Andrew Pace
Playing with your hands up is a vital part of basketball. You shoot, pass, dribble, receive, rebound, and play defense with your hands up. Players should keep their hands straight out at their sides, maximising their wingspan, which makes it harder for opponents to pass them. Coaches can encourage this habit by instituting an automatic 10 push-up rule for any player not holding their hands up during practice. This will help players learn the importance of keeping their hands up, gain upper body strength, and increase their scoring and passing abilities.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Importance of hands up | It is vital to keep your hands up while shooting, passing, dribbling, receiving, rebounding, and playing defense. |
| Benefits of hands up | Eliminates unforced turnovers, increases scoring and passing abilities, and develops player confidence. |
| Practice techniques | Players should keep their hands up when the coach is talking during practice to strengthen muscles and remind them to pay attention. |
| Enforcing the hands-up rule | Coaches can implement a rule where players must do push-ups if they don't keep their hands up during practice, improving upper body strength. |
| Hand placement | The guide hand should be loosely positioned on the side of the basketball, with fingers pointing up and no gaps. It guides the ball, while the shooting hand shoots. |
| Shooting hand placement | The shooting hand should be spread wide and comfortably under the basketball with a bent wrist, forming a "shooting platform." The ball should rest on the fingers and finger pads, not the palm. |
| Guide hand during shooting | The guide hand should remain in contact with the ball until the release point, finishing high, straight, and vertical, without pushing or flicking the ball. |
| Defensive strategy | Keeping your hands straight out at your sides maximizes your wingspan, making it harder for an opponent to pass or shoot. |
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What You'll Learn
Hands up for shooting
Playing with your hands up is a vital part of basketball. You shoot, pass, dribble, receive, rebound, and play defense with your hands up. Therefore, it is crucial for players to develop the habit of keeping their hands up at all times.
To shoot with your hands up, start by spreading your shooting hand wide and comfortably under the basketball, with your wrist bent backward. This is called the "shooting platform," where the ball rests and is held in position, ready to shoot. It is important to have your wrist bent backward so you can snap your wrist without wasting movement by cocking your wrist back during your shooting motion. Ensure that your hand is spread wide so that the ball rests on your fingers and finger pads, not your palm or fingertips. This gives you more control over the ball.
Next, position your guide hand loosely but fully on the side of the basketball. Your guide hand should be vertical, with your fingers pointing up and no gaps between your hand and the ball. It should not be used to grip or grab the basketball or assist in powering the ball to the basket. Instead, it is used to control and hold the ball and keep your shot straight. Make sure your guide hand does not move during the shooting process, as this can interfere with your shot.
Finally, focus on your grip and release. The angle of your fingers on the middle of the ball is crucial. Get your finger into correct alignment by using your elbow as a cue. When your finger is parallel to the target line, it will remain on the bottom of the ball throughout the wrist snap. This will help you shoot the ball more accurately and with greater control.
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Hands up for passing
Playing with your hands up is a vital part of basketball. You shoot, pass, dribble, receive, rebound, and play defense with your hands up. The only times a player's hands are down is when they make a mistake, such as a loose ball, or when receiving a very low pass.
To pass effectively, players must develop a habit of keeping their hands up at all times. This accomplishes two things: it reminds players to pay attention and listen, and it helps to condition and strengthen the muscles required to keep their hands up. Coaches can encourage this habit by instituting an automatic push-up rule for players who don't keep their hands up during practice.
Passing with your hands up increases your passing abilities and creates a positive attitude of wanting and calling for the ball, which develops and increases player confidence. It also helps to maximize your wingspan, making it harder for opponents to pass you or shoot over you.
Additionally, proper hand placement is crucial for effective passing. The guide hand should be positioned loosely but fully on the side of the basketball, with the fingers pointing up and no gaps between the hand and the ball. The shooting hand should be spread wide and comfortably under the basketball, with the wrist bent backward. This position, known as the "shooting platform," allows the ball to rest and be held in position, ready to pass or shoot.
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Hands up for dribbling
Having your hands up in basketball is vital. You shoot, pass, dribble, receive, rebound, and play defense with your hands up. The only times a player's hands are down is when they make a mistake, such as a loose ball, or when receiving a very low pass.
