Fundamentals of Basketball

Introduction

The game of basketball is an art, just like painting, drawing or playing golf all take skill.  

Even if you do not have the greatest talent in basketball you can still be a game changer. How? FUNDAMENTALS.  These are the most important tools of basketball to dominant because they will make you and your team better no matter who you face as an opponent.  What makes a player or a team better? By working on the fundamentals. Master the fundamentals of basketball they will never fail you. There are so many diverse situations that a player and team can face. The only thing that works in all situations no matter the level or team is the FUNDAMENTALS. 

 Fact teams who win championships do not win by gimmicks but win because they are a sound team.

Learning the fundamentals of Shooting, Passing, Dribbling, Defense will be the key to victory.

Task

Introduction

The game of basketball is an art, just like painting, drawing or playing golf all take skill.  

Even if you do not have the greatest talent in basketball you can still be a game changer. How? FUNDAMENTALS.  These are the most important tools of basketball to dominant because they will make you and your team better no matter who you face as an opponent.  What makes a player or a team better? By working on the fundamentals. Master the fundamentals of basketball they will never fail you. There are so many diverse situations that a player and team can face. The only thing that works in all situations no matter the level or team is the FUNDAMENTALS. 

 Fact teams who win championships do not win by gimmicks but win because they are a sound team.

Learning the fundamentals of Shooting, Passing, Dribbling, Defense will be the key to victory.

Task ›

Task

Believe me when I tell you that talent will not control the game of basketball. When you are done with these lessons you and your groups will have stronger skills to use in basketball, by learning and practicing the fundamentals of passing, dribbling, shooting and defense.

 Each of your groups will be able to understand how they can impact the game they are participating in. This means if you are playing in a simple pick-up game, one on one, or the state championship game you will have the fundamentals of passing, dribbling, shooting and defense as your special weapons to beat your opponent.

By the time we are done you will know why simple footwork is important for passing and defense.

By the time we are done you will know why correct dribbling can get you by a lot of defenses.

By the time we are done you will understand that consistent and repeatable shooting mechanics will give you another weapon for the game.

Process

Phase 1- Break up into groups of 4 preferably 2 boys and 2 girls in each group. In your group you will pick from a hat which skill you will teach to the rest of the group. The skills are shooting, passing, dribbling, or defense. You will research your skill and find the proper technique a basketball player should use when using the shooting, passing, dribbling, or defense of skills. Then you will teach that technique to your group by finding drills online that will help your group understand how to perform the technique and give them a chance to perform the technique. All of you will know a class period before which day you will teach your skill.

Phase 2

You will go on your own and research the skill you have. You will have to find the technique needed to perform shooting, passing, dribbling, or defense. Then you will research 5 or 6 drills that go along with your skill. These drills need to be specific to your skill and let your group work on developing and get better the correct technique and skill that you are teaching them. The drills need to challenge them and make them physically active. All drills must be able to be done on a basketball court.

Phase 3

You will teach the skill you had for your group on the day I assigned for your skill. You will go over the techniques you researched describing, explaining, and demonstrating how to perform the skill. Then you will teach and go through your drills you researched to your group so they can develop on the technique and skill you are teaching your group.

Phase 4- Internet resources (students can use)

Shooting- http://www.wikihow.com/Become-a-Better-Basketball-Shooter and http://www.basketball-tips-and-training.com/basketball-shooting-tips.html

Passing- http://www.basketball4all.net/passing.html

Defense- http://www.basketball4all.net/defense.html

Dribbling- http://www.insidehoops.com/gym/dribbling.shtml and  http://www.ihoops.com/practice-time/ball-handling/8-basketball-power-dribbling-drills.htm and http://performancecenter.stack.com/article_detail.jsp?id=105577#wallDefault

Evaluation

To realize success or improvement in the groups all participants will complete drills in dribbling, passing, shooting and defense.  Each group will complete the drills before and after the lessons. The object for the groups to complete the drills before the lessons is to show what skills and knowledge they lack. After the lessons are completed the participants will complete the same drills. However each student will be giving a letter grade. The grade is not based on how great their skill level is but based on much effort they put forth.

There will be a required written pre and post assessment each participant will complete. The assessment has 50 questions that each will rate him or herself on.The questions will give the participants some insight to their basketball playing. Also the questions will make the groups realize what skills they can use in other aspect of the lives.

They need to very honest in answering questions. The answers to the questions are comparing themselves to someone that they truly think is the best player they ever saw.  This way, the participant should have more 1s, 2s, and 3s.  This will give a truer picture of what someone needs to work on. For example here is the scale to which will be used.

5 – I am one of the best that ever was in this area.                                 

4 – I am good at this more than 80% of the time and will be the best there ever was.                               

3 – I am good in this area even though I may not be totally confident in my play.                                    

2 – I need to improve even though I do well from time to time                             

1 – I have problems with this one.  I admit it. I need to work on it.          

Conclusion

Ok to finish up our skill development on the fundamentals of basketball let me state the obvious to all of you no one can teach height or speed. However you all have additional weapons to beat your next opponent. Number 1 you know the four techniques for proper passing of the ball. Number 2 defense stance will help you slow down the opposition. Number 3 you know the proper technique for shooting whether it is a lay-up, free-throw or a three point shot. Number 4 dribbling the ball is not as hard as it seems with the methods you just learned.

Most important is to recall where you all were before you began the course of becoming a better player.  Could you make a lay-up, could you dribble the ball with-out looking down, could you know how to stop a offense player without committing a foul and could you pass the ball to your teammate? If you accomplish all four elements great even if you accomplished one of the fundamentals you are already a better player and teammate.

Basketball can be intense, quick, stressful and frustrating. No matter the chaos surrounding the game if you have mastered the fundamentals you will have complete peace and confidence when you play the game. These same fundamentals can be used in any situation in life. Please remember this.

Basketball is not rocket science