Kristian Ferrell
Dribbling is a fundamental skill in basketball, allowing players to advance the ball towards the hoop and create distance from defenders. It is a skill that requires hand-eye coordination, good timing, and practice. While dribbling, it is important to keep your head up to observe your teammates and defenders, and to protect the ball from defenders. The ball should be dribbled with the fingertips and whole hand, not the palm, and kept low to the ground to maintain control and enable quick, explosive movements. High dribbling is a type of dribbling drill that can be practiced in various ways, such as figure 8's or spider dribbles, to improve ball control and dexterity.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Hand and finger placement | Spread fingers evenly across the basketball, allowing the upper part of the palm to touch the ball for maximum power. |
| Gaze | Keep your head up and eyes on the game, looking for teammates and keeping an eye on defenders. |
| Height of the bounce | The highest point of the bounce should be up to the player's hip. |
| Stance | Keep a low stance, bending the knees and staying low to the ground. |
| Arm position | Use your non-dribbling arm to shield the ball from defenders, creating an 'arm bar' to hold off defenders. |
| Drills | "Maravich Drills" are good for getting players comfortable with the ball. |
| Ball handling | Dribbling is a fundamental skill in basketball, requiring hand-eye coordination, good timing, and practice. |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
- Hand placement: spread fingers, don't slap, use fingertips and upper palm
- Low dribbling: establish a low centre of gravity, bend knees, stay low
- Crossover dribbling: pass the ball between hands, keep low, increase speed
- Running while dribbling: build speed without losing control, practice with each hand
- Protective dribbling: use non-dribbling arm to hold off defender, shield the ball
Hand placement: spread fingers, don't slap, use fingertips and upper palm
When teaching high dribbling in basketball, hand placement is crucial. Instruct your students to relax their fingers and spread them out evenly across the basketball. This may be counterintuitive for young children, who tend to keep their fingers together unless taught otherwise. Explain that spreading their fingers increases the surface area of the hand, giving them more control over the ball. Stiff fingers and hands can lead to slapping at the ball, which should be avoided.
The basketball should touch all the pads of the hand, but it's the fingertips that provide the most control. Demonstrate how to bend the knees and stay low to the ground when in possession of the ball. This position makes players more explosive, allowing them to quickly change direction and attack the rim if a defender reaches in.
Encourage students to push the basketball into the ground forcefully when dribbling. This can be achieved by extending the elbow and snapping the wrist at the bottom of the movement. Remind them that the ball should not be dribbled too high; it should stay at waist height or lower. This gives the player more control and makes it harder for defenders to steal the ball.
For proper hand placement, focus on spreading the fingers to make contact with the top and sides of the ball. This allows the upper part of the palm to also touch the ball, providing maximum power. Students should practice this hand placement as often as possible to build muscle memory.
Legs' Role in Basketball Shots: Understanding the Percentage
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Low dribbling: establish a low centre of gravity, bend knees, stay low
To teach low dribbling in basketball, it is important to instruct your players to establish a low centre of gravity, bend their knees, and stay low to the ground. This technique is crucial for players' stability and explosiveness when dribbling and can help them improve their overall performance in the game.
Firstly, players should focus on establishing a low centre of gravity. This means that they should bend their knees and adopt a low stance, bringing their body closer to the ground. By doing so, they can achieve greater stability and control over their movements. A good indicator of the correct stance is ensuring that the highest point of the bounce when dribbling is up to the player's hip. It is important to note that bending to the side while dribbling is unnecessary and may indicate that the player is dribbling too low.
Next, players should be instructed to bend their knees and stay low to the ground when they have possession of the ball. This position provides several advantages. Firstly, it increases the players' explosiveness. When a defender reaches in to steal the ball, a low stance allows players to explode immediately past their opponent and attack the rim without having to drop down first. Additionally, bending the knees helps to lower the centre of gravity, further enhancing stability and balance.
To perfect the technique of low dribbling, players should also be reminded to relax their fingers and spread them evenly on the basketball. This increases the surface area of contact and provides better control over the ball. It is important to emphasise that the basketball should touch all the pads of the hand, but the fingertips are primarily responsible for controlling the ball's movement.
Lastly, while dribbling, players should be encouraged to keep their heads up and maintain eye contact with the floor. Although it may be challenging at first, this practice will enable them to locate their teammates, monitor their defender, and be aware of the basket's location simultaneously. With practice, dribbling will become more intuitive, and players will be able to trust the ball without constantly looking at it.
Mastering Basketball on Messenger: Strategies for Success
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Crossover dribbling: pass the ball between hands, keep low, increase speed
The crossover dribble is a fundamental basketball skill that can be used to create scoring opportunities for both you and your teammates. It is a dribbling technique used to destabilize and misdirect a defender. To perform a crossover dribble, the player must dribble the ball in front of their body, transferring it between hands in a "'V'" shape.
