Basketball Shooting Technique, Fundamentals, and Form

Basketball Shooting Technique, Fundamentals, and Form
If you want to be a superb shooter, you MUST HAVE very good shooting form and technique. However, you don't need "perfect" shooting form.

In other words, your shooting form will never be 100%, and you don't want to be robotic.

With that said, you'll never be a great shooter unless you have "satisfactory" form and mechanics.

It's very common for players to have fatal flaws in their approach, and frankly they have no chance of becoming consistent shooters.

Stationary Basketball Shooting Form and Technique
In this section, we give you the raw form and mechanics of stationary shooting. In other words, this section does NOT address the fundamentals of shooting on the move and more advanced footwork you'll need for game situations.

Here's a quick roadmap of the stationary shooting fundamentals that we'll be covering:

1. Eyes on Target
2. Stance and Balance
3. Shot Pocket
4. Grip
5. Balance Hand
6. Delivery
7. Upforce and Landing
8. Follow Through
9. Correct Shot

EYES ON TARGET

• To improve accuracy, locate the target (rim) as early as possible.
• Keep your eyes on the target and do not follow the flight of the ball.
• Keeping your target focus is very important!

STANCE AND BALANCE

• Feet are shoulder width apart for good balance.
• Feet should be in a slightly staggered stance that is consistent and comfortable for you. Your shooting foot is slightly ahead of the non-shooting foot in a comfortable position.
• Point your feet in the general direction of the basket, but not necessarily directly at it. We prefer an open stance, but you can also use the closed (squared) stance if that's more comfortable for you. With an open stance, your feet point towards one side of the basket. For example, a right handed shooter will point his or her feet just to the left of the rim for a more natural position and shooting motion.
• Once you develop a comfortable stance, line up your feet the exact same way on every shot. Whatever stance you use, consistency is critical.
• Flex/bend your knees on every shot.

SHOT POCKET

• As you catch the ball, move it quickly into the shot pocket.
• Line everything up so the ball and your shooting eye form a straight line to the basket. This is VERY important.
• Position the ball several inches above your waist.
• Grip the ball properly and be ready to shoot.
• Position the ball in your shot pocket the SAME way every time you catch it.

GRIP

• Place the air hole between the middle and index fingers.
• Line up your fingertip pads parallel to the long seams of the ball, so you can monitor the back spin.
• Leave space between the ball and the middle of your palm. You should be able to insert a pencil between the ball and your palm area.

• Spread your fingers far enough apart to comfortably balance the ball in one hand.
• The ball should sit on your finger pads.

BALANCE HAND

• Your non-shooting hand should be on the side of the ball.
• Your balance hand should not add force or spin to the shot.

• Your non-shooting hand should not move on delivery and should ALWAYS come off the ball FIRST.

DELIVERY

• The ball should start motion directly upwards from the shot pocket (no dipping of the ball).
• Your elbow should be positioned comfortably under the ball.
• The ball stays in front of you and should not go behind your head.

• Uncoil your body with your legs, core, and arm power all coordinated.
• Your elbow and wrist should extend in a straight line to the basket.

• Your shooting hand should extend in a straight line to the rim.
• Hand position on delivery is very important. The ball should come off the hand with perfect symmetrical backspin.
• As shown in the picture to the right, your guide hand stays to the side and does not influence the flight of the ball. 

UPFORCE AND LANDING

• Release the ball on the way up, just before the top of your jump.
• Use your legs to generate upforce.
• You should land in the same spot that you jumped, which shows that you have good balance on your shot.

 














 
FOLLOW-THROUGH

• Your wrists should be floppy (relaxed).
• Fingers should be pointed at the target (rim).
• Finish high. You should see your fingers at the top square of the back board.
• Hold your follow through position until the ball hits the rim. 

 source : http://www.breakthroughbasketball.com/fundamentals/shooting-technique.html

Basketball dribbling tehnique

Basketball Dribbling Fundamentals
1) Basic Technique
Cup your dribbling hand with your fingers spread comfortably with the dribble being a push-pull motion of your arm, wrist and fingers. You'll initiate the dribble with an elbow extension and flexion of your fingers and wrist. As the ball bounces back up, meet it with your fingers, with your wrist absorbing the force. Control the ball with your fingers and pads of your hands, not the palms. Keep your non-dribbling hand up for protection.

Control is the key. Practice dribbling with your hand the following areas of the ball: directly on top, in front, behind, right side and left side.

2) Control, or Low Dribble
Use this when you're closely guarded. Keep your body between the ball and the defender. Dribble the ball at knee level or lower and slightly away from your body so it's harder for the defender to knock it away. Advance the ball with a step and slide movement. Keep your free hand up to protect the ball while keeping you dribbling arm close to your body. If you keep you head up and eyes off the ball, you'll be able to spot open teammates or openings for you.

