Being a quality basketball player requires the development of an array of skills, including shooting, ball handing, passing and defense. There are drills that you can complete inside your home to improve each of these areas. This makes them convenient, as you can incorporate them while you’re watching television and without any concern for adverse weather conditions.
Floor Shots
Muscle memory is an important element to being a successful shooter. Basketball players should complete daily repetitions of shots. Lie on your back on the floor. Your legs can be extended or bent with your feet on the floor. Place the ball in your shooting hand and hold it with your wrist cocked and palm facing the ceiling. Shoot the ball directly upward toward the ceiling, following through with your wrist to produce backspin as in a normal shot at a basket. Catch the ball with your shooting hand and immediately repeat. Complete the drill for one to five minutes.
Ball Circles
Stand with your feet about shoulder-width apart and hold the basketball in front of you with both hands. Place the ball into one hand as you swing it around your torso from front to back, switch the ball to the other hand behind your back, and then swing it around back to your front so it travels in a circle. Continue the circles around your torso for one to five minutes and then switch directions to complete the next set.
Finger Tip Drill
Building finger strength improves your ball handling skills and passing abilities. The finger tip drill can be completed while standing, sitting or lying down. Hold a basketball in front of you with the fingers of both hands. Tap the ball back and forth between your hands as quickly as possible. To increase the difficulty, move your arms around in different locations as you continue to tap the ball back and forth. Complete for one to five minutes.
Ball Slaps
Ball slaps develop hand and finger strength, which in turn improves dribbling and passing power. Hold a basketball in one hand and pound it in the opposite hand. The hand that is pounded by the ball should squeeze the ball as it makes contact. Immediately repeat into the opposite hand and slap the ball back and forth. Complete for one to five minutes.
Defensive Stance
Improving your lower-body strength and endurance will allow you to remain in proper defensive positioning. With your feet set slightly wider than shoulder-width, push your hips backward and bend your knees to lower down into a squat as if you were playing defense on a player with the ball. Hold this position for as long as you can.
