The average basketball drills are simple to teach and learn, but they're important because they cover fundamental skills that players use in real-game situations. Drills may seem boring to players because of the repetition, so as a coach, your job is to mix up the drills and keep practices fresh. Don't spend too much time on any one drill, but instead make sure all the players on the team participate. When it appears they all have it down or are getting bored, move on to something else.
Two-Line Layup Drill
This is an effective warm-up drill, which is why you often see teams go through it before games. Split your team into two equal groups on opposite sides of the court, near half-court, facing the same basket. Give the ball to the first player in line on the right side of the basket and have him dribble hard to the basket and shoot a layup. Have the first player in line on the left run to the basket and grab a rebound from a missed layup or simply catch the ball from the basket and give an outlet pass to the next player in line on the right side of the basket. Have the shooter go to the left line and the rebounder go to the right line. Keep this pattern going for a while and then switch sides and have players shoot left-handed layups.
Around-the-Leg Dribbling
An average, but fun and effective ball-handling drill is the around-the-leg that also includes a figure-eight pattern. Have each player stand with his feet a little more than shoulder-width apart. Give each player a ball and have him dribble the ball in a circle all the way around one leg and then around the other. Then, with feet widened a bit, have him dribble the ball through and around his legs in a figure-eight pattern.
Rebound and Put Back
This is a simple drill, but it will help your timing and aggressiveness when it comes to rebounding. Stand with the ball about 4 feet from the basket and toss the ball against the backboard. Go up aggressively after the rebound and bring the ball down, but not lower than your chest. Go up hard for a bank shot or layup. If you miss, stay with it until you make the shot. Do 10 of these exercises from the right side of the basket and 10 from the left side. Repeat, but add a move such as a head fake before going up with the shot. The key is to be strong, aggressive and jump as high as you can with every move.
Three-Man Weave
This classic drill improves passing skills and conditioning. Start with three players on the baseline, one directly under the basket and the other two close to the corners. The player in the middle starts with the ball and passes to the player on the left and then runs behind and around that player. The player who has the ball now passes to the player on the right as he runs downcourt and then behind and around the player on the right. The player who has the ball passes to the player who started the drill, and so on. The idea is to move the ball quickly among the players as they move downcourt and to keep the ball moving without anyone dribbling or traveling.
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