what kinds of drills can i do to get better at basketball?
959792
here r somethings u can do 2 become better.. \n\nFigure 8's - with dribble \nSpread legs dribble the ball in a figure eight motion around and between the legs. Do this with a lot of dribbles and then with as few as possible. Stay low! \n\n\nDrum dribble \nEither standing or on one knee have players dribble ball changing hands with each touch. Start with a steady dribble then work down to super fast low dribbles. then have them dribble with one finger on each hand and with their balled up fist. \n\nKeep your head up\nWhen you dribble the ball, your intent is to go somewhere. Maybe you are dribbling up the court on a fast break, maybe you are dribbling to the wing as part of the offense, or maybe you are driving past the defender and to the basket. Whatever your goal and wherever you are going, you need to see the floor. Never dribble the ball with your head down, looking at the ball. By keeping your head up and seeing the floor, you can see where the defense is and what your next move might have to be. You can also see where your teammates are, who might be open, and what a good passing opportunity might be.\n\nThis is a great drill for getting used to dribbling with your head up so you can see the floor: simply start at one baseline and dribble full speed the full length of the court, keeping your head up at all times. DO NOT look down at the ball. Switch hands at half court. You can also try this drill with your eyes closed. But only dribble at half speed, and make sure to open your eyes after a few dribbles to make sure you aren't going to run into anything.\n\n\nBe able to dribble with either hand\nIf you can only dribble effectively with your strong hand, you are very limited as an offensive threat. If I'm a defender, and I know you can only dribble to your right side, it will be very easy to guard you. But if you can drive to either your right or left, and have a good outside shot, then you're a real threat. Then I have to guard against a shot, and a drive to either side. Now you've got me guessing about what you might do next. Work on dribbling with both hands so that you don't have a weak dribbling hand. Work at it enough that you can dribble and drive to the baset equally well with either hand.\n\nThere are two ways to build your off-hand dribbling skills: one is simply to practice with your off hand. Make a point to do ONLY off hand dribbling drills for 15 or 20 mins a day for the next week. You'll be amazed at how much better your off hand will be in just that short amount of time.\n\nAnother amazing set of drills for developing your off hand are two-ball drills. Get two basketballs and start off at the baseline. Dribble both balls in a zig-zag pattern for the full length of the court, bouncing the balls at the same time. Once you reach the other end of the floor, do the same drill, but this time bounce the balls at different times (one ball hits the ground as the other ball comes up to your other hand, etc.). Remember, don't look down at the balls as you dribble. Do these drills for a few weeks and your off hand dribbling ability will be much improved.\n\n\nBALL SLAP DRILL \nThe ball slap drill is performed by taking the ball and with your left hand slap the ball hard, and then taking your right hand and slap the ball hard. This ball slap drill is a good way to warm your hands up and this will help you get a good feel for the ball. Continue performing the slap the ball dribbling drill until your hands are good, awake, and ready to begin. \n\n\nAROUND THE WORLD DRILL \nBasketball Dribbling Drill #2: The around the world basketball drill stats by circling the ball around your head, than your waist, and finally put your legs together and take the ball around both legs at the knees. Then, bend at the waist, spread your legs, and circle the ball around one leg, then the other. The around the world basketball drill will give you a great feel for the ball in addition to hand coordination and
33381
I asked my weight training coach back-in-the-day, and he suggested the following exercise regimen.  Go somewhere with those outdoor tables with the attached bench (like in the lunch areas at schools).  Then jump up on the bench, then up to the table, then down on the bench on the far side, then down to the ground.  Turn around, and repeat.  Do this as much as you can, and then work to increase how much you can do it.\n\n(I can't comment on its efficacy, because I'm a lazy punk and I don't play basketball--I just resented seeing people 5" shorter and with an addition 5" less in terms of reach being able to dunk when I could barely touch halfway up the net).
503470
get a basketball, go to a basketball, then practice dribbling from one end to the other, then practice shooting.  You should not shoot with both hands.  If you are a right handed, you would use ur right hand for power and your left hand to guide the ball. and vice verca if you are left handed.  Then to better catch the ball, u need a 2nd person to help u with that.
455264
the only way to get a better jump shot is to shoot them constantly for hours.  Remember to snap your wrist, point your arm high into the air for a better arc, and just practice!
