.

3. You can keep the man sealed off by keeping low and leaning against his leg and hip. This will keep him from getting around you again. Put your arm up and call for the ball.
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The Shot Fake And Jump Shot

To execute this move, do the following:

1. Start with a one-count stop. Bring the ball up toward your head to give the defensive man the impression that you are going to take a jump shot. He will lunge toward you at this moment.

2. Crouch down with your legs to gather your strength.

3. Go up with your jump shot just as your defensive man moves into you. Go up strong! Bump him a little with your shoulder, or forearm to prevent him from blocking your shot. Often your man will foul you and you get a three-point play out of the move.
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The Rocker Step

The rocker step is a quick head-and-shoulder fake you can use to set up a drive. It begins just like the jab step. Do the rocker step as follows:

1. Keep the ball in your hands at waist level or near your hips and establish proper basketball position.

2. Take a short, hard step (10 inches or less) toward the defensive man. At the same time, fake the dribble by bringing the ball down outside your knee.

3. Once you see he hasn't been fooled, pull back to your original position.

4. When your defensive man moves toward you again, drive past him, using the same jab foot (think of this as a three-count move : jab step; rock back to your original position; powerful step and strong dribble past the hip of your defensive man.


The Rocker Step, Shot Fake, And Drive

This move is an elaboration upon both the previous moves. Perform it as follows:

1. Keep the ball in your hands at waist level or near your hips and establish proper basketball position.

2. Take a short, hard step (10 inches or less) toward the defensive man. At the same time, fake the dribble by bringing the ball down outside your knee.

3. Once you see he hasn't been fooled, pull back to your original position.

4. Fake a jump shot with your arms and ball by bringing the ball up to the level of your head as you would in the first phase of the jump shot.

5. Once your defender is taken in by your fake and moves toward you to block your jump shot, make an explosive drive and go right around him.

As with all these individual moves, it's important to maintain a crouched position when you make your fakes and when you go around your defender. If you straighten up, you will lose the power and quickness which makes these moves so effective.
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The Reverse


If you are positioned down low on the ball side, but your man is keeping you from getting a pass, a good way to free yourself is with a reverse move. To make the reverse work for you, do the following:

1. Take a hard step toward the passer.

2. Then make a drop step with the foot nearest the baseline.

3. Hook the defender's foot with your foot and lean into his hip with your hip and forearm. This will hold him in his spot and keep him from going around you. With your free hand call for the ball and be ready to go right to the hoop with it.
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The Rear Turn

When you're being closely guarded from behind in the low post, you often need to make a quick rear turn to spring yourself free to receive a pass. This move is made by hooking your outside foot around the outside foot of your defensive man and then quickly pivoting on your lead foot. Bend over slightly as you make the turn, being sure to make contact with your man with your rear and back.
Once you have good positioning, ask for the ball with either one or two hands. Hold this position for a two-count so the player with the ball can see you.

To prevent your defensive man from interfering with the incoming pass, it's important that you seal him off by putting the forearm of your non-target arm, bent at a 45-degree angle, on his chest, without using the hand to push or hold him. If you don't get the ball, by the end of the count, move somewhere and set a screen.

Another effective way of keeping the defender from reaching over and stealing a pass is to hook your non-target forearm in the crook of the defenders extended arm and push it down. Continue to signal for the ball with the other arm.
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The Lob Pass


Timing between you and the passer is critical if this play is going to work. The pass has to be accurate and out of reach of the defender; and, you have to hold him off before breaking to receive the pass and take it to the hoop.

The lob pass is best used when your man is fronting you low on the ball side. When this happens, do the following:

1. Turn and face the basket and lean your hip and butt into the back of the defender.

2. Place your forearm on his back and with your other hand make a target for the incoming pass.

3. Once the pass is over the hands of your defender, release from the defender, take the pass, and go to the hoop with it.
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The Flash Cut


The flash cut is always made from the "weak-side", away from the ball. You can move toward the passer from either the low, or high post areas. To make a flash cut you should, first, take a step or two away from where you want to go. Then, change direction, pick up your pace, and cut toward the passer to receive the ball. Your defender will be behind you at this point and you can either go up for a shot, or pass off.
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Step-Through Move


To execute this move do the following:

1. Come to a one-count stop.

2. Fake a jump shot.

3. If you want to go to the left, take a quick step to the side of the defender with your right foot. Protect the ball as you go toward the hoop.
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Reading The Defense

In the early part of every basketball game it becomes obvious how they intend to play the post man. Every post player should become aware of this fact.
As the ball is brought up court, the post man should line up on the high side of the box (rectangle along the foul lane). The post man should face into the lane. This simple maneuver, (facing the lane), causes many problems for the defender. Generally, a defensive man is not accustomed to see the man he is guarding squarely facing him and staring him in the eye. In such a position, the defensive man feels mighty foolish playing in front of the offensive man.

