Kristian Ferrell
Teaching young children the basics of basketball can be a fun and rewarding experience. The fundamentals of basketball include skills such as footwork, dribbling, shooting, and passing, which are essential for players to learn to play the game. Young players should focus on mastering the core four of basketball: shooting, passing, dribbling, and defense. This involves learning the proper form and technique for each skill through consistent practice and drills. For example, in shooting, players should focus on grip, alignment, arm extension, and follow-through, while dribbling drills can teach players to dribble with their fingertips and improve coordination and agility. Passing drills, such as partner passing, allow players to practice different types of passes and correct technique, fostering teamwork and elevating the team's game.
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What You'll Learn
- Footwork: Practice lateral and backward movements to improve defensive footwork
- Shooting: Focus on grip, alignment, arm extension, and follow-through
- Passing: Teach chest, bounce, and overhead passes
- Dribbling: Teach dribbling with fingertips, not palms
- Defense: Teach the basic stance, defensive slide, and off-ball principles
Footwork: Practice lateral and backward movements to improve defensive footwork
Footwork is a crucial aspect of basketball and players who excel on defence often spend a lot of time advancing their technique. Having a solid foundation in footwork will enable you to stay in a beneficial position on defence, making it harder for your opponent to score.
To improve defensive footwork, it is important to practice lateral and backward movements. Agility drills can help with this. One drill is the zig-zag drill, where players get in their stance and slide or lunge from spot to spot. Another drill is the shuttle run, where players set up two markers and sprint sideways between them. Ladder drills are also useful for working on foot speed and coordination.
When moving laterally to guard someone with the ball, players should use "big to bigger" footwork, sometimes called a "defensive slide". This simply means that when moving to your right, step with the right foot first, and vice versa.
Defensive slides are also useful for improving agility and maintaining balance during defensive movements. To practice this, players can start in an athletic stance and side shuffle to the opposite side, then drop-step and slide to the opposite low post and shuffle back across.
When the defender's high foot is attacked, a common reaction is to turn quickly, but this changes the angle of the body and opens up the middle of the floor. Instead, take a backward step with the low foot to maintain the angle of the body between the ball-handler and the basket.
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Shooting: Focus on grip, alignment, arm extension, and follow-through
Shooting is a fundamental skill in basketball, and perfecting your shooting technique will set the stage for all future successes on the court. Here are some tips for teaching the basics of shooting with a focus on grip, alignment, arm extension, and follow-through:
Grip
The first step to a good shot is the right grip. Your grip should be loose, with your fingertips rather than your palms making contact with the ball. Your shooting hand should rest underneath the ball, with your fingers spread comfortably apart. Your non-shooting hand should support the side of the ball. The thumb of your shooting hand should be at a 45-degree angle from the plane of your hand, forming a slight "V" with your index finger for precision.
Alignment
Align your body with the basket. Your feet should be placed either hip- or shoulder-width apart, whichever is more comfortable. The ball, your shooting eye, and the basket should be aligned, setting up a straight, repeatable shot path. Holding the ball towards your dominant side can help with alignment and improve your overall aim.
Arm Extension
Extend your arm straight in front of you, with your elbow aligned under the ball or with your hip. Your arm should extend upward during release, with your elbow going above eye level.
Follow-Through
The follow-through is critical for stabilizing your shot's trajectory and accuracy. After releasing the ball, your hand should move in a smooth, sustained wave goodbye motion. Hold your follow-through until the ball hits the rim.
Remember to prioritize form over speed and to practice consistently to improve your shooting skills over time.
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Passing: Teach chest, bounce, and overhead passes
Passing is one of the most under-taught skills in basketball, but it is an important skill to master. There are different types of passes that are used in certain situations, so it is important to understand the basics of each one. Here are some tips for teaching the chest, bounce, and overhead passes.
Chest Pass
Hold the ball at your chest with both hands, keeping your elbows tight against your torso. Push off with your back foot and release the ball with both hands, stepping forward with your dominant foot. Keep your back straight and tilt your upper body forward for maximum power.