3) Speed, or High Dribble
Use this type of basketball dribbling when you need to advance the ball quickly: quick drives to the basket, fast breaks or following a steal in the open court. Keep your body nearly erect, leaning forward slightly. Extend your dribbling arm fully, pushing the ball out in front of your body. Keep the ball near waist level or higher to help maintain maximum speed. Be sure to develop your confidence in doing this technique without looking at the ball and dribbling well with either hand. Once this fundamental is mastered, getting up and down the court quickly will be a breeze.

4) Crossover Dribble
This technique is good to use when you're being overplayed. It helps you change direction quickly. When your foot on the dribbling side contacts the floor, push off hard toward your opposite foot and bounce the ball across your body with a quick flick of your wrist and fingers (flick the ball with your dribbling hand by pushing from slightly outside the ball). The lower you bounce the ball, the quicker your crossover. Take a step with the foot on the receiving side as your receiving hand gets the ball on a short hop. Quickness is extremely important with this basketball dribbling fundamental. A good advantage is you always maintain visual contact with the game action. The disadvantage is it's easy to expose the ball to your defender if you're not careful.

5) Spin, or Reverse Dribble
Another change of direction technique. It's good if the crossover isn't available because you're guarded too closely. Advantage: You keep your body between the defender and the ball. Disadvantage: You lose sight for a moment of your teammates and the basket. If you're dribbling right and need to go left - stop, plant your left foot and pivot on it as you spin in the opposite direction with your back to the defender. Keep the ball close to your body as you spin and switch it to your left hand. As you complete the turn, dribble with your left hand and keep your head up to see the floor.

6) Change-of-Pace
The idea here is to make your defender think you are slowing down and then, as they relax, you speed right by them. As you slow down, straighten slightly, plant your lead foot and bring your head up a bit. This creates the illusion that you are about to stop and your defender will relax. Then accelerate quickly and use a low dribble to get by the defender. Practice this going from slow to fast and back to slow again. It's very difficult to defend once you perfect it!

7) Behind-the-Back
Another way to change direction and you'll always maintain visual contact with game action with this basketball dribbling fundamental. If you're dribbling with your right hand, slide your hand to the outside of the ball as you put your weight on your right foot. Flick the ball behind your back above the back of your knee and across the back of your thigh as you move your left foot forward. Catch the ball with your left hand and continue dribbling. Make sure to get your left leg forward so the ball has room to come under your left hand for a smooth transition.

8) Pull-Back Dribble
This will give you space you're double-teamed or the defender tries to run and jump at you. Retreat two steps back as you use the control dribble. Use a step-slide movement by pushing off your front foot and sliding back with your rear foot. As always, keep your head up and keep dribbling until you can pass it off.

9) Between-the-Legs Dribble
basketball dribbling This works well when you're being overplayed. If you're dribbling with your right hand, keep the ball low and switch it to your left hand. Bounce the ball through your legs with a quick flick of your wrist, fingers and lower arm.

How to Dribble a Basketball Between the Legs


source : http://www.basketball-plays-and-tips.com/basketball-dribbling.html

basketball passing techniques

Developing good passing skills in basketball is imperative to any player. Passing allows you to retain control of the ball and can create easy shots and lay-ups. A team that can pass effectively will not only get into better positions during a match but will also expend far less energy in doing so. On the other hand, a team which utilises poor passing techniques will suffer greatly as one bad pass often leads to another, with the recipient off balance and lacking control.

Why make a pass?
Sometimes it can be all too tempting to go for glory on the basketball court, even if you're not in a great position. However, passing travels much faster than dribbling (and also imposes stricter control on the ball), so if you see a teammate ahead of you in an open position, pass the ball to them. This is much more likely to result in success. Passing is also a necessary skill to use when being heavily defended in an attacking area, even if you think you are in a good position.

Types of passing
There are numerous different types of basketball pass but some are used more often and generally have a greater impact on the game than others.

The chest pass
This is the safest and most accurate pass you can use. It is safe because higher passes which loop upwards are likely to be intercepted by the opposing team. Chest level is also the easiest area of the body to receive a pass. Passes that arrive below chest level are difficult to catch and are likely to be less controlled.

To perform a chest pass, hold the basketball close to your chest, with your fingers spread around the ball. As you push the ball to your teammate (after making eye contact with them to ensure they realise the pass is about to be made), take a step forward and extend your arms sharply. As your arms straighten after releasing the ball, snap your wrists inward. Your thumbs should be together and pointing downwards, whereas your fingers should always follow the direction of your target.

