Andrew Pace
Dribbling is a fundamental skill in basketball, and even the pros had to start somewhere. To properly dribble a basketball, you should hold the ball with your fingertips, get into a low stance, and bounce the ball off the ground firmly. There are many dribbling drills you can practice to improve your ball-handling skills, such as dribbling from hand to hand or doing baby steps while dribbling forward and backward. It's also important to be aware of your surroundings and the rules of dribbling to avoid violations like traveling or double dribbling. By putting in the practice and getting comfortable with the ball, you'll develop muscle memory and improve your dribbling skills over time.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Stance | Bend your knees, spread your feet shoulder-width apart, and drop your hips back slightly. |
| Hand and Ball Position | Hold the ball with your fingertips, keeping your hand on top of the ball. |
| Dribbling Motion | Bounce the ball off the ground firmly, pushing it down each time it makes contact with your fingertips. Keep your eyes up and look forward while dribbling, and ensure the ball touches your finger pads on each dribble. |
| Practice | Drill a lot and get muscle memory. Practice with both hands to improve your non-dominant hand. |
| Game Situations | When in an open court, dribble the ball in front of you. When near defenders, assume a low, defensive stance and dribble the ball at your side. Keep your body between defenders and the ball. |
| Rules and Violations | Avoid traveling (moving with the ball without dribbling), double dribbling (dribbling, stopping, then dribbling again), and carrying (catching the ball with one hand and continuing to dribble). |
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What You'll Learn
Get in a low stance, bend your knees, and bounce the ball off the ground firmly
To dribble a basketball, you need to get in a low, defensive stance. This means spreading your feet shoulder-width apart and bending your knees. Drop your hips back slightly as if you were about to sit in a chair. Keep your head up and shoulders square. This stance helps you maintain control of your body while dribbling and allows you to accelerate and change directions quickly.
Once you're in this low stance, you can start to dribble the ball. Use your fingertips to bounce the ball off the ground firmly. Keep your hand on top of the ball, and each time it makes contact with your fingertips, push it down again. This continuous pushing motion creates a dribbling effect.
You can practice this by dribbling the ball back and forth from your left hand to your right hand. Keep the ball in front of your body and very low to the ground. This technique helps improve your dribbling speed. Ensure your eyes are looking forward while dribbling, and the ball should touch the pads of your fingers on each bounce.
As you get more comfortable with the basics, you can try more advanced drills. For example, you can work on a forward/backward drill by picking a line and taking small steps while dribbling back and forth over that line. This drill helps you focus on maintaining control of your body and the ball simultaneously. Remember, dribbling a basketball takes practice to develop muscle memory, so keep at it, and your handles will improve over time!
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Practice dribbling in front of you and to the side
To practice dribbling in front of you and to the side, there are several drills you can do. One drill is to stand with your legs slightly bent and push and pull the ball from one side of your body to the other using the same hand. This helps you learn better ball handling and transition in the game. You can also do this drill moving forward, dribbling the ball from one foot to the other as you go.
Another drill is to dribble the ball in a figure-eight pattern around both of your legs. As the ball moves from one side to the other, switch the hand you are dribbling with. As your dribbling gets faster, your dribbles should get lower.
You can also practice dribbling in a forward-backward motion. Pick a line and take baby steps while dribbling back and forth over that line. This drill forces you to maintain control of your body while dribbling.
It is important to practice with both hands to improve your overall game. You can also practice regaining control of the ball when it is bouncing wildly, as this will happen often in games.
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Avoid travelling, double dribbling, and carrying
Travelling, double dribbling, and carrying are all violations in basketball that should be avoided when dribbling. Here are some tips to help you avoid making these common mistakes:
Travelling
Travelling violations occur when you move with the ball without dribbling. This includes taking an extra step, skipping, hopping, shuffling your feet, or moving/changing your pivot foot (set foot) when stationary. To avoid travelling, make sure to dribble the ball when you move, and keep your pivot foot planted when you're stationary.
Double Dribbling
A double dribble is a penalty that refers to two separate violations. The first is dribbling with both hands simultaneously, which is not allowed. The second violation is dribbling, stopping your dribble (by catching or holding the ball), and then starting to dribble again. To avoid double dribbling, always use only one hand to dribble and make sure to pass or shoot after stopping your dribble.
Carrying
Carrying violations occur when you catch the ball with one hand (usually with the hand palm up under the ball) and then continue to dribble without stopping the dribbling motion. To avoid carrying, make sure to keep your palm over the ball and facing the floor as you dribble, and always stop your dribble before picking up the ball.
