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PostPosted: 12 Dec 2009, 19:35 

Posts: 27
Location: Sydney, Australia
I'm a post player, but I was wondering if post players need the high level of ballhandling skills needed for guards?


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PostPosted: 13 Dec 2009, 11:32 
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Posts: 186
Location: Miami, Fl.
The better the ball handler you are, regardless of position, the better player you will be.

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Don Kelbick
http://www.DonKelbickBasketball.com
http://www.BreakthroughBasketball.com


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PostPosted: 13 Dec 2009, 16:46 
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Before I read Don's post I was thinking the same thing.... the better you handle the ball the more of a theat you will be... it will make you harder to defend.

Ken


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PostPosted: 20 Dec 2009, 04:31 

Posts: 27
Location: Sydney, Australia
Yeah... I'm the kind of guy in my 14's school team that is tall but only has the proper shot and the basic dribble and layup (I hope you don't mind my age...) But often in casual play outside of school, I play the outer rim positions because of my size compared to others (5 foot 3). I'm just trying to balace out the two, because my outer rim position is casual, but my post play is a formal schooling role... don't know which one is more important (I want to play a guard role... but I'm too tall)


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PostPosted: 20 Dec 2009, 04:34 

Posts: 27
Location: Sydney, Australia
And also, I don't actually get to dribble much... just outlets off def rebounds and run off to the other end... that's why I'm asking.


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PostPosted: 20 Dec 2009, 08:12 
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NO, we don't mind your age... this is a great resource for young players and coaches alike.

I wouldn't worry too much about your height... you will grow and like we have said before... be a complete player.. do as much ball handling as you can - you can never handle the ball too well. It will help you to be a COMPLETE player and thats the important thing.

I doubt that when you get to high school that you will be playing cetner... what I do like hearing is that you are playing outside of your school team... have some fun and hone your skills.

Keep working on your ball handling skills and let us know how it is going... and I would bet that as you get better at handling the ball - you will be a better post player too. (and this will increase your chances of being able to play a guard position as you get older)

Good luck,
Ken


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PostPosted: 20 Dec 2009, 08:29 
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This is right off this site... Jeff & Joe have a wealth of information on their site... and if you cant find it here... just do a search.
Here is what they have that can help you.

9 Tips To Improve Your Dribbling & Ball Handling
Dribble the ball hard. The more time the ball spends in your hand, the more control you have of the ball. The harder you dribble, the quicker it gets back in your hand.


Head up at all times. Look at the rim or a spot on the wall during all practice.


Use your finger tips to control the ball, not your palm.


Use your imagination. Picture when and how you would use each of the dribbles.


Teach mentality. There is too much dribbling for no reason in our game today. I like to teach that the primary purpose for putting the ball on the floor is to get a lay-up. If you don't have an opportunity, don't put it on the floor.


Basketball is a game of length. Work on lengthening the dribble. Work to get your opportunities with 1 dribble. You don't beat defenses with your dribble. You beat people with your feet; you SEPARATE from your defense with the dribble.


Basketball is also a game of angles. Try to move in straight lines. Whenever you make an "East-West" move (something that takes you toward the sideline), re-capture a "North-South" path (direct line to the basket) as quickly as possible.


Don't do things in 2 dribbles that you can do in 1.


Practice outside your comfort zone. Experiment; go faster than you are used to, use your imagination. When working on new skills, don't be concerned with losing the ball. Just pick it up and do it again. If you practice only things that are comfortable, then you will never improve.



Dribbling Practice

"Maravich Drills" are very good at getting players comfortable with the ball. Below are some examples.


Dribble Figure 8's - Spread legs about shoulder width. Dribble the ball through and around legs in a figure 8. Can be done multiple ways - front to back, back to front, low dribbles (as many dribbles as possible with dribble about shoe height), as few dribbles as possible (high dribble about waist high), can even be done walking. For even more of a challenge, try the drill with one hand instead of two.


Spider Dribble - Feet spread about shoulder width. Dribble the ball between your legs in the following manner - left hand, right hand in front of your legs; left hand, right hand behind your legs. Work to as fast a possible.


Drop and Catch - Hold ball between your legs with right hand in front of your body, left hand behind. Drop the ball and exchange you hand position and re-catch the ball before it hits the ground.


These are just examples. There are too many of these drills to list here. Pete Maravich devised these drills out of his imagination, his need for challenge and his drive to improve. YYou do not need to be bound by other people's drills; challenge yourself to come up with your own drills.


