Are there any techniques or strategies that a shorter player could use to equal out the disparity in height?
119272
It's definitely tougher to do well, especially with all of the 6-footers around these days.\nLook at the success of Amanda Coetzer (South Africa) and before her, the Spanish player Arantxa Sanchez Vicario. Coetzer won with really solid baseline strokes and superb fitness. Vicario won with a steady baseline game.\nI knew an excellent college player who was under 5 feet. She had superb technique on ground strokes and volleys, and played percentage tennis.\nFind out what your strengths are. If you have great endurance and speed, develop a patient, defensive game that will wear down your taller opponents.\nIf you don't have speed, develop topspin and slice to enable you to move your opponents to the side, up, and back. Wear them down, keep them off balance. Or hit the ball hard enough that you can hit winners from the baseline.\nYou MUST develop a spin serve that is dependable and that prevents your opponents from attacking. You cannot expect to hit aces like your taller opponents, so go for placement, spin, and variety.
572528
Toe raises will help you get there, No fancy equipment needed, just get your toes on a 2x4 up and down. i think squat thrusts would hellp too.\n\nDamn 6'6 and you couldnt dunk?
379252
try a match up 2-3 zone where instead of guarding an area like a regular zone you guard any PLAYER WITHIN the area. doubtful they will put more than one player on the right wing, for example, or 2 players on the left lo post. this will protect your big guys a bit form extra running, since you are lacking in big guys, and utilize your man to man d which you said seemed to work. also, guys will not get "lazy" guarding spots on the floor. if no one is in your area you help on nearest man, giving him freedom to cover another player if needed.\ndont think full court d is good, gives guys reasons to not get back. have guards pick up 3/4 or better at half while others get back to paint. if you have good wing and guards you could go "small ball" and then pick up 3/4 or half after MADE or MISSED, bringing back your big guys after quick blow. good luck!
583179
Size is not that important.  A player with strength and good feet is way better than a fatty.  Lift weights and do plyometrics.  Technique Technique Technique!  More than anything.  Having size and using that size to you advantage are 2 different things.  Learn the propper technique and you can match up against someone twice your size.\n\nFor long snapping the ball, its really easy.  Play catch with someone.  But instead of throwing the ball, throw it like you would snap it.  Meaning place the ball in between your feet.  Bend over, get in your stance, and grab the ball with both hands just like you are gonna snap it between your legs.  Now stand straight up.  Extend the ball over your head (like you would if you were bent over to snap) and release with both hands.  That's it.  You could just snap it to someone too, but this makes it a little easier.
406021
player A.  the higher vertical makes me assume he's more athletically-gifted since it takes both upper & lower body strength to jump higher.  player B may be foul-prone since he'll swipe at balls knowing he has the longer reach vs. player A, and he'll be more tired at the end of games from having the longer, heavier arms.  the more proportional the body of a player, the better his balance...which may translate to better shooting & dribbling.  :)
479087
not even that....look at some of the foreign athletes that have been in the NBA.....like the 7' plus tall ones..... just need some coordination and height.
546604
I am a collegiate high jumper!  I am white.\n\nA white guy won the last olympics in high jump!\n\nI have a 39.5" inch vertical, done the way they do it in the nfl combine, my uncle held the White Sox vertical record (after Jordan played for the Birmingham Barrons - Jordan's was 38.5 or39) my uncle had a 42 inch vert.  \n\nAlso, everyone stating that all of these people have 40+ inch verticles please check your numbers.  Only a  slight few of the nfl players have a 40+ inch verical (taken the correct way) and I think other than mens volleyball no mainstream sport has a high percentage of people over 40 inch verticals.\n\nIn college a main majority of all-american high jumpers are white.  Last year there were 6 out of the 9 all americans were white.  The truth is - blacks don't necesarilly jump higher or farther than whites but it is true that blacks are statistically faster than whites so that coupled with more control at takeoff in a sport like basketball or football would incinuate that more blacks jump higher than whites.  \n\nIt really is not a race thing, you know it is more of a genetic thing.  Therefore, blacks or African Americans are genetically predisposed to being more athletically gifted, though.  However, I will go out on a limb and say that the highest concentration a person will find of high verticals is in Men's volleyball and most of those guys are white.  I have heard that to get on the men's U.S. national team a person must have at least a 48" vert.  Now, I know my vert is high at 39.5"  but there is no physicall way I can add 9.5 inches to my vert and that is just being realistic so also don't by into these jumpsoles and stuff, just do powercleans or powersquats - preferably powercleans help more.\n\nSo to get a legit 4-6 inches on your vertical work on power cleans and plyometrics for a few YEARS!  Otherwise I hope genetically you were born with good jumping ability.  I dunked in the 8th grade and my brother (is a sophmore in high school) can do some rediculous dunks - a windmill and a 360. But, I can do a 360 windmill and he is almost 6'6" and I am 6'4" - that was just the training part that helped me. But really, it  has 90% to do with genetics.
