June 24, 2022 | Tagged Skills,
Hoopfest advice—four keys to better street basketball tournament success
Playing outside requires certain skills of awareness and understanding
Serious athletes know they can do a variety of things to maximize their performance and reduce the chances of injury when playing basketball in outdoor events such as Spokane Hoopfest. Here are simple practices that are easily overlooked but are key to being your best:
Analyze Your Court: The court will have degrees of difficulty based on the surface and the contours of the court. Be familiar with the deficits, maximize the benefits in your favor and force the other team to deal with the deficits. Get them to the areas that are more challenging, uneven, are more difficult for shooting.
Know the position of the sun: The sun can affect your sight and can provide an obstacle. The sun changes throughout the day; be aware of how the sun affects your court.
And One: Draw the foul. Your best friend at Hoopfest is at the foul line. Shooting outside can make the most consistent shooters struggle but the stripe is a guarantee for great shooters. If you aren't a good shooter, the free throw is still a perfect opportunity to have a free shot at the basket. Get to the stripe, a good fake will help you get there.
Eliminate the refs as an obstacle: If you have refs, make sure you understand how they call. Ask ahead of time how they favor the game-- do they allow more physical, what calls will they always call, and which ones will be more lenient. Be polite and courteous. Treat the refs well and don't make it personal or aggressive.
Keep those muscles loose. Make sure that heavily worked muscles are flexible and malleable before vigorous athletic activities. Stretching the right way can make all the difference in your game, preparing your body for the various challenges at hand. But too many athletes are doing it wrong. When you think of stretching, do you think of static stretching? That’s when you stretch one muscle or stretch in one position for thirty seconds or more. Static stretching has its place, but it can hinder performance if done directly before athletic activities. By static stretching you are decreasing blood flow within your tissue, causing a build-up of lactic acid. Over time you are causing damage to and decreasing your explosive power and muscle strength. Instead, try dynamic stretching. Dynamic stretching, or stretching while moving, is recommended. Try using a foam roller! Foam rollers are a great substitute for a massage and an excellent way to increase blood flow in your muscles; here is an article advocating foam rolling. Athletic trainers agree - they would see far fewer injuries if athletes took the time to properly warm up their muscles.
Drink water. You’ve heard it a million times, right? But why is it so important? Water gives your cells the ability to function properly. Dehydration minimizes the amount of blood in your body, which (as a side effect) makes your heart work harder to pump oxygen-rich cells through your body. Water also helps your body maintain homeostasis (balanced body temperature). Dehydration in athletes decreases the capacity to perform at an elevated level athletically and is bad for you.
Wear good shoes: Do NOT buy new shoes for this event-- this will increase the risk of blisters. Wear shoes that can grip the ground.
Cool off- with temperatures rising, you need to keep your body cool. Rest in the shade, hydrate, get out of the sun as much as possible, wet your shirt, and keep your hair wet.
Be a good sport- tempers can flare at hoop fest. Keep cool and don't be a poor sport. Swearing, cheap fouls, and bad play are an indication you are a poor player and must compensate by being rude.
Ice, ice, baby. To cool down after a game it is important to ice. Ice should be an athlete’s best friend. Ice will reduce inflammation in different muscle groups as well as decrease the swelling in the given area. It is recommended to ice the sore/inflamed area(s) for 15 minutes.
Watch out for the contours of the court when shooting. Because streets are designed to drain water, there is a significant difference between shots at the top of the key and shots at the baseline. Adjust the arc of your ball and plan to shoot higher and farther as the street travels downward.
Overall, these simple tips can help you elevate your game and maintain a proficient level of play even during street basketball. NBC Camps are dedicated to helping each athlete achieve their greatest potential, both on and off the court.
ABOUT NBC BASKETBALL
NBC Basketball is complete basketball camp program offering intensive skill-building, leadership, mental toughness training, and more. NBC Basketball began in 1971 and is now located in 12 states and six countries. For more information visit www.nbccamps.com.