1. Suicides Defined
If anyone has ever played organized basketball, the terms "suicides" and "gassers" make them cringe. These cardio exercises use the lines on the court to mark off running points for the suicides. For instance, a player will start at one end line, run to the free throw line, touch the line and return back to the end line. Repeat this process to the mid court line, the opposite free throw line and the opposite end line. There are different variations of this run, but this is essentially how to do a suicide in basketball.
2. Variation on the Suicide or Gasser
Some people will substitute other basketball motions in for the basic sprinting suicide drill. Maybe instead of the sprinting to a line, a player will shuffle using proper defensive motion before sprinting back to the end line. Another popular movement is the skip. I know it looks funny, but it does help the basketball player improve the one-footed jump that basketball players use frequently. There can also be variations in intensity. Rather than sprinting the entire drill, jog back to the end line and sprint to a touchline or vice versa. A player can also add shooting or push-ups at each suicide line on the court to add some variety to the basketball conditioning drill.
3. Sudden Change of Direction
Basketball is all about the sudden change of direction. Whether it's a transition to a fast break or reacting to a steal on defense, a player must have muscles that adeptly and easily change direction. The suicide drill aids the player in this motion in that it forces the player to move quickly. Suicides or gassers not only help the muscles, but they assist the player's cardio fitness by conditioning his breathing and stamina during these quick stops and starts.
4. Shooting After a Suicide
Simply using the suicide drill to increase cardiovascular conditioning is fine, but if you don't take the opportunity to shoot the basketball after this drill, you are missing out. The exhaustion resulting from the suicide drills is an opportunity to practice tired shooting. Most shooters lose their form and miss shots because they are tired. If you can practice shooting when you are physically spent, it can increase shooting accuracy in the closing minutes of an exhausting basketball game.
5. Listen to the Body
While doing suicides, you can lose yourself in finishing the exercise and forget to listen to what your body is trying to say. For example, if there is tightness in the muscles, if you go weak in the legs or sick to the stomach, stop the exercise and rest. If you don't pay attention to body signals, it can lead to serious injury that can sideline you for more than a few weeks.
If anyone has ever played organized basketball, the terms "suicides" and "gassers" make them cringe. These cardio exercises use the lines on the court to mark off running points for the suicides. For instance, a player will start at one end line, run to the free throw line, touch the line and return back to the end line. Repeat this process to the mid court line, the opposite free throw line and the opposite end line. There are different variations of this run, but this is essentially how to do a suicide in basketball.
2. Variation on the Suicide or Gasser
Some people will substitute other basketball motions in for the basic sprinting suicide drill. Maybe instead of the sprinting to a line, a player will shuffle using proper defensive motion before sprinting back to the end line. Another popular movement is the skip. I know it looks funny, but it does help the basketball player improve the one-footed jump that basketball players use frequently. There can also be variations in intensity. Rather than sprinting the entire drill, jog back to the end line and sprint to a touchline or vice versa. A player can also add shooting or push-ups at each suicide line on the court to add some variety to the basketball conditioning drill.
3. Sudden Change of Direction
Basketball is all about the sudden change of direction. Whether it's a transition to a fast break or reacting to a steal on defense, a player must have muscles that adeptly and easily change direction. The suicide drill aids the player in this motion in that it forces the player to move quickly. Suicides or gassers not only help the muscles, but they assist the player's cardio fitness by conditioning his breathing and stamina during these quick stops and starts.
4. Shooting After a Suicide
Simply using the suicide drill to increase cardiovascular conditioning is fine, but if you don't take the opportunity to shoot the basketball after this drill, you are missing out. The exhaustion resulting from the suicide drills is an opportunity to practice tired shooting. Most shooters lose their form and miss shots because they are tired. If you can practice shooting when you are physically spent, it can increase shooting accuracy in the closing minutes of an exhausting basketball game.
5. Listen to the Body
While doing suicides, you can lose yourself in finishing the exercise and forget to listen to what your body is trying to say. For example, if there is tightness in the muscles, if you go weak in the legs or sick to the stomach, stop the exercise and rest. If you don't pay attention to body signals, it can lead to serious injury that can sideline you for more than a few weeks.
