8/8/2019 Fame Basketball - Basketball Secrets Notebook http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/fame-basketball-basketball-secrets-notebook 1/37 BASKETBALL SECRETS NOTEBOOK BY FAME BASKETBALL INDEX: • Chapter 1: Ball Handling Tips • Chapter 2: Defense Tips • Chapter 3: Passing Tips • Chapter 4: Rebounding Tips • Chapter 5: Footwork Tips • Chapter 6: Mental Toughness Tips • Chapter 7: Shooting Tips • Chapter 8: Conditioning Tips • Chapter 9: Great Basketball Tips and Moves - Basketball Screening Techniques - Scoring Without the Ball - Basketball Screening Techniques - Scoring Without the Ball- Secrets of Dribbling a Basketball- Killer 1-on-1 Basketball Moves You Should Start Doing Today- The Defensive Key to Lock Down Your Opponent - Keeping Your "Mental Cool" in Tough Game Situations - Offensive Rebounding: Easily improve your Scoring Average and make coaches fall in love you
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• Chapter 9: Great Basketball Tips and Moves- Basketball Screening Techniques - Scoring Without the Ball
- Basketball Screening Techniques - Scoring Without the Ball - Secrets of Dribbling a Basketball - Killer 1-on-1 Basketball Moves You Should Start Doing Today
- The Defensive Key to Lock Down Your Opponent - Keeping Your "Mental Cool" in Tough Game Situations
- Offensive Rebounding: Easily improve your Scoring Average and makecoaches fall in love you
To be a top-flight ballhandler (which is key to being a great point guard) one must be able to survey the
floor while handling the ball. The ball-handler cannot afford to be concerned with whether he/she is going
to be able to control the ball at high speeds especially while running a break. Everyone on the team relies
on the ball-handler to get the ball down the floor and be the catalyst toward making something happen for
the team.
A classic rule of life applies here: If you can handle two of something, then mastering one thing will be
much easier. In other words, if you can handle two balls at high speeds while keeping your eyes looking
ahead, handling one will be a piece of cake.
Drill: Stand at one end of the court. Hold one basketball in each hand. Begin to walk forward toward the
opposite baseline, bouncing the ball in your right hand first. In the fraction of a second after the ball in yourright hand has hit the floor, bounce the left ball. In the fraction of a second after the left ball hits the floor,
bounce the right ball. Continue in this fashion down the court. As you begin to feel more comfortable doing
the drill, start to pick up your pace. Ideally, you will eventually be able to sprint down the floor, bouncing
both balls with equal skill. Don't underestimate the importance of this ball handling tip! I have seen NBA
and WNBA players STILL performing this drill at the on-set of a practice. It sounds simple, and it is, so
make sure to master ball-handling and you're on your way to a great basketball career!
AROUND THE WORLD
Ball Handling Tip #1: Circle the ball around your head, than your waist, and finally put your legs together
and take the ball around both legs at the knees. Then, bend at the waist, spread your legs, and circle the ball
around one leg, then the other. This exercise will give you a great feel for the ball in addition to hand
coordination and speed.
THE SCISSORS
Ball Handling Tip #2: To start this exercise, place your left foot ahead of your right and bounce the ball
between your legs from your right to your left hand. As the ball gets to your left hand shift your feet so that
your right leg goes ahead of your left and bounce the ball back between your legs. Shift your feet with
every bounce.
CATCH-CATCH-CATCH
Ball Handling Tip #3: This is a drill to work on your ball handling. Hold the ball between your legs, with
both hands on the ball, right hand in front and left hand in back. Quickly switch your hands,(now left hand
in front and right hand in the back), without letting the ball touch the ground. Do as quickly as
possible...this drill is one of the hardest to master... but it just takes lots of practice.
CRAB WALK
Ball Handling Tip #4: This drill can go from baseline to half court. Step forward with your left leg and pass
the ball from your right hand to your left under your left leg. As you take your next step with your right leg,
pass the ball from your left hand to your right under your right leg. Continue this pattern all the way down
Ball Handling Tip #5: Spread your legs, bend at the waist, put the ball through your legs, around one leg,
back through your legs, and around your other leg, making a figure eight. This will help you get a feel for
the basketball as you move it around. Keep your head up not looking at the ball and increase your speed.