654429
First of all, it's great that you're out there playing every day after school... you'll never get better by sitting at home playing NBA 2K6 or whatever the latest version is.\n\nThis might not be easy (but few things that are worthwhile ARE), but ask the coach to show you some drills you can practice to improve the weaker aspects of your game... \n\nBelieve me, it is in the coach's best interest to help you improve, since you'll eventually be playing for him (we hope!).\n\nIf you're an exceptional rebounder, that's great! There are way too many players out there who don't play a good all around game because shooting is THEIR only skill. And they're a dime-a-dozen. \n\nCoaches consider good rebounders to be worth their weight in GOLD!  Forget Dennis Rodman, ever hear of a guy named Bill Russell?\n\nIf shooting is the weakest part of your game, then practice your shooting...\n\nBut don't worry about practicing 20 foot shots... if you're going to be a center, you need to be a proficient offensive player around the basket. Ask the coach to show you the proper way to shoot turn around jump shots in the low post position. \n\nAlso, work on being able to shoot with EITHER hand. If you can shoot with either hand while you're in close to the basket, it'll be a HUGE advantage for you in game situations. This way, you'll be able to shoot no matter where you are in relation to the basket (sometimes, you'll find that the only way to get a shot off is by shooting with your "off" hand, especially under the basket, in traffic). This will also enable you to get a lot of shots off without having them blocked.\n\nBut as I said, don't worry about outside shots, you can practice those once you get proficient around the basket (and they'll come easier once you develop a bit of a touch).\nBut DO practice free throw shooting. If you become a good offensive player around the basket, you'll find yourself at the free throw line more than you think. Especially if you're a good offensive rebounder!\n\nAsk the JV coach to work out with you one time after school...he'll be able to tell what your strong and weak points are, and then give you some exercises to improve your weak points. \n\nThe earlier post was also correct about upper-body strength. You will NEED this big time as a center.... the coach can put you on a weight workout routine (probably every OTHER day, not every day), but make sure you stick to what he tells you, and don't cheat, because you'll (all together now, kids) ONLY BE HURTING YOURSELF .... very good, kids.\n\nAlso, DO run a lot... but rather than running a mile every day (not that there's anything wrong with that), work on sprints.  \n\nBasketball is not a marathon, it's a game of starting and stopping. And it's the starting and stopping that tends to wear you out, especially if you're a big guy. \n\nIn practice, basketball teams run what they call 'suicide' drills... in this drill, which is a running drill, the players line up along one of the end lines... they then do the following:\n\n1) run and touch the nearest foul line (or a spot on the floor even with the foul line, this way the players can be spread out more)\n\n2) Run back and touch the starting line (end line)\n\n3) Run and touch the mid-court line\n\n4) Run back and touch the starting line\n\n5) Run and touch the foul line at the other half of the court\n\n6) Run back to and touch the starting line\n\n7) Run to the far baseline on the other end of the court\n\n8) Run back and cross the starting line.\n\nIf you don't have an actual court available, you can do this in your yard, or in the street (make sure there's not too much traffic of course!).\n\nThe distances to these points are: 15 feet to the nearest foul line, 47 feet to the mid-court line, 79 feet to the foul line furthest from the starting line, and 94 feet to the other end line.  And if
264682
Practice different things each day. One day work on conditioning running and things. Then work on dribbling with your left and right if you are strong with both hands and can drive and penetrate with strong and weak hand you can make a great point guard. Then two of the 7 days do shooting work on right and left hand layups close midrange and outside jumpers and freethrows. Then another day work on your defense and rebounding. Do Defensive Slides and do this rebounding drill shoot the ball and make sure the ball never hits the ground but dont shoot from really close. If it goes in you dont have to get it. But if it hits ground do a lap around your house. Then just play with your friends play at your school or after school. Join a travel or AAU team. Join a summer camp. Find your local park and just play with other people and use the stuff you practiced in those games. \n\nIts not just ok to practice. My teacher told me you can practice a million times and still do fail. You have to practice right to suceed. \n\n And your state's NBA team always has a Basketball Camp. I went to Sixers Camp because I live near philly.
