Kristian Ferrell
Dribbling a basketball between your legs is an effective way to change direction and protect the ball from defenders. It is a flashy move that requires a lot of practice to perfect. To begin, get into a basic dribbling stance with your knees slightly bent and your head and chest pointed straight ahead. Bounce the ball with your fingertips, keeping it close to your body and at knee height. Then, push the ball between your legs with your hand, so it bounces underneath you and comes up behind you. This move takes practice, but it can be a great way to improve your ball handling skills and impress your teammates!
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | To keep the ball out of the defender's grasp, change direction, and create scoring or playmaking opportunities |
| Prerequisites | Basic dribbling skills, balance, and ball control |
| Stance | Knees slightly bent, hips lowered, back straightened, feet hip-width apart with one foot slightly in front, head and chest pointed straight ahead |
| Hand Position | Dominant hand used to bounce the ball at knee height, fingertips touching the ball with the thumb on top during the crossover |
| Drills | Stationary crossovers, scissor drill, escape dribble, speed dribbling with eyes closed |
| Limitations | Ineffective against very aggressive on-ball pressure and lockdown defenders |
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What You'll Learn
- Basic dribbling stance: bend your knees, lower your hips, lean forward, and keep your head up
- Dribbling technique: use your fingertips to bounce the ball at knee height, then push it between your legs
- Change of direction: use the between-the-legs dribble to change direction and protect the ball from defenders
- Practice: consistently practice the move, gradually increasing speed and incorporating it into your game
- Limitations: note that this move may not work against aggressive on-ball pressure or lockdown defenders
Basic dribbling stance: bend your knees, lower your hips, lean forward, and keep your head up
To dribble a basketball between your legs, you need to start with a basic dribbling stance: bend your knees, lower your hips, lean forward, and keep your head up.
First, bend your knees and lower your hips. This will help you control the ball as you shift it between your legs. You want to be in a low, defensive stance, with your legs about shoulder-width apart. This will give you stability and balance, which are crucial for ball control.
Next, lean forward slightly, keeping your head up. Lean just enough to shift your weight forward, so you're prepared to move. This stance will enable you to move quickly and cut at sharp angles while dribbling. It's important not to lean too far forward, or you may lose your balance. If you feel your heels lifting, lower them to regain stability.
Keep your head up and look straight ahead. When you're first learning to dribble, it's natural to want to look at the ball, but it's essential to practice looking up. During a game, you'll need to keep your eyes on your teammates, your defender, and the basket, all while maintaining control of the ball.
Once you've mastered the basic stance, you can begin to practice dribbling the ball between your legs. Remember to keep the ball low and close to your body, bouncing it at knee height. The shorter and quicker the bounces, the harder it will be for an opponent to steal the ball.
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Dribbling technique: use your fingertips to bounce the ball at knee height, then push it between your legs
Dribbling a basketball between your legs is a great skill to have on the court. It is one of the flashiest ways to dribble and can help you keep the ball out of a defender's grasp. To perform this move, you need to get into a basic dribbling stance with your knees slightly bent, your hips lowered, and your head and chest pointed straight ahead.
Now, let's break down the dribbling technique:
Bouncing the Ball:
Use the pads of your fingers or the fingertips of your dominant hand to bounce the ball. Keep the ball close to your body and try to bounce it at a diagonal direction, aiming for a spot slightly ahead of and to the side of the foot on the same side as your dribbling hand. This bouncing technique will give you more control over the ball and make it harder for defenders to steal it. The ideal height for the bounce is knee height or slightly lower, as bouncing the ball too high gives defenders an opportunity to take it.
Pushing the Ball Between the Legs:
As the ball reaches the apex of its bounce, shift your hand to the side so that only your thumb is on top, and use your fingertips to push the ball between your open legs. This motion will create a V-shaped bounce, arcing the ball back up to about knee height as it emerges on the other side. Use your opposite hand to receive the ball, and be sure to keep your palm off the ball, letting it hit your fingertips instead.
Practicing the Move:
Start by practicing the basic crossover while standing in place. Once you feel comfortable with the motion, transition to putting the ball between your legs. Remember, balance and body control are crucial, so make sure you practice consistently to maintain your skills. It may also be helpful to practice without moving your feet first and then gradually incorporate footwork into your dribbling drills.
With enough practice, you'll be able to execute this move smoothly and impress your friends on the court!
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Change of direction: use the between-the-legs dribble to change direction and protect the ball from defenders
Dribbling between the legs is one of the four major ways that players can change direction. It is a fundamental skill in basketball, and one of the flashiest ways to dribble. This skill can be used to keep the ball out of a defender's grasp and to protect it.
