Basketball: Shooting the Ball

The primary skill in basketball is shooting. If you can't put the ball in the basket, you won't score.

When you practice shooting, you should practice with good fundamentals. Shooting the correct way
will give your shots consistency and allow you to become an excellent shooter.

Stance and Balance

An important part of shooting is balance. You should stand with your feet apart and on the balls of
your feet. When you take a jump shot you should jump straight up. If you drift to the side or toward
the basket, it makes it that much more difficult to be consistent. Keep your shoulders square to the
basket.

Use Your Legs

When you shoot you should use your legs for power. If you have to use all the strength in your arms
to get the ball to the hoop, then you will start to lose accuracy. Let your arms and hands do the
aiming and control, get your power from your legs. This means bending you knees and jumping as
you release the ball. Jumping high on a jump shot will also help you from getting your shot blocked.

Holding the Ball (Shoot with one hand!)

How you hold the ball is important. You will be shooting the ball primarily with one hand. Never
shoot an outside shot with two hands. Shooting with one hand is the only way to consistently keep
your shot straight.

Cradle the ball in one hand and keep it balanced there with the other. Spread your fingers out some
on the main shooting had. The ball should be held high, just in front and slightly above your head.
That Elbow!

Perhaps the most important thing for a young shooter to practice is keeping the elbow in. Your arm,
elbow, and the ball should all line up straight with the basket. This is absolutely important in keeping
your shot straight. Your elbow should point at the hoop.

Shooting the Ball

Now you will release the ball. As we talked about above, use your legs for power and your arms to
guide the ball. Push the ball up and towards the basket. Your elbow, arms, and hands should all
point toward the basket.

Follow Through

Follow through on the shot. Flick your wrist at the end. One way to think of this is to "grab the rim"
as you release the ball. This will help keep the ball straight and add touch.

If you follow through on the ball correctly, it will have some backspin on it. The backspin will give
your shot "touch". Touch allows the ball to bounce softly off the rim. This gives you a better chance
to get the roll and still make the basket even if your shot is off by a bit.

Get Some Arc on that Shot!

A well shot ball should have some arc on it. Arc gives the ball more of a chance to go into the basket.
It provides a better angle and essentially makes the basket bigger. A flat shot has a narrow angle and
much smaller chance of going into the basket.

Practice

The best way to become a good shooter in basketball is to practice. However, it is very important
that you practice shooting the right way. This will help you to develop good habits and a consistent
shot.

Basketball: Passing the Ball

Types of Passes

Two-handed Chest Pass

The two-handed chest pass is the basic pass

in basketball. It is accurate and can be
thrown a long distance.

To throw a two-handed chest pass, start out

by placing both hands on either side of the
ball. Spread your fingers out and form an
oval between the thumbs and index fingers
of each hand. Bring the ball close to your
chest. Push the ball out towards the target,
stepping toward the target at the same time.

Bounce Pass

Sometimes a direct pass is not as effective

as a bounce pass. A bounce pass can be
helpful in traffic as the ball can pass low by
the defender making it difficult to steal.
Bounce passes can provide angles that
direct passes can't. With practice you will
start to learn when to throw a direct pass
and when to throw a bounce pass.

Overhead Pass

When you are covered by a defender, a

normal chest pass can be tough to make. In
this case an overhead pass can be effective
in passing the ball over the head of the
defender. You can fake a chest pass one way
and then go to the overhead pass or vice
versa.

Off the Dribble Pass

This pass takes more skill and is not as

accurate as some of the above passes, but
can be very effective. When you are
dribbling down the court, sometimes you
don't have time to gather the ball up and
make a chest pass or overhead pass. You
can make a pass directly off the dribble.
Instead of dribbling the ball, you push the
ball to another player either with a bounce
(which is easier) or not.

Baseball Pass

Baseball passes are when you throw the ball

a long distance using one hand and
throwing it overhand like a baseball. This is
not a very accurate pass and is difficult to
catch. However, it is often used effectively
as an outlet pass to get the ball up the court
quickly on a fast break. This pass is not
allowed in some youth leagues so ask your
coach before using it in a game.

Fakes

If you want to be a good passer you need to

learn to fake out the defense. This can be
done by faking a pass in one direction and
then passing in the other. Another way to
fake the defense is to look one way and pass
the other. Don't telegraph your passes by
staring down the player you are passing it
to. This will get the ball stolen.

