Have Questions About Basketball? Get Your Answers Here

Of all the different sports commonly played today, basketball has to be one of the most entertaining and exciting. Millions of people love basketball. If you have ever watched the stars on TV and wished you can compete, then this article is for you. The following contains some professional advice from professional players who were once rookies like yourself.

Improving your flexibility will greatly help you during a game. If youre flexible, youll be able to move around defenders better. Flexibility will help you to move better when youre being blocked. Youll be able to do more moves than others which will result in you getting the change to score or pass freely without being blocked.

When dribbling, make sure to keep your head straight up. If you find that you keep looking down at the ball, you havent practiced dribbling enough. You need to gain the advantage of being able to see the court while dribbling. Then you can surprise your opponent with smart passes and quick drives to areas where they are not.

Never pass the ball and stand still. This is a mistake most often made by those new to the game of basketball. Once youve passed the ball, you need to work to get into the best position possible to be passed to again or to grab a rebound from a shot.

Exercise

Want to try a drill which will really work you out? Try dribbling with two balls at once! This will help you learn to master dribbling with both hands, plus it will build your arm muscles very quickly. You cant use your eyes for this exercise, so you will learn to dribble without looking at your hands.

Speed and agility is important, but you need to know how to practice to improve those skills. Running yourself ragged by training for long lengths of time or by running long distances wont benefit your play on the court. Instead, practice sprints and other short bursts of exercise. This better mimics how on the court play really is.

If you want to become a better basketball player, exercise your forearms and your wrists whenever you possibly can. This will significantly help you with your ball handing and control. A strong dribbler always has strong forearms. Practice wrist curls in your exercise routine to improve forearm and wrist strength.

Nutrition

Fueling your body with good nutrition is important for you to play your best in basketball. Include protein, vegetables and complex carbohydrates as part of your training diet. Avoid high sugar drinks because they may provide quick energy but they will quickly let you down later in the game. Drink plenty of water to make sure you stay hydrated.

Never underestimate the importance of proper nutrition and hydration. Your body needs proper nourishment to build muscles. Those muscles also need hydration and potassium to be able to keep from cramping up. You wouldnt play basketball with a ball half full of air, so dont play an important game without the proper nutrition and hydration.

After a grueling basketball practice or a tough game, it is essential to provide your body with the nutrition it needs to recover. Ideally, you should consume carbohydrates, and a small amount of protein within about 2 hours to promote muscle recovery and prevent fatigue. Healthy recovery snacks may include bananas, raisins or other fruits.

You can now easily ascend from rookie to professional by following the tips above. Each idea is proven to improve your skills on the field. There is nothing holding you back from getting on the court and taking the game into your own hands. Get control of the ball and get control of the game.