Overview
There are a number of things a basketball player can do to improve his or her performance. This can be done in many instances by working alone on individual skills such as dribbling, shooting, and rebounding. Being receptive to coaching and scouting an opponent's tendencies also can go a long way toward making a person a better basketball player.
How to Be a Better Basketball Player
Step 1
Listen to the coaching staff. No matter what level a player is at, much can be gained by simply listening to the advice of his or her coaches. Rather than tune out the coach and continue to make the same mistakes, seek the coach out and attempt to learn how to improve. A player must want to improve before her game will get better.
Step 2
Improve your dribbling. Realize that it is important to be able to handle the basketball no matter what position you play. Learn to dribble with your weaker hand or at least be able to switch hands when dribbling to avoid having the ball stolen. Be able to drive to the basket with either hand so that defenders cannot overplay you to your strong side and take away one whole side of the basketball court. Dribble the ball with your weak hand constantly until it becomes almost as strong as your other hand. Employ various dribbling drills in which you have to dribble up and down the court with your head up or in and out of cones set on the court.
Step 3
Practice shooting shots that are within your range. Don't shoot one three-pointer after another while practicing if these shots are slightly beyond your comfort zone. Work on the shots that you can make consistently before expanding your range farther away from the basket. Practice 12- to 18-footers from all angles and learn whether it is to your advantage to attempt to use the backboard on some of these shots to improve your shooting percentage.
Step 4
Work on your foul shots. Understand that so many basketball games come down to which team hits its free throws when the game is on the line and shoot them over and over again. Get into a routine when you practice in which you must make a certain number of free throws before you can go home. Shoot these free throws with the same form time and again so that it becomes second nature.
Step 5
Make yourself into a rebounder. Be determined to make a difference as a rebounder no matter what your size is. Work on boxing other players out and getting into position so that you have a good chance of grabbing the ball if it comes to your side. Expect every shot to miss and try to analyze the angle that it will come off the rim and backboard so that you will be ready to make a try for it. Work on rebounding with a partner or a group of players in practice. Ask your coach for various conditioning drills that can improve your leaping ability. Try to improve your jumping, even if it is by only an inch or two.
Step 6
Study the game. Watch college and NBA games, but concentrate on watching the players and not the ball. Learn where you are supposed to be on specific plays from your coaches and pay attention to the action when you are not in the game so you will see what is going on. You can pick up an opponent's weaknesses in this manner and perhaps be able to exploit them.
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