The overhead pass
Despite dangers of interception, the overhead pass can be useful for getting the ball over defenders who are marking you tightly. It can also be used with success when there is an obvious height difference between you and the defender.

To perform an overhead pass, hold the ball above your head using your fingers to cup it. When making the pass, release the ball from behind your head rather than directly over it. Make sure you exaggerate the flicking movement in your fingers and wrists as this will provide much of the power in the pass.

The bounce pass
This pass is useful when you are being tightly marked or when you are dribbling with the ball because you will already have forward momentum with which to power the pass.

To perform a bounce pass, firstly draw the defender to one side of you by faking a move, then pass the ball under their outstretched arms. Keep your centre of gravity low in order to complete this move successfully. To keep the ball down, push it with your fingers in the direction of your teammate. Always check your angles when making a bounce pass: ensure the ball hits the ground two-thirds of the distance towards your teammate.

The behind the back pass
Other types of passes which are used less often include the behind the back pass, which refers to the skill of placing the ball behind your back with one hand and then flicking your wrist in the direction you wish the ball to travel. This is an excellent deceptive pass and useful in tight situations.

Basketball Passing - Drills



source : http://www.talkbasketball.co.uk/guides/basketball_skills_passing.html

correct size of Basketball

A basketball is a spherical inflated ball used in the game of basketball. Basketballs typically range in size from very small promotional items only a few inches in diameter to extra large balls nearly a foot in diameter used in training exercises to increase the skill of players. The standard size of a basketball in the NBA is 29.5 to 29.875 inches (75 to 75.88 cm) in circumference.[1]

Nearly all basketballs have an inflatable inner rubber bladder, generally wrapped in layers of fiber and then covered with a tacky surface made either from leather (traditional), rubber, or a synthetic composite. As in most inflatable balls, there is a small opening to allow the pressure to be increased or decreased.

The surface of the ball is nearly always divided by "ribs" that are recessed below the surface of the ball in a variety of configurations and are generally a contrasting color. An orange surface with black ribs and a possible logo is the traditional color scheme of basketballs but they are sold in various colors.

Balls are generally designated for indoor (generally made of leather or absorbent composites), or all-surface use (generally made of rubber or durable composites, also known as Indoor/Outdoor balls). Indoor balls tend to be considerably more expensive than all-surface balls due to cost of materials. In addition, brand new all-leather indoor balls must be "broken in" first to achieve optimal grip before use in competition. The abrasiveness of asphalt and the dirt and moisture present in an outdoor setting will usually ruin an indoor ball within a very short period of time, which is why an indoor/outdoor ball is recommended for recreational players.

Aside from the court and the baskets, the basketball is the only piece of equipment necessary to play the game of basketball. During the game, the ball must be bounced continuously (dribbling), thrown through the air to other players (passing) and towards the basket (shooting). Therefore, the ball must be very durable and easy to hold on to. The basketball is also used to perform tricks (sometimes called freestyling), the most common of which are spinning the ball on the tip of one's index finger, dribbling in complex patterns, rolling the ball over one's shoulder, or performing aerobatic maneuvers with the ball while executing a slam dunk, most notably in the context of a slam dunk contest.


source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basketball_%28ball%29

Standard size of basketball court

Pro (NBA), College, High School and Junior High School courts differ on overall size an layout, but the interior markings for the “Foul Line”, “The Key” and “The Backboard and Rim” are the same. The NBA court has a unique 3 point line (arc). College and High School Courts share the same 3 point line measurements.

Regulation Sizes-Official Measurements:

Court Size Overall:

NBA and College – 94 feet long and 50 feet wide

The Foul Line:

For all courts including the NBA, the “foul line” distance is 15 feet from the foul line to the front of the backboard

The Key:

Standard for all basketball courts, “the key” (sometimes called “the lane”) is 12 feet wide.

Regulation courts have the backboard extending out 4 feet over the baseline into the key. A 6 foot arc (half circle) extends from the foul line away from the basket to complete the key.

The 3 Point Line (Arc):

NBA – the 3 point arc is 22 feet to the center of the rim on the sides with a straight line extending out 16 feet 9 inches from the baseline. Past those points the line extends out 23 feet 9 inches from the center of the rim.

The Backboard and Rim:

The regulation distance from the ground to the top of the rim is 10 feet for all levels of play. Regulation backboards are 6 feet wide (72 inches) by 42 inches tall. All basketball rims (hoops) are 18 inches in diameter. The inner square on the backboard is 24 inches wide by 18 inches tall.

