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How to practice basketball without a court
How to practice basketball without a court
USA Basketball - No Court? No Problem for Creative Coaches
The term "creating space" has always had a definitive meaning in sports. Whether it is a shooting guard in basketball working to get off a shot or a wide receiver in football trying to get open or pick up yards after a catch, "creating space" is the term likened to distancing oneself from a defender.
In youth sports practices, the term takes on a different meaning. Coaches are frequently handcuffed by the lack of available practice fields, gyms or even ice time.
For basketball practice, court time is at a premium and coaches sometimes must make do with only one rim and 12 kids. In baseball, especially in areas with seasonal changes like the northeast, the supply of fields cannot keep up with coaches' demands. How are coaches supposed to rectify situations like this and run effective practices with limited space?
When I first began coaching youth sports, I remember showing up at a field to practice and another team had just stepped on the field before us.![]()
My coaching staff and I stood there looking at each other. I got the team together and told them sheepishly that practice was canceled.
Luckily most of the parents hadn't left, so the kids' rides were still there. Had I been more prepared and creative, I could have moved the practice from the intended field to any safe alternate, including a much smaller grass field or even a parking lot.
Coaches can be creative and run efficient practices in even the smallest or oddest of places.
In basketball, coaches can integrate a number of ball-handling drills involving the whole team. Stationary drills such as passing the ball around the body starting with the neck then moving down the body, to the waist and then each leg is a favorite of players.
The "Ball Switch" drill is also popular and builds up hand quickness. In this quick ball-handling drill, the player will hold the ball between his legs, one hand in front and one hand in back.
The player will then switch hands, moving both hands simultaneously going from front-to-back and vice-versa without letting the ball touch the ground. If a young or inexperienced player can't do this drill right away, he can bounce the ball, and then switch hands with the front hand going in back and the back hand going in front, catching the ball after one bounce.
The benefit of this drill is that it enhances a player's coordination and develops quick hands. The player can challenge himself and see how fast he can do this. Again, the whole team can do this drill in a small confined area.
These are examples of optimizing limited space when challenged with less than optimal surroundings. Coaches need to make up two lists of drills at the beginning of the season. One list will have drills that are used on the regular court and the other list will have alternate drills for a smaller practice area. Coaches need to map out the props they will need and keep these in their trunk.
Youth sports practice time is valuable because coaches can actually teach the sport and have the kids learn from their mistakes.
Don't let limited space change your practice plans. Be creative and create space!
How Can I Practice Basketball Indoors? [5 Suggestions] – FitSeer.com
Whether you're on a sports team or a casual player, chances are that if you play basketball, you practice every chance you get. But it's not always possible to get outside and play on a court or practice with your team in the gym. So, you might be wondering how you can practice basketball indoors. To help you improve your game, we brought you the answer.
Here are some suggestions for practicing basketball indoors:
- Do drills
- Practice in the basement
- Spend some time at your local recreation center
- Learn the rules
- Work out regularly
If you still have some questions about maximizing your basketball potential by practicing indoors, don't worry.
In this post, we'll discuss the topic in more detail. Let's take a look at each of these suggestions to see how you can best implement them in your practice.
When you buy through links on Fitseer.com, we may earn an affiliate commission.
1. Do Drills
Basketball involves many skills, and you can spend all week simply improving them through drills. Be sure to switch them up so that you become a well-rounded player.
Dribbling Drills
Dribbling drills can help you better handle the ball while you are going down the court. Since you must be dribbling at all times while you are moving, it is important that you learn how to do this effectively.
How Can I Dribble At Home Without Making Noise?
While basketball may be your passion, some people may not appreciate the noise that comes with practicing. Luckily, there are ways to practice without disturbing your neighbors.
Use A Smaller Ball
Tennis balls bounce as well as basketballs without all of the noise.
If you want to practice dribbling but need to be quiet, use a tennis ball instead.
For more information on using a tennis ball to practice dribbling, take a look at this article: Does Dribbling A Tennis Ball Help With Basketball?