Dribbling Warm Ups

I prefer to practice skills in combinations that are relevant to multiple aspects of the game. It saves time and instills a great sense of urgency.. It saves time and has a great sense of urgency. One of the ways I do this is to add dribbling into my stretching exercises.


Hamstring Stretch - While dribbling with your right hand, cross right leg over left. Bend at the waist, touch the floor with your left hand and bring your dribble down to shoe top level. Hold for an 8 count. Reverse position and switch hands.


Lower Body and Achilles Stretch - Dribble waist high while standing up. Step as far forward with your right leg as you can, keeping your back straight and your left heel on the ground. At the same time bring your dribble forward of your right foot, keeping the ball at shoe-top height. Hold for an 8 count and then stand up. Switch legs and dribble hand.


Crossover - Same as above except, step forward with left leg. As foot goes to the floor, switch hands, right to left, keeping dribble shoe top height. Cross back when standing up.


Through Legs - Same as above except instead of crossing over, put ball through legs at shoe top height.


Multiple Through Legs - Same as above except put ball through legs 3 times (left, right, left) on quick, successive dribbles shoe top height.


Torso Twist - Spread legs outside of shoulder width, dribble with right hand. Keeping legs straight, bring ball across body to left side, outside left foot and dribble at shoe top height behind left foot.


These are just samples. You can develop a dribble stretch for any part of the body.



Two Ball Dribbling Drills & Videos:
I think the most effective way to improve your dribble, however, is by using 2 balls. Any dribble or drill you can do with 1 ball, you can do with 2. Stationary practice at first will build confidence. Stand on the baseline and try to control both balls. Then start to move. Go half court, then full court. Follow the lines around the court or in any route you can come up with.

To see more DRILLS & VIDEOS Click Here.



BALLHANDLING
The difference between dribbling and ballhandling is intent. Dribbling is the skill of controlling the ball as you bounce it to the floor. Ballhandling (at least 1 aspect of ballhandling) is what you do with that dribble.

Whether you use it to go to the basket, make a passing angle, escape from pressure or anything else, those situations have to be imagined and practiced.

Here are some situational drills:


Full Court Lay-ups - Start on the baseline. Dribble full court with right hand in 5 dribbles and make a lay-up, come back with left hand. Then reduce the number of dribbles to 4 and then to 3.


Chair Changes - Place a chair about 21 feet from the basket. It can be on top, on the wing, or in the corner. Start about 8-10 feet beyond the chair. Dribble straight at the chair. At the chair, use a change of direction dribble (crossover, inside out, behind back, etc) to go beyond the chair and make a lay-up. Try to get to the point where you only need one dribble to get to the lay-up. Practice all the changes.


Two up - Two back - Set a chair such as in the drill above. Take 2 hard dribbles at the chair. When reaching the chair, take 2 backup dribbles. After the second dribble, push ahead into 1 dribble lay-up or pull-up jumpshot.


Dropstep Dribble - (works on footwork and ballhanding)


Chair Curl - This is another great multi use drill. It combines shooting, ballhandling and speed and high intensity change in direction.


Chair Curl Phase 2 (With 2 Chairs)


Two Ball Dribbling Drills & Moves - Excellent way to improve one on one moves.
Shooting drills can also be adapted to work on ballhandling aspects by adding changes of direction and pivoting to create 1 and 2 dribble opportunities for either jumpers or lay-ups.



Practice these as often as you can, set aside a certain time of the day where you can spend 15 minutes a day on these drills.

Ken


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PostPosted: 21 Dec 2009, 20:08 

Posts: 27
Location: Sydney, Australia
Sorry... I was mistakened... I am 176 cm and in Year 7 of Australia (The first year after graduating primary, whatever they are called in other countries). I'm about the 7th tallest out of 180 people in my grade, and the 5 in front of me aren't playing basketball, and I can jump higher than the guy who's left... So I think I should be...


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PostPosted: 21 Dec 2009, 20:11 

Posts: 27
Location: Sydney, Australia
... 5 foot 9 1/4 inches (five foot, nine and a quarter inches).

And where did you get that whole page of information?


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PostPosted: 21 Dec 2009, 21:27 
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When you start to write your posts.. look to the left of the page.. there is a wealth of information there... and IF you cant find what you are looking for just do a search on the net.

Ken


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