Here is one of our favorite basketball practice drills. I do with my 1st and 2nd graders as well with my 6th and 7th graders. I call it Basketball Take Away.
For some unknown reason they love this drill and when I ask if there is any particular drill they want to do at the next practice, they always want to do this one.
Basketball Take Away
- You pair up two players whom are about evenly matched.
- Let them both get a death grip on the basketball.
- Next ask whom wants the ball more and, of course, they both say they do.
- On the whistle they play take away until somebody gets the ball, then it’s one on one until someone scores.
After a while the weaker ones who win when they are matched against their own competition now think for some reason they can take on the stronger boys. I notice in the games that they are more aggressive at going for loose and balls and ripping rebounds away when contested.
I don’t do this too often as it can get really competitive. I usually do this after a water break after we have reviewed our plays for something to get their attention back as you know reviewing plays can be boring at times.
Would you like to contribute coaching tip of your own and share it with our community? Leave a comment in the box below now! And for more practice suggestions, check out this youth basketball drills article I just completed.