Andrew Pace
Teaching basketball fundamentals is crucial for players of all ages and skill levels, from youth players just starting out to professionals in the NBA. These fundamentals are the building blocks of the game and include skills such as footwork, dribbling, shooting, passing, and defence. Coaches play a vital role in instilling these fundamentals, with youth coaches recommended to spend 75% to 90% of practice time on them. This involves teaching players the proper techniques, from footwork and dribbling with both hands to defensive positioning and shooting form. By mastering these fundamentals, players develop a strong foundation, improve their skills, and gain the confidence to apply these skills effectively during gameplay.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Footwork | Triple threat positioning, pivoting on both feet, jump stops, foot placement and weight distribution, backpedaling |
| Dribbling | Crossover, left and right-hand dexterity, speed dribble, protect-the-ball dribble, back-up dribble |
| Passing | Fundamental passing techniques, throwing techniques |
| Shooting | Correct form, proper foot alignment, leg bend, hand position, arm angle, follow through |
| Rebounding | Basic technique, gripping the ball, dribbling or passing after a rebound |
| Defense | On-ball defense, off-ball defense, defensive stance, half-court and full-court defense, zone defense, defensive close-outs |
| Jumping | Layups, slam dunks, three-pointers, jump shots, jump stops |
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What You'll Learn
- Footwork: Triple threat positioning, pivoting, jump stops, and squaring to the basket
- Dribbling: Drills for crossover, left and right hands, and ball protection
- Passing: Basic techniques and passing lanes
- Shooting: Form, movement, and follow-through
- Defense: On-ball and off-ball positioning, and close-outs
Footwork: Triple threat positioning, pivoting, jump stops, and squaring to the basket
Footwork is a fundamental skill that underpins many aspects of basketball. It is more than just the ability to run at full speed on the court. When teaching footwork, it is important to cover triple threat positioning, pivoting, jump stops, and squaring to the basket.
Triple threat positioning is a stance with the option to shoot, pass, or dribble. It gives the player the ability to quickly react to the opponent's next move and make a decision about their next action. To teach this, coaches can instruct players to practice setting up in a triple-threat position and reacting to different scenarios. For example, if an opponent closes in, the player must quickly decide whether to shoot, pass, or dribble and then execute that action.
Pivoting is another important aspect of footwork. Players should practice pivoting on their left and right foot without traveling. This skill allows players to change direction and pivot with the ball, keeping it protected from defenders. Coaches can instruct players to practice pivoting in different directions, emphasizing keeping the ball close and controlled.
Jump stops are also a key part of footwork. This skill allows players to quickly change direction and can be used to create space between themselves and a defender. To teach jump stops, coaches can instruct players to jump off one foot and land on both feet, ensuring they maintain their balance. This skill is often practiced in combination with layups, with players performing jump-stop layups.
Squaring to the basket is an important skill for players to learn, especially when in a triple-threat position. When a player catches the ball in a triple-threat position, they should immediately square their body to the basket. This action gives them the option to shoot, pass, or dribble and helps them be ready for their next move. Coaches can emphasize this skill by instructing players to always be aware of the basket's location and quickly adjust their feet to square up after catching the ball.
By focusing on these footwork fundamentals, coaches can help players develop a strong foundation for their basketball skills. These skills will allow players to move effectively on the court, react quickly to opponents, and execute their offensive and defensive strategies with precision.
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Dribbling: Drills for crossover, left and right hands, and ball protection
Dribbling is a fundamental skill that every basketball player needs to master. Regular dribbling drills will teach players the basic dribble moves, such as dribbling with their head up, crossover, and using their left and right hands with equal dexterity. Here are some specific drills that can help players improve their dribbling skills:
The In/Out Drill
This drill helps players practice the in/out dribble, which involves moving the ball in a circular motion from in to out. Start by dribbling with the right hand, then crossover to the left hand and make an in/out dribble. Repeat the same movement with the left hand, then crossover back to the right hand. Continue this sequence for 30 seconds. To make it more challenging, lower the dribble and increase the speed.
One-Ball Dribbling Drills
Start with your feet shoulder-width apart and bend slightly at the waist and knees. Begin dribbling with your right hand a little higher than normal, then quickly move your hand towards the ground to force a very low dribble. After that, do a low dribble crossover from right to left, then dribble once low with the left hand, followed by a high dribble with the left hand. Repeat the same low-to-high crossover with the left hand, then crossover back to the right hand in front of your body. Continue this sequence, alternating between low and high dribbles and crossing over in front of your body.
The Cross, Between, and Behind Drill
This drill is designed to improve ball handling by combining multiple dribble techniques. Start by dribbling with a quick crossover, followed immediately by a between-the-legs dribble, and finish with a behind-the-back dribble. Perform this sequence in place, gradually increasing your speed while maintaining control. This drill helps improve hand speed, dribbling accuracy, and builds confidence in handling the ball under pressure.
