Introduction: The Fundamentals of Basketball
Get to know the main fundamentals of basketball. Dicas Educação Física has prepared for you an illustrated presentation with tips on the Technical Fundamentals of Basketball, including a Video Lesson on Basketball Techniques. Good reading! 😉
What are the Fundamentals of Basketball?
The technical fundamentals of basketball are: Body control, ball handling, dribbling, passing, shooting, trapping, jumping and rebounding.
Body Control in Basketball
Body Control or Body Handling is very important for performing basketball movements.
Body control is important in both defensive and attacking movements and should not be overlooked in introductory basketball classes.
Some Body Control movements that should be practiced in basketball are:
- Cute
- Fintas
- Races with multiple changes of direction
- Front running, back running and side running
- Sudden stops (stopping abruptly after a run to make it more difficult for the opposition to score)
Ball Handling in Basketball
Ball Handling is the Basketball Fundamentals that aims to develop the ability to Control the Ball in different situations.
Some Ball Handling movements that should be practiced in Basketball are:
- Roll the ball
- Bounce the ball
- Holding the ball
- Changing hands
- Throw the ball from one side of the body to the other over the head
- Throw the ball from the back to the front of the body over the head
- Throwing or passing the ball between the legs
- Pass the ball around your body (at knee height and waist height)
To see more examples of ball handling in basketball, watch the video by Prof. Santiago Reais of the Basketball Channel Góias E. C. ⇒ Ball Handling – Basketball Training
Dribbling in Basketball
Dribbling is one of the most used basketball fundamentals during a game. It’s the act of bouncing the ball with one hand.
Dribbling is used so that the basketball player can move with possession of the ball.
A simple tip that should always be observed when dribbling is that the dribbling player should always keep the opposite leg of the dribbling hand forward:
- Dribble with your right hand, left leg in front.
- Dribble with your left hand, right leg in front.
What are the types of dribbling in basketball?
1 – High Dribble ⇒ Also called the Speed Dribble, because it is used when the basketball player is unmarked and can move at speed. In the High Dribble, the ball is propelled further ahead of the body.
2 – The Low Dribble ⇒ Also called the Protection Dribble, because this type of dribble is used when there is a marker close to the player who has the ball, so he needs to dribble to protect the ball from his marker. In this type of dribbling, the legs bend more and the ball is always protected by the player’s body.
Tips for dribbling
- Always dribble with your head up (looking at your marker and the movement of the other players)
- Dribble by pushing the ball down (don’t hit the ball)
- During the dribble, don’t let the ball rise beyond waist height
What is Dribbling for?
- To get rid of a marker
- To adjust the body position for a throw or pass
- To protect the ball in front of a marker
- To move at speed with the ball
Basketball Fundamentals: Passing
Passing in basketball is the act of throwing the ball to a player on the same team.
It’s an attacking skill used to move the team.
What are the types of passes in basketball?
1 – The Chest Pass ⇒ The Chest Pass is the most common type of pass in Basketball, it is a pass for short and medium distances, it is a quick pass and the ball follows a straight trajectory.
2 – The Chopped Pass ⇒ The Chopped Pass in basketball is used over short distances. In this type of pass, the ball touches the ground before reaching the teammate.
3 – The Over-the-Head Pass ⇒ The Over-the-Head Pass in Basketball is made over short distances by throwing the ball over the marker.
4 – The Shoulder Pass ⇒ The shoulder pass in basketball is used to reach long distances. It is often used in counter-attacking plays, when you want to make a long pass to catch the opponent’s defense off guard.
“Unlike in Handball, the shoulder pass in Basketball is made with both hands.
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5 – The Hook Pass ⇒ The Hook Pass in Basketball is used over long distances, it is a type of pass with little precision.
Basketball Fundamentals: Shooting
Shooting in basketball is an attacking action aimed at making a basket (points).
What are the types of shots in basketball?
1 – One-handed shot ⇒ This is the most common type of shot in basketball.
- It is performed by placing the main hand under the ball and the other hand on the side for support.
- The ball must be thrown into the basket using only the hand underneath the ball.
- The one-handed throw can also be performed with a jump.
Tips for executing the one-handed throw:
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If you throw with your right hand, your right leg should be slightly forward, the same goes for throwing with your left hand
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Bend your legs a little at the start of the throw
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The elbow of the throwing hand should be pointing towards the basket.
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Look at the basket
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Flex the wrist at the end of the throw
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Throw ball on a parabolic trajectory
Basketball Tray Throw
The Tray is one of the most common basketball fundamentals. It is a type of shot made on the move, close to the basket and with a jump.
What Are the Types of Trays in Basketball?
Tray with possession ⇒ This is when the player comes dribbling, approaches the basket, holds the ball, takes two steps and jumps towards the basket, shooting the ball.
Tray without possession ⇒ This is when the player receives the ball near the basket and makes the Tray without dribbling.
The Jump Fundamentals of Basketball
The Jump is a type of basketball shot made with a jump.
The Jump can be performed while moving or standing still and the ball must be thrown when the player reaches the highest height in the jump.
Basketball rebounding fundamentals
Rebounding in basketball is the act of catching the ball after an unconverted shot.
What are the types of rebounds in basketball?
Defensive rebound ⇒ Also called a defensive rebound, this is when a player from the defending team takes the rebound after an unconverted shot from the opposing team.
Offensive Rebound ⇒ Also called an Attack Rebound, this is when a player from the attacking team takes the Rebound after an unconverted Throw-in from their own team.
More Basketball content
- Summary of the Official Rules of Basketball
- What is Dribbling in Basketball
- Basketball Rules and Fundamentals
- Official Basketball Court
- The History of Basketball
- What is basketball?
BASKETBALL FUNDAMENTALS VIDEO LESSON
Watch the Video Lesson on Basketball Techniques from the Physical Education Tips Channel.
