Bainbridge Basketball Fundamentals

Dribbling

Proper Dribbling Form

• Keep the dribble low (especially when making a crossover or when in traffic)
• Keep your body low and between the defender and the ball
• Arm guard:  off arm should be up to protect the ball
• Eyes up to see open teammates

Types of dribbles

• Cross-over below knee
• Between the legs crossover
• Jump-stop behind the back crossover
• Wrap around (behind the back)
• Spin move
• Hesitation (Fast, Pause, Accelerate)

Purpose of the Dribble

• To advance the ball down the court
• To penetrate to the basket
• To better a passing lane
• Attack gaps in the zone

Keys to Dribbling

• Dribble with purpose…don’t over dribble.  It hurts the offense and increases the chance for turnovers.
• Don’t be predictable.  Have a handful of “bread and butter” moves.
• Dribble North and South.
• Don’t waste dribble. 
• Don’t “Kill Dribble.” 
• Point Guards keep your dribble alive

Shooting

Perimeter or Jump Shot

Keys to becoming a great outside shooter

• Be square to the basket
• Have a good foundation.  Feet should be shoulder width apart with your strong foot forward a bit.
• Shooting elbow should be right over your shooting side knee.
• Don’t drop ball before shot.  Keep it up!
• Use your whole body to shoot.  Power comes from the legs.
• Release the ball at the highest point in your shot.  Not on the way down!
• Follow Through:   hand in the cookie jar
• Always catch the ball and start getting into triple threat.
• Great shooters practice, practice, practice!
• You must believe you are a great shooter before you become one!

The Lay-in

• The lay-in is the highest percentage shot in basketball. 
• Anytime you get your head an shoulder ahead of your defender, go to the basket!
• Protect the ball with your body.
• Don’t swing the ball into your defender.
• Use the backboard!
• Power Lay-in:  Make sure your shoulders are square to the backboard.  Take it up with both hands to protect the ball.

Free-Throw Shooting

Free throw shooting will decide at least 5 games during the season.

Keys to becoming a great FT shooter

• Good Foundation:  feet
• Same Routine
• Follow Through:  stay with your shot until it falls through the net.
• Breath and use your legs.
• Limit movement.
• Relax or Concentrate…whatever works for your personality.
• In practice always put pressure on yourself while shooting FTs and shoot when you are tired.  Great a game-like environment.

Rebounding

85% Hunger 15% Technique

Keys to becoming a great rebounder

• Anticipate where the ball is going to come off
• Understand weakside boards
• Make contact with the person you are defending
• Reverse Pivot and keep contact with your butt with your hands up
• Yell “Shot” if on the ball
• If capable, rebound at RIM LEVEL

Passing

Passes that should be practiced everyday

• Chest Pass, Bounce Pass (one hand and both hands)
• Flick Pass (Ball fake and then overhead pass)
• Baseball Pass

Fakes

• Ball Fake
• Look Away
• 1, 2, down, through

Key to a good passer

• Don’t be easy to read.  Don’t telegraph your passes.
• Passes should be SHORT and CRISP!
• Hit outside hand of receiver
• Ball FAKE. (Fake a pass, make a pass)
• Read the defense when passing, not just the offense.

• Don’t leave the ground when passing, unless absolutely necessary.
• Create a good passing lane.

Screening and Movement

• Keys to good screens
• Wide, solid base
• Butt to Ball
• Sit low
• After screen is set, don’t move!

Keys to cutting off screens

• Shoulder to Shoulder off screener
• Know what your defender is doing
• Scoring cuts off screens:  curl, fade, backcut

Defense

On the ball

• Both hands up to deflect passes and discourage shot
• Ball Pressure
• Sit low
• Force Sideline and Baseline
• Get Deflections

Off Ball

• See ball, see man
• Create a flat triangle by pointing at ball and man
• Be in Quarters!
• Know which two men you are responsible for
• Guard Basket first!
• Do not let your man cut across the key without HARD Contact!  It is prime property that we own!
• Take the charge
• Get Deflections and look to steal lazy passes

Post Defense w/ Ball

• Make contact with body, not hands.
• Take away your opponents favorite move or shot.
• Stay low and ready to move your feet to stay in front.  There is no excuse to get beat at the post.
• Hand up on shot and block him out.

Post Defense w/o Ball

• Denial Stance on player you are defending means:
• Play with one foot in front and one behind with ball-side hand in passing lane.
• Do NOT play behind…EVER!