Stephen Souky - Common Basketball Mistakes

As a youth basketball coach, Stephen Souky has helped many amateur athletes through the intricacies of the sport. While the rules and scoring structure may seem simple enough, there are many complicated issues in basketball that players need to understand in order to avoid being penalized in any way. Below are some of the common, yet costly mistakes that players make while on the court.

Traveling
In basketball, traveling is when a player moves their feet without properly dribbling the ball. However, pivoting on one foot with the ball is allowed, so long as your pivoting foot doesn’t lift or slide. Some beginners will be so worried about being called for traveling that they do not think about the pivot privilege; however, it is one that can make a great difference in offense.

Shooting Over the Three Point Line
When a player goes for a three-point shot, it is essential to remember that the player’s feet must land outside of the three-point line in order to get the full three points. Some players make shots by jumping over this line and then get frustrated for not being awarded points, but it is the proper rule of the game.

Stephen Souky has helped many players develop their skills to avoid these mistakes.
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Stephen Souky - Scoring in Basketball

Stephen Souky is a youth basketball coach who has led his tams to victory through showing them ways to score more points. In basketball, the scoring is quite simple, as a player can only score so any points in a given scenario. Below are the main scenarios in which points will be put on the board.

Single-Point Scenarios

Basketball players earn a single point for every foul shot they make. A foul shot is taken from the foul line, which is near the top of the key. A player can be granted one, two or three foul shots per penalty, depending on where the player was shooting from, whether they scored or not, or the severity of the penalty itself.

Two-Point Scenarios

A player’s team is awarded two points for every shot scored within the three-point line.

Three-Point Scenarios

A player can score three points in a single play through a few different scenarios. The player can make a shot from behind the three-point line; the player can make a shot inside the three-point line and be fouled, leading to an extra foul shot; or a layer can be awarded three foul shot attempts as a result of a technical foul on the other team.

Four-Point Scenarios

A player can score four points in a single play if the player hits a three-point shot while being fouled by an opponent, allowing for a foul shot.

Stephen Souky has seen all these scenarios and more happen in basketball.
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Stephen Souky - How to Improve the Accuracy of Your Shot in Basketball

Stephen Souky is an experienced youth basketball coach who has led amateur athletes to championships. He is well-versed in teaching the fundamentals of the game to others, and he appreciates the importance of having a good shot. In basketball, points scored is one of the ultimate stats upon which players are judged. It is also the basis upon which teams are judged, as the scoreboard is the ultimate decider of every game. Below are some basic tips to improve your shot accuracy.

Establish a Guiding Hand
When shooting the basketball, most players will use one hand to push the ball into the air and towards the basket, while they’ll keep another hand to the side of the basketball in order to properly guide it towards the basket. Many players prefer to use their dominant hand as a pushing hand, so the other must be steady and ready to stabilize the shot.

Use Proper Footwork
The direction of your shot depends highly on the posture of your body, which relies on your feet while standing vertically. The better your footwork is, the better your posture will be when you take shots, which will improve your accuracy and gain a more direct idea of where to place the ball.
Stephen Souky teaches his players this and more so that they can become more effective shooters.

Stephen Souky - The Basics of Dribbling

As a youth basketball coach, Stephen Souky is skilled in teaching the fundamentals of the sport as well as helping seasoned athletes improve upon their own abilities. One of the first skills that a basketball player needs to develop is to properly dribble.

Dribbling is when players bounce the ball off the ground using their hands. In basketball, players must dribble the ball whenever they are in motion. If they move too many steps without dribbling the ball, they will be called for traveling. If they dribble, hold the ball, then start dribbling again, the referee will call a double-dribble. It is essential to be good at dribbling in basketball because it is the only way you can move around with the ball.

While it is important to be able to dribble with both hands, most beginners will often establish a dominant hand to do most of the dribbling from the start. Once you find that hand, start dribbling it while standing still. From there, you can start walking and eventually speed up to a running level. One you have become comfortable enough with your dominant hand, you should try switching hands immediately so that you can confuse your opponents.

Stephen Souky is the President of Niskayuna Girls Travel Basketball, and led his team to a 2015 championship.