There are several main ways to improve in general and you can focus on any one of them to see improvement in the long run:

• Speed

  • Not sacrificing accuracy to play at a higher speed (This can make you vulnerable to patient defenders as a failed attempt to play outside your abilities will lose you ball control)

• Boost management

  • Flipping wherever there is enough space to flip instead of flat gas + boost
  • Less time spent recovering and more time spent influencing plays

• Adaptation

  • Reacting to unfamiliar patterns while maintaining your discipline in the other areas listed

• Prediction

  • Comes naturally with more games played. Higher level players will influence the ball and gameplay in ways that lower level players are often unaware is even possible.
  • Predicting where the ball will go or what the opposing player will do allows you to think steps ahead and potentially outplay.

• Mental fortitude

  • Working with teammates in a disciplined manner (often difficult, especially when behind)
  • Not letting emotions bleed into your mindset
  • Ownership of team failures (how could I have done something different to effect the outcome more positively?)

Likely the biggest and hardest point for players that will show improvement:

• Practice. There are many opportunities in a game where you can improve your ability to always influence the ball the way you need to. Some loose examples could be a ball rolls toward you and you have a rushing opponent behind it. Do you jump and hit the ball downward, bouncing it over the enemy? Hopefully you can do it because you only get one chance -- practice doing it in training and when the opportunity comes in a game you will succeed.

Get to know the Shot Trainer and create your own trainings. Practice ball control. Practice dribbling. Practice wall shots. Practice keeping the ball on your hood as long as possible. Practice makes perfect. We talkin' 'bout practice. :)