In addition to these specific violations, remember to maintain a low, defensive stance with your feet shoulder-width apart and your knees bent. Keep your head up and eyes forward, and use your fingertips to dribble the ball, keeping it low to the ground and close to your body.
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Practice dribbling with both hands
Practising dribbling with both hands is an essential part of becoming a well-rounded basketball player. Not only does it improve your muscle memory and ball control, but it also keeps defenders guessing and helps you avoid violations like travelling and double dribbling.
To start, get into a comfortable stance with your feet shoulder-width apart, knees bent, and hips slightly dropped as if you're sitting in a chair. Keep your head up and shoulders square, with the ball held in front of your body and close to the ground. This is the ideal dribbling position.
Now, begin bouncing the ball firmly with your fingertips, focusing on keeping your hand on top of the ball and pushing it down each time it makes contact with your fingers. Practice this bouncing action with your dominant hand until you feel comfortable with the basic movement and rhythm.
Next, switch to your non-dominant hand and repeat the process. It's important to get your non-dominant hand used to dribbling, as it will improve your overall ball handling skills and make you less predictable to defenders. Spend time getting comfortable with dribbling heights, speeds, and angles that work best for you with both hands.
Once you've mastered the basics, challenge yourself with more advanced drills. Try dribbling the ball back and forth between your left and right hands, ensuring the ball stays low and fast-paced. You can also set up cones to create a drill course, focusing on touching as many cones as possible in a set time while maintaining control of the ball.
Remember, improving your dribbling skills takes time and dedication. Practise regularly, be open to failure, and don't be afraid to try new drills and techniques to expand your dribbling abilities with both hands.
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Incorporate drills into your workouts
To improve your basketball dribbling skills, it's important to incorporate drills into your workouts. Drills help you develop muscle memory, improve your handling, and increase your confidence on the court. Here are some tips to incorporate drills into your workouts effectively:
Start with the Basics: Begin your workouts with fundamental dribbling drills to build a strong foundation. Focus on getting comfortable with the ball, developing a low defensive stance, and using your fingertips to dribble. Spread your feet shoulder-width apart, bend your knees, and keep your head up. Practice dribbling with both your dominant and non-dominant hands to improve control.
Stationary Drills: Incorporate stationary drills into your routine, especially when you're just starting. These drills help you develop strength, balance, and stability. They also improve your acceleration and change of direction, making you more agile with the ball. Set up a cone drill, where you spread cones in a grid and dribble between them, working on your speed and control.
Forward/Backward Drill: This drill helps improve your dribbling control and body coordination. Pick a line and take small steps while dribbling back and forth over the line. Focus on keeping your feet moving and maintaining control of your body. This drill forces you to slow down and pay attention to your dribbling technique.
Freestyling: Include a freestyling session in your workouts. Give yourself 10-15 minutes to simply dribble and experiment with the ball. Try different moves, change directions, and work on using both hands. Freestyling helps you develop creativity and a feel for the ball, improving your overall dribbling skills.
Practice with a Friend: Playing 1-on-1 with a friend is an excellent way to improve your dribbling skills. It forces you to handle the ball continuously and exposes areas you need to work on. You'll become more aware of your tendencies, such as favouring one direction over another, and can focus on improving those weaknesses.
Remember, consistency is key. Incorporate these drills into your regular workouts, and over time, you'll see improvements in your dribbling skills, muscle memory, and overall performance on the court.
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Frequently asked questions
You should spread your feet shoulder-width apart, bend your knees, and drop your hips back slightly, as if you were sitting in a chair. Keep your head up and shoulders square.
Hold the basketball with your fingertips, keeping your hand on top of the ball. Push the ball down every time it makes contact with your fingertips.
One drill is to pick a line and take baby steps while dribbling back and forth over that line. Focus on maintaining control of your body while dribbling. You can also spread cones in a grid and try to touch as many as possible in a set time, which will help improve your acceleration and change of direction.
Avoid travelling, double dribbling, and carrying the ball. Travelling includes taking an extra step, skipping, hopping, or shuffling your feet. Double dribbling means dribbling with both hands at the same time or dribbling, stopping, and then dribbling again. Carrying the ball means catching it with one hand and then continuing to dribble without stopping the dribbling motion.
Practice dribbling in different situations, such as in open court or near defenders. When near defenders, dribble the ball at your side while in a low, defensive stance. Also, try playing 1-on-1 with a friend, which will force you to handle the ball and identify areas for improvement.
