IPLFansite

Two important skills in basketball are faking and moving without the ball. Both should be practiced well.

Faking

In order to be an offensive threat you must be able to elude your guard whether you have the ball or not. A fake is an act designed to throw your guard off balance, so you can drive past him or free yourself for a shot. Do this by faking with your head, eyes, feet, shoulders, and body.

The fake drive-and-shot is designed to throw the defensive player off balance and force him back to make room for the shot. Feint a dribble around the guard, using the front foot to force him back.

The offensive player then comes up to position for the shot. Any feint will produce some recoiling action on the guard’s part. The fake shot-and-drive is a maneuver in which the player with the ball fakes a shot at the basket to draw the guard close to him so he can dribble around him.

When you are faking, keep the ball protected and in position for the dribble. The first stride should be a long one with the right foot if going right, placing the ball well out in front while driving by the guard.

A double fake is executed by faking a drive with a deep step to the right, causing the guard to drop back a little. The offensive man then moves his front foot a bit back and poises for a set shot.

As the guard comes up on his toes to stop the shot, the offensive man lowers his body and drives off his front foot, placing the ball well out ahead and drives in for the goal. To go to the right side, the deep step is faked to the left with the right foot. The shot is faked, then comes the drive to the right. A left-handed player will use his left foot as the forward foot and follow the same technique as above.

In starting a fake, a player never knows whether it will be a single or a double fake. This will depend on the action of the guard. Sometimes a guard commits himself on the first fake. If he is not fooled on the first fake, then try the double fake.

A common fault of many players executing feints is that they do not allow enough time for the defensive player to “fall for” the deception. Shooting or driving too soon simply means that the deception is wasted.

Moving without the ball

Players often do not know how to act offensively when they do not have the ball. In my coaching experience I have found this to be especially true of young players. Too frequently they do nothing. They stand around watching the man with the ball, waving their arms for a pass even though he is closely guarded. The easiest man to guard is the player who stands around and moves slowly and aimlessly. Basketball is a team game and all five players must work as a unit to get the best results.

A player without the ball can do the following:

1. Move at all times to prevent the defense from double- teaming a teammate.

2. Keep the middle of the court open to permit plays down the middle.

3. Set up a screen for teammates.

4. Be alert to cut in for a possible play.

Situations change with every pass of the ball. Watch for weaknesses in the defense so you may take advantage of them.

It is important to know what you intend to do. Indiscriminate running will only tire you out. Never run straight or in circles. An opponent can easily guard you. Deception and change of pace will help you elude your guard.

Learn to fake and also to move without the ball, and you will become a much more valuable player for your team.

Visualization is a powerful method used by global sports superstars to programme their minds for success.

It has been proven by such celebrated individuals as the great Maxwell Maltz that if an individual can use the body’s psycho-cybernetic system to its full potential, then they will achieve things that others felt was impossible.

Our minds require a target in order to operate at maximum capacity.

From a basketball perspective, many players who are getting ready to shoot the ball are allowing thoughts of self doubt enter there mind. Thoughts like ‘I hope I don’t leave it short’, ‘miss it’ etc.

If these are thoughts you are allowing to enter your mind, then you are in effect programming your mind for failure.

Most often the last thought you permit to occupy your mind, is what is going to happen to the ball.

I play a lot of Golf and I can tell you no where is the effect of the mind more evident than on the Golf course. If you play remember when you are faced with a shot over a lake or with a tree in front of you? If you feared hitting the tree or ending in the lake, that is what usually happens.

Basketball is no different. Sure you won’t lose your ball in the lake or have the fear of the ball ricocheting off the tree and hitting your face, but you will still miss the target.

If you are a serious basketball enthusiast and you have a real hunger for improvement, then the following tips will help you no end.

Tip #1 Visualize your shot to improve your distance control.

An essential element in shooting hoops is to apply the correct force behind the shot such that the ball will fall through the net as opposed to falling short and flying beyond the back board.

A great drill in practice is to shoot the ball with your eyes closed. This summons the incredible power of your sub conscious mind to the fore and I guarantee your shooting distance control will improve no end.

So go through the process of setting up as normal, use your usual technique, shoot the ball and then after releasing the ball open your eyes and enjoy seeing your ball fall through the basket.

