Social sports club in Wimbledon, London

The Basic Skills

Passing

Passing the ball is when a player throws the ball to on of his teammates. The purpose of passing is to advance the ball up the court as quickly as possible. It is also very useful to improve the shooting position of your partners.

Here are some tips when passing the ball to a team-mate:

• Try to keep a good balance, while bending your knees. The most important is that you feel comfortable keeping your back straight and your head up.
• Ball is held with fingers and spread, thumbs behind the ball and elbow bent.
• Step toward your target as you pass.
• Snap your wrist and fingers while releasing the ball.
• Point your fingers at the receiver and keep your thumbs down.
• Pass away from your defenders.

Dribbling

Dribbling is usually used to advance the ball on the offensive side of the court when passing is not possible. Players also dribble to get better shooting and passing opportunities. To dribble bounce the ball with one hand onto the ground.

Here are some dribbling tips:

• keep a good balance, while bending your knees. The most important is that you feel comfortable keeping your back straight and your head up.
• Dribble just a little above your knee height.
• Spread your finger to get a good control of the ball.
• Use one hand to dribble on top of the ball and the other one to protect yourself from the defense.
• It is better to genteelly bounce the ball rather than bouncing it to hard on the floor.
• Practice dribbling with equally well with both hands without looking the ball.

Shooting

Shooting is the action of throwing the ball at the basket. A players shoots to try to increase the score of its team. A successful shoot can give 1, 2 or 3 points depending on where and how is being thrown.

Some shooting tips:

• keep a good balance, while bending your knees. The most important is that you feel comfortable keeping your back straight and your head up.
• Keep your eyes on the target and to direct your finger toes toward the target.
• Point your elbow at the ring, to keep it under the ball so that you feel comfortable.
• Grip the ball off the palm and to spread your fingers to cradle the ball.
• Lock the elbow and snap the wrist once you’ve shot.

Rebounding

Rebounding is one of the most important parts of the game. A player is rebounding when jumping to catch the ball after a shot as been missed. You can take offensive and defensive rebounds depending whether you are attacking or defending the basket.

Rebounding tips:

• Keep a good balance, while bending your knees. The most important is that you feel comfortable keeping your back straight and your head up.
• block out, by keeping they arm up and trying to take as much space as possible under the ring.
• see every shot as a missed one.
• to anticipate the trajectory of missed shots.
• to protect the ball after catching it.

Defense

Defense is used to react to the offensive player’s movement and to prevent him from passing, shooting or progressing toward the hoop you are defending.

Defense tips:

• keep a good balance, while bending your knees. The most important is that you feel comfortable keeping your back straight and your head up.
• always keep control of the ball and be energetic.
• make short steps and avoid crossing feet.
• anticipate the movement of your opponent.
• make sure that your available hand is always ready for the pass.