KR asked:


Basketball season is around the corner and thousands of players coming back to the court need a refresher course.  Some simple training aids can make those skills come back to life fast.  This modest list of 5 training aids is easy on your wallet and does not require a steep learning curve to use effectively.

The weighted basketball trainer has been around for years.  This training aid focuses on building key muscles for the game.  Practice with the training basketball by utilizing your favorite passing drills.  Not only will players be building up key “basketball” specific muscles but those passing routines will be memorized for game time.

Weighted basketballs are made by many manufacturers but the best way to go in this writers opinion is with a rubber model around 3 pounds.  The rubber can be used indoors or out and gets the job done at a fair price.There is something to be said about composite leather models.  While they are much more expensive than rubber thy will provide a more realistic feel.  Since they feature composite leather covers much like the ball you’ll be using on game night, players will get used to the feel of composite leather during those passing drills.

Oversized Basketball Trainers much like it’s weighted cousin the oversized basketball trainer can be used for passing drills.  It’s huge size, 33 to 36 inches ( a standard men’s basketball is 29.5 inches), makes it difficult to run passing drills.  It’s true purpose is for perfecting that “nothin’ but net” shot.  The oversized basketball fits through a standard rim with plenty of room but for those who normally use a standard size basketball the need to aim true is emphasized.

It’s a simple idea but it works.  Players will hone in their shooting skills quickly and this training aid can also be bought at a bargain price.  Like the weighted ball you will have the choice of rubber or composite leather.  In this case I lean even further to the rubber end as this balls size reduces it’s usefulness as a passing trainer.  Getting a feel for the ball is not important in this case and I like to save money whenever possible.

Jump Ropes.  Ok we’ve re-learned passing and shooting but you’re feeling a little sluggish on the court.  To many hot dogs and ice cream cones over the summer I guess.  A quick way to slim down and lean up is using the age old jump rope.  Maybe a jump rope isn’t your idea of a basketball training aid so let me explain why it makes the list.First they are inexpensive so just about anyone can afford one.  Second they are easy to use for this purpose.  You don’t need to become a world champion jumper to get your heart pumpin. Third is that a jump rope provides cardiovascular exercise in a small area.  You won’t always have the court under your feet and you can jump rope almost anywhere.  The fourth reason I put jump ropes on this list is the fact that they will improve the muscle group that you use when you jump.  If you want to slam dunk or nail those layups jumping is going to be important. The fifth reason to add a jump rope to your training gear collection is their portability.  Just keep it in your gym bag.

Now there are a ton of jump ropes out there so which one would I recommend.  Well lets assume you’ll be using it frequently your going to want something durable.  We don’t want to break the banks and to be honest the most expensive jump ropes are really designed for people who are going for that world record we don’t need precision as much as we need durability here.  Weight is an important factor because a heavy weight jump rope is easier to use. And let’s not forget a durable material.  You will be using this indoors and out and pavement can be harsh on lesser quality or softer materials.All of that in mind I would buy a leather ball bearing jump rope as they have a smooth operation, enough weight to build up some nice momentum and they are durable on all surfaces.  Not to mention the affordable price tag under $10.

Having said all of that weighted training ropes also have a place in this area of exercise.  A good 2 or 3 pound weighted jump rope will provide a great upper body workout in a short time period.  These are also very popular with basketball players.

The Zipedo Rebounder.  Rebounding is a critical area that basketball players should work on regularly.  Getting control of that ball to try another shot or taking it away from the competition is what wins the game.  Rebound training can be made quicker by using a bubble style rebounder like the Zipedo Rebounder. So out of all the rebounders out there why did I pick the Zipedo for this article.  After all the Zipedo is one of the most expensive bubble style rebounders available and I like to save money right?Well the Zipedo Rebounder comes with an extension pole and a offers a system that allows you to safely install the rebounder on the rim from the ground.  That’s right, no need for a ladder, no players standing on shoulders.  The Zipedo Rebounder installs in seconds from the ground.  On top of that the rebounder promises to offer realistic rebounding situations which will train players for the real thing.

