How to Be a Good Defender in Basketball

Becoming good in any sport takes a lot of dedication and practice. To become a good defender in basketball is very hard work, but with perseverance, it is something that is achievable. All good defenders hard hard and never give up regardless of how many times they get beat. Being a good defender is a key part of becoming a great basketball player as well as an accomplished member of the team. Read the guidelines suggested in this article to learn how to become a good defender in basketball.

Things You'll Need

• Basketball court

Instructions

How To Become A Good Defender In Basketball

1. Footwork. Good defenders have incredible footwork. You can practice your footwork with many different drills and exercises. While on the practice court, go from side-to-side across the court, never crossing your legs. This will get your feet light and your legs used to moving quickly.

2. Move forward and backward. By staying low with your arms out to the side, run forward to the free throw line, then run backward to the out-of-bounds line. Do this exercise at least five times to feel a burn in your legs, which will help in the overall process of getting your feet in shape.

3. Jump. The ability to jump is just as important as good footwork. To accomplish jumping skills, get up against a wall and continuously try to jump higher each time. This will make your quads stronger and conditioned to the jumping process.

4. Be quick. The ability to move quickly can be improved by running "line drills". Line drills start at the inbound line and go to the free throw line. You should run back and forth between the two lines, touching each as you reach it. Continue this process until you get to the other side. This is not only a great way to improve quickness, but it will also improve footwork.

5. Proper nutrition. The importance of proper nutrition is a key factor in conditioning muscles. After each work out, make sure that you get plenty of liquids and protein. Protein will build back the muscles and make them grow bigger and stronger.

Tips & Warnings

• Find a convenient place to practice. If you practice in a convenient location, you are more likely to stick with the challenge.

• If you feel any dizziness when working on such a rigorous exercise routine, consult your physician.