Article by BasketballHQ
Basketball is a game, and as a game, you can get a lot of value out of playing. However, it is a game of many different skills, detailed movements, mental aspects, and so on. So while playing is essential, skill development is also equally important.
In a game, it is hard to be able to focus on all of these different specific areas at the same time. As you are playing, you must focus on what you are doing, what your opponent is doing, the emotions of the game, etc. All of this makes it very difficult to lock in and develop specific areas of your game. With skill development, though, you are able to pinpoint particular areas of your game to improve on.
Whether it is footwork coming into your shot, how to change up your speeds handling the ball, or whatever it might be, skill development allows you to focus in on all of these different areas. So here are five reasons why skill development in basketball is important, and why you should be spending time working on it regularly.
Allows you to Work Smarter
A big part of doing anything in life is finding the best way to do it. You want to work hard, but you also want to make sure that you are working as smart as you can. When it comes to basketball, if you only ever play, and don’t work on your game, you won’t give yourself the needed tools to succeed. You may work hard and give great effort, but you won’t the required skills to succeed.
On the flip side, if you spend time developing your skills. When you do play, you will have all of these added tools that you didn’t have before. You will be able to play hard, but also smart as you can execute the needed moves to be successful.
Highlights New Areas of Your Game to Develop
As a basketball player, you must always be working and improving your game. That means working on skills that you already have, but it also means finding new areas of your game to develop. It could be learning a new move, how to attack off a ball screen, or whatever it may be. Skill development will allow you to hone in on these different areas and will allow you to become more of a complete player.
One of the things that I focus on as a basketball trainer in Tampa, Florida, is making sure that my players are well rounded. Each workout, I try to keep a theme for the skills that they are going to be working on. This will allow them to focus in on different areas of their game. This is something that you can do on your own, though, as well. Or, if you want expert instruction, work with a basketball trainer that can help you work on this.
Allows You to Master Skills
If you really want to be able to use a move effectively in a game, you must spend time mastering the more first. Players that try to use a move that they haven’t spent enough time working on, usually end up taking a bad shot or turning the ball over. Skill development will allow you to be able to make sure that the move is effective for you, and instead of having to think about the move, you will be able to read the defender. This will allow you to make the corrective move in any situation.
As you start playing against better competition, it is about stringing multiple moves together and being able to exploit the defense. The only way this happens is if you are confident with your moves and can read the defense.
Translates to Game Play
The right kind of skill development is going to translate directly to gameplay. The drill may not exactly translate, but the skills that are learned in the drill will. So it only stands to reason, if you want to become better in games, you need to spend time working on the skills that you use in a game.
Skill development will allow you to isolate the different moves, shots, etc. that you are going to encounter during a game. It will enable you to get quality repetitions that will drastically increase their usefulness to you in a game.
Increases Your Ceiling and Playing Career
Have you ever seen the players that dominate when they are younger because they are bigger and faster than everyone else? They use their speed and size to get wherever they want on the floor. What happens sometimes, though, is that they use this advantage without ever developing any other areas of their game. So when they get older, and everyone else catches up to them physically, they are no longer the dominant player they used to be.
This is why skill development is so critical. Without skill development, you are going to get to a point where you hit your ceiling. It might happen earlier or later, but there is going to be a point where you look around and realize you have been passed by. On the flip side, if you are always looking to develop your skills and game, you are always going to be improving. This is going to allow your ceiling to continue to rise.
The Importance of Skill Development in Basketball Conclusion
For any player that is serious about their game, skill development needs to be a top priority. It needs to be something that is valued and also game-planned for. With all of the online basketball resources out there and quality basketball trainers, you will be able to find all of the information that you need as well.
It won’t be long before you see the results when you play, either. You will quickly be able to understand how important skill development is, and the difference that it makes in your game.
If you have any questions about starting your own skill development plan or working with a trainer, please, don’t hesitate to reach out.