This will be frustrating initially but with practice the results will shock you. Its like athletes who run with tires strapped to their waists, they make training more difficult. Then when you remove the ‘tire’ (shoot with opened eyes) it suddenly appears so much easier.

Tip #2 Develop a pre-shot routine This may sound like golf lingo to you but sports psychologists agree that it is an essential ingredient for success in every sport.

By pre-shot routine I mean in the moments right before you shoot the ball, you should perform a consistent sequence of events.

For example you might dribble from the left hand to the other, bounce the ball 3 times and then shoot.

It is essential that you take this exact routine and apply it consistently whether in practice or tournament play. This settles your mind, makes you feel in control and reduces pressure because if you always use the same routine, your mind will treat every shot the same and thus your technique will not be stressed under the pressure of tournament play.

Tips #3 Mentally visualize shooting hoops in your spare time.

A famous study was conducted by the University of Chicago many years ago with basketball players to prove the power of visualization. It consisted of three basketball teams.

Team 1 were instructed to go to the gym every day for one hour and practice throwing free throws. Team 2 were instructed to go to the gym every day, but to lie down and visualize themselves successfully shooting instead of physically practicing. Team 3 were instructed to play no basketball whatsoever neither mentally or physically for the month.

At the end of the month, the three groups were tested to determine their shooting proficiency.

The team who didn’t practice had deteriorated in their shooting ability. The team who practiced physically had improved by 24%. Amazingly the team who had only visualized themselves throwing successful free throws had improved by 23%.

This study proves that you maximize your success by visualizing your free throws at every available opportunity. It is a powerful supplement to physical practice.

So to conclude, never rule out the power of your mind. If you think negatively or with doubt you use you must powerful resource against yourself. Think positive and visualize and it will bring you along way to success.

Basketball like any other sport it needs concentration, agility and most important is speed and acceleration on the court. One powerful principle which basketball players have in common is visualization. This principle is very common even with other sports like soccer, baseball, hockey, etc…

This is one basketball technique that all players are trying to master. But are all players able to practice this technique when they are on the court? Can they really concentrate with all the pressures from the audience as well as with their co players and opponents?

One problem that a basketball player encounters is a doubtful mind. When they are on the court playing and about to take a shot, most of the players are faced with doubt if they get the points or maybe they will fall short and miss it.

If these thoughts will enter your mind then most of the time that is what will really happen. So if you are really serious to win the game then perhaps one should consider this basketball technique.

Visualize your shot. To practice this Basketball technique, you shoot the ball with your eyes closed. You might think this is impossible but go try it. Let your mind visualize the distance you have from the basket and aim your ball and take a shot with your eyes close.

Go through it again and again until you get the feel of it. You will be surprised that you are doing it and you actually shoot the ball when you use the technique. One can only prove if this technique works for all if they too would try it themselves.

Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of 5 players try to score points against one another by placing a ball through a high hoop under organized rules. Learning how to dribble in basketball is a skill that is crucial. Here, then, are some basketball dribbling techniques.

Click Here Effective Ball Handling Instant Access Now!

Number one: Dribble with your fingertips and the pads of your hands. Dribbling begins by pushing the ball toward the floor, or throwing or tapping the ball in the air with the fingers to bounce on the floor one or more times while controlling the ball and making no more than one step for each bounce except when picking up the dribble and taking a couple of steps in the approach to the basket to attempt a field goal.

Number two: Use only one hand at a time to dribble. Remember that once you have stopped dribbling, you may touch the ball with both hands but then you must pass or shoot before you can get the ball back and dribble again. However, it is legal to change hands by pressing or clapping the ball with one hand or the other while it rests on either hand. It is also legal to release either hand off the ball as it counts as maintaining a continuous touch or contact.

Number three: Dribble on the side of your body, and never bounce the ball in front repeatedly. Dribbling on the side minimizes the possibility of getting your ball stolen. Number four: Never watch your hands or the dribbling ball. Instead, use your peripheral vision without looking. Dribble by touch, by feel, sound, and rhythm. Number five: Practice dribbling during the off season. Get into good basketball condition by running up and down the floor while dribbling as fast as you can to develop stamina and speed.

Follow these five basketball dribbling techniques, and dribble like a pro in no time.

Click Here Effective Ball Handling Instant Access Now!