Kristian Ferrell
Dribbling is one of the most important skills in youth basketball, as it enables players to get places on the court, get the most shots, and drive the action. Effective dribbling requires a combination of finger dexterity, body positioning, and protective techniques. Coaches play a crucial role in teaching dribbling skills, emphasizing the importance of practice and gamifying learning to keep young players engaged and motivated. By mastering dribbling techniques, young players can gain confidence, improve their performance, and most importantly, have fun on the court.
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What You'll Learn
Using both hands
One way to improve dribbling with the non-dominant hand is to focus on the fundamentals. For example, players should ensure that their fingers are relaxed and spread out evenly on the ball, rather than keeping their fingers together or too stiff. This increases the surface area in contact with the ball and gives the player more control. Additionally, players should be reminded that while the basketball should touch all the pads of the hand, it is the fingertips that primarily control the ball.
Practicing dribbling with both hands can also help players develop their overall ball-handling skills and confidence. It is important to emphasize that effective dribbling requires a combination of rhythm and force. Players should be taught to bend their knees and stay low to the ground, pushing the ball into the ground with force by extending the elbow and snapping the wrist. This helps protect the ball from defenders and enables players to quickly change directions and attack the rim.
By encouraging players to use both hands and providing guidance on proper technique, coaches can help young basketball players improve their dribbling skills and overall enjoyment of the game. It is important to remember that dribbling takes practice and that players should be given the freedom to try new things and make mistakes in a supportive learning environment.
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Dribbling with eyes up
Dribbling is a fundamental skill in basketball, and one of the first things young players should learn. It is natural for new players to look down at the ball when they start practising dribbling. However, as they improve, they need to be encouraged to raise their eyes up and see the floor. This will enable them to read the defenders and their teammates, allowing them to make the right passing decisions.
There are several ways to train players to dribble with their eyes up. One method is to use dribbling goggles, which restrict the player's downward vision, forcing them to learn to dribble by feel and thus increasing their confidence on the court. These goggles are available for purchase, and some customers have found them effective for training young players to develop good ball control and court vision. However, opinions are mixed regarding the goggles' durability.
Another method to train dribbling with eyes up is to use balloons. In one drill, each player has a balloon, a basketball, and some space to move. The players work on their pound dribbles while keeping the balloon in the air by tapping it up with the hand that is not dribbling. This drill is designed to increase floor vision and weak hand development. A similar drill involves players speed dribbling to the other side of a circle and back before the balloon touches the ground.
It is important to note that before focusing on dribbling with eyes up, players should first learn to dribble with enough force to maintain their dribble. If they cannot do this, having their head up becomes irrelevant.
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Fingertip control
To begin teaching fingertip control, players should relax their fingers and ensure they are spread out evenly across the ball. Young players tend to keep their fingers together, so it is important to teach them to spread their fingers out to increase the surface area and gain more control. Players should also avoid making their hands and fingers too stiff, as this will result in them slapping at the ball.
To practice fingertip control, players can perform the following exercises:
- Hold the ball with fingertips only and pass it quickly from hand to hand, moving it in front, above the head, below the waist, and behind the back.
- Stand with knees bent and slightly apart, and pass the ball in a figure-eight motion between the legs, using both hands.
- Dribble at a cone, then stop and dribble around it with controlled fingertip dribbles. Repeat with the other hand.
- With the ball in one hand, bounce it forward and back. Repeat with the other hand.
- Hold the basketball and make circles with it around your body, starting at the waist and moving down the legs without letting it touch your body. Repeat in the other direction and eventually try it without looking at the ball.
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Bending knees
Bending the knees is a crucial aspect of dribbling in basketball. It provides stability, facilitates powerful movements, and helps protect the ball from defenders. Here are some key points to teach youth players about bending their knees:
Get in a Low Stance
Players should spread their feet approximately shoulder-width apart and bend their knees. This low stance helps protect the ball from defenders and gives the player mobility. It's important to avoid bending at the waist, as it can be unstable and hard on the back. Instead, drop the hips back slightly, as if sitting in a chair.