Practice On Carpet
Choose a room in your home that is carpeted. While there will still be noise, it will be quieter than practicing on hardwood or tile floors. If you don't have carpet in your home, you can lay down an area rug while you are practicing.
Use A Trampoline
Matthew Farremi of the LI Herald discusses an innovative solution designed to reduce noise during dribbling practice. The device, invented by NBA All-Star Tim Hardaway, is a small T-shaped trampoline. The T-shape helps players position themselves correctly and reduces noise.
If you are lucky enough to find a Dream Silencer, it might be worth it to invest in one. If not, a small trampoline could work just as well.
Shooting Drills
It is easier to practice shooting when you have sufficient space to do so.
Simply shooting the ball and getting under the basket for a rebound will help you increase your speed, improve accuracy, and build endurance.
However, shooting drills can also come in the form of throwing the ball up in the air and catching it to focus on your form and hand-eye coordination.
How Can I Shoot Better Without A Hoop?
A hoop is a very important part of basketball, so practicing without one might seem pointless. However, there are plenty of ways you can practice your shots when you don't have a hoop available. Focus on skills that will improve your shooting or create a hoop of your own to practice with.
Focus On Footwork
Shooting a basket isn't only about putting the ball into the hoop. You also need to work on your stance and movements. If you don't have a hoop available, spend some time working on your footwork to practice getting where you need to be to take your shots.
Make Your Own Hoop
All you need for a DIY hoop is some cardboard, a wire hanger, scissors, paint, and tape.
Use the cardboard to create the backboard and bend your wire hanger into a circle. Attach the hanger to your new backboard and attach the whole project to a wall.
You can use the paint or markers to add details to the backboard, making it easier for you to visualize the real hoop you'll be using when you play. You may need a lighter ball for your homemade hoop, but you can still practice all aspects of shooting this way!
Watch Tutorials
A Quora user suggests watching tutorials and videos, paying attention to form. Then, you can use a basketball, or any ball you have available, to replicate that form at home. When you're back in front of a hoop, you'll have improved form when you may not have thought of focusing on that before.
Take a look at this video to learn some helpful shooting drills:
Handling Drills
Simply being able to handle the ball without fumbling it or losing it to another player is a helpful thing to practice.
These drills are important for increasing skill and can easily be done indoors.
How Can I Improve My Ball Handling At Home?
Working on your ball handling is easy to do at home as long as you have access to a basketball and a flat surface. Drills that require you to move the ball from one hand to the other or around your body will help you improve your hand-eye coordination and increase your ability to handle the ball.
Take a look at this video for some drill ideas:
How Long Should You Do Ball Handling Drills?
Basketball experts recommend different lengths of time for drills, from 5-6 minutes per drill to 10-15 minutes in total. However, everyone seems to agree that you shouldn't focus too much time on one skill. You should practice all skills equally to become a good all-around player.
How Do I Get Better At Dribbling Without Dribbling?
The key to good dribbling is knowing how to handle the ball.
If you are unable to practice your dribbling, you can still improve your skills by practicing your handling and footwork.
2. Practice In The Basement
If you are lucky enough to have a basement, that may be a great place to practice your basketball. You won't have to worry about bothering anyone because the basement is secluded from the rest of the house.
Depending on the size of your basement, you can set up a makeshift basketball court. Whether you can put basketball hoops at each end or will have to make them, having a full court will help you practice more skills. If you don't have enough room for a court, you can still practice drills without interruption.
If you are considering making a court indoors, take a look at these articles for some guidance:
How High Should The Ceiling Be For An Indoor Basketball Court?
How Big Is A Basketball Backboard?
3. Visit Your Local Recreation Center
Practicing indoors does not mean that you have to limit yourself to your home.
Most recreation centers have a gym available for basketball and other sports.
You can run drills or practice shooting if you are alone. However, there are many opportunities for pick-up games as well, allowing you to practice with other players.
4. Learn The Rules
Getting better at basketball isn't just about the physical practice. Use your time indoors to brush up on rules and techniques of the game so you don't risk fouling out when you are playing with your team. You can also watch basketball games on television and let other players model some skills for you.
