Kristian Ferrell
Dribbling a basketball involves more than just bouncing the ball with your hand – it requires a lot of practice, muscle memory, and understanding of the basic rules. In this article, we will take you through the steps to improve your dribbling skills, from the basics of bending your knees and keeping your eyes up, to more advanced techniques like behind-the-back dribbles. We will also cover common violations to avoid, such as travelling and double dribbling. So whether you're a beginner or an experienced player looking to refine your skills, read on to learn how to dribble a basketball step by step.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Body posture | Bend your knees and keep the ball in front of your body, very low to the ground so that the pace of the dribble is fast. |
| Eye contact | Keep your eyes up (look forward) while dribbling. |
| Hand movement | Dribble the ball back and forth from left hand to right hand. |
| Ball contact | The ball should touch the finger pads on each dribble. |
| Practice | Practice dribbling a lot, including stationary drills, and get your non-dominant hand used to dribbling. |
| Drills | Set up a drill with 7-10 cones in a 10-15 yard grid and touch as many cones as possible in the allotted time. |
| Rules | Avoid traveling, double dribbling, and carrying the ball, which can result in penalties. |
| Games | Put yourself into situations where you have to dribble, be open to failure, and repeat. |
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Learn the basics
Learning to dribble a basketball takes a lot of practice and patience. Here are the basics to get you started:
Learn the Fundamentals
Start by getting a feel for the ball and learning the fundamentals of dribbling. Practice dribbling with both your dominant and non-dominant hands. Focus on keeping the ball close to your body and low to the ground, allowing for faster dribbles. Bend your knees and alternate dribbling from your left hand to your right hand. Keep your eyes forward while dribbling, and ensure the ball touches your finger pads on each bounce.
Avoid Common Mistakes
There are a few basic rules to follow to avoid violations when dribbling. Avoid travelling, double dribbling, and carrying. Travelling includes moving with the ball without dribbling, 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 is when you catch the ball with one hand and continue dribbling without stopping the motion.
Practice Drills
To improve your dribbling skills, incorporate drills into your practice sessions. Set up a grid of 7-10 cones in a 10-15 yard area. Dribble through the cones, touching each one without returning to a cone until you've touched at least two others. This drill improves your acceleration, change of direction, and awareness of your surroundings.
Take it Everywhere
To get more comfortable with dribbling, take a basketball with you wherever you go. Dribble while walking, going up and down stairs, or even while doing everyday chores. The more you dribble, the better your muscle memory will become, and soon dribbling will become second nature.
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Practice, practice, practice
Dribbling a basketball takes a lot of practice. The more you do it, the more your muscle memory will kick in, and the more instinctive dribbling will become.
Start with the basics: bend your knees and dribble 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 so that the pace of the dribble is fast. Keep your eyes up and look forward while dribbling, and make sure the ball touches your finger pads on each bounce.
You can also try spreading 7-10 cones in a 10-15 yard grid and then dribbling through them. Touch as many cones as you can in a set time, but after touching a cone, you can't come back to it until you've touched at least two others. Make sure you touch all the cones at least once before finishing.
Take a basketball everywhere with you. Take lots of walks while dribbling. Dribble up and down the stairs. Practice dribbling at different heights—high and low. Try dribbling only with your non-dominant hand for 20 minutes to improve your ability with that hand.
It's important to be open to failure. Don't be afraid to fail, try again, and repeat. As you progress and gain confidence, you can advance to drills that incorporate more game-like movements.
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Avoid violations
To avoid violations when dribbling a basketball, there are a few key rules to keep in mind. Firstly, avoid travelling, which is moving with the ball without dribbling. This includes taking an extra step, skipping, hopping, or shuffling your feet. Make sure to dribble with control and purpose to avoid these violations.
Secondly, do not double dribble. This means dribbling with both hands simultaneously, or dribbling, stopping, and then dribbling again. It is important to maintain a continuous dribbling motion and use your off-hand confidently to avoid double dribbling.