Stay Low to the Ground
Players should bend their knees and stay low to the ground when they have possession of the ball. This lowers their centre of gravity, making them more explosive. If a defender tries to steal the ball, they can quickly explode past their opponent and attack the rim.
Dribble Close to the Ground
Teach players to dribble with low, quick motions. The shorter and quicker the ball bounces, the harder it is for an opponent to steal. Encourage players to dribble with their fingertips, keeping the ball close to their body and below their knees. This helps shield the ball from defenders.
Maintain Stability
Stability is essential when dribbling. Players should keep their knees bent and their chest and head up to maintain balance. Looking ahead also helps them watch for oncoming defenders. Remind players that if they're off-balance, they're more likely to lose the ball.
Practice Drills
To improve knee bending and dribbling skills, players can practice dribbling the ball in a circle around their legs and then reversing the direction. Another drill is to kneel in a stride stance and dribble the ball back and forth under the forward bent knee, then around the foot and under the knee. These drills help reinforce the importance of bending the knees and improve ball control.
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Game-based drills
One such drill is "Sharks and Minnows", a game that blends dribbling skills with evasion tactics. In this game, the "sharks" stand in the middle of the playing area, while the "minnows" start on one side with basketballs. The minnows must dribble across to the opposite side, trying to avoid being tagged by the sharks. If a minnow is tagged, they become a shark for the next round. This game teaches dribbling control and manoeuvring under pressure from defenders.
Another game-based drill is "Tag", which is a classic playground game. This drill forces players to work on their ball handling, speed, agility, control, and spatial awareness. The "sharks" start at the half-court line, while the "minnows" spread out on the baseline, each with a basketball. On "go", the minnows attempt to dribble from one end to the other while the sharks try to knock their balls away. If a minnow loses their ball to a shark, they join the shark team. This drill encourages players to keep their heads up and dribble with speed and control while also keeping an eye on the sharks.
The "Zig-Zag Drill" is another useful exercise that improves dribbling skills under pressure. Players must navigate a zig-zag pattern of cones or markers, changing direction and making sharp cuts while maintaining control of the ball. This drill teaches players how to manoeuvre around defenders and work through traffic on the court, improving their overall ball-handling abilities.
The "Change of Speed Drill" teaches players to vary their dribbling speed, helping them to deceive defenders and create scoring opportunities. By mastering this drill, players learn to execute quick bursts of speed or slow down to control the game's tempo, improving their decision-making and overall ball-handling skills.
Additionally, "Chase Down Layups" is a useful drill to teach players to finish layups at full speed and under pressure. This drill involves two lines of players, offensive and defensive, with a basketball at the front of the offensive line. The coach gives the offensive player an advantage over the defender, who starts on the baseline. On "go", both players sprint to the other end of the floor, with the offensive player dribbling and finishing at the rim under defensive pressure.
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Frequently asked questions
Dribbling is the most important skill in youth basketball. The kids who can dribble are in control of the game, and they tend to have the most fun, which feeds their desire to improve.
Start with the basics and make sure the technique is correct before moving on to more advanced moves. Emphasize the importance of using both hands, even the non-dominant one, to protect the ball from defenders. Encourage players to bend their knees and stay low to the ground, and to push the ball into the ground with force when dribbling.
One common mistake is not dribbling with enough force, which can lead to losing possession of the ball. Another mistake is dribbling with a stiff hand and fingers, which can result in "slapping" at the ball. Players should be taught to relax their hands and fingers, spreading their fingers out evenly on the ball to increase control.
Stationary dribbling drills are great for warming up and introducing new skills, but it's also important to incorporate more dynamic drills that simulate game-like situations, such as 1v1 drills where players are forced to dribble and can't rely on passing. Fun drills such as Pirate Dribbling, Mr. Fox, and Coin Drops can also help keep players engaged and motivated to improve.
Dribbling takes a lot of practice and repetition. It's important to emphasize to young players that they need to put in the time and effort to improve their dribbling skills. The more they practice, the better they will become, and the more confident they will feel in their abilities.