All line markings on the floor are 2 inches wide and can vary in color.

source : http://www.sportsknowhow.com/basketball/dimensions/nba-basketball-court-dimensions.html

History of Basketball

Dr. James Naismith, Inventor of Basketball
KU Basketball Program Founder

Dr. James Naismith is known world-wide as the inventor of basketball. He was born in 1861 in Ramsay township, near Almonte, Ontario, Canada. The concept of basketball was born from Naismith's school days in the area where he played a simple child's game known as duck-on-a-rock outside his one-room schoolhouse. The game involved attempting to knock a "duck" off the top of a large rock by tossing another rock at it. Naismith went on to attend McGill University in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

After serving as McGill's Athletic Director, James Naismith moved on to the YMCA Training School in Springfield, Massachusetts, USA in 1891, where the sport of basketball was born. In Springfield, Naismith was faced with the problem of finding a sport that was suitable for play inside during the Massachusetts winter for the students at the School for Christian Workers. Naismith wanted to create a game of skill for the students instead of one that relied solely on strength. He needed a game that could be played indoors in a relatively small space. The first game was played with a soccer ball and two peach baskets used as goals. Naismith joined the University of Kansas faculty in 1898, teaching physical education and being a chaplain.

James Naismith devised a set of thirteen rules of basketball:

1. The ball may be thrown in any direction with one or both hands.
2. The ball may be batted in any direction with one or both hands, but never with the fist.
3. A player cannot run with the ball. The player must throw it from the spot on which he catches it, allowance to be made for a man running at good speed.
4. The ball must be held in or between the hands. The arms or body must not be used for holding it.
5. No shouldering, holding, pushing, striking or tripping in any way of an opponent. The first infringement of this rule by any person shall count as a foul; the second shall disqualify him until the next goal is made or, if there was evident intent to injure the person, for the whole of the game. No substitution shall be allowed.
6. A foul is striking at the ball with the fist, violations of Rules 3 and 4 and such as described in Rule 5.
7. If either side make three consecutive fouls it shall count as a goal for the opponents (consecutive means without the opponents in the meantime making a foul).
8. Goal shall be made when the ball is thrown or batted from the ground into the basket and stays there, providing those defending the goal do not touch or disturb the goal. If the ball rests on the edge and the opponents move the basket, it shall count as a goal.
9. When the ball goes out of bounds, it shall be thrown into the field and played by the first person touching it. In case of dispute the umpire shall throw it straight into the field. The thrower-in is allowed five seconds. If he holds it longer, it shall go to the opponent. If any side persists in delaying the game, the umpire shall call a foul on them.
10. The umpire shall be judge of the men and shall note the fouls and notify the referee when three consecutive fouls have been made. He shall have the power to disqualify men according to Rule 5.
11. The referee shall be the judge of the ball and decide when it is in play in bounds, to which side it belongs, and shall keep the time. He shall decide when a goal has been made and keep account of the goals with any other duties that are usually performed by a referee.
12. The time shall be two 15-minute halves with five minutes' rest between.
13. The side making the most goals in that time shall be declared the winners.

In addition to the creation of the basketball, James Naismith graduated as a medical doctor, primarily interested in sports physiology and what we would today call sports science and as Presbyterian minister, with a keen interest in philosophy and clean living. Naismith watched his sport, basketball, introduced in many nations by the YMCA movement as early as 1893. Basketball was introduced at the Berlin Olympics in 1936. Naismith was flown to Berlin to watch the games. He died in Lawrence, Kansas, in 1939.

Today basketball has grown to become one of the world's most popular sports.

source : http://www.kansasheritage.org/people/naismith.html

street basketball

Streetball or street basketball is a variation of the sport of basketball, typically played on outdoor courts and featuring significantly less by way of formal structure and enforcement of the game's rules. As such, its format is more conducive to allowing players to publicly showcase their own individual skills.
Some cities in the United States have organized streetball programs, operated similarly to midnight basketball programs. Many cities also host their own weekend-long streetball tournaments, with Hoop-It-Up and the Houston Rockets' Blacktop Battle being two of the most popular. In recent years,[when?] streetball has seen an increase in media exposure through television shows such as ESPN's "Street basketball" and "City Slam", as well as traveling exhibitions such as the AND1 Mixtape Tour, YPA, and Ball4Real. The AND1 Mixtape Tour has featured streetball players of fame, including Bonafide, Skip to My Lou, Main Event, The Professor, Hot Sauce, 50, and AO. AND1 players have made annual tours around America to recruit the next streetball legend. This recruiting has since been edited for airing as "Street Ball" on ESPN and ESPN 2. It is also parodied in the movie Like Mike 2: Streetball as 'Game On'.



source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streetball