DRIBBLING
The better you can dribble, the more opportunities you and your teammates will have at the offensive end of the court. The goal is to be able to dribble with either hand without looking down at the ball. That means keeping your head up to see what the defensive players are doing and the location of your teammates. Remember to use your fingers and fingertips, not the palm of your hands, to control the ball and try not to let the ball bounce above your waist.
PASSING
Great offenses pass well and often. A team of good passers can pick apart the biggest and best defenses because a pass almost always moves faster than a defender. While there are a number of different passes, they all require the same basic fundamentals. Like dribbling and shooting, players should use their fingers and fingertips, not the palms of their hands, to execute a pass. There are two passes every player must master to become a good passer: The two-handed chest pass and the two-handed bounce pass.
Attention: FORWARD
SHOOTING
STEP-BY-STEP: THE BASIC SHOOTER’S SET-UP Get your body square to the basket with equal weight on each foot and bend your knees slightly. If you are a right-handed shooter, then your right foot should be slightly–not more than five inches–in front of your left foot, facing the basket.
- Bring the ball into the “lock and load” position.
- Lock in on your target with your eyes.
- With your “guidance system” in order, push the ball straight up toward the basket until your arm extends completely and your elbow locks.
- As you release the ball it should roll off your fingertips, producing backspin.
Defense might not be the most glamorous part of basketball, but it is every bit as important as offense. One of the myths of great defense, however, is that players must be fast and quick to be effective defenders. In fact, the best defense is played with anticipation and awareness of what’s going on around you, good body balance and basic fundamentals. Great defense also demands great effort.
ON OFFENSE
- Good hands
- Being able to run the floor
- Rebound
- Good footwork
- Consistency in the paint
- keep ball high on both offense and defense
- Once you are in position, defense is generally played with your hands and feet
- Focus on the waist of the offensive player in front of you, particularly if that player has the ball
- Move with the offensive player by sliding side to side without crossing your legs
- Always stay between your player and the basket
REBOUNDING
On offense, grabbing a rebound after a missed shot gives your team a second chance to score. On the other hand, when pulling down a defensive rebound, a player is limiting the opponent to just one chance at a basket. Those “second chances” can be the difference between winning and losing a game. Good rebounders are not necessarily the tallest players or best jumpers on the court. Sure, bigger players and those with great jumping ability have an advantage, but just like playing defense, position and fundamentals can make any player an effective rebounder. In fact, if you use proper technique, you can keep any player away from the basket and out of rebounding position.
