The off-season for basketball players is a crucial time for skill development. A time to experiment with new drills and training tactics, but also a time to sharpen the basketball fundamentals in preparation for the season. Stand out at tryouts with tight ball-handling, crisp shot mechanics, great conditioning and a solid basketball IQ. Below are 4 necessary basketball skills to sharpen this off-season, so you can show up next season with the abilities coaches are looking for!

Variation Shooting

The off-season is a great time for players to develop a consistent jumper. With the time to get up countless reps, hoopers can come back next season ready to shoot. It's also a great period for players to dive deep into their shot mechanics and hone-in on becoming a better shooter. We offer a great tool for players looking to sharpen their shooting fundamentals, the Ryan Razooky shot mechanics guide. Ryan, an NBA trainer breakdowns jumpshot skills like proper footwork, hand placement, shot path, shot rhythm, follow-through in a FREE guide or click here for the YouTube playlist.

Other shooting skills to develop before next season are shooting off the dribble and off the catch. In practice and certainly in games, players will need to find ways to get open for their shot. Moving off the ball, coming off of screens, and getting open off the dribble are all things to be comfortable with going into the season. Hoopers can fall into the trap of taking the majority of their reps in a stationary catch and shoot drill. Checkout the video below for a great drill working on catching and shooting with different off ball movement variations.  

Dribbling

Another popular focus in training, tighten up your handles before next season shows a coach they trust you with the ball. Although dribbling skills can be neglected and lead to less confidence with the ball. A mix of individual drills and live action like pickup basketball or team drills is a great recipe for developing crisp ball handling. There are many different drills to enhance your dribbling, variations like stationary, combinations and performing dribble combinations into a shot. 

Body Health

One of the harder things to do for players during the off-season is staying in playing shape. It's easy to get distracted with all the summer activities, things like mobility, conditioning and agility are all very important parts of basketball. You'll be able to perform at a higher level during your training, as well as being ready for the upcoming season. Coming to tryouts in basketball shape and being faster, stronger and more agile will put players in a great position. On the Dr. Dish YouTube channel there are many videos with drills to increase your athleticism!  

Basketball IQ

An underrated part of basketball training is the expanding your basketball IQ. Coaches or trainers can really help with this aspect of the game. Someone with good basketball knowledge helping players through situations they will face during the season. Watching film, consuming basketball content, drills focused on reaction time and many other ways to develop your basketball IQ. Becoming comfortable with a variety defensive and offensive looks on the court in very important for players as they go further in their basketball career. Our good friend Coach Tony Miller has 10 FREE Small-Sided Games for coaches and players to add to their training plan!

If you're looking for more tips or checklists for the off-season, check out our FREE Offseason Checklist!