Basketball tips for beginners, Handling Tips & Tricks.

As the sport involves a lot of running and jumping, good support and cushioning is vital. Here are some basketball tips for beginners.

Basketball tips for beginners, Handling Tips & Tricks.

There’s a lot of reasons why people may become interested in basketball. Some may want to join a team, play with friends, or even join the pros.

No matter what the objective is, all these people start out as beginners.

Even the pros had to start somewhere! Starting as a beginner you get to learn all the ins and outs of basketball and improve more and more each day. With persistence and practice your game will improve. 

Setting goals for yourself will give you something to work towards and will encourage you to work hard to get there. 

Basketball tips for beginners 

Here are some Basketball tips for beginners  : 

• Warm up

It is advisable to warm up before starting a game of basketball. Warming up reduces the chance of injuries and is an efficient way to increase your ability to perform.

Basketball is a fast paced sport so a sufficient warm up to prepare for the game ahead is vital. A good warm up should raise your heart rate and incorporate some drills before you start.

• Get in shape

Basketball is a physically challenging sport so it’s best to be in as good a condition as possible. The better shape you’re in, the greater your stamina, and the quicker your response time.

This will also help avoid injury. Running will help raise your cardiovascular fitness for basketball and sports such as yoga will increase your flexibility and agility.

• Practice 

There is no substitute for practice. Only by hard dedication working on key skills such as passing, dribbling and shooting can the player really hope to improve.

Particularly as a beginner to the sport, mastering the fundamentals of basketball is crucial to your development and enjoyment of the game.

• Dribble with your weak hand

Be sure to practice dribbling with your weak hand until you can handle the ball as effectively with either hand.

Always dribble with your head up, not down, so that you can see what is happening around you, and only dribble as fast as you can go while still keeping control of the ball.

• Jumping 

Jumping is an important action that is often overlooked in basketball, however it shouldn’t be. For basketball players the ability to jump high is vital for collecting rebounds, blocking shots and shooting.

This action should be developed through vertical jump training, which will not only improve the height you can reach but also your overall basketball performance.

• Don’t dribble too hard

One key error people make is thinking they have to bounce the ball as hard as they can when dribbling.

Dribbling should be done with knees bent, a straight back, and head up. Dribble just a little above your knee height, and remember, it is better to gently bounce the ball and stay in control, rather than bouncing it too hard on the floor.

Handling Tips and tricks 

Here are some handling Tips and tricks for basketball: 

• Keep the dribble low to the floor

Players that remain low, tend to have better explosion when they go to attack the basket. It is also very difficult for a defender to steal the ball from an offensive player who is keeping the ball low.

Use your fingertips to push down and do your best to never let the basketball go above your waist, as it will give your defender a better chance of getting a steal.

•  Keep your head up

It is essential to keep your head up as a ballhandler in order to have a good view of the court.

No player is going to be successful with his/her head down, as they will not be able to see what is going on in the game in order to make the best play for their team.

A simple drill to do at home is sit in front of the TV and try and watch your favorite highlights while dribbling, or go outside and focus on a spot on the wall while dribbling and not looking at the ball! 

• Work your weak hand

It is critical that players are able to use both hands to handle the ball. Never allow yourself to be the player who can only use their dominant hand to go one way.

The best players can use either hand to make a play. When practicing your favorite moves, make sure to perform the same move going each direction on the court to enhance your skillset.

Try doing other activities like eating or spend one full day using nothing but your non-dominant hand when dribbling or doing lay-ups!

• Protect the ball

It is ok to use your off-hand and your body to protect the ball. Think of your offhand as a shield to fend off defenders.

You do not want to push off with your offhand as that will result in an offensive foul, but it is absolutely ok to use your offhand to resist the defensive player from stealing the ball.

When working on your dribbling, you should get in the habit of using your non-dribbling hand to protect the ball and don’t forget to use your weak hand!

• Change of pace/direction

It is important to use speed and misdirection to your advantage as a ballhandler while attacking the rim.

This will throw your defender off and give you extra space to make a play for your team. Jab steps, crossovers, and hesitations will all be efficient moves to help a ballhandler create some extra space for their team.

When dribbling outdoors by yourself, work on dribbling fast and then slowing down quick, and changing the looks and speed of your different moves.