Thirdly, avoid carrying the ball. Carrying includes catching the ball with one hand and then continuing to dribble without stopping the dribbling motion. It also involves carrying the ball while walking or running, which is a violation. Keep your eyes up and be aware of your surroundings to help avoid carrying.
Additionally, be mindful of your pivot foot. Do not move or change your pivot foot when you are stationary. This can result in a violation. Practice dribbling and moving with your pivot foot set to improve your control and avoid violations.
Lastly, practice, practice, practice! The more you dribble and play, the better your muscle memory and control will become. This will help you avoid violations and improve your overall game. Remember to practice with both your dominant and non-dominant hand to improve your dribbling skills.
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Try drills
Drills are a great way to improve your dribbling skills. Here are some drills that you can try:
- Cone dribbling drill: Set up cones in different spots on the court. Start dribbling and move around the cones. You can perform various moves at the cones, such as crossovers, between the legs, or behind-the-back dribbles.
- Figure 8 drill: Start with your feet spread apart and the ball in your right hand. Dribble the ball through your legs to your left hand and then immediately back to your right hand.
- Two-ball dribbling drill: This drill requires two basketballs. Start at the baseline with a ball in each hand. Dribble both balls to the near free-throw line and return to the baseline. Repeat this process, increasing the distance with each repetition: dribble to the halfway line and back, then to the far free-throw line and back, and finally, from baseline to baseline. This drill improves ball handling while changing directions at different speeds.
- Chair drill: Place a chair on the court. Dribble towards the chair and perform a crossover or go behind the back as you advance past the chair. The chair serves as a defender, and this drill helps improve your ability to make moves on defenders while moving at full speed.
- Partner drill: For this drill, you will need a partner and three basketballs. Start by dribbling two basketballs. Pass the ball in your left hand to your partner and dribble the ball in your right hand to your left hand. Your partner will then throw you a ball, and you will dribble it with your right hand. Continue repeating this process. This drill improves your crossover ability, explosiveness, and ability to switch hands mid-play.
- 1v1 drill: Set up six to eight cones in a straight line, 3 to 4 on each side, 6 to 7 feet apart. The goal is to dribble past your partner (the defender) without going outside the cones. This drill helps create space and aids in dribbling through contact.
- Pirate Dribbling, Mr Fox, and Coin Drops: These are fun drills that are good for beginners.
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Play games
Playing games is an excellent way to improve your dribbling skills and put your practice into action.
Firstly, you can play 1-on-1 with a friend. This will force you to handle the ball the entire time and expose any weaknesses you may have, such as a tendency to dribble in one direction. You can also play 1-on-1 defense to practice protecting the ball from a defender. Turn your back or shoulder towards the defender, so they have to reach around your body to get to the ball, which will likely result in a foul.
You can also play full games of basketball to practice your dribbling in a match setting. In a game, you should dribble with your fingertips, keeping the ball low and close to your body, and always on the side away from the defender.
It is also beneficial to play games with a purpose, such as dribbling only with your non-dominant hand. This will help you improve your muscle memory and overall dribbling ability.
Remember to be patient with yourself and consistent in your practice, and you will see improvements in your dribbling skills.
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Frequently asked questions
Keep the ball in front of your body, low to the ground, and use your finger pads on each dribble. Bend your knees and practice dribbling back and forth from your left hand to your right hand.
Set up a 10-15 yard grid with 7-10 cones. Start at one cone and see how many you can touch in a set time, without returning to the same cone twice in a row. This drill improves your acceleration and change of direction.
Avoid travelling, double dribbling, and carrying the ball. Travelling includes moving with the ball without dribbling, taking an extra step, or shuffling your feet. Double dribbling is dribbling with both hands at once or dribbling, stopping, then dribbling again.
Take a basketball with you everywhere and dribble as you walk. Dribble up and down stairs, and practice with both your dominant and non-dominant hands.
Put yourself in games and get used to dribbling in a live situation. Practice your dribbling as much as possible to build muscle memory.
