Basketball is a sport of continuous learning and personal development. Every player wants to give his best on the court and help his team secure victory. It only fits that you also find new fun, concrete ways to elevate yourself and ensure that your competitors won’t overshadow your game. To get you started and help you be a better player on the court, here are the top tips for improving your performance in basketball.
1. Develop your dribbling skills.
Improving your dribbling skills is one of the easiest ways you take to boost your overall game. Dribbling is the most essential movement in basketball. You can quickly notice that you’re dribbling most of your time on the court. Plus, it’s also the starting point of the other skills like shooting, passing, and defense. When you’re confident and comfortable with your dribbling, it’s easier to topple your defenders and free yourself for some good shots.
So, go ahead and perform different dribbling exercises from stationary drills to cone drills, speed drills, ball slaps, and wraps. What’s great is that you’re not limited to practicing on the court. The only equipment you need is a hard floor and a basketball – you’re free to work on your dribbling, even outdoors or at home.
2. Don’t miss out on minor aspects of your game.
One common mistake many basketball players make is skipping minor aspects of their game, such as footwork, form, or assist. Often, they are focused on improving skills like shooting or defense, deeming that they are far more important in scoring points for the team or preventing the competitors from making their baskets. Only to find out that these little things can make spell huge differences on the actual gameplay. To boost your game, work on every aspect, even the minor ones. That way, you can build a solid foundation, helping you perform better on the court.
3. Acknowledge and work on your weak spots.
Some players never miss their shots beyond the arc but fail miserably at the free-throw line. Other players may be excellent defenders yet can be average shooters. The point is there are bright and weak spots in anyone’s game. What you need to do is acknowledge your weakness and start on improving them. If you have a low three-point shooting percentage, devote more time practicing your shots. Are you having a hard time passing using your weak hand? Find a partner and do passing exercises with your non-dominant hand. Accepting your weak spots and honing them marks your journey to becoming a well-rounded player of the sport.
4. Learn from the best.
Thanks to the digital era, it’s now easier to watch past videos of exciting basketball. Though most people do it for entertainment and to experience the thrill, you can also use them as a tool to study the best players and learn from their game. Look for their best movements and techniques and see how you could adapt them into your game. However, also watch out for unorthodox plays they have done. While you always want to mirror the trusted moves, adding some variety sometimes wins games, catching opponents off-guard. You’ll never know when these tricks may come in handy, but knowing them can be an excellent addition to your game.
5. Stay physically fit.
Basketballs require strength, endurance, and proper conditioning. While you can have mastered all the fundamental skills, all can go for naught if you’re already sloppy or exhausted just a few minutes in the game. Stay physically fit to ensure that you can keep pace with the intensity of the game. You can do runs to improve your endurance, weight training to build muscles, and conditioning exercises to always keep your body ready for the game. Incorporate these into your daily routine, and you will have enough “fuel” to showcase all your basketball skills.
6. Get adequate sleep.
Getting adequate sleep is crucial in all sports, not only in basketball. Without it, you can be sluggish, less accurate, and be more prone to making wrong decisions, which all badly affect your game. Moreover, lack of sleep means your muscles won’t have enough time to repair themselves and recover from the stress incurred in training and your workout. Thus, making you more prone to experience body aches and sustaining injuries during the game. To avoid such situations, you need to get at least 8-10 hours of sleep each day to have the energy and get the proper thinking once you hit the court.
7. Eat right.
Proper diet is a crucial factor in improving your performance in basketball. You need to feed your body right to be able to keep up with all the strenuous activity involved in the sport. Typically, your diet should consist of heavy carbs to give you energy, which should come from healthy food sources, such as vegetables, fruits, bread, pasta, and rice. An ample amount of protein from beans, seafood, and lean red meat, is also needed to maintain your muscle strength. While chowing junk food, remember that they won’t do much for your body. Opt to spend your money on healthier and appropriate food that can support your performance.
Final Words
If you fully decided to be a basketball player, you might as well give your 100% to the task. While changes don’t happen overnight, starting with these tips can all help in improving your performance. Just stay disciplined and consistent – you’ll reap all the hard work you’ve devoted and reach greater heights in your game.