FIGURE 8 DRIBBLING
Ball Handling Tip #6: This is a drill to practice your ball-handling. Dribble the ball as quickly as possible
in a figure 8 through and around the legs. Use the fingers when you dribble, and dribble very low and
quickly. Switch from the right to the left and back to the right. Example: start with the right hand dribbling
the ball in front and then dribble through your legs with your right hand, switch to your left hand and
dribble from the back, around your left side to the front and back through you legs... then switch to your
right hand behind the body and around the right side. Try to go as fast as possible, and your dribbling skills
will improve with daily practice.
FIGURE 8 DROP
Ball Handling Tip #7: The ball is moved around the outside of the left leg from the back to the front. Then
it is passed in front of your body and around the outside of your right leg from front to back. Now the ballis between your legs at the back of your body. Bounce the ball, and as it is bouncing, reverse your hands,
bring your right from the back to the front and your left from the front to the back. Catch the ball before it
bounces again. Continue to do figure eights.
FIGURE 8 DROP REVERSE
Ball Handling Tip #8: For this drill, follow the procedure described in the Figure Eight Drop Drill, except
that when you bounce the ball, your movement will be reversed. After the bounce, circle the ball around the
outside of your right leg, in front of your left leg, and around your left leg from the front to the back.
FIGURE 8 RUNNING IN PLACE
Ball Handling Tip #9: Move the ball around your legs as in the Figure Eight Drill, but in addition, run in
place.
ONE ON TWO
Ball Handling Tip #10: A good drill to use to better your dribbling under pressure is to try to advance the
ball against two defenders. This will force you to use a variety of manuevers while being alert to the
defense.
PASS AND CATCH
Ball Handling Tip #11: With 2 hands, make a bounce pass between your legs from front to back and catch
the ball with 2 hands behind you. Then bounce the ball through your legs from the back to the front, and
catch the ball in front of your body. This is a good drill for body awareness.
SIT-UP DRIBBLE
Ball Handling Tip #12: While doing bent-knee situps, dribble up with your right hand as you sit up, and
around your feet, then switch hands to your left as you go back down, and then dribble with your left hand
as you sit up, back around your feet, switching back to your right hand. Continue as quickly as possible.
When you are guarding a player without the ball in man to man defense, it is important to be aware of the
"ball/man line". The ball/man line is an imaginary line between your man, and the man with the ball. You
should be on the basket side of the ball man line and away from your man enough to help your teammates.
This position helps form what is called the "defensive triangle."
Basketball Defense Tip #2: COVER DOWN DEFENSE
Whenever the ball penetrates on a pass or a dribble, all players should cover down to the level of the ball
and force it back out. When the ball is dribbled toward the baseline, the nearest help side defender must
quickly stop the ball before it reaches the lane. If the ball is passed to the post, we keep him from dribbling
by quickly covering down. When we cover down to the baseline from on top. When the ball is passed back
out, all players recover to their man. USE THE CLOSEST MAN TO THE BALL RULE ON RECOVERY.
Basketball Defense Tip #3: DEFENSIVE TRIANGLE
On Defense always be able to see your man and the ball (this is when your man doesn´t have the ball).
When your man is ONE pass away, you can deny the player from getting the ball. You must be in adefensive triangle position with you, the ball and your man. Flatten out the triangle, with you at the center
point of the triangle. Try to get a hand in the passing lane (straight line between the ball and your man).
Position your head so that you can see both with your peripheral vision. Then slide up and back with your
man, keeping that triangle position.
Basketball Defense Tip #4: DOUBLE DOWN
This is a defensive strategy that is used when a very good low post player gets the ball. When the ball is
passed to the post, the perimeter (outside) player quickly will double team the post player. This will make it
difficult for a good post player to make their offensive move and force them to pass the ball back out.
Basketball Defense Tip #5: JUMP TO THE BALL
Any time the ball is passed YOU MUST JUMP TO THE BALL to play good defense. Make gradual,
quick, immediate adjustments in your stance. You must be in position before the ball is caught. Jumping to
the ball allows you to be in proper position to front cutters, avoid screens (be a moving target), and help
teammates. Any time the ball is dribbled you must make the proper ball side or help side adjustments in
Basketball Defense Tip #6: QUICK HELP AND EARLY RECOVERY
There is no such thing as helping too quickly. When your teammate steers the ball into the next gap, be
ready to provide quick help with your rear to the ball. When you help, you must recover on line to your
man as the ball is picked up.In all screening situations you must talk, provide quick help and then recover
early.