527492
I know what you mean, Ive been playing for 7 years,and I'm also 14, I'm usually mid or forward and am short also so i have the same problem.... I will give you the advice my coach gave me... dribble the ball a couple of times then when you go to kick watch to see where you're other foot is. Lets say you are right mid, so you would kick the ball with your right foot, so your left foot should be very close to the ball not right beside it but if you put the top of your left foor near the center of the ball then move it over about 2 inches (depends on your shoe size) then you will see your aim and your kick will be harder. It will take some getting used to but if you practice every day you can have it down in probably a week then it would seem like you always kicked that way.\nAlso, after you do that you can learn how to kick with your laces, if you already don't know how, I learned that and I can know kick it twice as hard with my laces, or kick it up withmy laces then head it far... either way. Take baby steps with it though.
589776
You are the same height that I am, it's not a problem.  Your fighting style will be different than a tall person, that's all.  My screen name is the nickname that my fellow karate-ka gave me.  MightyMite  Rank-Nikyu  Have fun!
65415
we build muscles by stressing them out. lift some weights or play more. i have no idea about the height thing though. i'm guessing that's generic. but you can do exercises for your back & shoulder muscles to give you better posture- that would make you appear taller. in any case, holding your head high always helps.
43452
I'm about your height and played volleyball in HS.  If I remember right (yes, it's been a few years ago...), my problems with spiking weren't with height or jumping, it was with getting the timing down.  Sometimes it helped if my Dad or sisters just fed the ball to me so I could time the jump right.  Work on that over and over and see if you improve.  It made a lot of difference in my game.
524107
I say with your height play Tight end You dont have to be that fast but you are big enough to stay in and block with the line. And playing lineman is not bad. If you put some more weight on you u could probably play Defensive tackle.
118967
Get in line according to your size\n\nGet in line from smallest to biggest\n\nOR\n\nGet in line according to your hight\n\nGet in line from tallest to shortest
191213
well first off. to be a center in the NBA you have to be at least 6'10 and above. do you know anyone above 6'10??\n\nit's hard to find ppl that are 6'10 and above. Gather all the 6'10 and above players..then filter the ones out that DONT pla y basketball. You have very few...then filter the ones that REALLY suck. Then you have VERY VERY few left. That's why. It's rare to find someone 6'10 and above..then even more rare to find someone that plays well at 6'10 and above.\n\nThere are more players that are 6foot even than 6'10 players. with that said, more skilled players can be found  in the 6'0 area than the 6'10 area. Plus, you're comparing these centers against the best in the world. They are playing in the world's most elite league. Put those centers such as Luc Longely type players in a league in Italy or in an Arab league..then they'd probably be a top contender. You also have to remember.. even if they're not REALLY REALLY GOOD..you have to remember they got into the NBA for a reason. Those who dont get into the NBA play overseased..n there's many of them.
469638
Not that you have control over your height, but it's a nice to have not a need to have.  As long as your QB can see you're open.  Santana Moss, Terry Glenn and Steve Smith aren't tall but they are explosive.  Hall of Famer Steve Largent was 5'11".  He was considered too small and too slow, but he knew how to get open and had great hands.\n\nTrain for speed and agility, learn to be a good route-runner, and never drop the ball.  (Don't fumble either, aka, Plaxico Burress 6'5" waste of height.)
115311
I can sympathize. I am 5'6" and had a great serve. I've played in various leagues and over 11 years (about 60 leagues) won about ten championships with a teammate who was only 5'2". Don't be discouraged, there are plenty of places to play. One of my regrets was that I rediscovered the game at 33 yrs old. What you may have to do is play pick up games at a gym first, find where the leagues are and put a team together with the people you like at the gym. If you are ever a captain of a team, only pick people you like playing with.
318704
a good thing to do is to try to get the defender off of their feet if they are as tall as you.. so pump fakes work really good... another thing to do is a drop set since you are so tall it will be easier to do this all you have to do is step back and turn toward the basket while clearing you defender out without fouling.. another good move is a little hook shot just turn toward the inside and lay it in