Dribble Specs are last but not least on the list has to be dribble specs.  These are one of the most popular training aids for basketball and it’s easy to see why.  Stop looking down at the ball.  You’ve heard coaches say that time and time again.  You can’t keep and eye on your opponent if you are watching your dribbling and that’s where dribble specs come in.  These half glasses keep you from seeing the floor which eventually trains you to keep your head up and watch the court.A simple skill that can improve a player by leaps and bounds.So how much does this little miracle trainer cost.  Under $5 per pair.  Can’t beat that.

So there you have it five basketball training products that will help any team make it to the finals and maybe even put a trophy in case. Find all of these products and more at the www.morleyathletic.com.



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Patrick Ocheni asked:


Defense is just as important as offense.  Any basketball player that only thinks about scoring points, is only half a basketball player. Like­wise, any basketball team that only emphasizes offensive plays without being equally committed to playing defense is only half a team.  The reasoning behind this is simple: It does you no good to score 20 points in the first five minutes of a basketball game, if your opponent scores 35.  In order to win a basketball game, you want to get ahead in score and stay ahead. You can only do this consistently by emphasizing defense as much as of­fense.  The purpose of this article is to highlight some fundamental principles about playing defense in basketball that every basketball player, regardless of level, should know.

You need to have the “right attitude.”

When playing defense in basketball, you cannot layback and let the team with the ball do as it pleases.  You must get very aggressive, outfight the offense. At every opportunity, take the in­itiative away from the offense, break up and disrupt their offensive attack. As you know, to score in basketball, you have got to have the ball. To get the ball, you have got to battle for it.   A few ways that you can prevent the opposing team from executing their offense is by stealing the ball, by interception of passes, by control­ling the backboards, by fighting through screens, by forc­ing held balls, by putting constant pressure on the offense.  Without pressure, the offense will easily run one play after another. With pressure, it will make bad passes, commit walking violations, miss easy shots and lose confidence. This forcing of the offense is at the very heart of good defensive play. And that applies to any basketball team or to any individual basketball player. 

Establishing the correct stance on defense.

When on defense, you should have your feet a little better than shoulder-width apart, toes pointing straight ahead, heels off the floor slightly.  Your knees should be flexed, and your trunk inclined forward.  To move sideward, you should never cross your legs.  At the end of the movement, your feet should be at the original width. 

 If an opposing player fakes a shot, you should never, never leave your feet.  If he fakes a drive, simply drop straight back a step until you are sure of what he is going to do.  Should the offensive man-and we still assume he has the ball-be a faster player than you, play him looser than usual. If he is slower than you, close in a bit. An outside shooter wants to be played closer than a player whose best weapon is a driving layup. 

 Study your opponent

When you are assigned to guard an opposing player, study him carefully. Find out where he is strong, where he is weak. Take advantage of your opponent’s weaknesses. Force him off the strong part of his game. This is not as difficult as it sounds. For example, you will find that many players can only dribble or shoot with one hand (right-handed, or left-handed.) 

If you are playing a man who does everything with his right hand, favor that side with your defensive position. In other words, if he dribbles with his right hand, force him to go to his left. When you constantly force this player to go to his weak side, you are hindering his play considerably; and,consequently, you will probably cause him to lose his composure. 

When you are playing an offensive man who does not have the ball, try to be in a position to intercept passes, but do not be so close as to give him a chance to get behind you. 

Guarding the Dribbler 

As a defensive player you should try not to slap at the dribbler as he goes by. You should turn and go with the dribbler, get one step ahead and deflect or steal the ball by reaching underneath the dribbler’s hands with the inside hand.   If this tactic fails, you should wait for the drib­bler to either shoot or stop before you make another defensive move. If the offensive player attempts a jump shot, close with him as he puts both hands on the ball–stop the shot before it gets started. 

On a layup, reach over with the outside hand and try to block the shot at the top of the offensive player’s jump. Do this without making contact. If you make contact, the shooter may get the field goal and a free throw. If you don’t make contact he will only have the opportunity for two points. The other alternative, of course, would be to block the shot. 

Stopping the Give-and-Go 

A pass and an immediate cut to the basket is the oldest maneuver in offensive basketball. Called the “give-and-go,” it sometimes causes a defensive player trouble. 

The difficulty usually stems from two faults: 

•     The guard turns his head to watch the ball. When he does that the offensive man cuts behind him and easily takes a return pass.

•     The guard remains flat-footed as the cutter goes by. 

