Skills And Techniques

Basketball is one of the simplest sports in the world with the objective being put the ball into the hoop more times than the other team. However, the process in which an individual or team does this is much more complicated than it seems at first glance.

Some of the most important skills that are part of the game of basketball include shooting, dribbling, defense, rebounding, and passing. Outside of these basketball-specific skills the need for good athleticism, jumping ability, speed, and stamina are all important skills in the game too. For example, without the ability to jump, one cannot be good at rebounding or defense just like a player who is not the quickest will most likely not be as good at defense as someone who is faster.

Every skill in basketball can be developed and the techniques involved in this outnumber the main skills of basketball by the hundreds. Drills and techniques are used at all levels of the game to teach the game correctly and to manufacture better players.

Basketball skills can be broken down into two primary categories:

• offensive skills: shooting, rebounding, passing, and dribbling;
• defensive skills: blocking, stealing, and again, rebounding.

Skills: Offense

Shooting

Shooting is one of the five basic skills in basketball and is the direct skill that involves scoring points, the main objective in the game. Shooting a basketball may involve the most specific technique of any of the five basic skills and also may require the most practice to become great and master this skill. The further from the hoop, the more skill involved in the process of shooting which is why only the best shooters have long range ability.

Usually, the best shooters from longer ranges like outside of the three point line have come from the guard position however in recent times shooting has become a skill that even the big men and forwards are mastering which has changed the game entirely. If the player another player is guarding can shoot they become much harder to guard making shooting a very valuable skill to possess on the court.

Every player learns to shoot a basketball with the same basic steps even though every player’s jump shot looks different. The steps of the process are the same in all cases although each player must practice and learn to “find” their jumper and the process that makes them become the best shooter they can be. The basic steps are as follows:

1. Prepare for the shot by setting your feet and squaring your body to the hoop.
2. Upon receiving the ball, place your hands on the ball slightly on the bottom with fingers spread but balanced.
3. Keep a balanced foundation to the jump shot with your legs that were set earlier.
4. Bring the ball to the shooting “pocket”, or where the jump shot will begin to move.
5. Move the eyes to the target (the hoop).
6. Bend the wrist to provide power later as well as keep the elbow underneath the ball.
7. Keep the non-shooting hand still and move the ball through the shooting motion.
8. Follow through the end of the shot and keep on target to ensure consistency.

This is the simple process of shooting the basketball which must be practiced and honed in on individually to become the best shooter a player can be.

Offensive Rebounding

An offensive rebound is obtained when the team that just shot the ball misses and then recaptures the ball again. As a general rule it is tougher for a player to get an offensive rebound than a defensive rebound because after a shot misses the opposing team’s players are closer to the basket and in a better position to grab the ball.

Passing

A pass happens when one player throws the ball to another player with the purpose of setting up a play or taking a shot. In basketball there are two main types of passing. The first type happens when one player throws another player the ball and the receiving player then scores a basket. The player who threw the ball gets credit for an assist.

The second type of pass is just a basic pass from one player to another. There are bounce passes that hit the floor one time, chest passes that are thrown from the player’s upper body, and the spectacular alley-oop pass where one player lobs the ball above the rim and a second player grabs it out of midair and slam dunks.

Dribbling

Dribbling is the art of bouncing the ball up and down off the floor with one hand, in order to advance the ball up the court. It is illegal to touch the ball with both hands simultaneously, i.e. double dribbling. While dribbling, a player should protect the ball to prevent the defender from stealing it. Tips for dribbling include: not looking at the ball, pounding the ball hard, and using the free arm as a shield.

Skills: Defense

Blocking

The block is another spectacular crowd favorite. It occurs when the offensive player shoots and the defender swats the ball away, blocking its trajectory to the basket and preventing any points from being scored.

Stealing

The steal, or taking the ball away from an opposing player to gain possession for your own team, requires quick hands and great timing. A player can steal a pass out of midair or from the other team while someone is dribbling.

Defensive Rebounding

A defensive rebound is obtained when one team misses a shot and the opposing team grabs the ball. An important skill needed to collect defensive rebounds is known as boxing out, a technique by which players use their bodies to shield the opposing team from grabbing the ball.