Fast reflex builder

basketball court by Ace Armstrong on Flickr

It can go with out saying that whatever your sport, improved reaction time and response time a.k.a. reflex speed will be vital. Any and even the slightest improvements in this skill can have astonishing results on your game. Think about it for a moment… even if you could shoot, move, and jump like MJ you’d still be at his mercy if you didn’t have his eyes. Meaning react unexpectedly, see defenders before they move, and beat the head fakes.

Instructions

Solo Wall Bounce: Stand in front of a wall with any kind of ball that bounces. Throw and catch. Jump USA sells a “reaction” ball that looks like an odd, uneven bouncing ball that can go in any given direction. These sell for about $10. Pick one up after you’ve mastered my previous methods of bouncing!

Variations

Make this more difficult by:

Increasing your velocity.
Standing closer to the wall.
Progressing to smaller balls.
Switching catch/throw hands.
Starting facing away from the wall, throwing the ball over your shoulder then turning around at the sound of it hitting the wall.

Skills

Improved reflex action, coordination and peripheral vision.

Players

1-2

Added: 14/12 2007 by Mark Sias, B.S.

Basketball categories

Ballhandling 160Probably the most basic of basketball skills, but sometimes the most neglected. These drills will show you how to develop ballhandling skills. Remember that weak hand!
Big man 36Perhaps more than any other position on the team, the big man needs drills to perfect inside and post-up moves.
Combination 74Drills that combine other skills, and puts emphasis on technique and fundamentals.
Conditioning 159Basketball requires all around conditioning; stamina, strength, speed, jumping ability and more. These drills show you how to improve in all those areas.
Defense 112Offense wins games, defense wins championships. Playing defense is a skill like everything else. It requires skill, understanding of the game, and dedication.
Offense 79If you want to develop a sound offensive game, this category is for you. These are drills for the individual player and for the team.
Passing 74Another fundamental skill that is often overlooked. These drills will teach you everything from individual passing drills, to team passing drills.
Rebounding 77Like defense, rebounding takes dedication. But rebounding is easier if you understand the basics of boxing out, timing, and the importance of defensive positioning.
Shooting 260More than any other skill, shooting takes practice. Lot's of practice. Fundamentals include form, timing, and mental training.
Skills 32Drills that teach other aspects of the game are collected here.
Transition 47The transition from defense to offense can be a very effective weapon. Teams that know how to run the floor and establish a set offense quickly, have a powerful weapon for scoring easy points.
Warmup 24These drills cover everything from individual to team warmup drills, both for game and practice situations.
Wheelchair 10I'd like to have a lot more drills for wheelchair basketball, so please help me add more drills to this category!
Youth 23For those just starting out playing basketball, the game should be all about having fun. These drills will show you how to make sure the kids enjoy themselves while they learn the basics of basketball.