How Can I Practice Basketball Indoors? [5 Suggestions]

Whether you're on a sports team or a casual player, chances are that if you play basketball, you practice every chance you get. But it's not always possible to get outside and play on a court or practice with your team in the gym. So, you might be wondering how you can practice basketball indoors. To help you improve your game, we brought you the answer.

Here are some suggestions for practicing basketball indoors:

  1. Do drills 
  2. Practice in the basement 
  3. Spend some time at your local recreation center 
  4. Learn the rules 
  5. Work out regularly 

If you still have some questions about maximizing your basketball potential by practicing indoors, don't worry. In this post, we'll discuss the topic in more detail. Let's take a look at each of these suggestions to see how you can best implement them in your practice.

Shot of basketball players playing basketball indoor, How Can I Practice Basketball Indoors? [5 Suggestions]

1. Do Drills

Basketball involves many skills, and you can spend all week simply improving them through drills. Be sure to switch them up so that you become a well-rounded player.

Dribbling Drills

Unrecognisable basketball player dribbling a ball on the indoors court.

Dribbling drills can help you better handle the ball while you are going down the court. Since you must be dribbling at all times while you are moving, it is important that you learn how to do this effectively.

How Can I Dribble At Home Without Making Noise?

While basketball may be your passion, some people may not appreciate the noise that comes with practicing. Luckily, there are ways to practice without disturbing your neighbors.

Use A Smaller Ball

Tennis balls bounce as well as basketballs without all of the noise. If you want to practice dribbling but need to be quiet, use a tennis ball instead.

For more information on using a tennis ball to practice dribbling, take a look at this article: Does Dribbling A Tennis Ball Help With Basketball?

Practice On Carpet

Choose a room in your home that is carpeted. While there will still be noise, it will be quieter than practicing on hardwood or tile floors. If you don't have carpet in your home, you can lay down an area rug while you are practicing.

Use A Trampoline

Matthew Farremi of the LI Herald discusses an innovative solution designed to reduce noise during dribbling practice. The device, invented by NBA All-Star Tim Hardaway, is a small T-shaped trampoline. The T-shape helps players position themselves correctly and reduces noise.

If you are lucky enough to find a Dream Silencer, it might be worth it to invest in one. If not, a small trampoline could work just as well.

Shooting Drills

Orange basketball ball on wooden parquet. Close-up image of basketball ball over floor in the gym

It is easier to practice shooting when you have sufficient space to do so. Simply shooting the ball and getting under the basket for a rebound will help you increase your speed, improve accuracy, and build endurance.

However, shooting drills can also come in the form of throwing the ball up in the air and catching it to focus on your form and hand-eye coordination.

How Can I Shoot Better Without A Hoop?

A hoop is a very important part of basketball, so practicing without one might seem pointless. However, there are plenty of ways you can practice your shots when you don't have a hoop available. Focus on skills that will improve your shooting or create a hoop of your own to practice with.

Focus On Footwork

Shooting a basket isn't only about putting the ball into the hoop. You also need to work on your stance and movements. If you don't have a hoop available, spend some time working on your footwork to practice getting where you need to be to take your shots.

Make Your Own Hoop

All you need for a DIY hoop is some cardboard, a wire hanger, scissors, paint, and tape. Use the cardboard to create the backboard and bend your wire hanger into a circle. Attach the hanger to your new backboard and attach the whole project to a wall.

You can use the paint or markers to add details to the backboard, making it easier for you to visualize the real hoop you'll be using when you play. You may need a lighter ball for your homemade hoop, but you can still practice all aspects of shooting this way!

Watch Tutorials

A Quora user suggests watching tutorials and videos, paying attention to form. Then, you can use a basketball, or any ball you have available, to replicate that form at home. When you're back in front of a hoop, you'll have improved form when you may not have thought of focusing on that before.

Take a look at this video to learn some helpful shooting drills:

Handling Drills

Simply being able to handle the ball without fumbling it or losing it to another player is a helpful thing to practice. These drills are important for increasing skill and can easily be done indoors.

How Can I Improve My Ball Handling At Home?

Working on your ball handling is easy to do at home as long as you have access to a basketball and a flat surface. Drills that require you to move the ball from one hand to the other or around your body will help you improve your hand-eye coordination and increase your ability to handle the ball.

Take a look at this video for some drill ideas:

How Long Should You Do Ball Handling Drills?

Basketball experts recommend different lengths of time for drills, from 5-6 minutes per drill to 10-15 minutes in total. However, everyone seems to agree that you shouldn't focus too much time on one skill. You should practice all skills equally to become a good all-around player.

How Do I Get Better At Dribbling Without Dribbling?

The key to good dribbling is knowing how to handle the ball. If you are unable to practice your dribbling, you can still improve your skills by practicing your handling and footwork.

2. Practice In The Basement

Young Basketball Player on Practice Session. Youth Basketball Team Bouncing Balls on Sports Court. Group of Kids Training Basketball Together

If you are lucky enough to have a basement, that may be a great place to practice your basketball. You won't have to worry about bothering anyone because the basement is secluded from the rest of the house.

Depending on the size of your basement, you can set up a makeshift basketball court. Whether you can put basketball hoops at each end or will have to make them, having a full court will help you practice more skills. If you don't have enough room for a court, you can still practice drills without interruption.

If you are considering making a court indoors, take a look at these articles for some guidance:

How High Should The Ceiling Be For An Indoor Basketball Court?

How Big Is A Basketball Backboard?

3. Visit Your Local Recreation Center

Practicing indoors does not mean that you have to limit yourself to your home. Most recreation centers have a gym available for basketball and other sports.

You can run drills or practice shooting if you are alone. However, there are many opportunities for pick-up games as well, allowing you to practice with other players.

4. Learn The Rules

Coach Giving Team Talk To Elementary School Basketball Team

Getting better at basketball isn't just about the physical practice. Use your time indoors to brush up on rules and techniques of the game so you don't risk fouling out when you are playing with your team. You can also watch basketball games on television and let other players model some skills for you.

5. Work out Regularly

Again, practicing and preparing for basketball isn't limited to the act of playing the game. Weight training improves your strength and prepares your muscles for the strain of playing basketball.

Cardio workouts can help improve your endurance so that you can easily meet the demands of running the court continuously.

In Closing

Photo of two basketball players dunking basketball in hoop.

Being stuck indoors doesn't need to hinder your basketball practice. Whether you practice in your home or travel to a local gym or recreation center, there are plenty of ways to practice.

If you are an avid basketball player, it may be worth it to invest in creating a space for you to practice basketball on a daily basis. Whether you install basketball hoops in your basement or purchase some workout equipment, you will easily put all of your efforts to good use.

If you are a casual player or don't have the space at home, you can still practice indoors. Do simple drills that don't take up a lot of time or space. You can also spend more time learning and understanding the game so you are more prepared when you head to the court. From YouTube to sports channels, you will never be without inspiration to draw from.

Leave a Reply