Basketball Basics: Shooting Drills

Wednesday, July 14th, 2010

If you are playing basketball, you want to play it excellently. Who wouldn’t want to be recognized as an outstanding basketball player?

It is just not very fortunate that basketball superstars and the best players are never born; they are created. So how can you create a basketball star out of yourself? The answer is simple: Play it right.

To be able to play basketball really well, it is important that you spend considerable time and effort in game practices. Just like any other form of sports, rehearsals, along with strict discipline and proper attitude, are necessary to make you an excellent basketball player.

However, when attending basketball practices, experts notice and warn that there are so many players who aren’t practicing their shooting skills correctly. Be informed that there are proper forms and moves in shooting.

That is why it would be helpful to you to spend time in practicing your shooting skills. There are several popular drills that would be helpful in attaining proper forms and moves when shooting the basketball to the bucket.

Some shooting drills

Proper attitude, determination and physical agility will be rendered futile if the basketball player doesn’t practice some drills. Here are some of the well-known and widely adapted shooting drills that will help you attain the proper form and skills in shooting the basketball.

Bull’s eye drill

This shooting drill is aimed at helping the player further sharpen his focus and concentration when playing. It is said that players lack focus when they fail to shoot the ball during the game. This is the practice drill for such players.  To be able to execute this drill, you will be required to use white athletic tape. Of course, the drill is executable in an actual basketball court. To do the drill, first, stick a piece of the white athletic tape on the front side, the side facing you, of the rim of the hoop.

You see that white tape? That will be your target. Now start throwing the ball into the bucket by targeting the white athletic tape. You are hitting the bull’s eye when you are successfully hitting the target. This will train your eyesight and senses in shooting the ball.

The free throw drill

This shooting drill is aimed at establishing your concentration and consistency in shooting the ball during a free throw. The process may seem too easy and less complicated, but during actual games, players complain that their focus is disrupted because of too much noise and other distractions coming from the audience and from the excitement of the game itself.

To perform the free throw drill, you must get be on a basketball court. Stand on the free throw line and start shooting free throws. Dribble the basketball three times. As you dribble, say the word ‘dribble’.

After that, it is time to throw the ball into the hoop. Say ‘throw’ or ‘set’ or whatever word you want to use to associate with the activity. Before actually throwing the basketball, envision yourself all set to shoot the ball. Then, slowly raise your arms carrying the basketball, target the range and the rim and shoot.

If the goal isn’t attained, do the drill several times. The aim of the drill is to instill the proper mental set and condition that will be associated to successful basketball throws.

The Westhead drill

The Westhead drill is actually a mental drill in basketball shooting. This drill is aimed at enhancing muscle memory, or the muscle reflexes set on specific occasions and moves.

The drill is simple and challenging to execute. The first move will be to throw the basketball into the basket five times. Then, concentrate and envision five successful basketball throws in your mind.

Shoot the ball five times again, before pausing to close the eyes and picturing a good basketball throw in your mind. Throw the ball five times while the eyes are closed. Then throw the basketball successfully for five times after the closed-eyes drill.

Take note that your muscles are becoming more and more conditioned to successfully throwing the basketball. After some time, you can modify the drill and do it while walking or running on the basketball court.

Information on basketball plays can be found at The Basketball Coach.

Basketball Basics: Sweep

Sunday, July 11th, 2010

Basketball is a very exciting sport. There are numerous basketball stars and icons that have swept the basketball viewing public throughout the years. Each basketball team is also equally popular because they are the cradle of the basketball superstars.

The game of basketball is definitely a team effort. Basketball isn’t played individually, but rather collectively. Each game is a team effort. In fact, in every game of basketball, no individual is declared the winner of the game. It is always the team.

Basketball players play the game excellently because they want to accrue scores not for themselves but for the team. However, there are awards and recognition given to players who have contributed greatly and accumulated points or scores throughout the game.

When fans rush to the basketball courts to flock basketball stars, they come to flock the team as well. A basketball superstar not only carries his name but also that of the team.

How are superstar basketball teams born? Well, a good track record is the key. And how is it attained? Simple: just by winning the most games.

The sweep

There are many basketball tournaments and conferences in every country. There are those events that are held annually for a regular interval. During these games, often, there are mainstay teams that regularly play at the basketball event.

When a team wins for two or more consecutive years, it is termed in sports and basketball lingo as a ‘sweep’. Thus, be it in the NBA or in whatever basketball tournament all over the world, the word ‘sweep’ is one of the sweetest and most sought-after terms in the ever-growing and exciting basketball vocabulary.

For a team to complete a sweep, it should consistently hold its excellence. Consistency is one of the hardest concepts in basketball because it is hard to assure that a team will win every game.

For sure, there are hundreds or thousands of potential basketball superstars that are given big breaks every season. The competition is really tough. That is why teams also often modify its lineup so it can get the best and possibly the greatest players around.

Team effort is also hard to keep. It entails that all the team’s members be cooperative enough to execute a good play strategy. That isn’t easy to accomplish considering the humongous egos and attitudes of basketball players.

For a team to make a sweep, it should strive harder to keep the good working and cooperative relationships between the team players. Failing to do so would result otherwise.

How a team could make a sweep

When you come to think of it, it would be easy to make a team run into a sweep in basketball tournaments. However, considering the individual efforts needed from each of the team players, it would be a truly big challenge to the coach and to the players as well. Remember, good working and personal relationships within the team shows in the play.

For a team to ensure a sweep, regular practices and rehearsals should be scheduled. The team should all be present during practices because that is the time each of them gets to bond. Rapport between the players is established.

Weaknesses and strengths of the players and team as a whole is also determined during practices. Thus, the training would be a good breeding ground to identify how each team player could greatly and significantly contribute to the welfare of the whole basketball team.

Consistency is essential. After winning a basketball game, the main goal of the team would then be to keep the winnings coming. When a team fails to keep its winning status, it fails to make a sweep, therefore, coming face to face with a nightmare.

The moral support from the fans and supporters also contribute well. Take note that most of the popular basketball teams do well in every game whenever they see the trooping fans cheer for them, as if the game is a popularity contest.

Team players are motivated whenever they see cheerful fans support them.

Basketball is a very exciting game indeed. It sure is hard for a team to make a sweep but the effort certainly makes up for added excitement.

For tips on basketball plays and the history of basketball, visit The Basketball Coach website.