Are Basketball Dribbling Drills important for every basketball player? You bet they are! Probably the most important skill needed in youth basketball is dribbling.
Think about it for a minute. Good dribbling is needed to bring the basketball down the court, start the offense, drive to the basket, run the fast back and so much more!
The only way to become a good dribbler is to practice a variety of dribbling drills.
By learning and understanding these basketball dribbling drills…
Players will be more comfortable handling and controlling the basketball. They will have more confidence in their dribbling ability.
Parents will have a better understanding of the various dribbles used in basketball. They will be able to help their child practice and succeed at these dribbling drills.
Coaches will have a more thorough understanding of the different drills used to teach dribbling. They will be able to put their players in a better position to succeed on the court.
Pointers For Basketball Dribbling Drills
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Goal – To practice getting a feel for the basketball and maintaining control while dribbling.
Equipment – Basketball court, half-court or full-court. One basketball per player, or one per pair.
Action – Players spread out on the basketball court in four lines, facing the coach. Players will be in a good basic basketball position. They will do each of the following basketball dribbling drills for 30 – 60 seconds.
Players should practice the dribbling drills with their dominant and non-dominant hand. Some important points to remember: Players should use their finger pads to control the ball. Players should keep their non-dribbling hand up to shield the defender. Players should work on keeping their head up, not on the ball.
Drills:
Goal – To practice dribbling and controlling the basketball.
Equipment – Basketball court, full-court. One basketball per group.
Action – Players will form four lines at one of the baselines, facing the coach who is at half-court. Players will perform the following basketball dribbling drills by dribbling down the court with their right hand and back with their left hand. They will then pass to the next player in line for their turn. Players should work on controlling the basketball and keeping their head up to see the court. They can do this by focusing on the opposite basket.
Drills:
1. Dribble Tag
Goal – To practice dribbling and controlling the ball in a competitive situation.
Equipment – Basketball court, half-court. One basketball per player.
Action – Players will maintain and control their dribble inside the three point area. At the same time, they will try to knock the ball away from the other players. A player is eliminated from the game if they: Loose their ball, double dribble, step out of the area or stop their dribble. As the group gets smaller, reduce the playing area to the foul lane.
2. Dribble Relays
Goal – To practice dribbling and controlling the ball in a fast, full-court situation.
Equipment – Basketball court, full-court. One basketball per group.
Action – Players will form four lines at one of the baselines, facing the coach at half court. The first person in line has the basketball. They will speed dribble to the opposite baseline and back, using their right hand down and left hand back. They will then pass the ball to their teammate for their turn. The first team to return all of their players wins the race.
A variation on this basketball dribbling drill would be to have the players dribble to the free throw line and back, then the half-court line and back, then the opposite free throw line and back, and finally the opposite baseline and back. These are great for dribbling and conditioning!
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I hope you found these Basketball Dribbling Drills for youth basketball to be helpful and informative. Remember – good dribbling skills are needed by all basketball players. Players that master their dribbling skills are able to improve many other areas of their game – and become an all-around basketball player.
If you need more great information on these basketball drills or other basketball topics, I would suggest you purchase some good basketball books and videos. These will provide you with a wealth of knowledge about the game of basketball.