Article: When you're playing defense, your goal is to keep your opponents from scoring. That means you need to disrupt passes, try to steal the ball if possible, and block shots. It's your job to be annoying, sticky, and disruptive to the other team's ability to pass and score points. Most teams will play "man-to-man" defense, which usually means that you'll be matched to another player on the opposing team, who you'll guard for the rest of the game. This is, in most cases, the player who also plays your position. In more advanced basketball, sometimes a "zone" defense is used, in which you'll be given an area of the court to guard, and you'll pick up any player who moves into it. Think of it like an imaginary bubble that you're trying to protect. . Basketball isn't all about offense, and your game needs to be fluid on both sides of the ball. To learn to play sticky defense, learn to get low and get wide. Crouch, with your feet more than shoulder-width apart and put your arms straight out at your sides, extending and making yourself as wide as possible. Stand on the balls of your feet and make sideways movements to guard the player with the ball. Lock your eyes on the ball. Aim your lead hip toward the side-line, and your back hip toward the hoop that you're defending. You want to make it as difficult as possible for the person you're guarding to get between you and the hoop, so it's more effective to "push" them by aligning your hips properly. With some practice, this will become second-nature. The hardest thing about playing defense is staying in your defensive crouch and trying to stick to the offensive player like glue. It's hard to move side-to-side quickly, so the more experienced you are at doing the side-to-side shuffle step, the better a defensive player you'll be. Practice running sideways, taking a big step to the side in one direction, crossing your trailing foot just behind your lead foot, and pushing off again. Then, go back the other way. Practice this until your legs are sore. Most coaches will train players by dribbling from side to side, and defenders switching their positioning depending on how the offense moves. You can practice this yourself, sliding around laterally in the driveway at home. Beginning basketball players often make a common mistake: jumping in the air too much. It's tempting to try to block your opponent's shot by jumping in the air with your arms outstretched every time it looks like they're going to shoot, but train yourself to keep your feet on the ground as much as possible. It's very easy to pump-fake, going up for a shot and pulling it back down as soon as you take off into the air, leaving you vulnerable and useless as a defender. Instead, train yourself to stand up very straight when you see your opponent pull it down to shoot, and throw your arms straight up in the air 90 degrees. This will be just as disruptive as a jump, and you'll still be locked down ready to play defense, if need be. Another essential part of playing defense is training yourself to grab the rebounds when they come. If your opponents have taken a shot that's failed, don't let them have a second chance for it. Post-up down by the basket and grab the ball when it bounces free. If it's up for grabs, be the one to grab it. While charging into a defender will earn you a foul on offense, most fouls that happen are called on the defense. In your attempts to be a disruptive presence on the court, you've also got to learn where the line is and avoid crossing it, or you're going to get a foul called. Hitting, pushing, or slapping at the arms of opposing players will be a foul every time. Keep your eyes focused on the ball. If you touch the ball, it can't be a foul. Reaching out and grabbing an opponent will earn you a foul. If you've gotten beat off the ball, you can't cheat by reaching out for the jersey and grabbing it.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Learn your role on defense. Learn the correct defensive stance Practice your side-to-side movements. Stay on your feet as much as possible. Grab rebounds. Avoid fouls.
Article: . If the seller rejects your offer, they'll tell you why. Ideally, they will only disagree on price, which is easy to negotiate. However, they might also disagree on other things, such as contingencies. Talk to your agent about how to proceed. You can expect sellers to claim that there is another buyer interested in the property. Trust your research. If the home has been on the market 120 days, it's unlikely a second buyer suddenly appeared at the same time you did. If you increase your bid, don't go too high. You still need to be able to afford your house. You've been pre-approved, but you still need to apply for a mortgage. Complete the application and submit all required supporting documentation. Mortgage rates are determined when you apply (not during the pre-approval process). Don't be afraid to shop around for the best rates. Check your purchase offer to see who will pay for them. You will need to pay for the inspection and appraisal fees at the time of service. If you plan to do the inspection yourself or do not want an inspection, then you may not have to worry about this cost. However, getting an inspection is a good idea in case there are any major issues with the home. The appraiser will take photos and send those to the underwriter along with their report. The underwriter is in charge of approving the loan, so any issues may delay approval. In some cases, a rehab loan may be required to move forward. If the inspection uncovers problems, then discuss with the seller how to handle them. You can ask the seller to repair the problem before closing, or you can ask for a credit that will be applied against the purchase price. Depending on your contract, you might also be able to walk away from the purchase. Your lender will be interested in the appraisal, since they won't lend you more than the townhouse is worth. You can contest the appraisal if you think it is low. Your lender will probably require that you have homeowners insurance before they will give you the loan. You'll need to pay your first year's premium at closing. You can shop around for the best deal. At the closing, you'll need to pay for your down payment, closing costs, and possibly the first payment on your mortgage. You may also need to pay your lawyer. You'll need a certified or cashier's check to cover the closing costs and your down payment. You'll end up signing dozens of documents at your closing. Your lawyer or real estate broker should attend along with you in case there are any problems. Pay attention to the following: You will receive a closing disclosure. This document should itemize how closing costs have been divided between you and the seller. Although you should have received this document a few days in advance, double check the information. Carefully review the terms of your mortgage. Again, there shouldn't be any surprises. Stop the closing if the mortgage details are not what the lender has previously told you. At the end of the process, you should get the keys to your new home!
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Go back and forth with the seller Apply for your mortgage. Have the home inspected and appraised. Purchase insurance. Get certified or cashier's checks. Attend your closing.