As the ball is brought into the wing area (free throw line, extended), the post man's first step should be toward the baseline to drive the man down. Then, he pivots into the defender to seal him off. The pivot must be executed properly ... knees flexed, hips lowered, feet spread wider than shoulder's width, arms up with elbows out, taking up a lot of space on the court.

Now is the time to note how your defender is playing you. Generally, each team will establish a certain pattern on guarding the post man. Usually, after two or three times down the court, the coach can see the trend. This is one of the first thing every good coach looks for from the bench. An intelligent post player determines this, too. He should call this to the coach's attention at an early time out. If a post man can come over to the bench and say, confidently and correctly, "They are fronting me when I'm low and siding me to the baseline side, when I'm high." Or, "They are playing directly behind me at all times." Then, you are well on your way toward being a good pivot man.

When the ball is thrown to the forward at a wing position, below the free throw line, and the defensive post man is playing on the low side (baseline side), the next possession the post man should line up on the low side of the box. He should be thinking "short hook to the middle" if he gets the ball. If the defensive man is playing on the high side of the post, not the baseline side, The offensive post man should move up the lane to straddle the second lane mark, but he should stay on the lane. The post man should be thinking power lay-up if he gets the ball. If the defensive man is directly behind, get to the high side of the box. Think short hook to the outside or short jumper to the middle. You might even get a power lay-up by faking to the middle, then executing a quick drop step with the baseline foot, then, power it up.

If the defensive man is fronting you completely, slide up the lane to the third lane marker and move a half step off the lane. More will be said about the pass and type of shot to be used in different situations; but, to put things briefly, if the defensive man is playing on the high side, the post man should expect a bounce or overhead pass and be thinking power lay-up.

If the defender is on the low side you should expect a bounce, overhead, or halo pass, and be thinking hook to the middle.

If the defender is behind, look for a bounce, overhead, or halo pass, and be thinking quick pivot jumper or a one ball busting dribble-drive move.

If the defender is fronting, you should expect a lob pass from the forward at the strong-side wing; and, the guard at the point as you swing into the lane, or from a weak-side forward, who has flashed to the high post. The shot in all three cases will be either a baby jumper or a power lay-up.
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Make Yourself Bigger


To play down low you have to make yourself bigger. You do this by setting yourself up with an exaggerated basketball stance.
Spread your feet wider than shoulder's width. Make sure your elbows are flared and your hands are up. What this big stance does for you is help keep your defensive man from stepping around you or reaching over your back to either steal or knock the ball away.

When fighting for position down low, the most important thing to do is to present yourself as a good target for your teammates. With so many players cutting in and out of the low-post area, this is often difficult.

Your own defender will be doing his best to get in front of you and cut off any passes, and any other defender coming through the low-post area will throw out his hand if it looks like he can steal an incoming pass.

Keep your man behind you at all times by continually maneuvering in front of him, blocking him with your upper arm, while at the same time presenting a target for a pass with your other arm held high. It's extremely important to have contact with the body of your defender so you can always know where he is and what type of move you can try to make.

To work successfully in the low post or in the lane, it will take a coordinated effort between the passer and you to finally get you the ball.
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Inside Moves With and Without the Ball


It's a necessity in winning basketball that a team have players with good, solid inside moves. These are the player (and not just the center), who can post their man, receive a pass in the paint, or down low "in traffic" and then turn it into a high- percentage shot and a possible three-point play.

The more players a team has like this, the better off it will be. A team that can rely on good inside movement for many of its points has these positive factors working in its favor:

1. It can count on getting most of its points from shots taken only a few feet away from the hoop instead of having to depend on long-range jump shots.

2. Three-point plays, (a field goal and a foul shot), occur more frequently "in the paint."

3. Strong continuous offensive play underneath the basket and the resulting personal fouls committed by the defense will quickly change the complexion of any game.

4. A player with good inside moves will cause the defense to double up and help out to keep him from scoring. This defensive maneuvering often results in freeing offensive forwards and guards for their outside shots.
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Dead-Ball Moves



Many times you will encounter situations in a game when you have already picked up your dribble and your defensive man is standing right in front of you preventing you from getting off a shot or passing the ball. It is just for cases like this that you need to have some dead-ball moves. Naturally, you can use these moves away from the basket, but they are more effective when you make them not far from the hoop, either in or close by the lane.
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The Crossover Step

Often the defensive player will overplay you to your strong side. In this case, the crossover step and the ability to dribble equally well with either hand will help you out of this defensive overplay.
To make this crossover step to the left, take the following steps:

1. Make a short hard jab step in the direction of the defensive player with your right foot.

2. Keep low and with the same leg, take a long step, crossing it over the outside of the defender's right foot.

3. Swing the ball very quickly from your right side to your left side as you make the leg move, cutting closely off the defender's shoulder.

4. Push the ball out behind the defender with your left hand, making sure it goes past his hip.

Reverse the above steps if you are being overplayed to the other side. In that case, you would be doing a crossover step to the right.
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