Andrew Pace
Dribbling is one of the most important skills in basketball, and it's usually the first skill a player learns. Kids who can dribble are in control on the court, and they tend to have the most fun. Teaching kids to dribble can be challenging, especially getting them to use enough force and look up from the ball. However, with drills and games like Simon Says, coaches can make learning to dribble engaging and enjoyable. This article will provide a guide on how to teach kids to dribble a basketball effectively.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Relaxation | Relax the fingers and spread them evenly on the basketball. |
| Force | Push the basketball into the ground with force by extending the elbow and snapping the wrist. |
| Control | The less time the basketball is out of your hands, the more control you have. |
| Protection | Use an "arm bar" to protect the basketball from defenders and turn your back/shoulder towards the on-ball defender. |
| Vision | Encourage players to raise their eyes up and see the floor to read defenders and make passing decisions. |
| Hand Usage | Learn to dribble with both hands to be more creative and unpredictable against opponents. |
| Drills | Assign dribbling drills for players to practice at home, such as "Simon Says" or relay races. |
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What You'll Learn
Relax the fingers, spread them out and avoid a stiff hand
When dribbling a basketball, it is important to relax your fingers and avoid a stiff hand. This is because stiff hands will cause you to lose control of the basketball and, ultimately, the ball itself.
To dribble, you should hold the ball so that only your fingertips are touching it. Spread your fingers out across the surface of the ball, keeping them separated. This will give you a wider, more balanced contact area, which will make it easier to maintain control and speed.
When dribbling, you should also keep your palm facing downwards and directly over the ball, so that when the ball bounces, it will bounce back into your fingertips. Keep your hand on top of the ball and continue pushing it down every time it makes contact with your fingertips. This is important because if you momentarily "catch" the ball on its underside, it is a penalty called a carrying violation.
It is also important to keep your knees bent and stay low to the ground. This will make you more explosive, allowing you to immediately explode past your opponent and attack the rim.
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Push the ball with force and keep it close
When teaching a child to dribble a basketball, it is important to focus on the fundamentals and make the learning process engaging and enjoyable. One key aspect to emphasise is the need to push the ball with force and keep it close. Here's a detailed breakdown of this technique:
Understanding the Technique
Pushing the ball with force and keeping it close is essential for maintaining control of the dribble. Young players often struggle with dribbling because they don't use enough force, which makes it challenging to keep the ball under control and change directions effectively. By emphasising the importance of pushing the ball with force, you can help them develop a stronger and more controlled dribble.
Demonstrating the Technique
Start by demonstrating the proper form for dribbling with force. Show them how to bend their knees slightly and use their wrist and arm strength to push the ball down with more power. Encourage them to focus on making firm and quick bounces with the ball, rather than soft and slow ones. This will help them understand the difference in force and its impact on ball control.
Drills for Improvement
Design dribbling drills that focus specifically on pushing the ball with force. For example, you can set up cones or markers in a line and have the child dribble with maximum force from one end to the other. You can also incorporate variations, such as dribbling with different heights or using different hands, to add challenges that improve their overall dribbling skills. Another drill could involve having them dribble with force while navigating through a simple obstacle course, helping them develop control and agility.
Providing Feedback
Throughout the learning process, provide constructive feedback to the child. Observe their dribbling form and offer suggestions for improvement. Encourage them to focus on keeping the ball close to their body as they push it with force. Remind them that dribbling with force doesn't mean sacrificing control. By providing real-time feedback, you can help them make adjustments and improve their dribbling technique.
Encouraging Practice
Encourage the child to practice dribbling with force regularly. Consistency is key to mastering this skill. Assign dribbling drills for them to do at home as "homework", which can be brief sessions of 5-8 minutes. This reinforces the technique and helps them develop muscle memory. Regular practice will also allow you to introduce more advanced dribbling techniques and tactics in subsequent sessions.
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Look up and survey the floor
One of the most important skills in youth basketball is dribbling. It is crucial for kids to learn how to dribble with their heads up. However, before they can effectively dribble with their heads up, they must first learn to dribble with enough force to maintain their dribble. Once they have mastered this, they can begin to focus on looking up and surveying the floor.
