Basketball is a game played with five players on the court at once. One of those positions is the center. The center on a basketball team is an important position.
Although some of the skills required for other positions aren’t as necessary, playing center does require some extra skills that are necessary to be successful.
Basketball is a sport in which many of the skills required happen to be required for all positions. With that said, some positions do require less skills to be used in a competition than others.
How to Play Center in Basketball
Playing center requires a skill set that is a bit different from the other positions. Defense and rebounding are the key factors, but shooting, and blocking shots are also skills that make a center successful.
Below we will look into the different skill sets and parts of the game that are necessary to be successful as a center in basketball.
- Skills Required
- Jumping Ability
- Defensive Ability
- Rebounding Ability
- Scoring Ability
How to Play Center: Skills Required
Playing center can be a great position to play in basketball. Height is somewhat required to play this position effectively, however there have been some really great centers that haven’t been as tall as others.
- Jumping Ability – This is essential in order for centers to be effective on defense and to be able to rebound effectively.
- Aggressiveness – Maybe the biggest key to playing center is being aggressive. The center is responsible for guarding the basket on defense, but also scoring down low, using aggression and physicality at times.
- Rebounding – The center is usually the leader in rebounding. In order to rebound, position and physicality are two keys.
- Strength – Playing center involves more contact than any other position on the basketball court. Having strength is essential for success, as the physical aspect of the game is important.
How to Play Center: Jumping Ability
Center is an important position, but being able to jump is extremely important. Jumping is required to rebound and the center on a basketball team usually rebounds more than anyone else.
- Explosion – Jumping involves explosion off of your legs, some players can jump extremely high and some can jump extremely quick.
- Jumping is important because centers are responsible for rebounding and defending shots. These factors of the game are usually performed by the center at a high level.
- Jumping ability can be developed over time, with strength and explosion training.
- There are many players that can jump well, players that can get to the basket and finish near the rim. Being able to deter these players from making easy baskets is an important part of playing center in basketball.
How to Play Center: Defensive Ability
- On-Ball Defense: Playing on the ball defense for a center is quite different than playing on-ball defense as a point guard. Read this article on How to Play Point Guard
- Typically centers aren’t handling the ball for long periods of time, but when the opposing team enters the ball to their center, you must be able to defend this.
- Altering Shots – Centers are responsible for defending players from getting to the basket and making easy shots. Centers have the ability to either block shots or alter shots many times simply because of their size.
- Post Defense – This is extremely important because centers must decide if they are going to deny the entry pass or if they are going to allow the entry pass, but play tough aggressive defense donce the other player catches the ball.
- Help Side Defense – This is a crucial part of playing defense and centers typically have the task of defending their basket. Regardless of who is penetrating to the paint, the center must try to defend this penetration, which is termed helpside defense.
How to Play Center: Rebounding Ability
- Centers are responsible to rebound more than anyone else on the court. Having the ability to rebound will make a center good or bad.
- Centers need the skills of being physical, but also being able to jump. The physicality piece is important prior to jumping for a rebound. Once the ball is hit off the rim, a center must sometimes outjump the opposing player in order to rebound.
- Rebounding limits the amount of shot opportunities the opposing team will get. Rebounding is also important on offense, and offensive rebounds seem to convert to points quickly.
- Most centers are taller than the other players, so the responsibility is great for centers. They must have the ability to block out and be physical, but also be able to jump and rebound.
How to Play Center: Scoring Ability
- Some of the best centers in the history of the game were able to compete at a high level in all areas of the game. Scoring is one of those areas.
- Centers aren’t always the most athletic players on the court, maybe due to their size, but centers that have the ability to shoot at a high percentage make their teams that much better.
- Centers typically don’t play too far out of the paint, as many do not shoot the ball that great. There are centers, however, who were very capable of stepping from the basket and becoming a scoring threat.
- Centers also will catch the ball in the post. If they do catch the ball in the post, centers must take advantage of this and convert the points.
What Should I do if I Want to Play Center?
Strength training is an important part of playing center. The physicality of the game of basketball is greater than many think.
Having the ability to make baskets with multiple moves is extremely important.
If you have a desire to become a center on the basketball court, work on post moves. When you catch in the post, you are close to the basket, but defenders seem to make this a difficult position.
Improving your jumping ability can be helpful for playing center. Rebounding is a crucial part of this position, so improving jumping ability is important.
Final Thoughts
Playing center is no easy task. Having the ability to be aggressive, jump, block out, rebound, play defense, and also score can be a tough task for many basketball players.
Height makes a difference for this position, but there are some players that have proven that they can play against bigger and taller players.
The center is important for scoring and also playing defense at a high level. Rebounding is a fun and enjoyable task and many take a lot of pride in being great rebounders.