Basketball Defense Tip #7: STRONGSIDE LANE CLOSURE
Strongside lane closure is the way you play defense when your man passes the ball and cuts to the basket.
As soon as your player passes, make a quick jump to the ball side of your man, and slide down the lane
with your player, putting yourself in the passing lane, and denying a pass from going into your man.
Basketball Defense Tip #8: WEAK-SIDE DEFENSE
When your man is 2 passes away from the ball, you must learn to play weakside or help defense. Help
defense means just that... if someone else´s man is driving to the hoop and has beaten the defender, youmust leave your man and move to a position in front of them with both feet on the ground, (facing the
player) and stop the drive; then once the ball is stopped, go back to your man. Point one hand to your man
and the other to the ball and maintain a position that allows you to see both your man and the ball. Align
yourself with the center of the basketball floor. Stopping the ball, no matter who is guarding him, is your
first concern. This contributes to good team defense.
Basketball Defense Tip #9: WEAK-SIDE LANE CLOSURE
You are in your weakside defensive stance in line with the basket, pointing to your man and the ball.
Weakside lane closure to how you defend a player on the weakside who cuts to the ball.What you must do
as your player cuts towards the ball is to slide up into deny position, make contact with the cutter, and make
him cut behind you. As he cuts behind you, you then still deny the pass into your man.
ON THE BALL DEFENSE
Basketball Defense Tip #1: CLOSE DOWN
This is a strategy to use when you are coming to defend a player from a distance away, such as sprinting
out to your man on a skip pass after help defense . What you do is sprint half way to your player and then in
a low defensive position, use shuffle steps to assume good defensive position.
Basketball Defense Tip #2: CONTEST ALL SHOTS
Never allow an opponent to shoot the ball uncontested. The problem, however, with players attempting to
block shots is the tendency to commit fouls. Therefore, the proper way to contest a shot is to stay on your
feet facing the shooter until the shooter leaves his or her feet, then attempt to get your hand on top of the
basketball. At the very least, get a hand up so it limits his vision of the basket or he has to shoot over you.
While you may not block the shot, you will put the shooter under a maximum amount of pressure.
The proper way to move when guarding the dribbler is to step and push off. This is accomplished by
stepping sideways with the lead foot (the foot closest to the direction in which you wish to go), then
pushing off with your trail foot to catch up. Always keep your feet in contact with the floor. Stay low andkeep your feet wide. Make quick slides.
Basketball Defense Tip #4: HALF A MAN AHEAD
When guarding the dribbler, your head should be even with the ball, which puts you slightly ahead of the
man you are guarding. Make the dribbler turn and change directions. This will slow him down and make it
more difficult for the dribbler to beat you.
Basketball Defense Tip #5: ON THE BALL DEFENSE
One of the most important defensive concepts is the theory of keeping your body between your man andthe basket. Your defensive positioning should always be between the ball and the man you are guarding. Be
within an arms reach of your man, so you can put pressure on the ball. Focus on his belly button...where it
goes, he will go. You can be faked out by his eyes, head and shoulder fakes. Try to make him go where he
doesn´t want to go. From the middle of the court... force him to the sideline. From a wing position, force
him baseline 12-15 feet away from the basket.
Basketball Defense Tip #6: PRESSURE THE BALL
A key to being a good defender is to always put pressure on the ball. Don´t let an offensive player do
anything with the ball--dribble, pass, or shoot--without having one of your hands trying to get into the way.
Force him to his weakest side. Make him go where he doesn´t want to go.
Basketball Defense Tip #7: STANCE
The proper defensive stance is necessary in order to play good defense. On the ball, feet should be shoulder
width apart, with the knees bent, and your butt down and your back straight. Your hands should be outside
your knees with the palms up. You should be low (your nose to your man´s chest) in "nose-chest" position.
When you are low, you can change directions more quickly, which is a key for playing great defense.
Basketball Defense Tip #8: WALL SITS
A great exercise for increasing the strength and stamina needed in the legs for defense is wall sits. Take a
position as if you were sitting in a chair with your back flat against a wall but with nothing underneath youto support your weight. Gradually build up the amount of time that you can do this.
