Trying to the best basketball player you could be in a cold area seems to be a conflicting idea. However, some of the best basketball players come out of New York and Chicago, both of which have cold winters. So that brings us to the question how can you practice basketball in the winter with no gym available?
It may seem impossible, but hanging your head will only make things worse. If you plan ahead and think smart there’s no reason why you shouldn’t be able to get some good work in regardless of the weather. Below we will go over the following:
- Prepare For The Snow Ahead Of Time
- If Too Late Tailor Your Workout Around The Conditions
- Wear The Right Apparel
- Get Some Dribble Work Done In The Basement
- Work On Your Basketball IQ
As you could see, this was my basketball hoop growing. Although the snow isn’t too bad in this picture, there have been plenty of winters where I’ve had to play through the elements. This is why it makes it easy for me to share these tips with you on how to practice basketball in the winter. Let’s dive into them.
Prepare For The Snow Ahead Of Time
If you want to be able to do everything you’re used to on the court from shooting, dribbling, taking layups, etc. then you need to do some prep work ahead of time. If you know it’s going to snow, the first thing you should do is take some pet and children safe salt, and put a layer or two down the night before the snow. This will prevent ice from forming under the snow and will make it much easier for you to shovel out the driveway. If you normally play at a park, you could do the same thing.
Another thing you could do if the basketball hoop is in your driveway is park cars lined up across the driveway. Snow can’t penetrate through the car, give you less work to shovel, and allow you more room to practice.
If It’s Too Late Work Around The Conditions
As a high school or college student you may have a very busy schedule, so it’s perfectly normal to not be able to prepare ahead of time. If this is the case, you could still get some solid work in. As long as the conditions aren’t too icy, get a partner and do stationary jump shots. The key to this drill is to not jump (so you don’t slip).
Not jumping not only helps you not get hurt, but it also increases your jump shot range. When you’re forced to use only your upper body, it allows the top half of your shot to get stronger. When you then incorporate your legs back into the mix, you should be able to feel like you could shoot from a little further out. Here’s the drill:
- Start underneath the hoop and make 10 shots
- Take one step back and make another 10 shots
- Continue to do this, each time adding another step, until you can’t possibly step back any further
- When you can’t move back any further, this is considered your range. You want to put in extra work from this spot in order to extend it
- You can do this drill straight on, or with different angles
This is something I did countless times when I wasn’t able to get my full workout in because of the snow, and it allows you to focus on specific skills that may need some extra work.
Wear The Right Apparel
The key to wearing the right apparel in winter weather while working on your game is to wear clothes that aren’t too bulky. You want gloves that are able to keep you warm, but allow for a touch on the ball. Gloves made out of cotton, for example, are way to bulky and will not allow you to feel the ball when you catch and shoot (or whatever it is you’re doing).
On the bottom half of your body you want to wear compression pants underneath a pair of sweatpants to help trap in some extra heat when you are shooting. You may want to even consider wearing two pairs of socks as the feet are thermo-regulators and keeping them warm could help keep your whole body warm.
On the top half of the body, you want to wear a compression thermal shirt with a light hoodie, or any other type of hooded shirt that will be able to keep your head and neck warm.
This way you’re able to have a good range of motion and stay warm at the same time.
Get Some Dribbling Work Done In The Basement
If you have a basement available to you, this is a great place to get some extra work done in the winter. Doing dribbling drills down there (as long as it’s allowed), can improve your dribbling ability by leaps and bounds. Here’s a workout you can do everyday for your dribbling:
- Pound dribbles with each hand: Aim for 50 straight dribbles with each hand. You want to stand with a square stance with a slight squat, and dribble as hard and fast as you can with your head up.
- Cross over dribble: Standing in the same stance, you want to do cross over dribbles as fast a you can, again keeping your head up. Aim for 75 crossovers in a row without messing up.
- Two dribble drill: If you’re capable, and have two basketballs, you want to work on dribbling two balls at the same time. You do this alternatively or synchronized, and focus on speed, control, and keep your head up.
When it comes to dribbling, pushing the speed as much as you possibly can and keeping your head up is the most important things you could do. As you get better, you could do different variations of these drills like behind the back, under the legs, etc.
Work On Your Basketball IQ
Basketball IQ is just as important as your skills. During the winter, playing pick up games is not always easy, therefor, your basketball IQ could take a hit. You have to find different ways to learn the game, so you’re able to understand it better and play at a higher level. Here are some things you could do to ensure you do this.
Watch Film On Attacking Different Defenses
Whether it’s zone defense, man defense, or whatever type of defense, it’s important to watch film on how people could possibly defend you. This makes it easier to decide on which things to work on.
For example, when teams play zone, teams often run a 1-3-1 offense. There’s a player up top (usually a point guard). 3 players going across middle, usually aligned with the free throw line. Last but not least there’s one man running the baseline, running to whatever side the ball is swung to, waiting for a pass to shoot.
Let’s say you know you’ll be the guy that would be running the baseline, practicing shots on each side of the baseline could be very beneficial.
There are many different examples of this when it comes to all types of defenses and you could be ready for whatever comes your way by studying them. One tip is to make sure you study every single position, because in basketball you never know if your coach is going to experiment with switching where you play on a regular basis.
Why Is Basketball Played In The Winter?
When you think of all the different sports, basketball is more suitable to be played in the winter because it’s played in a temperature controlled gymnasium. This saves the seasons for sports like baseball and soccer where you essentially need good weather to play.
Even NBA Stadiums Have To Deal With Cold Conditions
Most people don’t know this, but when they get NBA stadiums ready, if a hockey team also plays in the arena, they will put the basketball court over the ice. The ice is temperature controlled, so putting the wood court over it doesn’t effect the temperature.
Watch the process here, as it’ll give you a whole new outlook on the process of getting an NBA game going.
In Conclusion
Basketball in the winter could prove to be difficult, however, if you follow the steps above, you could have the most productive winter season. Make sure to continue pushing yourself, even if you don’t feel motivated all the time. Discipline is what matters the most.
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