Looking up and surveying the floor while dribbling is an important skill for young basketball players to develop. It allows them to be aware of their surroundings, make better decisions, and execute effective plays. Here are some ways to teach this skill:
Start with basic dribbling drills: Begin by having the kids practice dribbling with their heads up. Emphasize the importance of maintaining eye contact with the court and their surroundings while dribbling. You can also incorporate commands such as which hand to dribble with, what height to dribble, and what direction to move.
Gamify the learning process: Make learning fun by incorporating games and competitions. For example, you can play a variation of "Simon Says" where players must dribble at different paces when the light is green or yellow. On a red light, they must perform a jump stop and get into a triple threat position. You can also have them pivot before the next green light. Relay races are another fun way to practice dribbling and can be tailored to focus on dribbling with their heads up.
Assign "homework" drills: Send brief dribbling drills (5-8 minutes) for players to practice at home between practices. This will help reinforce their dribbling skills and allow more time for other concepts during practices. Be sure to send these drills to their parents as well so they can encourage and supervise their child's practice.
By incorporating these techniques, you can effectively teach kids how to dribble with their heads up and survey the floor. This will not only improve their basketball skills but also their overall awareness and decision-making on the court.
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Dribble with both hands
While dribbling with two hands is a violation in basketball, it is beneficial to teach kids to dribble with both their left and right hands. This gives them an advantage and keeps the defence guessing.
To begin with, teach them the basic pound dribble with one hand. Once they have mastered this, they can move on to the crossover, which involves changing hands. This will help them to develop dexterity and become more effective ball players.
When teaching the crossover, you can adapt the classic Simon Says game. Line the players up on the baseline and have them advance down the court in response to your verbal cues. Call out different types of dribbles and have them switch between them without stopping. You can also add a "crossover" command to change hands. This will help them to improve their dribbling skills and make the game more fun.
It is important to note that when dribbling, players should use their entire arm, not just their wrist. This will generate more force and prevent the ball from bouncing too high. Remind them to spread their fingers out and use their fingertips to get a better grip on the ball.
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Make it fun with games and races
Games and races are a great way to teach kids how to dribble a basketball while keeping things fun and engaging. Here are some ideas to get you started:
Follow the Leader
This classic game can be adapted to teach dribbling skills. Have the kids line up behind you and demonstrate different dribbling techniques as you move around the court. They should copy your movements while also focusing on their dribbling. This game helps kids improve their dribbling skills and also reinforces the importance of following instructions.
Relay Races
Set up a simple obstacle course with cones or markers and divide the kids into teams. Each player must dribble the ball through the course and then pass it to the next player on their team. The first team to successfully navigate the course wins. This game promotes teamwork and friendly competition while also improving dribbling skills.
Dribble Tag
A fun twist on the traditional game of tag. Choose one or two players to be "it" and have them chase the other players while dribbling a basketball. If a player's dribble is interrupted or they lose control of the ball, they become frozen or must sit out until the next round. The last player standing wins. This game encourages kids to focus on maintaining their dribble while on the move.
Dribble Challenges
Create different challenges for the kids to test their dribbling skills. For example, set up a course with obstacles to dribble around or have them see how many laps they can complete while dribbling in a certain amount of time. You can also vary the rules, such as requiring them to dribble with their non-dominant hand or using different types of dribbles (pound dribble, crossover dribble, etc.). These challenges help improve their dribbling technique while also keeping things exciting.
Station Work
Set up different stations around the court, each with a specific dribbling skill or challenge. For example, one station could focus on dribbling with speed, another on changing directions, and another on dribbling with both hands. Have the kids rotate through the stations, spending a set amount of time at each one. This approach allows for focused practice on specific dribbling skills and can be easily adapted for different skill levels.
By incorporating these games and races into their practice sessions, kids will not only improve their dribbling abilities but also develop a love for the game and a desire to continue improving.
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Frequently asked questions
The first step is to ensure they relax their fingers and spread them out evenly on the basketball. Young kids tend to keep their fingers together, but spreading them out increases control.
You can adapt classic games like Simon Says to teach dribbling on the move. You can have players dribble at different paces when a light is green or yellow, and add in jump stops and triple threats on a red light. Relay races are another fun way to practice speed dribbling.
Kids often don't use enough force when dribbling, and they tend to look down at the ball. It's important to teach them to push the ball into the ground with force by extending the elbow and snapping the wrist. As they improve, they can start to raise their eyes to see the floor and read defenders and teammates.
