Handling the basketball under pressure can be a difficult skill to master, even for veteran basketball players. So for kids, it’s important to practice ball handling skills, including passing, basic dribbling and advanced dribbling. Good ball handling skills can be the difference between being a good basketball player and being a great one.
Dribbling
Dribbling the basketball is one of the most fundamental skills a basketball player can learn. Most kids practice most of their dribbling with their dominant hand, but the best basketball players start dribbling with both hands at an early age. Being able to dribble with both hands is a skill that will help diversify your ball-handling skills. Kids who want to develop sound dribbling skills can practice many different drills. Some examples include the high-low drill, where the player practices dribbling the ball high above the waist and then low to the ground, alternating the height of the dribble. The crossover is another good skill to help develop both hands. The player dribbles the ball from one hand to the other in a V-shaped path in front of him.
Advanced Dribbling
Once the basic fundamentals of dribbling have been established, kids can move on to more advanced dribbling skills, such as dribbling while running and dribbling while moving in different directions. These skills are essential for performing on the basketball court.
Set up cones in a square shape, or use one half of a basketball court for a basic dribble drill. Have the player dribble to one cone, switch hands and directions, and dribble to the next cone. Once the player reaches the third cone, have him switch hands again and go to the last cone. Have the player repeat this three times, switching hands on each cone. Another effective drill is the zigzag drill, where the player begins on the baseline in the middle of the lane and dribbles at a 45-degree angle toward one sideline with the right hand at full speed. Once the player reaches the sideline, he switches hands and directions and dribbles to the half court circle, then changes hands and directions again to the same sideline, and so forth until he reaches the other side of the court.
Passing
Passing is an essential part of ball handling, and one that kids should learn early on. Kids wanting to excel at basketball should know the three basic passes: the bounce pass, the chest pass and the baseball pass. The bounce pass can be practiced with the player on his own by bouncing the ball off the ground and at a wall, trying to hit a specific target on the wall with his pass. The player should focus on pushing his hands and wrists outward to get a good snap and spin on the ball. The same drill can be done for a chest pass, which is a direct pass from chest to chest. The baseball pass is done by throwing the ball overhand like an outfield baseball throw and can be practiced by having a coach or teammate stand across the court from the player to act as a target as the player throws the ball.
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