Basketball has caught on as a popular sport Worldwide. This can be seen in the fact that the sport is expected to bring a revenue worth 3.51 billion USD this year. Additionally, with NBA stars enjoying attractive salaries, many people are signing their children up to learn the sport.
Understanding the Skill Levels
Before you enroll your children at an academy, you should first assess his/her level. This knowledge will help you choose the right program for your kids at our basketball academy whether in Dubai or Abu Dhabi.
Let us explain briefly; a beginner is someone who has played either very few games or no games of basketball. Additionally, these players might need a proper understanding of the fundamentals and have limited knowledge about the game rules.
They might also be unsure of themselves and do not have the right stamina, skill and team playing abilities like the other players in the team. For example, they might not be able to:
- Execute a ‘jump shot’. Understand the fundamentals of a jump shot with this video below.
Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhgs5ZODc4A
Caption: Mastering a Jump Shot 101
- Analyze and understand the positions of the other players on the court correctly.
On the other hand, an advanced player is someone who knows all the basics by heart. Additionally, these players intuitively understand how to gain a strategic advantage over their opponents.
Apart from that, advanced players also have competitive experience. That’s why they have higher stamina and enhanced skills.
We would recommend taking note of all of these qualities before you enroll your children at a basketball academy in Dubai.
Continue reading to understand what your children will learn in the academy.
Building the Foundation
When you enroll your children in the beginners program, the instructors there will help them master the basics. They will teach the children the basic skills, help them understand the game, and improve their physical condition.
Understanding The Game
Basketball is a team game. Since your children will join as an absolute beginner, they will be taught the basic rules by the trainers first. The trainers will also help your children to understand certain techniques of the game, like the scoring systems and the foundational strategies of the game. In addition, your children will be given both offensive and defensive training to gauge which position suits them best. The expert teachers will also simulate certain game situations for you which can help you in your practice drills.
In games like Basketball, off-court training is equally important as on-court drills. Here, in the basketball academy, teachers will also work on developing your children’s mental wellness. They can also join suitable mentorship programs to develop character and leadership qualities. It is important to train your mind as well as your body to stay sharp and mentally sound during games. Our expert faculties will help your children to bring out the best in them.
Physical Conditioning
After teaching them the basics of the game, the instructors make sure that they physically prepare the children’s muscles and joints.
They make them practice agility drills, improve their endurance, and enhance their flexibility.
Agility Drills
Some of the agility drills that the instructors make the children practice are:
- Ladder drills
It refers to placing an agility ladder and having players jump alternatively through the holes, or through all of them. Refer to this video for a better understanding.
Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iICTuTZCJyM
Caption: How to Perform Agility Drills
- Lane drills
Refers to making players practice running within a specific lane or road by placing cones to mark it.
- NBA pro-agility drills
It refers to a drill where three cones are placed on a fifteen-foot demarcated on the court. Players run from the central cone to the other cones, and keep running between the them, after marking each turn.
Take a look at this video to understand better.
Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKahQt3guT0
Caption: How to Perform An NBA-Pro Drill Done Right
Endurance Drills
The academy instructors ensure that they carry out a variety of endurance drills like ‘wind sprints’, ‘depth jump’ and ‘interval training’.
‘Wind sprints’ refer to running to and from the baseline to the free-throw and half-court lines, at intervals. These are quite intense and require the players to develop deep-breathing skills.
Take a look at what they are below.
Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XYSqfInJFU
Caption: A demonstration of a wind sprint.
‘Depth-jumps’ refer to jumping onto and off a box of certain height. These drills engage the children’s core muscles and help them grow.
‘Interval training’ refers to running for thirty seconds, resting for sixty seconds, running for ninety seconds, and again resting for ninety seconds.
Flexibility Drills
The basketball academy also carries out a variety of flexibility-centric drills focused on your upper body, torso, and lower body.
Explore this video below for a better understanding:
Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0AcPfS1RY4&pp=ygUXVG9yc28gZmxleGliaWxpdHkgdmlkZW8%3D
Caption: Full body flexibility exercises
Fundamental Skills Taught
Finally, the instructors teach them to master dribbling, passing, and shooting. They ensure that they teach them the correct bounce frequency and hand positioning. Take a look below to understand what your children will learn.
Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oIruC7gva8&pp=ygUdZHJpYmJsaW5nIHByYWN0aWNlIGJhc2tldGJhbGw%3D
Caption: Dribbling 101: Mastering the basics.
Your children also learn how to pass the ball to their teammates via methods such as:
- Chest pass: Holding the ball at chest level and throwing it to a teammate near you, without the ball touching the ground
- Bounce pass: Holding the ball at chest level and bouncing it on the floor to pass it to your teammate
Additionally, the instructors also teach your children how to shoot the ball properly. Take a look at this video below to understand it better.
Caption: Shooting Practice 101 in Basketball
Training Environment & Coaching Approach
Most basketball academies in Dubai provide a very supportive environment for your children. Their instructors use a firm mixture of discipline and encouragement to motivate them. They take great care to teach them the fundamentals and build their foundation.
Once your child has mastered all the fundamentals, they are declared ready for the advanced level of training. In such a scenario, we recommend you to get in touch with the academy to discuss next steps.
Wrapping Up
So when you enroll your children at our basketball academy in Dubai, they receive a holistic education. We take care of their physical and mental conditioning to ensure that they develop into peak athletes.
Do consult us today to unlock the key to your children’s basketball success today!