Purpose: To develop basketball dribbling and ball handling skills. Drill: Each player should have his or her own basketball (or there should at least be several balls in the line). The players all begin at one end of court as shown. The first player begins by dribbling to the first cone and performing a dribble move. The player continues to the second cone and performs a second move. Finally, at the third cone, the player executes a move, finishes with a layup, rebounds the ball, and performs … [Read more...]

Purpose: To develop dribbling skills under intense pressure. Drill: All players line up behind the baseline. Place one less basketball than the number of players on the midcourt line (in the diagram shown, there are 6 players and 5 basketballs). Use only the shaded area between the top of the 3-point lines as shown. On the whistle or command all players attempt to get a ball. The one player who does not get a ball is "IT". "IT" has :15 seconds to get a ball away from any of the players … [Read more...]

Purpose: Teach the offensive players to dribble the basketball up court under intense defensive pressure. Drill: Divide the court into three separate lanes with an offensive player with a basketball and two defensive players in each lane. Players should be matched up according to size and ability -- guards with guards, posts with posts. The offensive player attempts to dribble the ball the length of the court against the two defenders. The offense must stay in their lane. When the players … [Read more...]

1) Basic Jump Stop Drill (without basketball) Purpose: To learn how to effectively perform a jump stop with proper footwork and balance. Drill: Have the players begin on the baseline without a basketball. After you have instructed how to correctly perform a jump stop (see Fundamental Skills 101: Jump Stops), have the players run forward from the baseline to the free throw line and execute a jump stop. Once completed, they will proceed to the halfcourt line and jump stop. Finish with two … [Read more...]

Purpose: To teach and improve footwork needed in offensive and defensive skills; to improve the athlete's ability to execute the basic types of dribbles. Drill: This drill is performed the length of the court. Set up four lines per court along one of the baselines, as shown in the diagram. The UCLA Series consists of the ten maneuvers described below: Change of Direction Cut. All players begin by taking three steps to the right.  They plant the foot in the direction they are moving (in this … [Read more...]