Basketball Defense Tip #9: WATCH HIS MID-SECTION
When guarding the dribbler, watch his midsection (waist). He can´t go anywhere without it, and you won´t
Basketball Defense Tip #1: DEFENSIVE POST POSITION
If a defender is posting you up (having his back to the basket looking for the ball) try to get in front and
deny him the ball. If you can´t, get a good wide base and don´t let him back you in any deeper. Any contact
with his elbows on your chest should be a foul on him.
Basketball Defense Tip #2: HIGH POST DEFENSE
The basic rule for guarding the high post(post player at the free throw line) is to deny the pass in from the
side. This is a position where the defensive player is at the ball side of the post player, with the forward arm
denying the pass into the post. Use the back of your other hand to maintain contact with your man. Whenthe ball moves to the other side, go on the basket side of your man and assume the side denial position on
the other side.
Basketball Defense Tip #3: LOW POST DEFENSE-BALL ABOVE THE FREE THROW LINE
If the ball is above the free throw line extended (imaginary line extending from the free throw line to the
sideline), then you should deny on the high side. You should be chest to chest with the post player with
your arm closest to the ball in the passing lane.
Basketball Defense Tip #4: LOW POST DEFENSE-BALL IS BELOW THE FREE THROW LINE
If the ball is below the free throw line try to get around the post player and "Full Front". Your teammates
will need to help you on any lob pass. The post player probably is not going to want you in this position, so
it is a constant fight for position between the post player and defender. Be active and try to AVOID contact.
The post player will have more trouble "pinning" you in a position where they can receive the ball.
Basketball Defense Tip #5: LOW POST DEFENSE-HE'S PUSHED YOU OUT
The low post player might try to push you out after you "full front". If you get out too far you can release
and get behind so that your feet are OUTSIDE of the key. Now you are between him and the basket and
have him 12´-15´ away. This makes it a tough shot for the offense and you have rebounding position.
the basket THROUGH the corner of the key and the free throw line, on out to half court. The passer should
attempt to get as close to that line with the dribble prior to passing to the wing. This ensures a good angle to
the wing and cuts down on the defense´s chance of denying or intercepting the pass.
Basketball Passing Tip #8: FAKE A PASS-THROW A PASS
When you are prepared to pass the ball while being pressured by a defender, pass fake (which is a fakethrowing the ball in one direction) then pass the ball other way. Fake a bounce pass and throw overhead.
Fake overhead and throw around.This will usually make the defender go for the first pass and clear some
lane for a pass in the opposite direction.
Basketball Passing Tip #9: FEEDING THE POST
One of the biggest problems with passing the ball into the post is passing from bad angles. The passer, the
post player and the basket should all be in a direct line. This forces the defender to pick a side to guard, and
you can get a good angle from which to feed the ball into the low post.
Basketball Passing Tip #10: FOCUS UNDER THE BASKET
In order to be a better passer who gets the ball to the right player at the right time, learn to focus under the
basket. As you develop your peripheral vision, you will learn to see all the players on your team and be
able to pick out who is open without telegraphing your passes.
Basketball Passing Tip #11: KEYS TO PASSING
-Eye contact. -Crisp two handed pass motion. -Pass to the target, if the player is in motion, throw a lead
pass. -Thumbs should be pointing in the direction of the ball after the ball is thrown.
Basketball Passing Tip #12: HAND POSITION FOR THE CHEST PASS
When throwing a chest pass, position your hands on the sides of the ball, both thumbs pointing up. When
the pass is thrown correctly, the hands should rotate so that the backs of the hands face each other and thethumbs point down.
Basketball Passing Tip #13: KNOW THE DEFENDER
A good rule of thumb when passing is to pass around or under a taller opponent, over a shorter one. These
passes will be more difficult for that particular defender to stop.
Basketball Passing Tip #14: OVERHEAD PASS
The ball is held straight up in the air avoiding any bend in the elbows. The ball should not be put behind the
head. The passer extends a leg toward the receiver and delivers the pass with a snap of the wrists. The ball
should be thrown on a straight line with very little spin.
