Cold weather sport — The Basketball Movement

Cold outside? No problem. Indoor court, outdoor court, no court – there is always a way to keep working on your game.

Life will always give you great excuses not to hone your craft. Bad weather, full schedule, no gym, the list goes on. There is nothing wrong with taking breaks or needed time off – life happens. Just remember that the players you are striving to be better than may not be doing the same.

Basketball is, of course, primarily an indoor sport. If the weather is good enough for you to get to a gym, you can practice to your heart’s content. Not everyone has court access (you can at least check out the Movement’s Saturday Open Clinic), but there are always things you can do.

Locked in the house with bad weather? Grab a basketball. No, we’re not going to tell you to dribble around the house. Do some around the worlds to keep your handles and the feel of the ball fresh. Lie flat on your back and get some shots up. Not hitting the ceiling, just watching the rotation of the ball to check your release and flick of the wrist.

Sharpen your mind

Whether you are a player or even a coach, there is always studying to be done on the game. Watch game footage. You do not need tapes of opponents or anything like that. Watch some NBA. Watch some college hoops. Get on YouTube and watch some of the greats to learn footwork and where to be on D.

Visualization can be a big part of the game. The same way pros visualize the ball going in the hoop at the free-throw line, you can put yourself in the shoes of the players you see on the screen. Keep your eye out for players that you think you can model your game after.

Not everyone can be LeBron James, but there are things to be learned from any player who has made it to college or the NBA. Work on your weaknesses, but also focus on your strengths to become elite.

If the weather has you cooped up, keep these things in mind. For more motivation, news, and everything hoops, keep it locked to The Basketball Movement.