HOW TO: Crossover

The art of the crossover dribble is quite difficult to master, as it requires agility, to have hand eye coordination and the ability to accelerate once performed. The maneuver is performed by the ball handler in which while dribbling the play switches (crosses over) the ball to the other hand, while simultaneously changing directions. The crossover is often performed to allow the player to get a shot or bypass the defence, it is effective against high pressure defence.

There are many variations to the crossover to help you fool the defender, however three primary crossovers that every player should have in their arsenal include the following;

'Basic'

'In and Out' 

'Double'

Basic Crossover

1. Slowly dribble the ball forward with your dominant hand

2. Whilst keeping the ball bouncing below the waist, shoot your hips low and change directions by pivoting your feet

3. As soon as you begin to pivot your feet, bounce the ball in the same direction ahead and catch it with your other hand. (This should be performed in one explosive movement)

4. As you catch the ball in the other hand, the non-ball hand should be used as an arm bar to guard any steal attempts

Variation: Through the legs

Can also be performed by bringing the ball through the legs instead of in front of the player. This variation allows you to protect the ball if the guarding player is up close and placing pressure. This requires some experience and practice.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gh88Go6XN4

The In and Out Crossover

1. Dribble the ball with you dominant hand towards a defender (We will use the right hand as an example here.

2. As you approach the defender, whilst the ball is in your right hand begin by faking to your right side (or hesitate) and crossing the ball over to the other side quickly. As usual keep the ball below the waist and stay low.

3. Instead of continuing in the direction you crossed to, use your left foot to transfer your energy back into the opposite direction in an explosive moment. (Note: Do not cross the ball over the the other side, instead fake like you are crossing over, then scoop it back the other way in conjunction with your footwoork)

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8ssC2ol2ao

Double Crossover

1. Dribble the ball with your dominant hand against a defender.

2. Maintain eye contact with the defenders hips and feet to judge the best time to crossover, when required perform a basic crossover by bouncing the ball to the other hand in a fairly slow manner.

3. As soon as the ball is about to the hit the ground and bounce to the other hand, get down low and use the receiving hand to QUICKLY bounce it back to it's starting point

4. Your defender should be caught off balance in order to provide you with an opening.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-hUtBYlA0s

Happy Ankle-Breaking!

HOW TO: Three-Pointer

A three-point shot could be the almighty offensive move that wins your team the game. In just seconds you’re able to turn it around and from the three-point line, you can get ahead and win. With a technique holding the possibility of having such an advantage over the opposing team, it obviously is quite difficult to perfect.

Below are the steps on how to shoot a three-pointer, starting off with:

Step 1: Position

The first thing you need to ensure is that you are in a safe position that is

• Behind the line
• Lacking in defense from opposing team
• Lined up to the net

If either of these 3 are not found, then that does not mean you cannot get the 3 points. What this means really is that the shot will be much more difficult to perform at 100% effectiveness. With raging defense close near you, you will be more shaky with your aim due to immediate anxiety of defense coming at you. If you are not lined up to the net, your aim again is affected and more precision is required. If you are in front of the line, taking steps back to be behind it will reduce your strength of throw as you shoot.

Step 2: Stance and Movement

When you are about to make the shot, bend your knees before you push the ball up and let go of it. This provides more strength and direction in the release of the ball, as your entire body is shifting in a movement that is up and towards the net. This relieves some precision and strength from the arms and hands so that it is easier for them to guide the ball.

Step 3: Hands

When shooting the ball, your stronger, favoured hand should be underneath the ball while your other hand is gently rested on the side of the ball. With your stronger hand underneath, maximum strength when pushing the ball towards the net is enabled. With your other hand resting on the side of the ball, this assists the direction and balance of the ball on the stronger hand.

Step 4: Letting Go

The last phase of the shot is letting go of the ball. As you push up with your stronger hand underneath the ball, you extend that hand and arm fully, meaning to follow through. This increases the flow and strength of the ball as it makes its way to the net.

Source: http://bit.ly/RA8r4T

And that is shooting a three-pointer. While that is all curcial to know and helpful, there is another factor, the most important factor to know, when shooting a three-pointer. And that is practice. The only way any person will perfect the three-point shot is if they are consistently practicing their technique and flow. This is so they can truly understand their own technique and what factors to work on, whether it is their positioning, stance and movement, hands or letting go.

