5 Dribbling Drills to Help Youth Basketball Players Improve Their Handle

Dribbling is one of the most important skills in basketball. A good dribbler can create open shots for themselves and their teammates, and can also help to break down the defense. If you’re a youth basketball coach, you know that it’s important to help your players develop their skills and sometimes, the best way to do that is with a series of dribbling drills.

In this blog post, I’ll share 5 dribbling drills that you can use to help your players improve their skills. These drills are designed to help players develop their speed, control, and ball-handling skills.

Dribbling Drills: Figure 8

This drill is designed to help players develop their ball-handling skills in tight spaces. It forces players to change directions and pivot while dribbling, which can be difficult to do in a small space.

1. Set up two cones about 10 feet apart.
2. Start with the ball in your dominant hand at the midpoint between the cones.
3. Dribble the ball in a figure 8 pattern around the cones, keeping your head up and your eyes on the cones.
4. Repeat the drill on the other side.

Difficulty progression:

• As you get better, move the cones closer together.
• Once you can dribble the ball in a figure 8 pattern around cones that are spaced about 2 feet apart, you can start adding a defender.

Dribbling Drills: Pound

This drill is designed to help players develop their speed and control while dribbling. Pounding the ball into the ground helps players develop the strength and coordination necessary to dribble quickly and smoothly.

1. Stand with the ball in your dominant hand in front of you.
2. Dribble the ball down the court, pounding the ball into the ground with each dribble.
3. Keep your head up and your eyes on the court.
4. Repeat the drill.

Difficulty progression:

• As you get better, increase your speed.
• Once you can dribble the ball down the court at full speed while pounding the ball into the ground, you can start adding a defender.

Dribbling Drills: Hesitation

This drill is designed to help players develop their ability to change direction while dribbling. Hesitating before changing direction can help players fool defenders and create open shots.

1. Stand with the ball in your dominant hand in front of you.
2. Dribble the ball down the court, and then hesitate for a moment before changing direction.
3. Change direction and continue dribbling.
4. Repeat the drill.

Difficulty progression:

• As you get better, make your hesitations more pronounced.
• Once you can dribble the ball down the court and change direction quickly and smoothly, you can start adding a defender.

Dribbling Drills: Crossover

This drill is designed to help players develop their ability to crossover while dribbling. Crossovers can be used to change direction quickly and create open shots.

1. Stand with the ball in your dominant hand in front of you.
2. Dribble the ball down the court, and then crossover to your other hand.
3. Continue dribbling with your other hand.
4. Repeat the drill.

Difficulty progression:

• As you get better, make your crossovers more pronounced.
• Once you can dribble the ball down the court and crossover quickly and smoothly, you can start adding a defender.

Dribbling Drills: Behind-the-Back

This drill is designed to help players develop their ability to dribble behind their back. Dribbling behind the back can be used to create separation from defenders and create open shots.

1. Stand with the ball in your dominant hand in front of you.
2. Dribble the ball down the court, and then dribble behind your back to your other hand.
3. Continue dribbling with your other hand.
4. Repeat the drill.

Difficulty progression:

• As you get better, make your dribbles behind your back more pronounced.
• Once you can dribble the ball down the court and dribble behind your back quickly and smoothly, you can start adding a defender.

These are just a few dribbling drills that you can use to help your players improve their skills. By regularly practicing these drills, your players will develop the speed, control, and ball-handling skills they need to be successful on the court.

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Related: Point Motion Shooting Drills

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