Because You Can Never Get Enough Of Basketball.... Even the NBA's best players don't know everything there is to know about basketball. It's important to know the basics and keep up with changes. Do you want an advantage over other players? Read on to give you an edge over the competition. When you're passing the ball, make sure that you pass the ball to the location of where the person should be headed. You don't want your pass to be the reason a person needs to slow down or double back. Your pass should be aimed for a little bit in front of the person that you are passing to. If you are trying to create a charging foul against the other team, make sure you plant your feet to the ground. Don't shuffle them or lean into the dribbler coming at you. If you do either of these things, you'll actually be called for a blocking foul instead of getting a charge. When dribbling, make sure to keep your head straight up. If you find that you keep looking down at the ball, you haven't 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. Practice lay ups over and over. The lay up is one of the most basic basketball shots out there. And you should never let this easy opportunity to score pass you by. While simple, it still takes practice in game-like scenarios to make sure you aren't laying the ball up too hard or at a bad angle. Get the rhythm down and practice it repeatedly. Make it your goal to dribble well with both of your hands. You'll obviously start with your strongest hand when learning, but if you want to play basketball well, you'll need to learn how to switch it up. This way you can keep your body between the ball and your opponent, no matter what the angle. Stop and ask your coach what you can do to help the team improve. Basketball is a team sport and every component must be working towards a common goal. The coach is there to offer guidance and provide instruction. Ask if there's anything specific you can do to help and follow his advice. To develop an accurate shooting stroke, put your dominant hand under the ball and use your other hand on the side of the ball, as a guide. If you develop this consistency, you will be able to follow through with your shooting hand and get a high, looping arc that is more likely to go through the hoop. To rebound a free throw, you have to be quick. As you see the defender moving in, quickly slip around to grab the ball. By doing this, you can increase your chance to get the rebound despite starting in a disadvantageous position. To get offensive rebounds in basketball, you have to learn how to follow the basketball off the rim. Get used to watching people shoot, and see how the ball caroms off. Then get used to anticipating those bounces, so you can get around the defender before he even thinks to box you out. To rebound a free throw attempt by the other team, you get the advantage of having four people on the lane, as opposed to three for the other team. Take advantage by boxing out, putting your body on the person next to you and moving him away from the basket. This gives you the best chance at grabbing a board. Make basketball a learning activity. It isn't always about playing. Sometimes it's about studying. There are all sorts of unique moves, team plays, and rules that you can go over to give you as much knowledge as possible about the game itself. That knowledge can come in very handy during game time. When it comes to making the shot, the key is to hold the ball the right way. Practice makes perfect, so hold your hands like they are claws and space out your fingers. Hold the ball with your fingers, not your palm. Hold the ball in your hand while watching TV to build your muscles. Balance is an important aspect in basketball, especially when taking a shot. When shooting, make sure you are balanced both side to side and from front to back. Do not be leaning away from the shot or lunging forward. If you keep your balance on shots, you will make baskets more consistently. To be a great basketball player you must also be a great athlete. Basketball is a physical sport as well as demanding a great deal of endurance. Weight training can make your body tougher physically. Good conditioning is important as well, so warm up with about 15 minutes of running before doing drills. Make sure that you are exercising properly for basketball. Sprints helps with individual plays, and long-distance running gives you stamina. Lifting weights can help you get more muscle. If you can develop your confidence through off-court exercise, this can even help your shooting. Basketball is a mental game almost as much as it is a physical game. Try to get into your opponents head and you can throw them off their game. You do not have to be a total jerk, but a little bit of trash talk can go a long way in making your life easier on the court. Practice various shots from various places on the court. Start out by practicing grip and balance. Even though it is less accurate, it is possible to score with off-balanced shooting. Utilize the basketball's air valve as a way to improve your grip. Splay your dominant hand's fingers, and place the middle of your hand atop the valve at the basketball's center. To be a better at passing the ball you need to learn the art of touch. This comes about as you learn whether to make a soft pass or one that is hard. It is getting the feel of the game. The best way to learn this is through repetitive practice. If your touch is off, then your pass will either be too soft or too hard. That leads to a turnover. The sound advice above should give you the confidence you have been trying to achieve. Take what you have learned here and apply it to your game. Keep learning and practicing. Use the information from above to take your skills to a new level.