The Kill the Grass Drill
This drill focuses on dribbling efficiency and ball control in a confined space. Players stay within a painted area on the court and practice various dribble moves, including crossovers, between the legs, and behind the back. They switch hands during the drill and work on their technique, keeping their eyes forward while dribbling. This drill helps players develop tighter handles and make quick decisions in a limited space.
Cone Drills
Set up cones to simulate defenders and dribble towards them, using moves like the in-and-out dribble or a crossover to get past the cone. After beating the cone, drive towards the hoop and finish with a layup. Retrieve the ball and move to the next cone, where you will perform another dribble move to simulate evading a defender. Continue this sequence, alternating between cones and practicing different dribble moves to improve your ball handling and finishing skills.
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Passing: Basic techniques and passing lanes
Passing is a fundamental skill in basketball, and one that young players should start practising early on. It is important to teach players the basic techniques of passing, but also to emphasise that there is more to passing than just the technique used to throw the ball.
Passing drills are a great way to teach young players the basics of passing. One such drill involves players pairing up and passing the ball back and forth using a series of fundamental passing techniques. This can help players to develop their passing skills and get a feel for the different types of passes.
Another important aspect of passing is knowing how to use your body to create space and get a pass off without it being blocked by a defender. This is a skill that comes with practice and can be developed through drills that simulate game-like situations. For example, players can practice finishing at the rim against a live defender, using a "D-Man" or a "pool noodle" as an alternative.
Passing lanes refer to the areas of the court through which a pass can be made. When playing man-to-man defence, a player who is one pass away from the ball is required to have a hand in the passing lane to prevent a pass to their opponent. On the other hand, if the team is playing Pack Line defence, the same defender would be asked to take a step back into the driving lane to prevent penetration. Therefore, it is important for players to understand the different defensive strategies and how they impact passing lanes.
By focusing on the fundamentals of passing and passing lanes, coaches can help players develop their skills and improve their decision-making on the court.
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Shooting: Form, movement, and follow-through
Shooting is the most important skill in basketball, and young players should be given plenty of opportunities to work on it. When teaching shooting, it's important to focus on form, movement, and follow-through.
For shooting form, players should be taught the correct foot alignment, leg bend, hand position, and arm angle. For younger players, it's recommended to use smaller balls and lower baskets, and to allow them to dip their elbows to give them more strength. As they get older and stronger, they can progress to bigger balls and baskets, and focus on maintaining proper form as they move away from the hoop.
For movement, players should practice shooting on the move, such as shooting off the dribble and off the catch. They should also work on their athletic and movement skills, such as running, jumping, landing, skipping, stopping, and moving laterally.
Finally, for follow-through, players should be taught to focus on the little things that make a difference, such as the extension of the arm after releasing the ball, and the positioning of the body after a shot.
By focusing on these fundamentals of shooting, players will improve their skills and become more confident on the court.
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Defense: On-ball and off-ball positioning, and close-outs
When it comes to basketball, defence is just as important as offence. There are two main types of defensive positioning: on-ball and off-ball. On-ball defence refers to the defender that is guarding the player with the ball, while off-ball defence refers to the defenders that are not directly guarding the player with the ball.
On-ball defence
On-ball defence is a crucial aspect of basketball defence. The defender must maintain a defensive stance, with their feet wider than shoulder-width apart, and their knees bent. They should also keep their arms outstretched to prevent the offensive player from driving past. The defender should always stay between their opponent and the basket, forcing them to drive towards the sidelines or pass the ball.
Off-ball defence
Off-ball defence is equally important, as players spend 80% of defensive possessions off the ball. The key to great off-ball defence is correct positioning. As the offensive team moves the ball around the court, the off-ball defenders must constantly adjust their location to ensure they can provide help if needed. This includes preventing passes to the opponent and preventing penetration into the driving lane.
Close-outs
Close-outs refer to the defensive technique of closing the gap between the defender and the offensive player with the ball. This is done by quickly moving towards the offensive player to limit their options and force them to make a decision. When performing a close-out, the defender should start with their feet shoulder-width apart and take small, quick steps to close the gap. They should also keep their arms outstretched to try and disrupt the shot or pass.
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Frequently asked questions
The fundamentals of basketball include skills such as footwork, dribbling, shooting, passing, and defending.
Footwork skills include teaching players to backpedal while boxing out an opponent, foot placement and weight distribution for a defensive slide, and the right setup to make a jab step to an opponent when in a triple-threat position.
Regular dribbling drills will teach players basic dribble moves: how to dribble with their head up, use their left and right hands with equal dexterity, and pass the ball from one hand to the other.
Shooting form can be taught using smaller balls and lower baskets, allowing players to dip their elbows for more strength. The fundamentals of shooting include proper foot alignment, leg bend, hand position, arm angle, and follow-through.