Basketball Passing Tip #15: PASS UP THE COURT
Put a player at each end line, one at each free throw line and another at mid court. Have those players relay
the ball from one end line to the other and back again. To do so take EIGHT passes. Then take the
FASTEST dribbler and have him try to dribble to the opposite end and back before the group of FIVE
players throw EIGHT passes. The passing team ALWAYS wins (unless, of couse, they drop the ball or
really miss a pass). This demonstration usually enlightens young players as to the importance of passing.
When passing the ball, step toward your receiver to put more power behind your pass.
Basketball Passing Tip #17: SEE THE DEFENSE
As important as seeing your teammates is, seeing the DEFENSE may be more important. You are going toKNOW where your players should be through practice and naturally react to their same color uniforms. It
is better if you have a "soft focus" on the floor and see your teammates through your peripheral vision.
However, you should concentrate on where the defense is, attack their weak areas and pass AWAY from
the defensive player.
Basketball Passing Tip #18: TWO HAND BOUNCE PASS
The pass is made with the ball held close to the chest and the elbows in to the side of the body. Push
forward with a thrust of both arms and a snap of the wrists. In releasing the ball, the player steps or puts
weight on the front foot. The passer assumes a slightly lower position and aims his pass for the receiver´s
thighs. The ball should be bounced about three quarters of the way between the players.
After you get the rebound, you need to make a good outlet pass. A good rebounder who can outlet the ball
to the guard can start a fast break on the way to a score. This is a valuable asset to a team. Get the rebound,
pivot away from the defense, and outlet to your guard for the fast break. It is a skill that is not much noticed
by anyone but the coach knows how valuable you are.
FUNDAMENTALS
Basketball Rebounding Tip #1: ATTITUDE AND DESIRE
Statistically, over ninety percent of all rebounds are taken below the rim. Therefore, rebounding is a
product not of great athletic ability, but attitude and desire. Make up your mind that you want to rebound,go after each and every one, and master box out techniques, and you can provide your team with a valuable
asset--a dependable rebounder.
Basketball Rebounding Tip #2: EVERY MISSED SHOT IS A PASS TO YOU!
Perhaps the most important key to being a good rebounder, offensive or defensive, is to assume that every
shot will be missed. If you do this, you will always be willing to get in position, ready to be a rebounder.
Basketball Rebounding Tip #3: HANDS UP
Always keep your hands up at least shoulder high when getting ready to rebound. This will allow you to beready for the rebound that comes off the rim quickly and low. Remember this: shot goes up-hands go up!
Basketball Rebounding Tip #4: WANT THE BALL
Rebounding is a great skill to have as a basketball player. Those players that really WANT the ball and box
out become the best rebounders. They take pride in rebounding. Lean back on your man and keep him out
of rebounding position. A smaller player can be a good rebounder...Make yourself become good at boxing
The key to rebounding is positioning and concentration on the ball. Anticipate the flight of the ball.
Remember that most shots rebound to the opposite side of the basket. Next, you need to concentrate on theball, until it is safely in your hands or rebounded by someone else.
DEFENSIVE REBOUNDING
Basketball Rebounding Tip #1: BOXING OUT AND REBOUND
If you are real close to the basket when the shot goes up, you must "box out" and create some space torebound. To "box out" from your defensive position: Go towards your man and make contact. Pivot so you
“Put your butt to their gut” and just slide with them, keeping them away from the rebound. When boxing
out, keep your man from pushing you in towards the basket, so you can maintain good rebounding position.
(If you let them push you under the basket, the rebound will go over your head). Then go get the rebound!
Basketball Rebounding Tip #2: THE "PERFECT REBOUND"
Rebounding... Most rebounds (90%) are caught below the rim. Try and think out what a perfect rebound is
... The perfect rebound is the one where everyone of your teammates and yourself box out their man so well
that the rebound can be easily caught AFTER it has hit the floor. When one thinks about this "perfect
rebound" concept the team blockouts get better and better.
OFFENSIVE REBOUNDING
Basketball Rebounding Tip #1: OFFENSIVE REBOUNDING
In order to get an offensive rebound, you must get the inside position on your defender, who is trying to
box you out. You must out quick him, or make some kind of move to get that inside position. You can try a
jab step and change directions or you can develop a spin move to get to that position.
