peripheral vision

All players need to develop their peripheral vision, but especially the guards. They need to be able to see cutters and even to sense when someone is behind their backs, e.g., when they only see eight others, it is likely someone is behind them.

You can develop peripheral vision. First, look straight ahead while clasping your hands with your arms perpendicular to your body. Now, release the hands and swing them apart in a wide arc, slowly, at the same rate of speed.

Your goal is to be able to see both hands at the same time, while they move farther and farther apart, even when they are extended to your sides.

With practice, you can develop this vision. You might need to wiggle the fingers to draw attention to them, but keep looking straight ahead. Try not to focus on anything in particular, but concentrate in your mind on seeing those hands.

When you have developed your peripheral vision, you will be able to see teammates making moves all down the court, and will be able to see that ninth player on the court behind you. You will learn to automatically count four of your players and five of theirs, and will develop the ability called "seeing the court."

Seeing is the first step in making an assist.