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How to dribble a basketball between your legs

The Between-the-Legs Dribble | ACTIVE

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The Between-the-Legs Dribble

Dribbling between the legs, though seemingly nothing more than a stylish variation on the crossover, is an effective, and oftentimes necessary tool when facing extreme pressure from a defender. Though this move can work wonderfully for any perimeter player, the point guard needs to master this move.

Often the defensive player is playing in such close proximity to you, that the crossover dribble would allow the defender to easily get a hand on the ball. Whereas, with the between the legs move, you are using your body as a natural shield against the defender allowing you to change both direction and speed—while insuring that the ball is being protected. This is also an excellent move to use when operating within a half-court situation, and a change of pace move is necessary to get by your man and into the lane.

How to Do the Between-the-Legs:

Stand at one end of the court. Begin with the ball in your right hand ( whether you are right- or left-handed does not matter; from this point on, only when specified, will it become important). Place the ball in your right hand. At the same time that you begin to dribble, step with your left foot, moving your leg at a 45 degree angle towards the left sideline—in other words, step in the direction of your left. As your foot is about to touch the floor, guide the ball through the space that you’ve created between your feet. While this is happening, place your left hand behind you—your palm facing your back—ready to catch the ball after its passed through.

The difficulty of this drill comes here: As you’ve caught the ball in your left hand, your right foot needs to be stepping simultaneously at a 45 degree angle towards your right, in preparation to keep the ball moving smoothly between your feet. Though the timing and body movement on this move may seem a bit awkward and unnatural at first, you will soon adjust.

Keys to Effectiveness:

1. Again, practice this drill at a speed with which you are comfortable. Do not be sloppy. Your speed with the ball will increase the more you practice.

2. Your knees must be bent, the bend in your knees is what will provide you with both your quickness and ability to successfully change directions; make sure you do this.

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Between the Legs Dribble Basketball Move

As the game of basketball has progressed, the difficulty and the variety of offensive moves has increased. There was a time when a between the legs dribble was revolutionary. Now it is something you see all the time.

The first time a player dribbled between their legs in a game the spectators heads probably exploded. Now most offensive possessions include a between the legs dribble.

But beyond the showmanship of the between the legs dribble, it actually serves an important function.

Dribbling the ball from one hand to another is one of the more susceptible moments for an offensive player. This is a common situation that leads to steals for the defense. By using the between the legs dribble it allows the offensive player to switch hands while putting an obstacle in the way (your leg) making it harder for the defender to steal the ball.

When To Use The Between The Legs Dribble

The between the legs dribble can be used as either a way to shake a defender off to create space or to move the ball from one hand to another while dribbling to create a better angle for a pass/move. Another way to use the between the legs dribble is to setup a defender for another offensive move, like a crossover.

These situations will usually occur at the top of the key or on the wings. Rarely are between the legs dribbles effective in the post or in high traffic areas. Again, the main goal of the between the legs dribble is to get the ball from the left hand to the right hand safely, or visa versa.

The Between the Legs Dribble in Action

Below you will find a thorough video showing the different ways to use the between the legs dribble. Our goal is to give you insight on how different players use this move differently so that you can see how to use the between the legs dribble more effectively in your game.

Not only does Coach Rock tell you how to do the between the legs dribble, but he also gives several great drills that you can do to improve.

How to Master The Between The Legs Dribble

If you watched the video above you should have a good idea about how to execute the between the legs dribble. Here are some additional tips to make the most out of both practice sessions and games.

Get Low

High dribbling is susceptible to quick handed defenders. To have an effective between the legs dribble you need to have strong quads and hamstrings that are flexible so that you can get lower than the defender. By keeping your between the legs dribble low the defender will not have the opportunity to steal the ball and will allow you a better chance to blow by them on your way to the basket.

Use the Between the Legs Dribble to Set Up Your Defender

Use It to Setup a Defender

Off the dribble moves are as much about timing and rhythm as they are about the moves themselves. The between the legs dribble is a great dribble to get your body in position and put your defender at an angle that is advantageous.

I like how the between the legs dribble gets your feet active. Be sure to focus on your footwork when doing the dribble and not just the act of putting the ball between your legs. Footwork is just as important as the actual ball handling.

Not a Great Move in Traffic

When you use the between the legs dribble your front leg creates an angle that is different from the crossover. To prove this concept take a basketball and do a crossover. Look at your feet and body right before the crossover dribble. One foot might be slightly in front of the other, but overall your chest and body are in a neutral position allowing you to go either right or left. Now do a between the legs dribble. See how your front foot creates an angle and closes your body off to one direction. If you execute the between the legs dribble and a help defender comes to the side you are dribbling to the ball is very exposed and is often stolen in this position.