When you don't have the ball

Any time you don't have the ball you need

to be ready for a pass. You should always
have some of your focus on the player with
the ball and know where they are. Keep
your hands up and ready.
You should want the ball. Work to get open
and get position. When the ball is passed to
you, you it is your responsibility to help out
the passer and be aggressive. Go after the
ball and make sure you get it and not the
defender.
Many coaches will tell you that rebounding
is the key to winning in basketball.
Rebounds mean more possessions for your
team, which means more shots. Offensive
rebounds can lead to easy put backs and
quick scores.

Boxing Out

The single most important concept in

rebounding is boxing out. Even if your
opponent is taller and can jump higher than
you, if you properly box them out, you can
get the rebound. Boxing out is getting
between your opponent and the basket
while the shot is in the air. You establish
position and move to remain between the
basket and your opponent. If they try to
jump over you, they will often get called for
an over-the-back foul.

Defensive Rebounding

All five players are responsible for

rebounding. This is especially true on
defense. When the ball goes up each
defensive player should be boxing out an
offensive player. This is somewhat easier
when playing man-to-man defense where
you primarily block out the player you are
covering. In zone defense you have to find a
player and box him out. When a got goes up
you need to find someone to box out. Also,
don't forget to box out the shooter. They
can be a dangerous rebounder as they know
where the ball is most likely going.

Offensive Rebounding

Offensive rebounding can get your team

another shot and can sometimes lead to
easy buckets. Offensive rebounders must be
quick to get around the defensive players
trying to box them out. If you can get inside
position, even better.

One of the most dangerous offensive

rebounders is the shooter. Always follow
your shot. You have the best idea of anyone
on the floor as to where the ball is going. If
you missed it long, short, to the right, or
left. Hopefully you'll make the shot, but if
not, you can be right there to snag the
rebound.

What makes a great rebounder?

You may think that because you are not tall

you can't be a good rebounder. Not true,
some of the best rebounders ever weren't
the tallest players on the floor. Charles
Barkley, sometimes called the Round
Mound of Rebound, was one of the best
rebounders in the NBA at 6'6". He was
constantly playing against 7 footers and
outrebounding them.
  Anticipation - Anticipation is being able
to determine where the ball is going to
go once it hits the basket. Will it bounce
far away, drop right under the goal, go
left, right? These are all things that
great rebounders learn to anticipate.
You can't just stand there and hope the
ball is coming directly to you every time.
 Hard work and determination - Great
rebounders go after the ball every time
and don't give up until they have the
ball in their hands. In their mind every
time a shot goes up, the rebound is
theirs.
 Jumping ability - Most great
rebounders can jump quickly. Not just
high but quick, like a pogo stick.
 Height - Of course, although height is
not the most important factor, it doesn't
hurt either.
The Outlet Pass

Once you get a rebound, what do you do

with it? The great defensive rebounders
learn to throw an outlet pass. This is a
quick pass to a guard on the wing down the
floor. A great outlet pass can start a fast
break and lead to an easy bucket for your
team.
Basketball: Individual Defense

Everybody loves to shoot the ball in basketball, but to win games you must learn how to play good
defense. Individual players can work on sound fundamental defensive skills in order to become
better team players.

Stance

The first thing to work on is your defensive stance. You must be ready to move in any direction
quickly. Stand with your feet apart and your knees bent. Keep your weight balanced on the front
part of your feet. You don't want to get caught with your weight on your heels or you will get beat.
Keep your hands spread wide around shoulder height.
Where to focus

You can focus on the offensive player's waist as this is the toughest area of the body to fake. Where
their waist goes, they will go. At the same time you need to learn to watch the ball at the same time.
You will want to be ready to still a pass or block a shot.

Energy

Play defense with enthusiasm and energy. Stay on the player and don't give them anything. Defense
takes effort, heart, and guts to be good and play hard the whole game. Don't give your opponent a
break.

Anticipation

To make steals, block shots, and take charges you will need to learn to anticipate what the offensive
player is going to do. You can learn this throughout the game. Some players like to go right all the
time or do a certain move over and over again. They may get you the first time, but don't let them
do it again.

Strengths and Weaknesses

Learn your opponent's strengths and weaknesses and force them to go with their weaknesses. An
example of this is a player who strongly favors their right hand. Force them to their left. Make them
beat you with their weak hand.

On the Perimeter

If you play guard you are going to want to work on your perimeter defense. This requires quickness
and staying low. When your player has the ball always stay between them and the basket. If they are
a strong shooter stay close. If they like to drive to the basket, play a bit off of them. When they don't
have the ball, stay between them and ball and deny. Don't let them get to spots on the floor where
they like to shoot. You will want to work on drills that improve your lateral movement and
quickness.