5. Work out Regularly
Again, practicing and preparing for basketball isn't limited to the act of playing the game. Weight training improves your strength and prepares your muscles for the strain of playing basketball.
Cardio workouts can help improve your endurance so that you can easily meet the demands of running the court continuously.
In Closing
Being stuck indoors doesn't need to hinder your basketball practice.
Whether you practice in your home or travel to a local gym or recreation center, there are plenty of ways to practice.
If you are an avid basketball player, it may be worth it to invest in creating a space for you to practice basketball on a daily basis. Whether you install basketball hoops in your basement or purchase some workout equipment, you will easily put all of your efforts to good use.
If you are a casual player or don't have the space at home, you can still practice indoors. Do simple drills that don't take up a lot of time or space. You can also spend more time learning and understanding the game so you are more prepared when you head to the court. From YouTube to sports channels, you will never be without inspiration to draw from.
How to learn to play basketball, when to start, what exercises are effective
In each school, children are introduced to different sports, and the most common games are volleyball and basketball. They tell the basics, but few people after these lessons become Michael Jordan.
However, it is quite possible to achieve sports success. If you always hit the ball in the basket and decided to learn how to learn how to play basketball, read this article. We'll walk you through the first steps to help beginners start playing well.
At what age do you start playing basketball?
Of course, if you want to build a career as a basketball player, you have to start in childhood. The most optimal age for the first basketball lessons is 8-9 years old. Some professionals started at the age of 12, but not later. At this age, the body is considered sufficiently strong, and the brain is ready to build complex schemes.
Sometimes a child is too small and is not taken to the section. But his parents may be advised to attend prep basketball for 1-2 years. There, the kid will not be taught the technique of the game, but he will begin to learn how to control the ball. This game will positively affect the health of the child and his development. It helps to develop endurance, develop coordination and agility.
Basketball players improve their vision and logical thinking.
Who is banned from basketball practice?
They are not available to people with the following diseases:
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cardiovascular diseases;
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excessive mobility of the cervical vertebrae;
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flat feet;
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gastric ulcer;
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asthma and other respiratory diseases;
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diseases of the musculoskeletal system.
Exercises for Beginner Basketball Players
Not a single training session takes place without these basketball exercises, therefore, their implementation must be approached especially responsibly. They are aimed at developing the basic necessary skills:
To speed up the effect of basketball training, start with 5 minutes of running without stress.
After that, you can do the following exercises, which are needed to warm up each muscle group.
Shoulders
Stand up straight and stretch your arms out to the sides. Straight arms should move in a circle: 10 turns back and forth.
Pelvis
Fix the hands on the belt, and spread the legs shoulder-width apart. Perform rotations in the hip joint.
Back
Bend your elbows and press them to your chest. Put your feet shoulder width apart. Turn right and left 5-10 times in each direction.
Knees
Stand up straight, connect your toes and heels. Bend your knees slightly and put your hands on them. Perform circular movements with your knees, helping yourself with your hands.
Ankle
Keeping the hands on the belt, and placing the right foot on the toe behind the back behind you, you need to make several rotations of the feet. After a while, change legs.
Squats
Squat 5 times. The exercise must be performed carefully, do not lift your heels off the floor, and stretch your arms in front of you.
How to learn how to throw a ball correctly?
The ability to throw the ball correctly is practically the most important thing in basketball, so pay more attention to throwing exercises.
- Stand 2-3 meters from the ring. Take two slow steps. Standing on one leg, throw the ball into the ring;
- get behind the line. Hit the ball on the floor a couple of times. Take two steps towards the ring. Throw the ball into the basket;
- standing on the three-point line, throw the ball at the wall and catch it. Take two steps and throw the ball around the ring;
- to get the ball into the basket, you need to throw it into the corner of the rectangle drawn on the shield.
Leg development
If you take an extra step, you can lose points and let the team down, so you need to have trained legs. Practice the jump stop.
