Street-style sports continue to be popular for a good reason. They’re easy to pick up and anyone can join a game or two without being a professional. Street basketball is no different, and while you’ll still need a basketball and a hoop, that’s pretty much all you’ll need to get started.
Street-style rules are very different compared to official NBA rulebooks, so don’t worry too much about that. Here’s how you and your friends can enjoy some street basketball even if you’ve never played basketball before.
Flexible Rules
What are the rules you should worry about when playing street-style basketball? While there are no set rules, the rules of your particular game will be whatever you decide on with your friends. Want to play up to 30 points in a 3-set game? Why not! Want to play with 1-point rules instead of traditional 2/3-point rules? Do it! Here are a few rules you can tinker with before you start playing:
- How big is your court going to be?
- How many players will play per team?
- How many sets are you playing?
- What does the winner get?
Playing street ball is about having fun more than anything else. And while there certainly are basketball leagues out there that play “street” basketball, they’re far closer to traditional sport. Set your custom game rules before you start and make sure that everyone is on the same page about what goes and what doesn’t.
Lenient Equipment Needs
The most enjoyable street basketball is the one you never plan for too much. To that end, you don’t need anything more than a basketball to start playing and enjoy every minute of it. You and your friends can wear anything from hoodies, sweatpants, shorts, and t-shirts depending on the weather and what you’re comfortable with.
However, you should still wear stable footwear and avoid playing basketball barefoot or in open-top shoes such as sandals to avoid injuries. This makes street ball very approachable since anyone can plug into your game for a few minutes and then walk away, making space for someone else to pitch in.
Basic Play Tips Still Apply
Despite street basketball being more approachable than its traditional counterpart, some moment-to-moment play tips still apply. The way you use the ball to score points for your team and the way you dribble around your opponents will be similar to what you’ll see in traditional basketball. Here are a few tips you should keep in mind:
- Always keep your distance from the hoop in mind
- Pass the ball to your teammates often
- Plan your shots and don’t rush into it
- Don’t keep the ball to yourself for too long
- Focus on a single opponent to block
When it comes down to it, these are some common-sense rules you can use in any street-style sport. The most important thing is that you respect your teammates and your opponents equally while playing. You are, after all, here to have some fun and not win a tournament or prove a point.
Risk of Injury
We’ve touched on the fact that street ball is played on street-style surfaces and courts. However, this is a more dangerous option compared to traditional basketball as you can easily get hurt. You can scrape your knees, bruise yourself, or tackle an opponent clumsily and injure them in a matter of moments.
This is because street-style basketball is played on concrete most of the time, and it’s also why it’s usually played with smaller team comps and court sizes. The general rule is that you shouldn’t get too invested in your game and always keep your mind on the people around you. Be respectful to those around you and they’ll do the same toward you, despite you being opponents looking to win the game at the moment.
Embracing Street Basketball
You don’t have to try very hard to enjoy street-style basketball. All you need is a ball similar to the ones used in traditional basketball, a hoop, and you’re good to go. Make sure that you’re careful about which surface you play on, since playing on concrete means that you have to be more careful about your footwork and potential injuries.
Regardless, street basketball is a less planned-out, more spontaneous version of the game you might already be familiar with. If you have a group of friends who you’d like to play ball with but don’t have a standard court to work with, street-style basketball is just as viable of an option for you.
It's time to get back to our "Tips from the Legends" series and learn some useful things to improve your game. 😉
Service Return Tips
Feel the satisfaction of a clean return in your mind before you actually hit one.
Set yourself up to cover every angle.
Play around with positioning to find what works best for you—especially when dealing with fast serves down the T or wide slices.
Watch the ball closely as it comes out of your opponent’s hand on the toss.
Don’t try to win with reckless shots. Focus on solid defense that keeps you in the point.
At first, just aim to get the return in play. Many points come from the other player’s mistakes.
Move forward into the return—it adds weight to your shot.
Turn your shoulders. This is key to a strong return.
Adjust your backswing based on the serve. Use short swings on fast balls, longer swings on slow spin serves.
Stay calm. Shorten the swing and keep the rhythm smooth.
Against a net rusher, return low and short. Against a baseliner, aim deep with some softness.
Don’t just tap the ball—stroke it. Keep the server guessing.
When facing a serve-and-volleyer, aim for low, dipping shots. Flat or moderate topspin works well.
On the second serve at 30-40, try standing in the doubles alley. This surprise move can rattle the server and force an error.
Play the ball—not the person.
Try to win points on the forehand side early in the rally. It helps you stay in control and pressure the server.
Serve Do’s and Don’ts
There are endless variations of the service motion. Players often tweak the basics to fit their style.
Some of these custom serves look odd, but if it works—why change it?
Still, there’s one mistake that always ruins a serve: how the tossing hand starts its motion.
In a solid serve, the tossing (left) hand stays to the right of the left leg before going up.
This helps the body rotate properly, lifts the left shoulder, and sets the right arm for a throwing motion.
The mistake? Letting the left hand swing left of the left leg. From there, you can't get into a proper throwing stance.
You might look like you’re ready to take off, but you’re not hitting a good serve from that setup.
Fixing it is simple. Cross your left hand over the racket. Let both hands drop together—keeping the left hand to the right side of your body.
It may feel weird at first, but the right motion will click quickly.
Once the left hand strays to the left, you lose the natural rhythm. Cross the hands and keep that left hand on the right.
That one little change makes it easy to load your arm and hit with real power.
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