On the give-and-go, you as the defensive man should take a quick step backward and keep your eyes glued to the cutter’s midriff. The step back will give you a chance to find out which way the cutter is going to go–the ball side, or the far side.  By watching the cutter’s midriff, the guard can’t be faked out of position. Despite tricky head, shoulder and hand movements, a cutter’s stomach will indicate his direction. 

If the cutter goes to the ball side, you should turn and go with the cutter. If you can get one step ahead, you will have a chance of intercepting the pass, or getting a held ball. 

If the cutter goes to the far side, you should turn that way, stay half a step ahead of the cutter and look for the pass. He is now on the inside and can easily be intercepted.

Blocking out after a shot

 Defending after the shot is similar to defending against the give-and-go. If you are guarding the shooter, you should an­ticipate a drive for the rebound.

 As with the give-and-go, you should take a step backward and watch the shooter’s midriff. As the shooter begins to break in for the rebound, you should turn directly in front of him. You do not hold the shooter off physically until about 10′ from the basket. Then you hold your ground and hope that the ball rebounds your way.  Naturally, if all five defensive men “block out” on shots from long or medium range, they will have the best opportunity to catch rebounds because each will hold an in­side position.

Blocking out should be attempted whether you are play­ing a man with, or without the ball. If your man does not drive to the basket, however, do not stay on the outside too long.  Go in and help out. Since you will out number the opposing team, you will have a good chance to get the ball.

Defending after a foul shot 

There is one positive rule about attempting to recover a foul shot from the defensive basket. Someone must always cover the shooter. If this rule is not followed, the ball may hit the outer rim, bounce right back into the shooter’s hands and present him with an easy field goal attempt. Instead of losing a point, he is apt to gain two. 

So, as you line up with your teammates, be sure someone- usually the last man on the line-steps directly in front of the shooter as the ball hits. If the ball bounces straight back, your team will have it. 

When lining up on the foul line at either basket, be cer­tain the man next to you-especially if he is taller-does not hook his arms over yours. If he does, you will never have a chance at the ball. 

And remember, when at the defensive basket, do not tap the ball on the rebound, catch it. And, do not pass across the lane to start the offense up court. Go directly forward, or to the sideline. 

Switching on defense

Switching is one way to prevent cross-court screens. In the man-for-man defense, it is smart to point to the man you are guard­ing since switching is a possibility. When there is an easy and obvious opportunity to change assignments, the players should yell “switch” and point to the man being picked up.  Remember, switching can only be effective against lateral movement. It will not work against direct cuts to the basket.

 There is one obvious danger to the switching tactic: If one of the two defensive players involved fails to switch, two men are going to be guarding the same offensive player, while one offensive man will be running free.  Do not yell “switch” unless you are sure your teammate can and will make the switch with you.

Take-Home Defensive  Tips

 •     Never stop pressing the offense.  In other words, don’t quit!

 •     Never tip the ball as it comes off the defensive basket.  Always catch it.

 •     Never pass the ball across the back lane. Take it away from the lane. First, by a quick pass out to a breaking team­mate. Second, by dribbling.

 •     When playing in the man-for-man defense, always stay between your opponent and the basket.

 •     If you think you are being screened, close up on your man and fight through. If you are being used to screen out a teammate, loosen up and let your teammate  slide through and be alert to the possibility of a switch.

 •     If your man gets one shot and misses, do not let him get a second attempt.

 •     When playing two men, remember that the man closest to the basket is the most dangerous.

At all times, “help out” the rest of your teammates on defense.

If the man you are guarding has the ball, you should stretch one hand up (with fingers spread) to block a possible shot. The other hand should be stretched sideward. (Usually the sideward hand is the hand that is to the “in­side” of the court. In other words, if you are located to the right of the court, your right hand is up, left hand side­ward. )

The position of your head as a defensive player when guarding an opponent is extremely important. You want to see the ball and as much of the basketball court and offensive players as pos­sible. To do this, you should make full use of your peripheral vision (sometimes called “split” vision).

How important it is for you to learn the fundamentals of playing defense as a basketball player cannot be emphasized enough.  Remember, offense win games but defense win championships. Visit http://www.basketball-drills-and-tips.com to find more information on this topic, and to download a FREE copy of our Basketball E-Book ($29 Value) titled,

“The Fundamentals of Basketball: A beginner’s guide for coaches and players.”



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