Core skills in basketball

Balance

Basketball players with excellent balance lower their chances of sustaining knee and ankle injuries. Statistics show that while only 1% of basketball players tend to be exposed to injury, ankle injuries account for 25% of all injuries. This could be particularly critical given that injuries tend to be the most significant factor affecting a football team’s success in a championship.

Better balance improves a basketball player’s ability to dribble and control the ball while changing direction. It also frees up their attention so they can focus on the state of play and change the game.

Jumping ability

The power and strength which go into a jump are key skills for a basketball player. They not only enable the basketball player to score points, they also enable him or her to block an opponent when going for the hoop.

Speed

An exceptional basketball player needs to be able to change direction instantly as well as sprint fast. Switching over from offence to defence makes particularly high demands on sprint abilities over 20-30 metres.

Speed is also important to basketball players so they can dribble fast and outwit their opponents.