In the coming weeks we will be posting a video demonstrating how to shoot a three-pointer, so stay tuned for that!

HOW TO: Alley-Oop

On of the most effectively offensive plays on the court, an alley-oop is passing the ball to your friend for them to score. But a lot more comes into it when perfecting it. To utilise this skill takes practice in teamwork,timing and precision all at once, as the most important feature is to effectively co-ordinate with your teammate whom you are setting the ball up for or receiving the ball from. If you are not on the same level as your teammate, this move will surely fail.

We'll run through the process acting on both sides of this technique - the player setting up for the other player to score, and vice versa in each step outlined below.

Source: http://bit.ly/1osFwxC

Step 1: Signal

The first step is ensuring a signal has been made for the alley-oop to take place. For the receiver, this could possibly be pointing to the net, giving a number or sign with their fingers, or saying it to your teammate before your next offensive possession. For the passer, all involved is simply identifying when the signal has been made to know it's time to move onto Step 2.

Step 2: Timing

By far the most crucial aspect of the play, where you have to be certain that before the passer is ready to make their move, so is the receiver. The best way both teammates can act on the move together is keep an eye on each other. If you lose focus on what part they've reached in the process, you can perform a sequence too early or too late. 

Example for passer: not seeing your teammate and passing the ball too late

Example for receiver: not seeing your teammate held up and running too early

The best take on this issue is for the receiver to steadily maintain control of the ball whilst holding off opponents, keeping an eye out for their teammate. As soon as they see their teammate make the run for it, so do they, moving to Step 3.

Step 3: Set Up

Now that both players are on the move, what’s left is the pass and the score to make. The aim in the final part of this play for the passer is 2 a) lure the defense towards themselves, away from their teammate and b) clear the area around the net making it easier for their teammate to make the run and jump.

As the receiver progresses towards the net, they should seem as if they are heading for the net or making an individual big play, acting as a ploy or distraction, right before the last part, Step 4.

Step 4: Pass

The final move to be made by both players. This part we will run through separately in both roles.

Passer: the final step is to make the pass to the receiver. Fair warning this is not a simple ‘just throw it to the player’ pass. The ball needs to be gently tossed towards the net so that your teammate can simply dunk or shoot the ball in simply by guiding it from they contacted it. If the player has to take control or abruptly slow down/speedup their run and contact, the pass could have been better.

Reciever: the final step is jumping at the right time to contact the ball and get the points. This needs to be carefully timed right from Step 1 when the receiver first makes the signal. The aim is for all to go well and the receiver to be perfectly in motion so that they coincide with the ball’s motion where all they simply have to do is dunk it in the net or lob it in.

And that’s the alley-oop guys, and be ready for our video to come out soon which will show you how to do this with your teammate perfectly.

HOW TO: Layup

Welcome to the start of the 'How To' series on this blog, where over the next few weeks we'll be describing, showing and hopefully helping you perfect the skill of a number of basketball techniques. We'll cover most basics including dribbling, 3-pointers and doing a layup. Today, we're starting off with one of the most effective shots in basketball to be made, the layup.

Before our upcoming video on how to do a simple lay up, we've provided a step by step tutorial below to walk you through the fundamentals of a layup.

Step 1

Source: http://bit.ly/1lrLCrL

Pick the side you'll be shooting from, for beginners its easier to do a layup coming in from the side of their preferred hand. (left handed players will come from the left and vice versa for right handed players.)

Step 2

Dribble in towards the basket with the hand from the side your coming from.

Step 3

Dribble in one step in front of the free throw line or on the three throw line depending on the length of your stride.

Step 4

Take two steps towards the basket.

Step 5

When about one and half meters from the basket jump off the opposite foot in relation to the shooting arm. e.g if you are doing a right handed layup, aim to always jump of the left foot.

Step 6

Throw the ball towards the backboard top corner with the hand furthest from the basket. (right hand if your coming in from the right and left hand if your coming in from the left) If you are successful the ball should swish through the net.

So guys that's how you perform a simple layup, of course there are more complex and better looking ways to do a layup but that'll be for a later day. The video will be coming soon showing you how we do layups with consistent updates on what we're working on so follow us on twitter at @isys100bfriday.