There are few countries where basketball isn’t played. All players have skill that they use to assist their team in winning. If you need to improve some of your skills, keep reading for tips to help you do just that.

TIP! When using the ball a lot, you must relearn a crossover. When you do a crossover, you move the basketball very fast from one hand over to the other hand.

You can easily focus on offense when learning to play basketball, however, you must really focus how playing defense. Basketball games are won because of good defense. While offensive players sometimes seem like the stars of the show, it is the efforts of defensive players that allow them to shine.

Keep your head up when you dribble. Anyone who watching the ball while they dribble surely needs to spend more time in the gym practicing. You can practice dribbling almost anywhere. On your way to the grocery store, practice your dribbling. You will not be able to see what’s happening before you on the court while beholding the ball.

TIP! Work on pass catches. Make sure you get used to catching less than perfect passes smoothly.

Concentrate on your strong points if you want to improve your game. Your strengths might not make you a star player, but you’ll be contributing a lot to your team. Realize your limitations, and roll with your talents.

How would you like to trick the opposing team? Try the back pass. Perform this pass by holding the ball using your dominant hand. Then, move the ball so it is behind your back. Flip your wrist towards the site where you want the ball to go. This should make it easy to trick the other team.

Core Muscles

If you have a child who has expressed interest in becoming a basketball player in high school, make sure he trains his core muscles. Core muscles include the hips, abs, and lower back. Core muscles are the connectors between arms and legs. If the core muscles are weak, basketball performance will suffer. A solid and strong core lets force that comes from the legs get used for beneficial movements when playing, like faster running and higher jumping.

TIP! A smart tip to follow while playing basketball is to always keep your eye on the ball and not away from the play. This can help you to avoid surprises by fast passes, help you keep an eye on the rest of the court, and allow you to spot potential turnovers.

If you get injured while playing basketball, do not try to play through the pain. Basketball is hard to play well even when you are healthy, so don’t push it. By “playing through the pain” you take a huge risk that the injury will become much worse. Be sure to seek medical care if you have a serious injury.

Understanding your opponent is a good way to shut him down on defense. Watch taped games, and keep current with scouting reports. For example, you might look to see which players favor their left side and which have dominant right hands. Knowing an opponent’s dribbling, passing and shooting styles gives you a definite edge on defense. A smart defender is someone who is good at his position.

TIP! The key for controlling the ball well is to spread your fingers. This will help you keep a better grip on the ball.

Build your core strength and work on your footwork. This allows your body to be in balance and be more explosive on the court. Focus on the back, buttocks, and hip muscle groups. As with boxing, you can increase footwork speed and dexterity by jumping rope.

Watch your shoulders and their position if you notice yourself developing a slump in your shooting. Regardless of your skill level, if you don’t have your shoulders positioned correctly, you will miss. Your shoulders should always be square towards the basket. Your shooting arm’s shoulder also needs to be exactly lined up with the rim.

TIP! Get someone to analyze how you play on tape. Are you able to look at your skills in a different light? When looking at the tape, don’t be too critical, but be honest.

If your opponent is pressing hard, you can give yourself some room to work by dribbling the ball between your legs. To practice this skill, bounce the ball between your legs so that it passes through as you step back and forth. Mastering this move can help give you an advantage on the court.

Strength Training

TIP! Use the foot opposite of the hand you shoot with for a better layup. This will allow you to shoot with your comfortable hand.

In order to improve your game, make sure you do plenty of strength training. It’s important to have stamina and strength when playing basketball. Children that are young are also able to get benefits from getting stronger arms and legs if they exercise right. When they become teenagers, they will be able to step up to weight work to become even stronger. Strength training is essential once you reach the adult years.

Always stay low when playing defensively. That helps you stay quick when it comes to the jump and will help you react more quickly to the person just ahead of you. Always maintain a defensive position during game play. When rebounding or blocking, you break the stance, but then you must get back in the stance quickly.

TIP! To help you shoot better free throws you need to come up with a consistent routine. If you’re consistent, your shots will be too.

Most basketball players seek to enhance their techniques so they play a better game. After you’ve read the article above, you should know more on how to better your own game. Keep these tips in mind during your next practice to improve your game.