Ball Handle

Purpose

Teach players to work on ball handling with aggressive multiple defenders, simulating a high-pressure defense.

Setup

1 vs 2 b all handling drill

All players on the baseline in groups of 3 with 2 of the  Players on defense, and  1 Player on offense with a ball

Drill Instruction

  1. 1st group begins with an offensive player using the entire width of the court to try and pass the half-court line.
  2. Defenders use their feet, to cut-off the offensive player, trapping in corners and swiping away errant dribbles.
  3. If the offensive player loses the ball, the defense gives it right back and continues the drill.
  4. When the offensive player crosses midcourt, that group does to the back of the line and the next group begins.
  5. Alternate offense to defense.

Coach’s Emphasis

On defense, use the feet to stop an offensive player, not hands.

The offensive player should make changes in speed to beat the defense.

Purpose

Rhythm and Blues drill helps to improve your ball-handling and control.

Setup

Rhythm and blues ball handling drill

Players spread in a large circle across the court, each with 1 ball and coach at center court.

Drill instruction

  1. Each player begins by wrapping the ball through both legs in a figure 8 pattern.
  2. Once comfortable, the players drop the ball when it is the middle 8, allow it to bounce once, pick up the ball, and continue to wrap in a figure 8 pattern.
  3. Once comfortable players drop the ball for once bounce but now switch dominant hands when the picking the ball back up and continue the figure 8 in the new direction. (Counterclockwise )

Coach’s Emphasis

To teach Drill to start slowly, and have the whole team going through the movement in unison, creating some “Rhythm & Blues”.

Move on to a rapid pace once players are experts with the movement.

Encourage players to use fingertips and keep head up.

Control first, speed second.

 

 

Purpose

Improves ball handling and control

Setup

co ordination ball handling drill

Players spread in a large circle across the court, each with 1 ball and coach at center court.

Drill Instruction

  1. Each player begins by wrapping the ball around both legs.
  2. Once comfortable, the players wrap the ball around both legs and alternate between the two, picking up speed as they continue.

Coach’s Emphasis

To teach this drill start especially slowly, and move on to a rapid pace, once players are experts.

Encourage players to use fingertips and keep head up.

Control fist, speed second

Purpose

Improves ball-handling, and control.

Setup

Gravel and steal open drill

Players spread in a large circle across the court, each with 1 ball, and coach at center court.

Drills Instruction

  1. Each player dribbles with the right hand only.
  2. For Gravel move (in & out) player dribbles hard into the ground and uses the rise of the ball to make a circular motion at the peak of the ball’s bounce.
  3. When Coach instructs, players switch to the left hand.

Coach’s Emphasis

Do not allow players to let their hand move to the side of the ball in a carrying violation.

Keep hands on top of the ball and encourage players to keep head up.

Purpose

Improves ball handling and control

Setup

Air spider ball handling drill

Players spread in a large circle across the court, each with 1 ball and coach at center court.

Drill Instruction

  1. Each player uses fingertips to tap the ball back and forth from the left to the right hand, with both arms outstretched in front.
  2. Once comfortable, players alternate from tapping the ball un front, to tapping it behind them, in a patter of ‘front left, front right, back left, back right in a rapid motion.
  3. Advanced- When Coaches instruct, players move from a standing to sitting position, continuing to dribble in a spider pattern.
  4. Expert – When Coach instructs, players move from a sitting to a standing position, continuing to tap in a spider pattern.

Coach’s Emphasis

Encourage players to use fingertips and keep head up.

Control fist, speed second.

 

Purpose

Teach players to work on ball handling while focusing on direction, footwork, and seeing the floor.

Setup

2 ball zig zag ball handling drill

All players on the baseline, each with a ball in hand with the front of the line in the corner. Place cones (or mark areas on the floor) in a zigzag pattern to form the sideline to the free throw lane extended.

Drill Instruction

  1. First player dribbles 2 balls in unison to the first cone and then makes 45-degree pivot and aggressive step towards the next cone continuing to dribble both balls.
  2. Once the first player has reached the first cone and turned, the next player starts & follows the path of 1st players, also dribbling two balls.
  3. Once the player has reached the end of the court, runs back in full sprint, 2 balls dribbling down the sideline.
  4. Change to ball Alternate dribble once each player has gone through the line twice.

Coach’s Emphasis

Keep eyes up and control the dribble.

Players will have difficulty with this drill at first, and over time get better.

A great drill to show players the improvements they will make, through practice and hard work.

 

Purpose

Improves ball- handling and control

Setup

commandos basketball drill

Players make 3-4 lines at ¼ court each with 1 ball

Facing down the court. Place a pylon directly in front of each line at mid-court.

Drill Instruction

  1. Each player begins with a speed dribble, using their right hand charging towards midcourt.
  2. Once they reach midcourt, players make a jump stop, and reserve pivot and then a sprint back to their line.
  3. When they reach ¼ court, they again make a jump stop, and reserve pivot and sprint back to midcourt, the entire time keeping the ball in their right hand.
  4. Each player does the drill for 30 seconds, and the next player in line goes.
  5. For variation, the next time a player goes, they use their left hand only.
  6. The 3rd time a player does the drill, they do a combo i.e. crossover dribble halfway between ¼ court and midcourt, and a different move on the way back. ( coaches choice of slide- slide, behind the back, etc..)

Coach’s Emphasis

A conditioning drill as much as a ball-handling drill, so push your players to do the drill with maximum effort.

A great way for players to broaden their ball-handling skill set, and eventually improve on beating defenders and creating offensive opportunities.

Encourage players to use fingertips and keep head up.

Control first, speed second

 

Purpose

Improves ball- handling and control

Setup

Players make 3 lines on the baseline facing midcourt.

Drill Instruction

  1. 1st player in each line begins by dribbling at a rapid pace without the ball going higher than 6 inches of the ground. (Experts 2 inch )
  2. On Coach’s instruction, 1st player in each line begins a slow deliberate walk to midcourt making multiple rapid dribbles as low to the ground as possible slowly weaving the ball between the legs on each stride.
  3. Once reaching midcourt, players slowly walk back to the beginning of the line backward continuing to low fire 8 the ball bewteent heir legs on each stride.
  4. Next Player goes.

Coach’s Emphasis

The drill is most productive when players keep the ball as  low as possible, making as many dribbles as possible.

As always, head up.