Here are the EXACT Basketball Skills You Should Focus On

(According to the Survey and the Experts)

For your convenience, we have compiled all the skills into one place for
you…

According to the survey, the most important skills for players to focus on (in
this order) are:

1) Shooting

 Form shooting technique (work on this every practice)

 Catch and shoot (while doing your shot prep for efficiency) – 3pt and
midrange
 Shooting after a game-like cut
 Shooting off the dribble (at game speed, separating from defender) –
primarily mid-range distances
 Free throws
2) Ball handling

 Left and right hand dribbling with eyes up

 Ball security – protecting the ball, retreat dribbles
 Basic cross over – low and tight, protecting the ball
 Speed dribble (dribbling full speed with right or left)
 Basic change of direction dribble (ex: crossover)
 1 or 2 efficient dribble moves to get by your defender in as few
dribbles as possible
3) Defense

 On ball footwork
 Agility
 Off ball defense
 Communication
4) Passing

 Chest pass, overhead pass, bounce pass

 On target passes!
 Crisp passes
 Coordination to pass with right and left hand
 Catching the ball – meeting your pass
5) Decision making

 When to shoot, drive, or pass

 Spacing on offense
 Reading the situation when making cuts and screens
 Ball screen reads
 Handling pressure situations… avoid trapping areas
6) Finishing at the basket

 Basic layups off 1 and 2 feet

 Making layups on right and left side of basket
  Finishing contest layups and through contact
 Making layups from various angles and situations that happen in a
game
 Protect the ball on layups
7) Footwork

 Jump stops
 Front and reverse pivots
 Drops steps and step through
 Pivot to protect under pressure
8) Rebounding

 Boxing out
 Crashing offensive boards and swim moves
 Going to get the ball!
 Timing of your jump
 Grabbing the ball with two hands and securing it
 Positioning & anticipation (where rebounds go)
9) Effort

 Intensity
 Competitiveness
 Hustle plays
 Energy
 Listening to the coach
 Focus
10) Teamwork

 Passing to the open player

 Bringing positive energy by giving out high fives, cheering from the
bench and so on
 Helping teammates on defense
 Knowing the plays, schemes and responsibilities
 Communication
11) Moving without the ball

 Spacing
 Cutting
 Screening
And all of these skills should be practiced at game speed, game intensity and
in as game-like conditions as possible.