On the Inside

If you play down low you will want to learn how to work on position. Don't let your opponent gain
position. This takes strength and practice. Once they gain position it will be tough to stop the inside
pass and defend. Keep your opponent as far from the basket as possible while staying between them
and the basket. You need to be ready to block them out as soon as a shot goes up. For this type of
defense you will want to work on your overall strength.

Basketball: Team Defense

Basketball is a team sport and if you want
to win games you will need to learn to play
defense as a team. Five players executing
tough hard-nose defense and working as a
team can stop even the best players from
scoring every time.

There are two main types of team defense:

man-to-man and zone.

Man-to-Man

Man-to-man defense is easy to explain. It's

just each player covering one player on the
other team. You stay with your player and
try to keep them from scoring.

When playing man-to-man you need to stay

with your player. When your player has the
ball, you keep between the player and the
basket. When they don't have the ball you
stay between them and the ball and try to
deny the ball.

Of course this is just the basics. In some

systems, each position may have different
requirements depending on the situation.
The center may only stay on their player as
long as they are near the goal. If the other
center goes far away from the goal, the
defending center may stay near the basket
to block shots and rebound.

Zone Defense

In zone defense each player covers an area

on the floor. There are different types of
zone defenses, but the most common is the
2-3. This is where are two players who
cover the top of the key, the guards, and
three who play closer to the basket, the
center and forwards. See the diagram
below:

A 2-3 Zone Defense

Other popular types of zone defenses are the 1-3-1 and 2-1-2. Sometimes coaches mix up a zone and
man-to-man. The "box and 1", for example, is where four players are in a zone (the box), while the
fifth player covers the other team's main scorer in man-to-man (the 1).

Advantages and disadvantages

Like anything there are advantages and disadvantages to both types of defenses. The zone defense
can be vulnerable to the outside shot, but hard to drive on. Man-to-man can be easier to drive on,
but tougher to get open outside shots.

Picks

One thing that offensive teams will do is set picks. This is when one player stands still and tries to get
in the defender's way of another player in order to free them up. It is up to the defenders to
communicate when picks are coming and what to do. You can fight through or around the pick or
decide to switch up, where you take the player setting the pick while your teammate takes the
player with the ball. Either way, communication is key.

Double Team

Whether you are playing man-to-man or zone a good way to get steals and cause the opponent
problems is to double team the ball. This is where two defenders quickly cover the player with the
ball and try to prevent them from passing, dribbling, or taking a shot. This is an especially good play
in college ball where you can force a five second call.
Communicate

A key to successful team defense is communication. Let the other defenders know when they are
about to be picked. Communicate what the plan is on blocking out. If you all work together, you will
have a strong team defense.

Basketball: Offensive Plays

Professional basketball teams run complex

offenses with numerous plays and options.
Below are some basic offensive plays that
are used all the way from youth basketball
to the pros.

Pick-and-roll
The basic pick-and-roll play involves two
players. One player has the ball and begins
to dribble towards the other player. The
second player sets a pick, or screen, on the
defender guarding the player with the ball.
As the player with the ball goes by the pick,
the player setting the pick turns and "rolls"
to the basket.

The defenders must choose what to do.

They can "switch" who they are guarding
or stay with the player they were originally
on, fighting through or around the pick. If
they switch, then the player rolling to the
basket is often open for a pass because he
has position on the player he picked. If they
don't switch the player with the ball often
has a wide open shot.

Give and go

A great play to run in youth basketball, the

give-and-go can be easy to master, but very
effective. To run this play the player with
the ball passes the ball to another then runs
to the basket or an open space with a burst
of speed. The player catching the pass then
passes it back quickly to the open player.

The defender is often watching the pass or

not ready for the burst of speed leaving the
player wide open for a layup or open shot.

Isolation

The isolation play is popular in the NBA

when a team has a superstar like Michael
Jordan. When teams play man-to-man
defense all four players move to one side of
the floor leaving the player with the ball in
a one-on-one situation.

If other defenders move over to help,

offensive players can slash to the basket to
catch an open pass.

Posting up

Posting up is generally done by the big guys

down low. Forwards or centers establish
position with their backs to the basket. The
ball is passed to them and they then make a
move such as a turnaround jump shot, up
and under move, or hook shot.

Moving without the ball

Good offensive players often learn how to

move without the ball. Teams need to
maintain spacing on the offensive end of the
court and not get all bunched up in one
place. By constantly moving you can wear
out the defense as well as keep them from
helping out on the ball. Also, learning to
move without the ball, rub off of picks, and
get open will get you the ball more and lead
to more scoring opportunities.

Fast Break

One of the easiest ways to score in

basketball is the fast break. This is where
you beat the other team down the court and
shoot a layup. Fast breaks are generally
started by a steal or by a strong outlet pass.