Ballhandling is a critical basketball skill, this circuit will help you develop your players dribbling abilities. I often integrate this ballhanding drill series with my basketball practice plans.
Preparation
-“ Players stand, spread out across the court. Each player has a ball
-“ The drill leader stands facing his team, demonstrating each drill as they move through the circuit
Execution
-“ Body Circles: Player moves the ball clockwise around his neck, waist, both ankles, right ankle, left ankle. Player reverses ball to counter clockwise and repeats.
-“ Flip Drill: Player bends over with his feet apart and holds the ball with both hands behind his legs. Player flips the ball forward through his legs, reaches forward, and catches the ball in front of his legs with his arms fully extended. Player flips the ball back through his legs, reaches backward, and catches the ball behind his legs. Repeat.
-“ Flop Drill:“ Player bends over with his feet apart and holds the ball between his legs with his right hand in front of him and his left hand in back of him. Player lets go of the ball, quickly switches the position of his hands (left hand to front, right hand to back), and catches the ball before it hits the floor. Repeat.
-“ Machine Gun Drill:“ Player sits on the floor with legs spread apart and the ball sitting between his legs. Player dribbles the ball in front of him as low and fast as possible, alternating between his right and left hands.
-“ Skip Dribble Drill: Player stands and moves his legs back and forth in a scissors like fashion, with his toes pointing straight ahead. As his legs cross back and forth, the player dribbles the ball between his legs from hand to hand.
-“ Crab Run Drill:“ Player stands and moves his legs back and forth in a scissors like fashion, with his toes pointing straight ahead. As his legs cross back and forth, the player passes the ball between his legs without letting it hit the floor.
-“ Figure Eight Drill:“ Player stands with feet spread far apart. He dribbles the ball with his right hand, making a circle around his right leg. With the circle complete, he dribbles the ball between his legs switching from his right to left hand. He dribbles the ball in a full circle around his left leg, then passes it back to his right through his legs, making a figure eight.
Points of Emphasis
-“ Head should be up, not watching the ball. Try having a coach hold up numbers using the fingers of his hand. The players should be able to see and call out the numbers as they change.
-“ Knees should be bent, and the player should be low, in an athletic position
-“ Dribbling should be low, hard, and controlled