Basketball is based on fundamental skills like dribbling, passing, and shooting. Young people who play the game have plenty of enthusiasm and desire, but they need to be taught the skills of the game and given a chance to master them. Dribbling drills can be fun, and also help youngsters learn how to play the game.
Dribbling Drill
When young players dribble, they almost always do with their eyes looking downward at the ball. For this drill, line up two sets of five cones just past mid-court, about three feet apart from each other. Get your players into two lines. On your whistle, the first player in each line takes the ball at mid-court, dribbles to the right of the first cone, the left of the second cone, the right of the third, and so on. At the end of the last cone, he speed-dribbles back to mid-court; all the players in each line follow suit.
Layup Drill
While young players often have a hard time learning to shoot the ball, you must give them the opportunity to improve in that area --- and can do so with the layup drill. In this drill, each player takes a free throw. After she retrieves the ball, have the player go to the corner of the free-throw line, and drive in for a layup. Have each player attempt five layups, concentrating on going up off the opposite foot from their shooting hand.
Defensive Drill
One of the important concepts of playing defense is to stay low and balanced in order to move quickly, switch assignments, and get in the passing lanes when you get an opportunity to deflect a pass or steal the ball. In this drill, two offensive players will try to score against two defenders. As the point guard comes across mid-court, the defensive players will pick up their offensive counterparts. On the coach's whistle, the two defensive players will switch assignments. This is done to teach players to move quickly on defense. If the defenders don't move quickly, the offensive players will get an easy shot. If the defensive players are quick, they will confuse the offensive players, and perhaps force a turnover or a poor shot.
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