5 Basketball Tips and Tricks for Beginners

Posted November 22, 2016, in Basketball for Kids, Personal Training

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. How do you get better? Practice practice practice! Without practicing, you won’t improve your skills or learn new ones. Here are some tips for beginners to begin playing and training in basketball.

Set Goals

Setting goals for yourself will give you something to work towards and will encourage you to work hard to get there. These goals can range from something small to bigger goals as you become a better player. Without goals, you won’t have an image of where you want your basketball training to take you. Once you have a set of clear goals, your training will accomplish working towards these goals.

Great Players are Great Athletes

While learning techniques and drills are excellent and will improve your game, without strength and being in good physical shape, you won’t reach your full potential as a basketball player. Becoming a great athlete will make you stronger and faster, in turn making you a better player. Combining conditioning with your drills and technique training will build you up as an athlete. Conditioning can include jogging, running, jumping jacks, pushups, sit ups, anything that will keep you in continuous motion.

Handle the Ball Correctly

A basketball game involves a lot of ball passing and catching. Being able to catch and hold the ball correctly is vital. Once you have the ball in your hand, you want to direct that ball to your teammates or the basket. You also need to keep the ball away from the opposing team. You will want to practice shooting, dribbling, passing, catching, and rebounding. These skills all involve excellent hand control over the ball. Practicing these skills will help you master holding the ball at all times during a game no matter the pressure. You’ll be able to shoot, hold the ball, and pass to your teammates when you’ve gained control over it.

Learn Defense

Learning defense is easier than you may think! Once you’ve learned and practiced dribbling, you’ll see that the defense stance is very similar. With both stances, you need to position your body to move fast in any direction. By having good defense, you will be working with your team to prevent the other team from scoring, knowing defense is beneficial for everyone!

Train your Feet

Your feet play a bigger part in basketball than you might know! It’s not just your hands that control the ball. By training and strengthening your feet and ankles, you gain better control over your body movements. This in turn gives you better control over the ball. You will use your feet to pivot, jump, and run up and down the court. By training your feet to move how you want them, you’ll control the ball and your shots. Many times, to make a shot or pass the ball, you’ll need to pivot fast. In order to do this, you need to know how to pivot and be ready to do it fast. This skill will be helpful throughout the whole game.

These basketball tips will help beginners get started on their training and practices. By working hard and sticking to their training, you can improve each day and become a great basketball player. It takes time and work but in the end, it is a rewarding and exciting game that anyone can enjoy!

NetWorks Basketball in Raleigh, NC offers basketball training programs through a variety of programs, clinics, and camps for every age level. For more information, contact Kevin Nunley at (919) 233-8801.

Basketball for Kids