Andrew Pace
Whether you're a beginner or an advanced player, there are many ways to practice basketball at home. You can work on your dribbling, shooting, and passing skills through various drills. For example, you can try stationary dribbles and crossovers, jog-in-place dribbling, and dribbling while running laps. If you don't have access to a hoop or a court, you can still improve your ball-handling skills and practice dribbling moves such as between the legs, behind the back, and crossover. Additionally, you can practice passing against a wall, aiming for imaginary targets and alternating hands. These at-home drills can help you develop your fundamentals and improve your overall basketball skills.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ball Wraps | Keep the ball off your body as it moves around, using only your hands |
| Figure 8 | Stay low and focused, move the ball from hand to hand without hitting your leg |
| Dribble Tap Court | Keep your head up and maintain a low stance while dribbling |
| Stationary dribbles and crossovers | Assume an athletic stance and do pound dribbles, crossing the ball between hands for 30-60 seconds |
| Jog-in-place dribbling | Jog in place while dribbling and crossing the ball in front and behind you, keeping your head up |
| Dribbling while running laps | Dribble around the perimeter of the court, switching hands each lap |
| Lateral dribbling | Dribble with your left hand while doing defensive slides to the left, then switch hands and direction |
| Shooting | Take 10 shots from 5 feet away, advancing further if you make at least 6 shots |
| Passing | Throw the ball at a wall and catch it with the opposite hand, switching hands after each throw |
| Wall toss, jump stop, and pivot | Stand 10-15 feet from a wall, do a chest pass, catch the ball, dribble, jump stop, pivot, and pass again. Repeat 10 times |
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Passing and catching
There are three fundamentals to passing and catching: timing, accuracy, and quickness. When passing, keep your feet on the floor and avoid jumping. Pass firmly and directly, and avoid passing too hard or too soft. When catching, use two hands and two eyes, and be prepared to move with the ball. Catching with two feet is known as "meeting the ball" or "shortening the pass", and helps to avoid interception.
There are various drills that can help improve passing and catching skills. For example, "Monkey in the Middle" is a drill where players form three lines, with the two outside players passing a ball to the middle player, who passes it back to the outside player, and so on. This drill helps players practice catching and passing without travelling, as well as communication and timing. Another drill involves players practising passing through "all windows" against imaginary, stationary, and "live" defenders. This helps players learn to read the defence and make correct passing decisions.
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Dribbling drills
Dribbling is a fundamental skill to master in basketball, and there are several drills you can do at home to improve. All you need is a basketball and a plan.
Figure 8
This drill helps you develop a feel for the basketball and dribbling at different angles. Stay low and focused, and move the ball from hand to hand, trying not to hit your legs.
Dribble Tap Court
While dribbling, keep your head up and look straight ahead. Stay low and pound the ball into the ground, maintaining your low stance.
Ball Wraps
Try to keep the ball off your body as it moves around, ideally only moving it from hand to hand.
30-Second Drill
Get into an athletic stance and dribble the ball a few inches off the ground. Twist your body to the right and dribble as far to the right as you can without moving your feet. Move the ball back and twist to the left, repeating the process. Do this for 30 seconds with each hand. This drill helps develop your crossover move.
Cone Drill
Set up 7-10 cones in a 10-15 yard grid. Start at any cone and touch it, then dribble to touch two other cones before returning to the first cone. Repeat this process, trying to touch as many cones as possible in a set time. This drill helps improve your dribbling and speed.
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Shooting drills
Even if you don't have access to a basketball court or a hoop at home, you can still practice your shooting skills. All you need is a basketball.
Lay on your back and shoot: One way to build muscle memory is by lying on your back and going through your shooting motion. To start, lie down on your back, raise your arms into a shooting position, and shoot the ball straight up in the air. Focus on your follow-through from your elbow all the way up through the tips of your fingers.
Shoot with good backspin: Your off-hand should only be used to guide the ball, not to shoot it. Shoot the ball with good backspin so that it lands right back in your hands. If you don't have a basketball, you can use a tennis ball, pillow, or roll of toilet paper.
