Teaching basketball to youngsters can be a daunting task because there are many skills that need to be taught so that your players can understand them and then learn to use them. Those individual drills include dribbling, shooting and playing defense. When giving youngsters drills to do in practice, it's important to keep them moving fasts so their minds stay on task throughout the exercise.
Figure Eight Dribbling
In order for players to play competent basketball, they have to know how to dribble the ball with confidence. You can teach this by setting up a series of cones in the middle of the basketball court in the form of a figure eight. Have the kids alternate their dribble between their right and left hand. This will help them build dribbling skills in each hand. Give each player three turns through the figure eight, timing them with each turn around the course.
Shooting Drill
Youngsters have to practice their shooting in order to develop a degree of competence. Coaches will spend much of their practice time showing players good shooting form. During shooting practice, it is important for players to shoot from various spots on the court. Start off by having the player shoot from the right baseline about 15 feet away from the rim. Then move to the extended foul line on the right side, the free throw line, the extended foul line on the left side and the left baseline. Have each player take five shots from each spot and record how each player did. Have each player do this drill at every practice.
Defensive Drill
Many coaches believe the key to defensive play is the effort of their players. However if players don't use the proper technique they will have a hard time succeeding on defense. Have all the players line up on one side of the court and face the opposite side. Stand on the opposite side with a basketball in your hands. Hold the basketball to your right to have the players shuffle in that direction. Shift the ball to the left to have the players shuffle in that direction. Players should not cross their feet while shuffling. In basketball, this is a major error because that will cause players to lose their balance.
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