- Do not change position while performing the exercise;
- throw the ball against the wall, catch it with both hands and at the same time jump with both feet;
- choose one foot as a point of support and turn forward and backward on it;
- imagine that you are catching the ball with your hands while in a jump, land and make turns on the supporting leg.
Please note that you need to land on 2 legs.
Practicing the pass
Basketball is a team game. Even if you accurately hit the ring, you still cannot pass the ball to others, you will be of little use to the team.
- Stand 2-3 m from the wall. Throw the ball at her twice and catch it;
- hold the ball with both hands. Make a movement with brushes, directing it to the wall;
- Gradually increase the distance between the player and the wall. During long passes, you need to take a step forward.
Learning to dribble
Do you remember how pathetically Adriano Celentano dribbled the ball in the film "The Taming of the Shrew"? You can do the same if you practice these exercises;
- quickly toss the ball with the fingers, keeping it off the floor;
- transfer the ball from one hand to the other by wrapping it around the body, head or leg.
Basketball is a very versatile sport, so many skills will have to be developed.
A basketball player must accelerate, practice shuttle running, be able to run backwards and move on half-bent knees, work out the speed of hand movement (which is very important when intercepting).
Jogging rules: zero step / gather step. Zach Lavigne and his footwork, court positioning - Smart Basketball
In a recent game against the New York Knicks, Zach Lavigne went all the way with one hit to the floor and finished with an overhead shot.
With one blow, Carl!!!
With one hit the whole area ...
How is this possible? Why isn't this a run? Let's figure it out.
First quarter. Nyx attack. Pass to the edge, then play the zipper cut, Lavigne plays a great pass line and shoots towards the ring. One hit to the floor and Zach opens up beautifully in the air for photo reporters!
We know that after receiving the ball, that is, the indication of possession, you need to start dribbling immediately, before the pivot foot leaves the floor.
And also, after completing the dribbling, you can only take 2 steps to attack the ring.
This we know. But what we don't know is that there are a couple more steps during which you can move to the ring, but this is not a violation of the rules!
These are the zero step and the Gather step. Zero step and gathering step, if translated into Russian.
Lavigne provided brilliant examples of both steps.
In the moment with the interception, I would like to consider the completion of the attack. We will return to the interception itself at the end.
Lavigne starts the dribble at speed, with a very wide stride. Then he takes the ball in his right hand, and this placement of the foot on the parquet means a Gatherstep.
That is, the hand is on the side of the ball, Zach can still continue to dribble, but this is not a step to the ring! From this step begins the movement one-two.
Then, Lavigne takes the ball in both hands.
All he can no longer hit the ball on the floor, only step on the ring. Two very strong steps, but then you know.
Everything is clear!
And here is an example of Zach from the same match, but in a different step. Zero step.
Lavigne without a ball. He is followed by a pass, he already sees that the path to the ring will be blocked by the defender, takes a very wide step and at the same time touches the ball, thereby marking the supporting leg. He has every right to take one step without a lead at speed.
What he uses, then he hits the ball hard on the floor, goes on one foot, changing the direction of movement and makes a jump on two legs! This is the key moment here. Lavigne made a two-foot stop! Simultaneously. If Zach made a stop on the movement one or two, then this is a run. It's three steps, and he fits two feet into one step.
This is not a FIBA run! This can be done in Europe. This is important friends. These are not NBA rules.
These are the rules of basketball of any country in the world.
Well, let's go back for a second to another interesting point that I spoke about at the very beginning.
Here is the very interception of Lavin, after which he flew to the ring.
Is everything clean?
Now we know that there is a zero step. Zack can take his very powerful, wide step without being hit. But what is it?
According to the rules of basketball, the ball must leave the fingertips before the moment of separation of the supporting leg from the parquet. Do not hit the floor, namely, leave your fingertips!
But we see that the leg has been torn off the parquet for a long time, and the ball is still in Zach's hand. It's a run!
And that's why it happened!
The fact is that at the time of the New York attack, the judges, as they should be according to the game tracking scheme, had to rotate to the strong side of the attack. Here we see the movement of arbitrators.
