Learning to play Basketball
“Learning to play” basketball means two things.
The initial factor is the individual skill development; i.e. dribbling and shooting the basketball well. Tools and direction for appropriate skill development are what we provide at Aim High Hoops. Our skill clinics, instructional videos, and Pure Shooter’s Report Card help players discover which skills are required, and also proven approaches for maximizing those essential skills.
The second part of learning to play is playing. Players must be on the court, in game situations, trying things out and gaining knowledge from errors. Playing doesn’t always have to involve an organized 5-on-5 game with coaches and referees. Actually, if the players call fouls and it is a situation of either win or sit for a long time (no coach to make substitutions), players develop a strength and hunger to win.
One without the other is not enough.
Players that spend all day in the gym working on their dribbling and shooting, but don’t get involved with competitive games in the off-season might be behind during the season. Why? Because in games is when a dribbler learns to find seams in the defense to penetrate, and in games is when a shooter discovers how to use a screen against a defender that trails, or cheats the screen, and it is in games when a scorer learns to utilize head fakes and draw real fouls for three-point plays.
Players who just play games all day long will no doubt establish good instincts for the game, but without proper dribbling and shot development, these players could be pressured into dribbling mistakes and left open to shoot a shot they are not comfortable with during clutch situations of games.
During an NBA Summer League game, the announcers commented on #1 draft pick John Wall. They hit on both components of the two-part process of learning how to play basketball. First, they said Wall had to continue perfecting his jump shot (skill development). After a dribble spin move that finished with Wall’s lay-up attempt getting blocked off the backboard, they said that Wall would have to utilize the summer league to begin becoming accustomed to the speed and athleticism of the NBA (playing).
A few possessions later Wall floated a lay-up off the backboard and also got fouled for a three-point play attempt. It appears like he’s learning quickly!
Billy Lewis & Jonathan Schneiderman
Aim High Hoops, Inc.