Offseason Ballhandling
by Rick Torbett
Once the season is over, most players want to take a little time, perhaps a few days or more, to recuperate from the daily practice and game schedule. But once a player has “unwound”, how does he or she recover the love and joy of basketball that will propel them to get better in the off-season? I have a suggestion:
Forget about “working” on your game for a little while and have some fun with ballhandling. Most players have a new dribble, a new “trick”, or a new move with the ball that they want to add to their game. There’s a lot of satisfaction awaiting any player who sees themselves getting better and adds a weapon to their repertoire! If you’re not sure about what you’d like to add to your ballhandling, then I suggest you look through the 30 workouts and 200 drills in our Better Ballhandling DVD (see discount below).
Could you hit the weight-room, get stronger, and feel good about yourself? Of course, and I hope you do, but that takes time.
Could you add a new shot and/or increase your shooting percentage? Of course and I hope you do, but that takes quite a bit of time as well.
But adding a new wrinkle to your ballhandling can take very little (relative) time, it can stir your creative juices and bring back the joy of the game that you had in the first place. Creativity is the key:
- Dribble up and down steps
- Dribble on handrails
- Dribble with 2 balls
- Dribble from class to class
Try “Urban Dribbling”: This is where you dribble off every object you can while weaving your way down a street, a path, an alley, a playground, etc.
And by the way, EVERYBODY can use a better handle on the ball!
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Hardwood Hustle Podcast:
Chillin’ with ESPN’s Jay Williams (Part 1)
In Episode #34 of the Hardwood Hustle Basketball Podcast, Alan Stein (Stronger Team) and Adam Bradley (Ball Hogs Radio) headed to Bristol, CT to sit down with ESPN basketball analyst and former NBA player (Chicago Bulls) Jason Williams to talk life and talk hoops. They dove deep into questions like:
- How did you find the strength to recover from your motorcycle accident?
- What’s next for you career wise? Where do you see yourself in 5-10 years?
- What are your current views on the youth basketball development model in the US?
- Are today’s high school player’s better/worse then they were 15 years ago?
- If you could change anything about today’s college basketball game, what would it be?
Full Time-Out with Rick Torbett @RickTorbett
This Full-Time-Out is the video version of the audio played at the end of the Hardwood Hustle Podcast with Jay Williams above. Listen for new Full Time-Out at the end of each episode of the Hardwood Hustle!
Watch as Rick Torbett throws punches and does his best Muhammad Ali in One Punch Knockout
Please share your questions, comments, thoughts, experiences, etc. in the ‘Leave a Reply’ section below…
