Learning the game of basketball involves first understanding and mastering the fundamentals of the game. Fundamentals are basic skills needed to achieve a basic level of competence. In basketball, some of the basic fundamentals needed include dribbling, passing and shooting. Drills can help players learn and develop these skills in order to become better all-around basketball players.
Dribbling
Dribbling is the means by which players move around the floor with the ball. Players are permitted by rule to bat the ball to the floor multiple times while walking or running. For beginning basketball players, a simple drill of dribbling the ball from one spot to another can help teach the fundamentals of dribbling. Once players have learned the basics of dribbling, they can move on to more advanced drills like dribbling one ball with each hand at the same time. Many players favor one hand when dribbling, and this drill forces them to use both, giving them more options for moving with the ball during the game. Players can also run a zig-zag drill against a defender in order to learn how to dribble against pressure. The player with the ball dribbles diagonally to a certain spot as a defender mirrors the dribbler's path, in a standard defensive position. The dribbler then cuts to the opposite direction diagonally again, and repeats this motion a certain number of times.
Passing
When a player picks up his or her dribble or has nowhere to go with the ball and is not in a position to shoot, a pass is usually the best option. The three basic passes include the chest pass, in which the ball is passed from the chest of one teammate directly to the chest of another; the bounce pass, in which the player bounces the ball in the direction of a teammate; and the overhead, or baseball, pass, in which the player throws the ball overhead like a baseball in order to reach a teammate on the other side of the court or at a difficult angle. Players learning how to pass can perform a drill standing at a wall and practicing each type of pass repeatedly until the right form is developed. More advanced players can run a weave drill, in which three players run in a weave formation and are not allowed to dribble the ball, but must use bounce or chest passes to make their way down the length of the court.
Shooting
The essential part of scoring in basketball is shooting. Whether it's a layup or a jump shot, perfecting shooting is essential for teams that want to score baskets. Layup drills are an easy way to teach players the art of shooting a layup. Teams are divided into two lines on either side of the basket. One side takes turns shooting layups in order, while players in the other line run to the basket to rebound and pass to the shooting line. Shooting drills can consist of the coach throwing the ball to a player at a designated spot, upon which the player must put up a quick jump shot. This simulates game action and teaches players to shoot as they would during the game.
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