Shoot from different spots: Shoot 10 shots from 5 spots, each time standing 3 to 5 feet from the basket. Make 8 out of 10 shots from each spot before moving on to the next.
Practice your form: Great shooters have routines. Work on your shooting form by practicing your shooting motion without shooting at a basket. Focus on consistency in your form, rhythm, and timing.
Visualise shooting scenarios: A very useful training method you can practice at home is visualisation. Imagine different game-like situations, such as having to make the last shot with three seconds left in a game.
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Defensive slides
Setup
You will need some cones or markers and enough space to move laterally. Set up four cones in a zig-zag pattern, with the first cone at the top of an arc, the second cone at the halfway point on the sideline, the third cone at the top of the far end of the arc, and the fourth cone at the baseline corner.
The Drill
Start facing the baseline and slide to the first cone using the proper defensive stance and sliding technique. When you reach the first cone, pivot off your lead foot and slide to the second cone. Continue pivoting and sliding to the third cone, and then to the fourth cone at the baseline corner.
From the fourth cone, sprint along the baseline to the other corner, and then zig-zag back up the court, touching each cone. Focus on maintaining the correct stance, footwork, and sliding technique throughout the drill.
Variations
You can also perform this drill in a group, with each player starting the drill when the person in front of them reaches the first cone. This will help you learn to defend against an offensive player.
Another variation is to add a ball-handler to the drill. The offensive player dribbles to each cone, while the defender slides and stays in front of them. Start at a slower speed and gradually increase it to see if the defender can stay with the offensive player. If the defender gets beaten, they must turn and sprint to catch up, getting back into the proper sliding position.
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Ball handling
Ball Wraps
Try to keep the ball off your body as it moves around you. The aim is to only have the ball moving from hand to hand.
Figure 8
Stay low and focused, moving the ball from hand to hand, ensuring you don't hit your legs.
Dribble Tap Court
Keep your head up and look straight ahead while doing this drill. Stay low and pound the ball into the ground, maintaining your stance.
Stationary Dribbles and Crossovers
Stand with your knees bent, feet shoulder-width apart, and lean forward slightly at the waist. Do a pound dribble and then cross the ball over to the other hand. Repeat this movement, crossing the ball back and forth for 30 to 60 seconds.
Jog-in-Place Dribbling
This drill helps you work on your dribbling while also warming up your muscles. Jog on the spot while dribbling, crossing the ball in front and behind you, keeping your head up and eyes forward.
Lateral Dribbling
Dribble with your left hand while doing defensive slides to the left. Then, crossover to your right hand and repeat the defensive slides to the right, maintaining a defensive stance throughout.
Wall Passing
Use a wall to practice passing and catching. Aim for a spot on the wall and throw the ball at it with one hand. Catch the rebound and throw it back with the other hand. Keep switching hands for 10 to 20 passes.
Wall Toss, Jump Stop, and Pivot
Stand 10 to 15 feet from a wall and chest pass the ball at it. Catch the rebound and then dribble parallel to the wall for a few strides before returning to your starting position. Do a jump stop and pivot, then repeat the pass. Do this 10 times.
These drills will help you develop your ball handling skills, improving your control and comfort with the ball.
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Frequently asked questions
No, you can practice basketball without a court or a hoop. All you need is a basketball and a plan.
There are several drills you can do at home to improve your dribbling skills, including stationary dribbles and crossovers, dribbling while running laps, and lateral dribbling.
Assume an athletic stance with your knees bent, feet shoulder-width apart, and body leaning forward slightly at the waist. Do a pound dribble with one hand and cross the ball over to the other hand. Continue for 30 to 60 seconds.
You can use a wall to practice passing and catching. Aim for an imaginary target on the wall with a one-handed pass, then retrieve the ball and throw it with the opposite hand. Keep switching hands for 10 to 20 passes.
When practising basketball at home, focus on the fundamentals first, such as dribbling, lay-ups with both hands, and defending. Once you're comfortable with the basics, you can start working on your jump shot and more advanced skills.
