While basketball may still not be a very popular sport in India, there is more awareness about the game and the number of children, both girls as well as boys, playing basketball has also increased.
In most of the societies today, you can have basketball courts. Most kids start playing the game for fun and fitness and a few are opting for basketball as a career option.
NBA academies for women is a boon for Indian state players
The NBA Academies Women’s Program is a series of basketball development camps for top female prospects from outside the U.S. at the league’s academies. They conduct camps all over the world, and are also operational in India.
NBA academies for women is a boon for our state players as training with the foreign coaches helps our players improve their skills and also build better fitness and stamina.
In its over two decades of existence, no Indian has ever played the WNBA (Women’s National Basketball Association, premier basketball league in the US). During this period, several women from countries which were ranked much lower than India in the FIBA rankings have played in the league.
To remedy this situation, Ruth Riley, technical director of the NBA Academies women’s program, was in Indian to train top Indian girls as well as players from other countries) China and Australia, as part of NBA’s ‘Basketball without Borders’ camp at the National Academy in Greater Noida.
Ruth Riley is a two-time WNBA champion and was part of the Gold medal winning US team the 2004 Olympics.
According to her, here’s what needs to be done to improve the quality of basketball in India:
- Need of a holistic approach in order to improve, not just one or two things to be improved
- Riley was impressed with the facilities at the National Academy but felt more similar infrastructure were needed across the country.
- India has to build more basketball courts, and get the children to start playing at a younger age.
- India has to provide opportunities for them to play five-on-five. It cannot be just skills development only; they should be able to compete in games as well.
- There is also a need for tactical knowledge. We have to coach both players as well as the coaches.
Riley was also impressed with the girls at the first-ever NBA academy women’s camp. “We have been really impressed with the young ladies. We did not know what to expect, coming in. This is the first camp in India for me. They have technical and shooting skills, and the ability to put the ball on the ground and to create (chances) for themselves. The most impressive thing about them is that they are smart. You teach them something once, and they are able to apply that into a game,” said the former Detroit Shock forward.
The National Basketball Association (NBA) is where most budding professionals around the world wish to head to. A Pune girl was picked to represent India at the junior NBA global championship.
Given the number of schools and collegiate tournaments, basketball could see increased popularity in India.
Basketball for Fitness
Basketball is one of those games which is loved across the world. It’s social, fun, and, perhaps most importantly, it works wonders for health. Even a casual game can help with everything from calorie burning to improved cardiovascular health. Few people realize that basketball can also help with everything from bone health to improved immune systems. And, that’s before you even consider how this sport helps to develop coordination and concentration. If you’re looking for a healthy body and mind, then, you could say basketball has your back.
Whether you join a club or simply install a hoop at home, getting stuck in here is a sure way to tackle fitness at last. And, when you start playing, you’re sure to catch the basketball bug. At least, you will if you learn to play well. The buzz of winning is, after all, as good for your confidence as the buzz of getting your body in shape. Of course, as with any other sport, playing basketball to the best of your abilities is about practice or, in this case, drills.
Drills are a method any basketball player uses to perfect their game, and they should become a staple for helping you get the most from your time on the court. A successful drill session will focus on various aspects of your health and skill to improve play. And, to give you a guideline as to where you should start, we’re going to look at some of the top drills for honing your skills a few fundamental areas.
Drills for Fitness
The fitter you are, the better chance you have of performing well on the court. After all, basketball is about stamina as much as anything else. If you can’t keep up, you’re never going to win a game. As such, the first drills worth your attention are those which centre around health. The good news is that there are a fair few basketball exercises you’re probably already familiar with, and each can benefit your play. A few of the top fitness drills to look out for include:
Suicides
Suicides are a harrowing running drill, often used by basketball pros to develop stamina. During suicides, you’ll run from one side of the court to the other until you feel like you’re on death’s door. It might not sound appealing, but there’s nothing better for raising fitness to the levels you need.
Squats
Various squatting exercises can also be wonderful for basketball prep. Everything from front squats to split squat jumps can strengthen your body in the right places and help you learn the correct alignment. That’s vital given that strength and balance are both something you’re sure to need on the pitch.
Push-ups
Even the humble push up could become a helpful part of your fitness drill. That’s because this is an excellent way to build the upper body strength which you’ll need for a winning game. If you add finger push-ups into the mix, you could even strengthen the digits which will, arguably, form one of the main parts of your play.
Drills for Shooting
Obviously, you can’t get good at basketball if you don’t perfect shooting. It should go without saying that shooting practice hoops are sure to form the main focus of any drill, but it’s essential to think through how you do that The most common option here is the 1-hand shooting form drill, a classic which helps perfect shot release by focusing on position and balance during the shooting process. As your exercises progress, you may also want to move onto options like the Tuck To Go, which involves starting with the ball in your hands and focusing on the motion of your throw instead. Pair drills like these together for extensive skills, and you should be landing baskets in no time.
Drills for Dribbling
Once you’ve tackled your shooting, it’s time to think about dribbling drills. Dribbling is, after all, the skill which will help you secure shots in the first place. There are a few basics you’ll want to focus on before getting stuck in here, such as the fact you need to use your fingertips not your palm, and that you shouldn’t bounce above waist height.
When you’ve perfected basics like these, you can move onto drills like the Front V-Dribble. This drill involves practicing how you get around a defender, and involves the basic process of dribbling the ball from side to side in front of you, and learning to move with that rhythm. Once you’ve perfected this, you’ll be able to move onto more intensive drills like scissors, which involves dribbling the ball between your legs. The faster you can get with drills like these, the better chance you have of winning your next game.
Drills for defense
All these skills focus on scoring and keeping control, but they can still leave your game lacking because they don’t once consider how you can defend the ball from the other team. And, guess what? The best dribbling and shooting in the world won’t help you if another player comes along and takes the ball before you can use them. That’s why you should also aim to practice various defense drills regularly.
Footwork progressions are a fantastic go-to here, as they allow you to perfect everything from your stance to your push step and quick turn. By then progressing to more intensive 1-on-1 drill methods, you’ll be able to put those footing skills into action and learn about the best ways to defend the ball when you’re up against a real-life opponent.
Conclusion
There are hundreds of different basketball drills out there, and there’s no telling which one will work for you. These are a few of the top basic options, but they’re by no means an extensive offering. If you find these helpful, you may well want to look into advancements of each drill mentioned and work as hard as possible to become the basketball pro we all know you could be.
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