When you start playing basketball, it is important to work on your dribbling, shooting and passing skills if you want to become a great player. Dribbling may well be the most important aspect of the sport. Every player has to start somewhere, so in this blog we share a number of fantastic tricks you can learn to improve your game.
The importance of dribbling
Dribbling is important on both offense and defense. On offense, it is used to free yourself from crowded areas and to push the ball up the court. Dribbling on defense can be an effective blocking tactic when you are being pressed. You need to be able to dribble with both hands so you can move freely in either direction and make it harder for a defender to guard you. During your practice sessions, work on dribbling with your weaker hand.
Crossover
One of the first dribble moves a player should practice when learning basketball tricks is the crossover dribble. It is also one of the easiest basketball moves for a player to perform. The crossover involves bouncing the ball from one hand to the other. You can use it when you want to change direction or when a defender is not guarding you closely.
In-and-out
A great basketball move is the in-and-out dribble. It is a move designed to fool a defender into thinking you are going to do a standard crossover. While bouncing the ball with one hand, you use a fake with your head and shoulders to make it look like you are going the other way. You move the ball in and then back out by changing the position of your hand on the ball, and then dribble forward.
Spin move
One of the hardest basketball tricks to learn is the spin move. Once you have mastered the move, it is a fast and effective weapon to use against your opponents. For the spin move, you plant your inside foot and spin backward around the defender while taking the ball with you and shielding it with your body. Make sure your hand stays on top of the ball, because if your hand goes underneath, you can be called for a violation.
Behind the back
Just like the between-the-legs move, the behind-the-back dribble lets you switch the basketball from one hand to the other. As you pass the ball behind you, your whole body protects the ball. One of the biggest advantages of this basketball move is that you can pass the ball in front of your other hand, allowing for a quick offensive attack.