Balance is one of the most important things to remember in the game of basketball. To have good physical
balance you should have a wide base of support by keeping your feet at least shoulder width apart. A good
bend at the knees and the waist will also help. Now, try to keep your head just above the midpoint between
both feet. In this position you have the most physical balance possible.
Basketball Footwork Tip #2: GOOD PIVOTING
The pivot is a fundamental skill that can get a player relief from pressure defense, and can be a great skill tohave to begin an offensive move. To pivot, turn on the ball of your foot. Once you choose your pivot foot,
it must maintain contact with the ground until you dribble, shoot or pass. (You can go airborne to shoot or
pass) If your pivot foot moves and you do not dribble, shoot or pass, it is a violation called traveling, and
the ball is awarded to the other team. A reverse or back pivot is when you turn backwards and when you
turn forwards it is called a forward or front pivot.
Basketball Footwork Tip #3: QUICK PIVOTING
When you are wanting to make quick pivots or fast cuts, and keep your balance at the same time, it is
important to keep on the balls of your feet. Since you have to be on the balls of your feet to move anyway,
by playing on them, you will make your move more quickly.
the wrist is directly over the elbow. From the front, the elbow of the shooting hand should be directly in
front of or slightly inside the shoulder, never outside. Now you are in SET POSITION.
4. The Shot - Your shooting action begins the moment you are in set position. Shooting is a one-piece
action in which you quickly jump and uncock the wrist. This quick jumping action generates most of the
power for the shot. The feet barely leave the floor. As the hand comes forward as the wrist is uncocked, the
ball immediately begins to rise up on the fingertips. Quick wrist action and fingertip control give a crispback spin to the ball. For maximum control of the ball, it should come off the tips of the forefinger and
middle finger. To transfer power from the legs to the ball, release the ball just as, or just before, you
complete your jumping action. Make sure the ball leaves the fingertips before the arm straightens in follow
through. As the shooting arm straightens in follow through, the wrist should end up only slightly ahead of
the elbow, which should not be tightly locked. The hand will have completed its full range of motion from
being cocked back to being crisply snapped forward. Throughout the entire shooting action, keep your eyes
focussed on a spot on the back of the rim directly opposite you; stay relaxed so that all the joints,
particularly the wrist of the shooting hand, move very easily. Key Basketball Shooting Tip: The stronger
your legs, the better your jump shot.
The farther you are from the basket, the more power you need. To get more power, increase the flex or
bend in the knees. If necessary, you can lower the shooting position of the ball, but never so low that you
cannot see the basket from under the ball. When you get to a distance from the basket at which you begin toforce the shot, you have reached the limit of your shooting range.
When shooting, you can make yourself taller by jumping higher. However, in doing so, you will not be able
to get as much power from your legs. So, you should jump high only when you are fairly close to the
basket. Again, it is very important that you release the ball as or just before you reach the peak of your
jump. Falling or fading away as you shoot will result in a great loss of power. You should not attempt
learning the fade-away until you have mastered the basic jump shot. Usually only gifted athletes are able to
become proficient at this shot.
Basketball Shooting Tip #3: LAY UPS
A layup is simply a short range shot that usually hits gently off the backboard. Most of the time layups are
preformed while running towards the basket.
To shoot a proper layup you must have your hands and in the correct position. If you are shooting on the
left side of the basket, you would shoot with your left hand, jumping off your right foot and vice versa. If
you are dribbling towards the basket you stop dribbling until you are about 2 feet from the basket. You then
pick up the ball, take one or two more steps and gently bounce the ball against the square on the backboard
before you take your third step (that would be a violation). It is not the ordinary shooting method because
you do not have a helper hand there to guide, it is more of a one handed shot. The way you would do it
would be to have your palm underhand and then with the speed and momentum that you have collected
from dribbling let it hit off the backboard.
Lay-ups are definitely a part of basketball shooting tips, and they are extremely important for you to
1. Line the foot that corresponds with your shooting hand—if you’re right handed, your left foot—up with
the nail that is nailed into the center of every free throw line in every gym, across the country. If you are
shooting outside, try to guess where the center of the foul line is. This guarantees you a level of alignment
with the rim, helpful to your success. Though there are exceptions to the rule, most great free-throw
shooters follow this line of thinking (even if they won’t admit it).