To begin, get into a basic dribbling stance. Crouch down low by bending your knees, lowering your hips, and keeping your back straight. Point your head and chest straight ahead. You can place your feet about shoulder-width apart, or, as one source suggests, spread your legs with one foot in front of you and the other behind.
Now, with the ball in your dominant hand, bounce it in front of you at knee height. Keep the ball close to your body. As you bounce the ball, shift your hand to the side so that only your thumb is on top of it. Then, push the ball between your open legs, so that it bounces underneath you and comes up behind. Move your opposite hand behind you to receive the ball as it emerges.
If you need to change direction, you can repeat the steps to cross the ball back over to the opposite side. It is important to practice this move until you feel comfortable doing it at a quick pace.
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Practice: consistently practice the move, gradually increasing speed and incorporating it into your game
To perfect the skill of dribbling a basketball between your legs, consistent practice is key. Start by getting into a basic dribbling stance with your knees slightly bent, your back straightened, and your head and chest pointed straight ahead. Practice dribbling the ball with your dominant hand, keeping it close to your body and bouncing it at knee height. Gradually increase the speed of your dribbles, focusing on maintaining control of the ball.
Once you feel comfortable with the basic dribble, it's time to incorporate the between-the-legs move. As you dribble, take a diagonal step forward with your opposite foot and shift your hand to the side of the ball, so only your thumb is on top. Use your hand to push the ball between your open legs, allowing it to bounce underneath you and come up behind you. Practice this move repeatedly until it becomes second nature.
To challenge yourself further, try variations of the between-the-legs dribble, such as the reverse between-the-legs dribble, where you dribble the ball between your legs with your opposite hand. Additionally, work on your speed and agility by practicing drills such as the scissor drill, where you stay low, close your eyes, and focus on speed, balance, and accuracy.
Remember, the more you practice, the better you'll become. Keep at it, and soon you'll be dribbling between your legs with ease and impressing your teammates and defenders alike!
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Limitations: note that this move may not work against aggressive on-ball pressure or lockdown defenders
Dribbling a basketball between your legs is a flashy and fundamental skill in the game of basketball. It can be used to keep the ball out of a defender's grasp and create scoring or playmaking opportunities. However, it is important to note that this move may not work against aggressive on-ball pressure or lockdown defenders.
One of the limitations of the between-the-legs dribble is that it requires a certain amount of space between the offensive player and the defender. Aggressive defensive pressure can make it difficult to accomplish this, as the defender may be able to take away driving angles with their speed, quickness, and defensive basketball IQ. In such cases, the offensive player may need to consider using a different type of dribble move, such as a behind-the-back dribble or an escape dribble, to counter the on-ball defensive pressure.
Additionally, when dribbling between the legs, it is crucial to maintain a stable stance and control over the ball. Bouncing the ball too high, such as at waist height, can give defenders an opportunity to steal it. Therefore, players should aim to bounce the ball at knee height or slightly lower, using a hard pound dribble to guide it through their legs. This can be practiced by sitting on a bench and dribbling through the legs, and then progressing to standing up and dribbling.
Furthermore, the between-the-legs dribble is most effective when used to change direction. It should be executed with a quick step forward, allowing the player to cross the ball to their other hand and leave defenders behind. However, against aggressive on-ball pressure, the defender may be able to anticipate and counter this move, especially if they are a skilled lockdown defender. In such cases, the offensive player may need to rely on their ball-handling skills and agility to create space and execute other dribble moves.
While the between-the-legs dribble is a useful skill, it may not always be the best option against aggressive on-ball pressure or lockdown defenders. Players should be adaptable and have a range of dribble moves in their arsenal to counter different defensive strategies effectively.
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Frequently asked questions
Crouch down low by bending your knees and lowering your hips. Push your back end out behind you and lean forward slightly to prepare for movement. Spread your feet about shoulder-width apart.
Use the pads of your fingers on your dominant hand to bounce the ball in front of you at knee height. Take a diagonal step forward with your opposite foot. As you do this, shift your hand to the side of the ball as it bounces, so only your thumb is on top of the ball. Then, use your hand to push the ball under your hips between your legs, so it bounces underneath you and comes up behind you. Move your opposite hand behind you to receive the ball as it emerges.
Practice, practice, practice! Try doing it without moving your foot, then practice while moving your feet. Do this with both hands. Try doing ten reps with your eyes closed to improve your handling of the basketball without relying on looking at it. Keep your head up and eyes forward as much as possible. When doing crossovers, release and catch the ball as close to the ground as possible to maintain control.
