Page 1 of 1.

In each edition of The New Zealand Coach Magazine, we’re aiming to give you a skill development section, selecting from a huge range of different sports.

To bounce this off, we’re talking basketball. But if that’s not your sporting code, don’t let that put you off. Even if you aren’t coaching basketball, read on – you never know what sort of useful advice you’ll get by thinking outside the box and looking at how other codes develop skills amongst their players.

This section on dribbling skills has been taken from basketball resources published by The Champions Programme, a partnership between the Basketball Development Trust (BDT) and the New Zealand Breakers.

The Champions Programme aims to develop basketball resources for New Zealand schools and coaches. For more information on the Champions Programme, or the available resources, contact Blake Truslove at blake@nzbdt.co.nz.

Dribbling Skills

One major thing that sets basketball apart from other ball sports is the skill of controlling the basketball while bouncing it. This skill is known as dribbling. Children instinctively want to dribble the ball, often resulting in far too much dribbling. Good dribbling skills require a player to control the ball with either the left or the right hand. The ball needs to be protected from the defense, so ball placements and dribbling height must be understood. All these aspects of dribbling need to be developed while maintaining court vision, to see team mates and opposition players.

Dribbling equals control.

The key to dribbling is control. Remember that in the game of life, being able to control your actions can mean the difference between winning and losing.

Dribbling Techniques

Controlling the Ball
Court Vision
Dribbling Height
Protecting the Ball from the Defense
Two Ball Dribbling

Dribbling Game

The “Dribble Knock Out” game is one example of a small game that encourages the practice of dribbling skills.

Challenge for Basketball Coaches:

Develop small games/activities suitable for the athletes you coach, to practice each component of dribbling mentioned above and try these with your team

Challenge for non Basketball coaches

Choose a skill in your sport.  Break the skill down into key components.  Design activities suitable for the athletes you coach, that allows your athletes to practice the skill in a ’real’ game/event situation.

Dribble Knock Out

Setup

• Three players each with a ball stand inside a circle or small box area. Other players can line up ready to enter the game.
• The three players must maintain their dribble while trying to knock the other balls out of the circle.
• Once your ball and your whole body are out of the circle you are knocked out of the game.
• Last one left in the circle is the winner or as soon as one person is knocked out the next person in line can rotate into the game.

Tips, Notes & Pointers

• You must still have control of your dribble while knocking another ball out.
• You are not allowed to pick your ball up and start from another place, to get out of trouble.
• Allowing a bit of controlled pushing with the body helps to teach players to stay in a balanced stance while dribbling.