How To: Become A Better Ball Player (Intro)

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/10/Basketball_through_hoop.jpg

As a reddit user and a an r/basketball lurker, I've noticed a lot people looking for tips, tricks, drills, and other ways to hone in on their basketball skills.  As one of the most fundamental players on my high school team and growing up with a basketball coach as a father, I thought I might be able to help.  This is my guide to becoming a polished, poised, and elite basketball player.

Be Consistant

Find a weakness and work on it consistently.  Don't ignore any flaws you have.  They will only get bigger.  If your weakness is going left, spend days practicing going left outside in your driveway.  Look at your different skill sets as a bar graph.  You want all of the bars to be completely equal at whatever skill level they are. The wider ranger your skill set is, the more versatile and effective you will be.  Work hard and consistently.  It's like working out in a gym.  Find a daily or weekly schedule and stick to it.

Shoot, Shoot, Shoot

Get to hoop at put up as many shots as you can a day.  The more you shoot, as long as your shot is mechanically correct, the better you will be.  When shooting a basketball, you should never miss to the left or right.  Hitting the front or back rim is fine, but when your shot is hitting left or right rim, your mechanics are off.

Find A List Of Drills To Help With Weakness

There is no point in working on certain skills if you're working on them the wrong way.  Sometimes it's very uncomfortable when you change your fundamentals from what feels comfortable to what is actually correct. Here is a good list of individual drills for different skills.

Play As Much As Possible

Not only do you need to work on your individual skills, but you need to play the game.  Find an open gym somewhere or even some pick-up. Make sure, though, when you're playing pick-up ball to not fall back into your old patterns.  Go into each game wanting to work on a certain aspect of your game and don't stray from it.  Stay fundamental. Some people may not like the way you play, depending on what gym you're at, but that doesn't matter.  When you play pick-up ball it's easy to slip into old habits. Don't let that happen.

There are many other ways to improve your game, but these are great ways to start.  If you want to know more or have specific questions, feel free to comment or email me through the contact us tab, or follow us on twitter!

Trey Frisbey
Boy Meets Sports
2/3/2014
Twitter: @boymeetsports

The Art of Pickup Basketball

If you're like me, football season is over for your respectable team and basketball season is just beginning.  Yes, watching basketball on TV is great, but basketball is a sport that anyone can play at any time and is fairly easy to find in the community.  I have a local community center that has a gym and people that are constantly playing the game.  For everyone else, just find a gym.  Gym rats are prevalent.  Find a few friends that like to play ball and take yourselves down to the gym.  It's great exercise and a great way to take out some aggression and competitiveness on some friends or some punks that you just want to beat up on.  That being said, there are some unspoken rules that are applied to pick up basketball.  If you are planning on playing (which you should be), here are some things to keep in mind..

1. Call "Next"- If you end up playing in a place with a lot of washed up basketball players like I do, calling next and sticking up for yourself is huge (especially if you don't know anyone in the gym).  Call "next" and make sure everyone hears you.  If they don't they'll proceed playing and you'll never get on the court.  Never let anyone "run it back".  If you're next, then make sure you play the next game with your chosen squad.

2.  Bring people you know-  Sometimes it's hard to pick a team at the local gym if you're a newbie.  Basketball players are very cliquish, so it would be best to bring a group of friends that you can play with so you don't have to go through the rigors of choosing a team.  Choosing players you don't know can result in a first game loss and you'll find yourself waiting to play games more than you actually play.  Bring a squad that you can win with, and you'll never leave the floor.

3. Play smart basketball- A lot pick up basketball players are scrubs.  If they aren't scrubs, they're usually selfish because they are playing on a platform that allows them to be that way.  Many good basketball players throw all of the discipline and fundamentals they know out the window because they are playing in a pick-up atmosphere.  If your squad plays with discipline, you will find yourself winning a lot of games and not leaving the floor.

4. Don't get in fights-  It can be frustrating playing with gym rats that don't always understand the rules of basketball.  If there are any conflicts during the game, it's usually best to give the other team the ball and laugh it off.  Just play good defense and get the ball back.  It's like they say, "the ball doesn't lie".  You'll usually get a rebound and end up scoring on the other end.  The basketball gods are always watching.

5. Don't be lazy:  MOVE MOVE MOVE-  Sure, pick-up is a lot fun and is a great way to kill a Saturday afternoon, but use it to your advantage!  Get some exercise while you're playing the game.  A lot pick-up players are lazy and you can get a lot of baskets and defensive stops by simply running.  Not only will it help you win some games, but it's also good for you.  Play to get in shape. It sure as hell beats working out in the gym.

Pick-up basketball is will never remove itself from our society.  It's one game that will always be there and always be competitive.  If you can find some friends and a gym to play some ball, DO IT.  If you get the chance to play, use these five tips to help yourself stay on the floor.  It'll help you stay in shape without having to run on the treadmill and lift those weights!

Trey Frisbey
Boy Meets Sports
12/23/2013
Twitter: (@boymeetsports)