Basketball Basics: Footwork

It is certainly fun watching basketball. But for players, the game isn't just fun. It is challenging.

There are lots of pressure that players undergo whenever they hit it to the court every game. They are of course committed to make the team win by accumulating more scores than the opponent. Aside from that, almost all players want to stand up to impress the viewing public.

In the tradition of Michael Jordan, Shacquille O'Neal, Dennis Rodman and the likes, every basketball player dreams of being an icon in sports. That is why almost all basketball secrets have been revealed.

There are also more coaches, trainers and centers that offer to help players develop proper attitude and skills in playing basketball. Almost all mental and physical aspects of basketball playing have also been discussed and openly assimilated by players.

The footwork

A strong footwork is considered one of the basic skills and characteristics a basketball player must possess to be able to become a good player. That is because everything else depends on the strength of the feet when playing.

Solid footwork is very necessary in executing basic basketball tasks and techniques like defense, rebounding, ball-handling, and many more. Basketball is a very physical game so without the solid foundation of the foot strength, you would easily end up being tripped at or knocked at the floor.

Because you basically run, jump, bend and walk during the basketball game, your footwork must be well built and planned. Further, during, before and after games, you are advised to take some flexing, relaxing and warming activities to condition your feet to become stronger for each game.

Footwork tips in basketball

Because footwork is such an important aspect of playing basketball, here are some tips that will truly help you attain good footing while playing the arduous game of basketball.

Attain good body balance during the game. It is recommended that you keep the base support of your feet wide. How do you do this? Simply keep each of your feet at least a shoulder apart from each other. Bend your knees a little and keep your head just above the midpoint between the area covered by the feet. This position is said to provide your body with good overall balance. While standing inside the basketball court, practice having this physical balanced position. Take a good pivoting point. A solid pivot is attained when the ball of the foot is planted firmly and solidly on the floor of the court. If you have a good pivoting position, you can easily turn and run to the left to right, or forward or backward. Good pivoting is essential for the best defensive strategies in the game. Take quick pivots by planting the balls of your feet on the ground. Then, attain proper body balance. This way, you are sure to be ready for quick and abrupt pivot turns.

Footwork exercises

Aside from the usual footwork drills, there are also several exercises that are simple enough and will surely help improve your footwork for both defensive and offensive tasks in playing basketball.

Here are some of them.

As a form of exercise, bend the knees, take proper balance standing position by spreading the feet at shoulder width. Then, step sideways. Eventually, make the little steps either to the left or to the right turn into short runs. The sideway movements will help you attain good and firm footwork sideways. Hop with just one leg forward from tone side of the basketball court until you reach half of the court. Bring down the foot and use the other one as you hop forward to the other end of the court. This exercise targets the muscles of the thighs and knees, making up for firmer and stronger footwork. Regular jogging and running exercises are proven to be effective in improving the footwork of basketball players. In the morning, or whenever there is time, jog around or run. It would also be advisable if you use a thread mill.

It would be impossible to play basketball if the strength of the feet isn't established. Because basketball is a very physical game, you should make sure your footwork is well practiced before the games.