2. Fix your eyes on the front of the rim. Do not use the back of the rim, or, even worse, the white square onthe backboard as your point of reference. Doing so means that you are looking towards a place on the
basket where, if you hit them, you will most probably miss. Whereas, if you aim towards the front of the
rim, your mind automatically tells you to shoot the ball at this point with a trajectory conducive to a
friendly bounce. And even if you hit the front of the rim, if you have the rotation that you should as a
shooter, the ball will roll into the basket.
REPEAT, REPEAT, REPEAT!! Key Basketball Shooting Tip: Practice free throw until they become
automatic.
Basketball Shooting Tip #5: THE JUMP HOOK
In the jump shot, your shoulders and body are square to the basket. In the jump hook, you protect the ball
by keeping your body and non-shooting arm directly between the ball and the opponent guarding you.
1. Getting set for the jump hook is the same as described in jump shot tip above. Stand 2 or 3 ft. directly in
front of the basket. To get set, go through the steps explained in the Jump Shot Tip above UNTIL you get
to shooting, then read the instructions here.
2. Once set, rotate your body ninety degrees so that the shoulder of the non-shooting arm is pointing
directly at the basket. While rotating the body, slide the non-shooting hand along the surface of the ball so
that it ends up directly between the basket and the ball. The shooting hand continues to face the basket. If
you are shooting with your right hand, your forearm should be vertical and the ball should be directly over
your right shoulder. To make yourself as tall as possible, your shooting arm should be fully extended, withonly a slight bend at the elbow. This is the stance for the jump hook.
3. Once set for the jump hook, jump and shoot as explained in the Basic Jump Shot. To protect the ball,
keep the non-shooting hand fully extended, until the ball is well on its way to the basket. Learn to shoot the
jump hook with either hand.
After shooting from a stationary position, work on shooting by stepping on to your non-pivot foot and
raising your pivot foot off the floor (see my tip the Stride Stop Lay-up in the shooting category). For
example, if you want to shoot a jump hook with your right hand, then establish your left foot as the non-
pivot foot. Then, take a step with it, jumping vertically and shooting as you complete the step. To avoid
traveling, make sure your non-pivot foot does not come down to floor until after the ball leaves your hand.
To practice the jump hook with a step-in, do the following. On the left side of the basket, stand at a 45-
degree angle to the backboard about 4 or 5 ft. from the basket. Get set to shoot the basic jump shot. Instead
of shooting the jump shot, step into the paint with your left foot on a line that is parallel to the baseline. As
your left comes to floor, execute the jump hook.
Return to the starting position. Get set. Then step with your right foot toward the baseline on a line that is
parallel to the sideline. Execute the jump hook with your left hand. After several repetitions of each shot,
1) Everyone knows that running is an essential part of playing basketball and it helps you get in shape.
Most people just jog or do sprints but why not dribble when running? This will help you get in shape and
with your dribbling at the same time.
2) The game of basketball requires running. If you can´t run, you can´t play. The most horrible loss you can
have as a team is when you just get outlasted by the opposing team. You must get in shape for basketball,
in which the game is full of sprints and stops; this is how you must train... lots of sprints and lines, resting
in between. Remember, "no pain, no gain"!
3) This common conditioner has many different names. The player starts on the baseline and sprints to the
free throw line, touches the line then sprints back to the baseline. The player repeats this to half court, the
opposite free throw line, then the opposite baseline.
The following tips will work on your quickness, agility, hand-eye coordination, and physicalconditioning:
BASKETBALL CONDITIONING TIP #1: ENHANCING MOVEMENT
The ability to change direction quickly and move laterally or backwards with minimal loss of speed is
contingent upon two factors: (1) an athlete´s ability to send a message from brain to the body about howand when to react; and (2) how well an athlete can coordinate upper and lower extremities while
maintaining balance and speed of movement. Incorporating agility drills that focus on coordination and
reaction time will help in enhancing movement efficiency.
BASKETBALL CONDITIONING TIP #2: 17'S
A 17 is a very common conditioning practice . You start behind one of the sidelines. You run to the other
sideline counting as 1 then you run back to count as 2. You do this until you reach 17. (Always ending on
the opposite side from which you started). To be in very good basketball shape you should be able to do
this in under 1 minute.
