Tips To Help You Understand The Finer Points Of Basketball

Basketball has really exploded in popularity all over the world in the last twenty years and perhaps you are someone who is fascinated by this game. If you are looking for great tips to help you better understand basketball then youre in the right place. The article below has great tips that are simple to understand.

Really practice the types of shots that youd get in a typical game experience. Yes, its fun to play HORSE and try crazy shots, but thats not prepping you for actual game play. You want to get the types of shots you usually see down cold. Practice them over and over.

Practice passing drills as a team. Basketball is a team sport first and foremost. Youve got five people on the court with the same common goal. Teams that are great at passing can really break up a defense making it much easier to get into good scoring positions. Youll definitely win much more than you lose when you work as a team.

When dribbling, make sure to keep your head straight up. If you find that you keep looking down at the ball, you havent 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.

Exercise

Want to try a drill which will really work you out? Try dribbling with two balls at once! This will help you learn to master dribbling with both hands, plus it will build your arm muscles very quickly. You cant use your eyes for this exercise, so you will learn to dribble without looking at your hands.

Speed and agility is important, but you need to know how to practice to improve those skills. Running yourself ragged by training for long lengths of time or by running long distances wont benefit your play on the court. Instead, practice sprints and other short bursts of exercise. This better mimics how on the court play really is.

If you want to become a better basketball player, exercise your forearms and your wrists whenever you possibly can. This will significantly help you with your ball handing and control. A strong dribbler always has strong forearms. Practice wrist curls in your exercise routine to improve forearm and wrist strength.

Nutrition

Fueling your body with good nutrition is important for you to play your best in basketball. Include protein, vegetables and complex carbohydrates as part of your training diet. Avoid high sugar drinks because they may provide quick energy but they will quickly let you down later in the game. Drink plenty of water to make sure you stay hydrated.

Never underestimate the importance of proper nutrition and hydration. Your body needs proper nourishment to build muscles. Those muscles also need hydration and potassium to be able to keep from cramping up. You wouldnt play basketball with a ball half full of air, so dont play an important game without the proper nutrition and hydration.

After a grueling basketball practice or a tough game, it is essential to provide your body with the nutrition it needs to recover. Ideally, you should consume carbohydrates, and a small amount of protein within about 2 hours to promote muscle recovery and prevent fatigue. Healthy recovery snacks may include bananas, raisins or other fruits.

Understanding the game of basketball is quite simple when you have someone teach you the basics. After reading the article above you should now have a solid understanding of the fundamentals, which hopefully can make it easier for you to follow the game. Keep this article close by the next time youre watching basketball to help you get more enjoyment out of the game.