While the angle created by the between the legs dribble helps you to avoid your primary defender it makes you very susceptible to the double teamer as your front leg gets in the way and it is hard to execute a quick retreat dribble when you are in such a committed position.

In high traffic situations I recommend using either a crossover or a behind the back dribble as these work better in motion and do not create any angles that make you susceptible to help defenders.

How to dribble between the legs in basketball

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In this article:

Mastering the Basics: Learning to Dribble

Forming the Foundation: Learning to Cross Dribble

Finishing the Move: Learning to Dribble Between the Legs

Additional articles

Sources

Dribbling is a fundamental skill in basketball. While dribbling between the legs may seem like just a flashy trick, this movement can actually help keep the ball out of the defender's hands. Practice the steps below to master the dribbling between the legs and impress the spectators on game day.

Steps

1

Hit the ball down with your fingertips, not your palm. Finger pads allow you to better control the direction of the ball bounce.
2

Use enough force to bounce the ball high enough for you to control it. This "golden mean" is usually at the height of your knees.
3

Keep your head straight and look straight ahead while dribbling. By looking down, you actually impair your balance and block your view of the court.
4

Stand on your toes, not on your whole foot. This allows you to move quickly and make sharp corners with your feet.

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1

Dribble with your dominant hand, keeping your knees bent, with low bounce.
2

Rotate your dominant hand so that your thumb points slightly towards the sky.
3

Push the ball sideways so that it bounces in a V-shape in front of your body, allowing you to get the ball into your opposite hand.
4

Practice cross dribbling until you feel comfortable passing the ball between your hands. This V-shaped cross dribbling is the basis of dribbling between the legs.

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1

Stand with the ball in your dominant hand and take a good step with your opposite foot in front of your other foot at a 45 degree angle to the rest of your body. Make sure your legs are bent and far enough apart to throw the ball between them.
2

Push the bounce ball to the side that matches your dominant hand and direct it between your legs.
- Make sure you push the ball at the right angle and with enough force to get it between your legs without hitting your body.
- Keep fingers wide apart to maintain good ball control
3

Be ready to receive the ball with your opposite hand after it has passed between your legs.
4

Change the position of the legs while jumping if you want to practice this in a stationary position. Quickly jump and change the position of the feet so that the opposite foot with the ball is in front.
- If you're using a move between your legs to get around or change the direction of an opponent, you just need to step forward in that direction instead of using a jump in place.
- Use your dexterity for this move as it must be fast and fluid in order to position yourself correctly to receive the ball.
5

Repeat steps 1-3 with opposite leg in front. Practice this move many times to get used to passing the ball and your position at the same time.

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Tips

If you plan to use this move out of necessity, use it only to change direction and confuse your opponent, not to show off.
Always keep your head straight when dribbling.
Practice these exercises as often as possible. Training really "makes perfect" and if you work hard you will quickly master the art of dribbling between your legs.
Keep your knees bent and dribble at knee height at all times.

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How to Dribble Between the Legs in Basketball - Wiki How Dribbling is a fundamental skill in basketball. While dribbling between the legs may seem like just a flashy trick, this movement can actually help keep the ball out of the defender's hands. Practice the steps below to master the dribbling between the legs and impress the spectators on game day.

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Basketball Dribbling Basic Rules: Brief and Clear

In modern basketball, dribbling and dribbling are the basic principles of moving around the field. The player cannot take the ball in his hands and run to the ring. This will be considered a violation. And what other nuances of dribbling and dribbling exist? It turns out that you can’t put your other hand forward and take more than two steps with the ball. But it was not always so.

In the early to mid-20th century, basketball was more like rugby with hanging rings. Players often pushed, abused mass and strength, played for time. In 1954, the rules were updated, and the game became much stricter about various physical contacts. Now the players had to learn to dribble and not to fight with the opponent. Basketball has become more beautiful and spectacular.

Definitions

Dribbling is the way a basketball player moves around the court. Only with the help of this technique is it possible for the player to move independently. Otherwise, dribbling can be called dribbling. But this definition is more often used when it comes to beating opponents, outplaying them in a one-on-one fight. Now good dribbling has become an integral part of any basketball game.

Despite the high demands placed on players by coaches, almost no one succeeds in turning the ball into their forte. The fact is that basketball is a very fast game in which a big bet is placed on team play. If a player thinks that he will be able to pass 5 opponents using dribbling, then in just a few seconds he will be disappointed. In the NBA, goals in which only one athlete took part are a rarity.

