Playing basketball just come easy to some people. People who are naturally tall have the biggest advantage but a majority of us just aren’t bless with that superior height advantage. So what is a player to do? The key is to find your own natural advantage and make the most of that. Work on your speed and reflexes. Know that your smaller size may cause taller players to underestimate you which you can use to your advantage. Use the following tips to help you make the most of your skills and enthusiasm.
When dribbling, make sure to keep your head straight up. If you find that you keep looking down at the ball, you haven’t practiced dribbling enough. You need to gain the advantage of being able to see the court while dribbling. Then you can surprise your opponent with smart passes and quick drives to areas where they are not.
Improve your offensive game by mastering the shot fake. With this move, players think you are going to shoot the ball, so they will jump up. Don’t really shoot the ball yet; instead, use this opportunity to maneuver around them and take your shot. They will be caught off guard and won’t have a chance to defend you.
Don’t just practice your game against the zone defense. While a great portion of a game will be concentrated in the zone, your rivals could opt to go to man-to-man covering to keep you guessing. This can cause your team to lose momentum to the other side if this isn’t something you’ve practiced.
If you play serious team basketball, jump rope for thirty minutes before practice sessions. You’ll get used to playing basketball already winded and tired. Doing this can make you very prepared to make shots in late game situations, as your conditioning is already a notch above anyone else just showing up to practice.
Picking the right basketball shoe can be very important to your game. If you need support for your ankles, choose a high top sneaker. Make sure that the sole of the shoe has enough traction to prevent slipping. Always buy a shoe that is the correct size by having your feet measured at a sporting goods store.
Learn how to turn on your pivot foot when stopped with the ball. Being able to pivot is an important skill to learn. If you’ve pulled up your dribble, you can no longer take any steps forward. That means your back foot can’t move. But you can pivot on it to face different directions and fake out an opponent. It can help you out of a jam.
Speed is a key attribute in the game of basketball. Developing speed and vision is vital to playing the game well. To increase your quickness, you must practice playing fast while running drills. Just don’t play any faster than you’re able to. You will end up in a turnover if you play too fast.
The only way to become a better basketball player is through practice and hard work. Anyone can better their skills, but in order to truly succeed and be better than other players is by improving your skills. It doesn’t take much, all you need is a hoop, a ball and desire to become better.
As you can see, you don’t have to be seven feet tall to excel in basketball and enjoy it and help your team win. There are many popular players who aren’t giants, just as there are many tall people who don’t play basketball. The heart of the game is in the play, not in the height. So take these tips and apply them to your game and you may find that you have many natural advantages of your own to bring to the court.