Q&A for How to Be a Good Basketball Player

Listen carefully to your coaches and teammates to learn as much as you can. You should also make it a priority to do strength training and conditioning on a regular basis. If you work hard, eventually it will pay off!

You need to be able to have great ball handling skills and great vision of the court when dribbling, to be able to find open teammates.

You can do squats, stretches, jumps, wall sits, running. You can do pretty much any exercise with your legs and that would make them stronger.

Try to plan what your offensive move will be quickly, so that your opponent cannot anticipate your move. Do not dribble the basketball on the same spot on the court for too long, as this will limit the time available for a high quality shot. Always look to see if there is a teammate in a better position to shoot; if so, pass the ball to them. Developing a pass-first mentality will help your team's offensive execution.

It depends. When someone is ready to block you, you need to aim at the backboard. When you have enough space to shoot, aim at the ring. Practice both to get the feel for the distance and technique.

Turn around and throw it to a teammate. If that doesn't work, try to trick your defender. Dribble the ball to the right (or left) and then dribble to the left (or right!), then shoot. The defender will be confused as to where you went.

Yes, a short person can shoot single handedly at a really high hoop. It depends on your skills, however.

Look at the basket. Imagine the ball going in. To shoot, place one hand on the side of the basketball and one on the back. Use your fingertips to spin the ball while it's going in. Also, point your elbow at the middle of the rim. Aim for the backboard.

For jumping, stretch your legs, do squats, and run. For blocks, play against someone around the same height as you and work on blocking their shots.

Become a better shooter and a great ball handler. Shorter players need to make up for their lack of height by enhancing their offensive game. Getting to the rim will be difficult because your height puts you at a disadvantage and makes it easier for other players to alter your shot or block it entirely.

Call a teammate and that should get their attention. If that doesn't work, it is okay to call a timeout.

Follow the offensive player your guarding, look at their hips, bend your knees, steal the ball but try not to fowl, and block your opponents' shots. Check out how to get better at defense in basketball for more tips.

Dribble around your driveway or your street if you have a quiet neighborhood. Get some friends to practice passing with you. Do sprint drills to work on your speed.

It depends how it is bent. Make sure never to bend your knees past your toes as this is really bad for them. And make sure you're always wearing the right shoes, otherwise, it could worsen the pressure on your knees. Some people just have naturally weak knees, and need to do exercises to strengthen them. If you are already feeling pain in your knees, consider getting a light brace to secure them a bit more while keeping your flexibility intact.

It is highly suggested that you shoot like that, but if you are having problems, or shooting a different way works best for you, then do that method instead. It's all about your perspective.

If you're short and not as fast as others, train yourself to be good on defense and shooting.

All tryouts are different, but the basics are generally tested (dribbling with both hands, free throws, shooting, defense, and layups). Don't worry about being embarrassed, just do your best. Most people don't show up at tryouts with excellent skills, the coach won't be expecting you to be a basketball star.

Wearing a headband will definitely not affect your I.Q. nor your ability to shoot, other than perhaps keeping hair out of your eyes for a clearer shot.

Try dribbling slowly like switching your hands from right to left, between the legs, and behind the back. Then, pick up the pace. If you do this, you will see a huge difference.

If your layup is contested, try to get a rebound and take the shot. If someone is taller, jump backwards and then shoot. This requires good balance.

Try gripping the ball with your entire hand, although it doesn't seem as effective as using your fingertips, it gives you more control instantly. You also want to try to break the court, this will make it harder for defenders to steal the ball from you.

Practice dribbling, passing and shooting. Exercise so you can keep your body fit. Also practice running fast.

Throwing a basketball takes a lot of arm strength, as well having a good grip on the basketball. Practice throwing softballs or baseballs to get yourself used to the feeling and the motion, and work out with weights to get your arms stronger.

Research different positions and what they specialize in, and pay attention to what you are good at when you practice. You can match yourself up to what you want to play as fairly easy.

Expand your skills. Try practicing your handles, layups, passing and overall team chemistry. Also, if you aren't very tall, then it is only natural to not be noticed, so you need to show that you're better. You will never be noticed for one ability, so to be professional you need to be good at everything. That's what your coach is paying attention to. Don't worry about everybody else, pay attention to yourself. You will get stressed out and might even lose motivation.

Eating healthy and stretching are both great ways to maintain energy. Try getting more rest but make sure not to get too much rest. Try getting around 8-9 hours of sleep as that is recommended for your age.

Height matters only if you plan on playing at the collegiate or professional level. In those leagues having a height advantage/disadvantage can be important. When you are playing in pick-up basketball or even on a high school team, height doesn't matter as much.

The only way to get better at layups is by practicing them. Aim for the top right or top left corner of the square on the back board, depending on what side of the basket you are shooting from. Getting the footwork down is important, too. Make sure you are taking the right number of steps approaching the basket.