Nexus Athletics
Basketball
Housekeeping InformationPractices - Fridays @ 7:30 PM on Court 4 at the Spears YMCA.
Game Schedule - Click here to login to PlayerSpace for our schedule and other information. Weather Hotline - To check whether a practice or game is cancelled due to weather (or any other reason), call 336-387-9635. Contact Coach Britt - If you need to reach me, use either route, below:
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Skill InformationYour child's improvement in any skill depends on how much time s/he spends practicing the skill. So, the best thing your child can do to improve in basketball is to play during the week at home - whether that means playing in pick-up games, playing HORSE, or just shooting around by him/herself.
If you want to help you child, here are some tips: FINGERTIPS Everything in basketball happens on the fingertips - dribbling passing, and shooting. Don't rest the ball on your palm because you lose control over the ball. DRIBBLING Dribbling has to be an unconscious process - i.e., done without thinking. That frees the brain to think about what's going on in the game. When dribbling, push the ball down with the fingertips and the pads on your fingers. Dribble hard - pound the ball against the floor. When you receive the ball off the bounce, receive it softly with your fingertips and pads - don't let it smack against your hand. Look at the court - not at the ball. When dribbling in place, crouch like you are sitting in a chair and keep your non-dribbling arm bent in front of you with your fist clenched (this is called an arm bar). Bounce the ball close to your body. Here's a video on dribbling in place. When dribbling on the run, push the ball out in front of you and then run to catch up with it. If you can't run and dribble, try walking and dribbling until you can (just don't push the ball out as far ahead of yourself). If you can't walk and dribble, practice dribbling in place until you can. Here's a video on dribbling on the run. SHOOTING Remember B.E.E.F.F: Balance, Elbow, Eyes, Follow-through, Fingertips. Here's a video that describes everything in BEEFF except the first F (fingers) which is critical. Balance- feet should shoulder width. The foot on the side of your shooting hand should be slightly out front. Shoulders should be squared to the basket. Eyes- keep your eyes on the rim - either the front or the back (you choose which). Don't watch the ball arc towards the rim - just watch the rim Elbow- keep your elbow in so that your arm is almost straight up and down - but not quite - and, when you raise the ball to start your shot, bring it to the centerline of your body. Here's a video on elbow position. Bringing the ball to the body's centerline is important because it puts the ball on the line between your eyes and the rim. If you hold the ball off to the side of your centerline, it creates a triangle with your eyes and the rim, which adds more mental calculations to the shot. Fingertips- control and release the ball with your fingertips - do not let it rest on your palm. Follow through- Completely follow through by extending your arm and flicking your wrist. Leave your arm up and wrist flicked until the ball is at the rim or on its way down. Two last tips: 1. Shoot with one motion. Here's a video on that. And here's a different video explaining other types of shots and (sort of) explaining why a one motion shot is better. 2. Try to have the ball enter the back half of the rim at 45 degrees. |
