Basic Skills of Wheelchair Basketball
There is a correct way of performing shooting, passing, catching, etc. and many incorrect ways.To be a successful player one of the main aims must be to perform skills consistently and well.
If you possess an unconventional shot which you score with 90% of the time, then use it, but the chances are that if you analysed the mechanics of your shot, it would be quite conventional in its execution.
Use these notes to assist your basic skills training and pass them on to other players. They are relevant to all levels of proficiency.
Do not forget when training to keep your mind switched on to what you are doing, keep up the right tempo and stay relaxed. 30 minutes of "switched on" training is better than 3 hours of lethargy.
Practice ideally in pairs or on your own. When one is shooting the other should be practising rebounding and passing back to the shooter.
Chair Control
In defence you must keep your chair touching your attacker and the footplate must be two or three inches in front of the attacker so that he cannot push past you one on one. Close down his space to move.
Keep in control of your chair; watch the position of your opponents hands on his wheels (they will tell you what direction he will attempt to go in next); and the direction of his footplates; become the master of your chair - sit in it and remain on top of it.
For defence and attack practice 'one on one'. It is hard but it will pay off in the end. Pick a player with a similar classification to yourself at the outset and when your confidence grows, if you are a one pointer for example, take on a two pointer or even a three pointer.
Get used to moving, or threatening to move, immediately you have passed the ball.
On attack always fake one way, then move the other. Basketball is a game of brains not brawn. If you see a team mate coming to pick for you, just before he arrives fake your defender to the opposite side, so the defender is drawn out of position, and cannot see the pick coming - when he or she is drawn, spin and move in the opposite direction around the screen created by your team mate.
If an attacker gets around you, do not get embarrassed, but call for help. Do not forget that it is a team game and your other four players, the bench and the coach are all in it together.
Ball Control
Dribbling
(a) Two Pushes, One Bounce - Make sure that:
you bounce the ball in the angle between the caster and the footplate so that when the ball comes back up from the bounce it is alongside you and not behind you;
you force the ball into the ground hard so you can get it back into your hand and onto your knee quickly;
you learn not to look at the ball;
use one hand up the court and the other coming back.
(b) Continuous Dribble - Make sure that:
you always practice this by starting off from a stationary position - not after throwing the ball in front of you and chasing after it. The reason for this is that continuous dribble should be used almost exclusively for getting out of trouble when tightly marked and unable to pass or shoot - you will nearly always be stationary when this occurs;
for three and four pointers always lean into the dribble to ensure that your chair goes where you want it to go;
for one and two pointers sit up as straight as possible and start off from a stationary position by dribbling the ball across or in front of the knees and quickly switching pushing strokes from right to left wheel and vice versa;
Always remember that your team mate needs the very best pass possible - good enough is not enough - only the best will do. The ball must go, with the corretly amoun of weight, to the prescribed part of the body, so that they can most easily catch, then shoot, or repass or drive with the ball.
Passing
Here are some passes in order of importance:
1. Chest Pass - the most important pass in wheelchair basketball;
The chest is the safest place in which to guard the ball and the strongest launch point for sending the pass;
when you have rebounded defensively, or offensively, bring the ball strongly into your chest and then release the outlet pass;
reach for your team mate as if you want to touch his chest with your fingertips;
bring the ball into the chest and flex fingers and forearms and feel power of the chest;
the ball should not rotate if it has been released correctly;
practice the full toss pass and also the pass aimed just in front to the fast break wing-man which, when it hits the floor, should rise up onto his knee.
2. Feed off pass
This pass is best used when heavily marked; it is very important to have good ball control in each hand. Hold the ball in two hands and throw with one releasing the ball very positively and with the correct weight, sometimes straight through or over or under a defenders outstretched arms.
3. Hand off pass
Again, good ball control is needed to properly execute this pass. Horizontally pass the ball off your lap onto the lap or into the hands of a team mate. Good timing is also very important to maintain accuracy in passing.
4. Bounce pass
A true two handed chest bounce pass for one and two point players is very difficult, but it is a very good pass for three and four pointers, who are more able to rotate their chest in order to propel the ball downwards.
One handed bounce passes are most important when passing forward or behind in order to break a tight defence and get a fast break going. You must propel the ball with power and confidence into the ground. Practice these passes in pairs over areas of the court.
5. Overhead pass
Two handed outlet pass for three and four point players immediately after rebounding.
6. Hook pass
Many variations but has limited use. The pass has to be executed from about shoulder level the ball in the extended hand. The hand is raised and the ball released when passing overhead. Because of the distance the hand has to be extended away from the safety of the body the ball is exposed to interception from an unseen opponent.
Remember - Your Team Mate deserves the best pass possible - so practice your passing often.
Shooting
- Always practice shooting with one hand - this is not easy, especially for one pointers who lack balance but a one handed shot is more accurate
- Practice the techniques of the experts from both the running game and the wheelchair game. - Ball control and a delicate touch are vital. Release the ball at the last possible moment, putting height on the ball and remember to follow through.
- Keep the elbows into the body, but relaxed, thus ensuring an upward/downward movement with no sideways movement.
- Do not reach forward for the basket but reach high with your hand/arm keeping the hand close to and in front of your face.
- The speed of the shot is very important - do not shoot too slow, go for the basket and lift the ball into the net.
- How to LIFT the ball:
Do not be afraid of the ball touching the palm of the hand initially;
The power and lift for the shot comes from the fingers, between the knuckles and the first finger joint;
The control and finesse comes from the first finger joint to the fingertips;
Feel the ball in the hand and along the fingertips;
The ball gradually lifts off from the hand with each part of the hand/fingers playing their part
Never strain for the basket or sideways movement will come into play.
Never shoot from too far out - particularly in practice.
- Always maintain height on the shot so get close in. Do not practice free shots until you can reach the basket under control. Practice free shots from one or two metres nearer the basket.
- Lay-Ups
Make sure your chair arrives at exactly the right position to the backboard, i.e. 45 degrees to the backboard from right or left, and exactly in front for straight lay-ups;
From right or left give yourself chance to see the backboard and to shoot a straight shot with the body facing towards the basket, at the correct angle;
Release the ball as high as possible and follow through;
Make the ball drop off the backboard so that it does not touch the ring - Be perfect in practice when performing lay-ups
- Hook shots
do not practice these shots until you are proficient at lay-ups with either hand.
Remember, do not practice shooting from too far out, get good under the basket first. Confidence is an import elelment to good shooting.
Catching
- Always catch with two hands where possible - not easy for one and two point players.
- Catching is the opposite of passing - in fact, catching is passing in reverse.
- Go out and meet the ball as it comes towards you, and then let your arms telescope the ball into the safety of your body.
- Good touch is vital.
- Never block the ball powerfully on the catch or you will lose it. Relax as you catch the ball and take up a position ready to shoot, pass or dribble, i.e. the triple threat position.
Basic Skills are the backbone of the sport - Practice as often as possible,
You can never be too good a player that you cannot improve!