To teach this skill, start by explaining the purpose of the crossover dribble and how it can be used to create scoring opportunities. Then, demonstrate the basic technique: start with the ball in your right hand, and dribble it towards the centre of your body, as if you're making a crossover move, then dribble it back out to your right side. The ball should make a circular motion as it moves from in to out. Then, perform a crossover from your right hand to your left hand, and repeat the in/out dribble with your left hand. Finally, crossover back to your right hand. This drill will help players maintain a good, balanced body position while dribbling, with their feet shoulder-width apart.
To increase the difficulty, you can instruct players to lower their dribble and increase their speed. This will help them to get their defender off-balance and create more scoring opportunities. It is important to note that the crossover dribble is most effective when varied, as defenders will be able to predict the move if it is done the same way every time.
Additionally, players should be encouraged to keep a low stance when performing the crossover dribble. Bending their knees and staying low to the ground will make them more explosive and able to attack the rim more quickly. It is also important for players to relax their fingers and spread them out evenly on the basketball to increase control.
Mastering the Art of Scoring in Basketball
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Running while dribbling: build speed without losing control, practice with each hand
Running while dribbling is a crucial skill for basketball players to develop, as it enables them to race up and down the court without losing control of the ball. This ability to maintain control at speed gives players a significant advantage over their opponents, allowing them to score before the defence is set.
To build speed and dexterity, players should practice running and dribbling the length of the court before training. This can be done using either hand to improve overall ball control. It is essential to keep your head and eyes up while running and dribbling, scanning for teammates, defenders, and the basket.
A helpful drill to improve speed and control is the Full-Court Dribble Drill. This involves dribbling the length of the court and back as fast as possible, using only the weak hand. Players should keep their heads and eyes up and use their other arm to protect the ball from defenders. This drill helps players gain more control with their non-dominant hand, making them less predictable on the court.
Another drill to improve weak-hand dribbling is the Scissor Dribble. This involves taking a few dribbles before performing a crossover between the legs. This helps players create space with their weak hand, which is essential for relieving defensive pressure.
Additionally, players can practice dribbling at different speeds (slow, medium, and fast). This helps them understand the limits of their control and make adjustments accordingly.
High School Basketball Tryouts: How Long Do They Last?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Protective dribbling: use non-dribbling arm to hold off defender, shield the ball
Protective dribbling is a crucial skill to learn in basketball, allowing you to shield the ball from defenders and giving you an advantage over the opposition. This technique will enable you to get to any spot on the floor and set up high-percentage shots for yourself and your teammates.
To execute protective dribbling effectively, players must use their non-dribbling arm to create space between themselves and the defender. This is known as an "arm bar". By extending the non-dribbling arm out and holding it between their body and the defender, players can create a barrier that makes it difficult for the defender to reach in and steal the ball. It is important to remember not to push off with the arm bar, as this could result in a foul.
Additionally, players can turn their back or shoulder towards the on-ball defender to provide extra protection. This makes it even harder for the defender to reach around and tap the ball away without committing a foul. A good stance to adopt is the "triple threat". This involves bringing the ball close to your body, grasping it with both hands, and keeping a low stance with your elbows out at a 90-degree angle. This stance allows you to protect the ball while deciding whether to pass, shoot, or dribble.
While dribbling, it is essential to keep your head up and maintain eye contact with the floor. This allows you to be aware of your teammates and defenders' positions and make the right passing decisions. Bending your knees and staying low to the ground also gives you an advantage, as it enables you to explode past your opponent if they reach in to steal the ball.
Practicing dribbling drills such as the "Maravich Drills", named after the legendary ball-handler Pete Maravich, can help players improve their dribbling skills and get comfortable with the ball. One such drill is the "Figure 8", where players spread their legs about shoulder-width apart and dribble the ball through and around their legs in a figure 8 motion. This can be done at different heights, from waist-high to shoe-top height, and with one or two hands to increase difficulty.
The Georgetown Women's Basketball Team: Ranked High and Mighty
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The first step is to ensure that the player is comfortable with the ball. They should relax their fingers and spread them out evenly on the basketball. The basketball should touch all the pads on the hand, but it is the fingertips that control the ball.
There are several drills that can be used to teach high dribbling:
- Figure 8's: Spread legs about shoulder width and dribble the ball through and around the legs in a figure 8. This can be done in multiple ways, including front to back, back to front, and as many dribbles as possible with the dribble about shoe height.
- Spider Dribble: Similar to the Figure 8 drill, but with legs spread out wider.
- Torso Twist: Spread legs outside of shoulder width and dribble with the right hand. Keeping legs straight, bring the ball across the body to the left side, outside the left foot, and dribble at shoe-top height behind the left foot.
Here are some tips to keep in mind:
- Players should bend their knees and stay low to the ground when dribbling. This makes them more explosive and able to attack the rim quickly.
- Encourage players to keep their heads up and eyes on the game. They should practice dribbling without looking at the ball.
- Remind players to use their fingers and fingertips, not the palm of their hands, to control the ball.
- Players should also use their body and non-dribbling arm to shield the ball from defenders.