Dribbling technique

To get out of pressure, you need to learn good dribbling technique. It is worth saying that there are several ways of dribbling:

One hand. The most common way. There is a ball chasing on the ground with one hand, and the second can control the balance of the body. This is the most energy-saving and quiet way to drive.
Two hands alternately. Also a common technique. It should be mastered by all those who want to increase their level of play to professional players. By changing two hands, you can confuse the enemy, as well as find a more profitable option for an attack.
Translations. These are hard hits on the floor that lift the ball up to shoulder level with the dribbler. In this way, you can swing the enemy and pass into the open space.
Crossover. The essence of this technique is to chasing the ball between the legs. One blow in front of you, and the second - already behind your back. This helps protect the ball from the opponent and does not give him the initiative in the fight.
Behind the back. This method is rarely used in the real game. Most often it is used to warm up or tease an opponent.

There is approximately one technique for all these methods. Basketball players learn the rules of dribbling for a reason. This is necessary in order to better control the ball and not get injured during an incorrect reception. There are following rules and tips for dribbling:

The ball must bounce off the field and bounce off the fingers. No need to grab it with a full palm or try to hit the floor as hard as possible. The main thing is that a little effort is spent on dribbling, and the player’s hands do not get tired.
Get close to the ground and dribble the ball without letting it go too far. In this position, the opponent will have less time to snatch the ball. It is better to change the style of dribbling, sometimes rising to his full height, and sometimes crouching to the ground.
Need to unlearn looking at the ball while dribbling. It is advisable to dribble the ball without looking at all. In this way, it will be possible to follow the movements of the opponent, concentrating on the situation in the match.
It is worth learning how to cover the ball with the body, preventing a player from the enemy team from reaching it. This is quite difficult to achieve, as blind dribbling means that the athlete will blindly control the ball without hitting it against other parts of the body.
The ball rebound angle should also be taken into account when dribbling is active. If you stand and mint at an angle of 90 degrees, then there will be no progress. If the angle is too large, then the ball may not be in time, and if it is too small, then the progress will be too slow. Dribbling is very important to professional basketball players as it is the second most important aspect of moving around the field (passing is the first).

Double dribble

This is the name given to the violation when a player, after taking the ball in his hands, starts dribbling again. This is prohibited by the rules. If an athlete receives the ball from a partner, then he can take the ball with both hands and start dribbling, but only once. Let's say the player stopped dribbling. He takes the ball in his hands and begins to look around the court. Now he has only two options:

Pass to a teammate.
Throw into the ring.

All this can be done after two steps with the ball. It will not count as a run. It is worth saying that jumping with the ball in this situation is prohibited. In case of violation of the rules, the player will be declared out of bounds, and possession will be transferred to the other team.

Common Mistakes

Leading is a difficult technique that takes a lot of time and effort to master. But to increase the value for the team, you can study the most common mistakes:

Individualist. If you get carried away with dribbling, it will be difficult to achieve a result. Basketball is a team game where passing is more important than dribbling. You need to look at partners more often and see good moments: both for driving and for assists.
Flirting. Of course, all professional players have an excellent level of possession of the ball, so they can afford some tricks and tricks right next to the opponent. Ordinary players will not benefit from such “tricks”. It is better to always control the ball, because underestimating the opponent is the main mistake of basketball.
Pushing the opponent away. Don't pay too much attention to the opposing team when dribbling. If a player starts to make close contact, then there is a high probability of earning a foul or losing the ball. It is better to go around the opponent or look for an opportunity to pass.
Do not exercise. Some players think that possession will develop during the game, but this is a strong misconception. Like any other technique, dribbling requires attention and diligence. You need to devote a lot of time to this in order to progress and feel more comfortable during the match.
Prefer dribbling over shooting. Let's say the player is near the "paint" border, but he decides to get close to the ring and dunk. This decision may result in a loss of the ball or a foul in the 3-second zone. If there is an opportunity to shoot from close range, then it is always worth doing it, and not switching to dribbling.

Practice drills

To learn how to dribble well, you need to practice more. The following exercises will help with this:0003

Hold the ball in your hand, drop it down in a smooth motion and hit the ground. Only one hand works. This will help develop wrist strength.
One player picks up the ball, and the second grabs it in a way that suits him. Now task number two is to try to get the projectile out. The first player must tense all the muscles to prevent the ball from popping out. Develops strong hands.
Long dribbling. Everything is clear here. You need to go into dribbling and mint the ball for 3, 5, 10 minutes. After the noticeable wobble disappears, and the athlete has a better feel for the car, control over the ball will begin to feel better.
Dribbling between the legs with a crossover will also help you better feel the speed and angle of the ball. This exercise can improve not only control, but also dribbling skills close to the opponent.
Alternately dribbling the ball first with one hand and then with the other will also help you feel the game better. A player who knows how to control with both hands will always feel confident on the court.

Important nuances in the game

Keep in mind that successful dribbling requires strong and powerful hands. Basketball players practice a lot off the court as well. It is advisable to visit the gym, where you can increase the grip strength and leg power. High jumps and strong arms are the hallmarks of any professional basketball player. It is also worth developing endurance, because dribble is the same run, but with increased concentration.