BASKETBALL CONDITIONING TIP #3: BALL BOUNCED
Hold the ball in front of you with your legs spread wide. Bounce the ball hard between your legs so that it
will come up behind you. Quickly move your hands behind your back to catch the ball. The harder that you
bounce the ball, the more quickly you will have to move your hands.
Stand next to a basketball with your feet together. Jump back and forth (sideways) over the ball as quickly
as possible. Go for thirty seconds, counting the number of times that you return to the starting point. Try to
better yourself every day.
BASKETBALL CONDITIONING TIP #5: BENCH JUMPING
Either face a bench that is about one and a half feet high or stand beside it. You can either jump over andback or sideways. Feet should be kept together. Go for thirty seconds and count the number of times that
you return to the starting point. Attempt to increase the number every day.
BASKETBALL CONDITIONING TIP #6: CLAP HANDS
Hold the ball behind your knees. Release it, clap your hands in front of your knees, then return your hands
behind your knees and catch the ball before it hits the ground.
BASKETBALL CONDITIONING TIP #7: COBRA
When you are practicing with a partner, you can work on your hand quickness with this drill. Both of you
stand inside the jump circle in a defensive stance. Try to hit the inside of each other´s knees while
remaining inside the circle. Whoever touches the inside of the other´s knees an agreed to number of times is
the winner.
BASKETBALL CONDITIONING TIP #8: FOUR SQUARES
Find a place on the floor where two line intersect. These create four areas that are numbered one through
four. Jump 1-2-3-4, then 4-3-2-1. Count the number of times you return to square #1 in thirty seconds. Try
to better yourself every day.
BASKETBALL CONDITIONING TIP #9: FRONT-BACK-CATCH
Pass the ball from in front of your body to behind it between your legs. Move your hands quickly to behind
your body to catch the ball before it hits the ground. Once you have caught it, pass it back to the front of your body through your legs and catch it again.
BASKETBALL CONDITIONING TIP #10: HAND CLAPS
Start holding a basketball. Toss it up, clap your hands twice, then catch the ball. Repeat, clapping twice.
Continue to increase the number of times that you clap your hands. See how many times you can clap your
hands and still catch the ball.
BASKETBALL CONDITIONING TIP #11: JUMP ROPES
One of the most important pieces of equipment a basketball player can possess is a jump rope. Daily use of
a jump rope will develop stamina, leg strength, agilty and coordination, timing, quickness, and hand-eyecoordination. All of these are extremely important to becoming a good ball player.
BASKETBALL CONDITIONING TIP #12: LANE SHUFFLE
The lane shuffle is a progressive drill that is outstanding for developing body control and coordination. You
shuffle across the foul lane from one line to the other, first touching the line with your outside hand, the
second time touching the line with the inside hand forcing a crossover step, then, the third time, touching
the line with both hands. The drill can be run for a set time period with players counting the number of
times they touch the lines.
BASKETBALL CONDITIONING TIP #13: LINE JUMPS
Stand beside any line on the floor. With your feet together, jump forward and backwards over the line, then
sideways back and forth (two separate exercises). Repeat for thirty seconds, counting the number of timesthat you return to the starting point. Try to better yourself every day.
BASKETBALL CONDITIONING TIP #14: MIMIC MOVES
A basketball player´s quickness and agility program would include drills which emphasize lateral
movement, change of direction, and sudden starts and stops (with or without ball) because these movement
patterns are specific to the sport of basketball. By implementing these drills, inevitably, a basketball
player´s skill acquisition is enhanced.
BASKETBALL CONDITIONING TIP #15: REDUCE GROUND TIME
To develop quicker movements for various drills, a basketball player should strive to reduce the amount of
time spent on the ground when performing drills. Whether a player is fresh or fatigued while performing a
drill, the goal should be to move the feet quickly and forcefully while constantly spending the least amount
of time possible on the ground.
BASKETBALL CONDITIONING TIP #16: SIDE CATCH
Place the ball between your legs with one hand holding it in front of your body and the other behind. Let
the ball go and switch the position of your hands, front to back and back to front, and catch the ball before
it hits the ground.
BASKETBALL CONDITIONING TIP #17: WALL PASSING
A good way to increase both hand quickness and hand-eye coordination is with wall passes. Stand in frontof a wall and pass the ball hard against the wall, catching it upon its return. As you improve your hand
coordination, decrease the distance you stand from the wall so that the ball will come back more quickly