To dribble a basketball, you need to use one hand to control the ball, touching it with your fingers and fingertips—not your palm. Many beginners will slap the ball at first, but remind them that spreading their fingers out and using their fingertips will help them get a better grip on the ball. It is also important not to let the ball bounce above the waist.
Once players have mastered dribbling with one hand while looking up, you can introduce the triple threat position. This position gives players three options: shoot, pass, or dribble the ball to the net. To achieve this position, players need to spread their feet about shoulder-width apart, with a slight bend in their knees. This stance provides greater balance and makes players ready to take off at a moment's notice.
Additionally, players can maintain possession when dribbling by shielding the ball with their non-dribbling arm. This technique helps protect the ball from defenders. As players progress, they can also be taught to keep their bodies between the ball and the defender.
Practicing with your hands up will significantly impact team performance. It will reduce unforced turnovers and increase scoring and passing abilities. Having hands up also creates a positive attitude of wanting and calling for the ball, which develops and increases player confidence.
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Hands up for receiving
Playing with your hands up is a vital part of basketball that is often overlooked. You shoot, pass, dribble, receive, rebound, and play defense with your hands up. The only times a player's hands are down is when they need to pick up a loose ball or receive a very low pass.
To receive a pass, you need to have your hands up and ready to catch the ball. This is especially important if you're in a crowded area or if the pass is coming at a high speed. Having your hands up allows you to catch the ball more easily and quickly. It also helps to have your hands out in front of you, so you can reach the pass before it goes past you.
If you're receiving a pass, it's important to communicate with your teammate. Make eye contact and call for the ball, so they know where to pass it. Having your hands up also signals to your teammates that you're open and ready to receive a pass. This helps to create a positive attitude and increases player confidence.
Practicing with your hands up is essential for muscle memory and conditioning. During practices, coaches can encourage players to keep their hands up by instituting a rule that requires players to do push-ups if they're caught with their hands down. This helps players develop the habit of keeping their hands up at all times, which will improve their performance during games.
Overall, keeping your hands up for receiving passes is a crucial skill in basketball. It allows you to catch passes more easily, improves communication with your teammates, and increases your scoring and passing abilities. By practicing with your hands up, you can develop the muscle memory and conditioning needed to excel in games.
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Hands up for rebounding
Keeping your hands up is paramount in basketball. It is a vital part of the game, and players should always keep their hands up when shooting, passing, dribbling, receiving, rebounding, and playing defense.
The same principle applies when it comes to rebounding. The skills of rebounding are simple: prepare your hands, block out, and catch the ball. Even before the ball reaches the basket, think about how it could rebound. If the ball bounces off the hoop, jump off at the right time. Aim to touch the ball at the highest point of your jump. To do this, raise both arms, as a two-handed rebound makes it easier to secure the ball. You can reach a little higher if you first touch the ball with one hand and then the other. Once you have the ball, pull it towards your chest while still in the air.
Rebounding is an important indicator of how well a team is playing. It can show how hard a team is playing, their focus, and how well they are shooting. It is also a great way to reward good defense and can boost confidence.
There are several drills that can help players improve their rebounding skills. The "Pound Board & Put Back" drill focuses on developing strength with hands over the head, which helps with the rebound and powering it back up. Players can also practice jumping and dribbling the ball off the backboard with their right hand, then switching to the left hand.
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Frequently asked questions
Keeping your hands up in basketball is important because you shoot, pass, dribble, receive, rebound, and play defense with your hands. Keeping your hands up at all times will help to eliminate unforced turnovers and increase your scoring and passing abilities.
During practices, hold your hands up whenever your coach is talking. This will help you remember to pay attention and listen. Holding your hands up throughout practice will also help to condition and strengthen the muscles required to keep your hands up during a game.
The shooting hand should be spread wide and comfortably under the basketball with the wrist bent backward. This is called the "shooting platform" and it is where the ball rests and is held in position ready to shoot. The guide hand should be positioned loosely but fully on the side of the basketball, with the fingers pointing up and no gaps between the hand and the ball.
The index finger should be centred or slightly off-centre to the left for a right-handed shooter. The index finger should be the last finger to come off the basketball when snapping your wrist. The middle finger should also be spread across the middle of the ball.