Bounce Pass
The bounce pass starts from the same area on the torso as the chest pass, but you aim towards the ground. The ball should be thrown so that it will be received at waist height, typically bouncing 2/3 or 3/4 of the way between you and your teammate. This pass is best used in tight spaces when you are passing to a guarded player. To execute, take the ball with both hands at your chest, then step forward with either foot. Push off with your back foot and release the ball with both hands. Keep your back straight and tilt your upper body forward for maximum power. Choose where the ball will bounce – if there is a defender, aim for the floor next to them so that your teammate can catch it at the lowest point.
Overhead Pass
Hold the ball with both hands behind your head, with elbows bent and next to your ears. Step forward towards your target and extend your elbows, snapping your wrists to create backspin on the ball. The majority of the movement should come from the elbows, not the shoulders. This pass is great for launching the ball a long distance and is commonly used when in-bounding the ball. Accuracy will be harder with this pass, so aim for your teammate's chin or chest area.
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Dribbling: Teach dribbling with fingertips, not palms
Dribbling is a fundamental skill in basketball, and one of the most important skills to learn. It is the best way to manoeuvre around the court and get past defenders. When teaching dribbling, it is important to instruct players to use their fingertips, not their palms. This is because using the fingertips gives the player more control over the ball.
To develop finger strength, a player can start with their weak hand, usually the left hand, and get down on one knee, dribbling the ball with their fingertips as close to the ground as possible. The closer to the ground, the faster the dribble. This is a simple exercise, but it will help the player gain control. Players should be encouraged to spread their fingers out and use their fingertips to get a better grip on the ball.
Another exercise to build finger strength is to cross the ball between each hand. This is especially important for point guards and shooting guards. To execute this move, the player bends their knees and extends their legs a bit wider than shoulder width apart, then passes the ball from one hand to the other. Again, the player should focus on keeping the ball as low as possible by controlling it with their fingertips.
When teaching dribbling, it is also important to remind players to keep their head up and eyes on the court, and not to let the ball bounce above their waist. This will help them maintain court awareness and manoeuvre effectively.
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Defense: Teach the basic stance, defensive slide, and off-ball principles
When teaching defence in basketball, there are a few key elements to focus on: the basic stance, defensive sliding, and off-ball principles.
Basic Stance
Balance is critical to a good defensive stance. Players should start by distributing their weight slightly more towards the fronts or balls of their feet, with the heels still in contact with the ground. Their feet should be pointing straight ahead. This stable base will help them guard the ball effectively and prevent the opposition from scoring.
Defensive Slide
Once players have mastered the basic stance, they can begin to work on their defensive slide. This involves moving laterally in their defensive stance without crossing their feet. A good defensive slide will help players stay with their opponent and prevent them from getting past. Drills such as slide, backpedal, and square can help players improve their defensive sliding technique and build speed and agility.
Off-Ball Principles
Off-ball principles refer to the defensive strategies players should employ when they are not directly guarding an opponent with the ball. Players should learn to always stay between their opponent and the ball, and to stop the ball if it comes in front of them. These strategies will help them effectively defend and support their teammates.
Remember, defence is a fundamental part of basketball, and players of all ages should understand the importance of a good defensive stance and the basic strategies that will help them in-game.
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Frequently asked questions
The fundamental skills in basketball are footwork, dribbling, shooting, and passing.
Encourage kids to keep their eyes up and dribble with their fingertips rather than their palms. Start with stationary dribbling, then move on to dribbling while moving and dribbling around obstacles. Teach basic dribble moves such as the speed dribble, crossover, protect-the-ball dribble, and back-up dribble.
Passing and catching are essential for teamwork. Teach the chest pass, which is a fast, straight pass from the chest to a teammate, and the bounce pass, where the ball is bounced on the floor to reach a teammate.
Accuracy in shooting depends on having good form. Demonstrate how to properly place hands on the ball, with the dominant hand on the front and the supporting hand on the side. Teach them to maintain balance while keeping their feet shoulder-width apart and using a steady follow-through action. Start with close-range shots and gradually increase the distance.
Teach the basic defensive stance—knees bent, weight on the balls of the feet, and arms out. Also, teach the basic off-ball principles: stay between the opponent and the ball, and always stop the ball if it's in front of you.
