Slam-dunking to score a point is the most satisfying thing you see in basketball. While the players enjoy the delightful moment with one more step closer to winning, the crowd watching the game gets the best of entertainment. However, all these emotional reactions from the beautiful are a design of rigorous practices involving sweats and dribbles. As an aspiring player looking forward to making a spot in competitive basketball, follow these practices to hone your skills.
Enroll in an academy
For a fun time, you may have a hoop with a basketball rim and backboard on the garage wall. It is nice to call over neighborhood kids to throw and shoot some points in leisure hours. Such a hobby can refresh your mind after a hectic day, but the makeshift facility lacks standard basketball needs. If your place does not have a basketball court, joining basketball camps in NYC is a vital step. After attending regular training in a summer camp, you will learn a new set of skills and techniques other than just scoring.
Get equipped
Even though heavy jeans and sandals comfort you when throwing the ball from a static position, you cannot get easy when the game requires running and dribbling across the floor. As soon as more people join the practice, there could be pacing and pushing to get possession of the ball. You should wear basketball shorts and a top to relax while practicing for this event. The footwear should include a pair of sneakers and compressed socks to support your feet. The overall outfit determines your performance and results from the practice.
Physical fitness
Besides skills and teamwork, basketball games hugely depend on the mobility and agility of players. That means basketball is definitely a no-game for lazy people since it requires full energy when taking the ball on the court. It involves lots of running between two hoops, and tight movement of legs and feet could cause ankle sprain or even worse. So first, you have to maintain your physique by doing regular exercises. Then, you can endure all the pressures from the 48-minute play if you get the strength to stay tough.
Ball handling
The basketball is round with a circumference of 29.5" for standard games. Balls for young kids below 15 may have different sizes of 28.5", 25.5" or lesser. If you are above 15 or want to practice for adult-level competitions, you should learn to handle the 29.5" ball. At first, you may not feel comfortable handling a ball larger than your palm. However, regular dribbling and throwing practice can improve the capacity to get a strong grip on the ball. Moreover, picking a ball larger than an average-sized object is an enjoyment.
Dribbling
A point on the scoreboard is a reward manifested by constant dribbling between players in the game. Whenever you get the ball, it is necessary to stay active to prevent opposing players from snagging the ball. Hereupon, you need to keep the ball dribbled by moving it around, on the floor, and side to side between hands. Players usually continue to dribble until they find another player to pass it on for the hoop. To improve your dribbling skills, put your feet on the sole with your legs little straddling apart. A basic starter pack is to stand in one position and dribble the ball between two hands. The bouncing of the ball gives you momentum to control it while focusing on the next step.
Shooting
The best part of basketball is to shoot at the hoop and score. However, the shooting cannot be fruitful if you misaim the target. Although you can take a moment to think about which speed level or where to throw the ball, you cannot waste one second when opponents are already close enough to snatch it away from your hand. That's why every team has specialists to do the scoring job. If you want to show your capability as a professional scorer, learn how to shoot using all your strength. The coordination between eye and hands puts the ball on the right track, while a little push from the well-balanced feet can control the speed.
Defense
Blocking opponents from reaching the semicircle is the toughest job for defenders in any basketball match. While the ball is in their hands, your team has to retain it before shooting at the hoop. However, you could make a defensive foul as the opponents become more aggressive near the inner area. Once they get in front of the hoop, there is a low chance of stealing the ball because they may already throw it into the hoop. An effective drill for defense is moving your arms away from the body. Then, when the offensive player tries to pass the ball to someone, you can catch it by distracting the player. Boosting muscle flexibility of your arms and shoulders is mandatory for defensive players. That said, all five players in the team must learn it because everybody will run everywhere. Unlike a soccer game, where each player has a specific spot to manage the attack, basketball requires running together.
Ball passing
During a basketball match, all players from both teams would actively pass the ball and score points. Nobody can take the ball alone, dribbling toward the post and scoring. Such a move might be possible if the other four persons are too tired or useless in the game. However, selfishness is not an option in the game since defense players will likely swarm up around the one opponent player holding the ball. If you want to contribute your best to the team, learn how to throw and catch the ball. When you visit the court for a practice session, you should always have someone on your side. Even if you want to practice alone at home, call a friend to help you cover some yards, hands in hand.
If you need a better environment to address all the needs of full-time practice, look for basketball camps in NYC for 2023. The summer camp offers basketball skills training and helps build participants' teamwork.
Author’s Bio: The writer is an avid online blogger. This article is about basketball camps nyc.