388424
The best place to learn how to play basketball is a rec center or JCC.  If you watch a couple times and practice a lot you could get good.  It also depends if you are coordinated.  Basketball is a fun and great sport, good luck.  P.S.  Work hard and you'll get really good
812305
start by practicing your approach to the basket without a ball. timing and movement are more important than anything else at this point. you need to time your foot work with your layup. after about a couple days or so use the ball. this will help you judge more accurately the timing you need to let go of the ball on the height of your jump toward the basket. of course doing this with your left hand if you are right handed will take some time to master but it will help. good luck
1102535
Your local rec center.  There will be places to shoot around alone, or play with different types of competition.  Also try renting a couple of basketball tip dvds from your local blockbuster if you need induvidual skill improvement.
865544
Do uphill biking exercises, this will improve not only your jumping ability but also your quick step acceleration.  By attacking uphill on my bike, I was able to jump about 6" higher and my speed was mostly unmatched on most courts I've walked on to.  You want to do 1-2 hour uphill biking for about 3 or 4 times a week.  You'll definitely see an improvement in your ups.  \n\nA side note: To dunk a ball, you've also got to be able to get a good grip the ball.  Its much harder to dunk if you can't palm the ball.  Dunking takes a lot of energy, I find that layups are just as effective even though it isn't as flashy, but you'll stay in the game for much longer.
785706
You need a partner for all 3 of these drills.\n\nSwitch Hand Dribbling:\nHave a person defend you and go after your dribbling hand to practice you switching over. Make sure you do enough reps to practice both hands and moving the ball from both hands. Try to add in a jab step or a move to counter once you get the hang of it.\n\n\nCatching low basketballs:\nHave someone pass low to you, what you need to do is trap the low ball. Even if you have to, tap it to start a dribble, just to slow the ball up. Try to catch it and go, waste no time. Remember, always know where you are trying to get and get there, relentlessly.\n\n\nFinishing quick after catch:\nHave 1 defender and 1 passer. Have the passer pass from all angles and to all angles, once you catch it, just move. You aren't going to achieve anything standing there. A good defender defends the after-pass defense and not the actual pass. Once you get the ball, just jab in, explode in. Once you're in, you will see that it left NO time for the defender to react and the upcoming defender is your next assignment.\n\n\nOnce you achieve these steps, you need to learn how to finish big, or how to get contact and get to the line. It's tough, but it should work
432834
If you do not possess skill, concentrate on improving the accuracy of your pass, increase your fitness, play as a back, how to cut the ball without committing a foul, ho to shoot from all angels and positions. some skills you could gain by persistence and good training.
229476
Shoot hoops, I'm better at it ;-)
687995
focus on executing simple fundamentals - these are the only things you can consistently control in a game.  See yourself in the flow of the game starting from \n1. rebounding or stealing the ball to gain possession - anticipate and screen out. \n2. offense - ball handling, passing, shooting\n3. defense - moving your feet, seeing man and ball, communicate, anticipate, help and recover. \n\nthe cycle repeats over and over so see yourself doing it like an olympic skier sees the course before skiing down it.
753049
good question, I was wondering that a while back and found this great site with hundred's of drills for every aspect of the game u can imagine.\n\nhttp://www.degerstrom.com/basketball/drills/\n\ngl Hope you become the next steve nash ;)
294913
Practice shots that you'd take in a game. Stand still, catch and shoot. Stand still, catch, dribble and shoot. Catch while on the move and shoot. Catch while on the move and fake or just go right into the dribble and then shoot. And, creating off of fakes (while a pivot foot is planted). Make sure you square up to the basket when shooting. Both feet should be pointing at the basket, and your body should square up to it. Make sure your power is coming from your legs, not your arms. Remember to follow-through on your shot. Practice like crazy. And be intense. Don't be lazy, work hard. If you half-heartedly practice getting shots off, they won't be very effective when a tough defender is near you in a real game
60783
you cannot learn basketball in a short period of time. to beable to just play street ball just play. the only way you can progress is by playing. you need to deff working on shooting. you dont need to be the best of anything, as long as you are alright at everything. you  may practice with many people instead of just one to begin with. working with others will make you learn the game better. learn to see the court, pass, shoot, play def., and pretty much everything. remember playing is the only way to learn...