How to dribble quicker in basketball

USA Basketball - 8 Basketball Power Dribbling Drills

Most children first learn to crawl, then walk, and finally to run. Basketball requires players to not only effectively move their feet, but also to maneuver a basketball. Basketball players first learn to dribble the basketball with one hand, then to alternate hands, and progressively to increase to more advanced dribbling. As a basketball player, a powerful and effective way to keep defenders on their toes and increase your threat as an offensive player is to develop an agile and quick dribbling technique. The power dribble can do this. 

A basic power dribble is when you dribble the ball at a very intense rate. Maintain your normal form and posture. Use your muscles to thrust the ball forcefully down, and then expect the ball to quickly bounce back to your hand. 

The drills described below will help you gain confidence and agility to handle a basketball in a power dribble. This will help you run a fast break, cut through the defensive, and outmaneuver your opponents.  

Power Dribble

1. Power Crossovers - Power dribble in your right hand, and then quickly bounce the ball to your left hand. Power dribble with your left hand for a few seconds before bouncing the ball back to your right hand. 

2. Dribble Blindfolded - Wrap a cloth around your head as a blindfold, or you could simply close your eyes...no peeking. Power dribble a ball for at least 60 seconds. This drill helps you enhance your tactile sense of the ball. You can enhance the drill by performing it in the center of a deserted basketball court, walking around while dribbling. To make the drill even more challenging, try power dribbling two balls, one in each hand, while being blindfolded and slowly walking around a deserted basketball court. 

3. 10-5 Repeats - This drill exercises power dribbling with one hand at a time. Choose which hand your would like to practice. Power dribble for 10 seconds, then soft dribble for 5 seconds. Repeat multiple times. This exercise teaches your arm muscles how to alternate between various dribbling speeds that occur during game play. 

4. Dribble Between Legs While Walking - In order to do this drill you will need a segment of floor, such as a basketball court floor, a street's sidewalk, or a wide hallway that is deserted. Power dribble while walking up and down the walkway. Power dribble the ball between your legs to practice fancy dribbling skills. To enhance the drill, perform the drill at a quicker walking pace, maybe at a light jogging pace. 

5. Double Ball Power Dribbling - Power dribble two balls, one in each hand. This will increase your arm strength for dribbling and enhance your dribbling control. Since you can't look at both hands at the same time, this drill will also practice your ability to power dribble without looking at the ball. 

6. Power Dribbling Sprints - This drill requires you to power dribble for an extended period of time and run back and forth on the basketball court. Stand at one end of a basketball court. Dribble to the nearest foul line, and then return to the baseline. Dribble to the middle of the court, and then return to the baseline from which you started. Dribble to the farthest foul line, and then return to the baseline from which you started. Finally, dribble the entire length of the court, and return to the baseline from which you started. This entire continuous power dribbling exercise counts as one complete cycle of the drill. Repeat multiple times to practice your dribbling, speed, and direction-changing abilities. 

7. 3-Chair Dribbling - Set up 3 chairs or cones in a line, spacing each chair/cone 10 feet apart. Power dribble around the chairs/cones in different shapes, such as figure-eights, circles, or any shape. Use your imagination. 

8. Dirt dribbling - This drill actually requires you to leave the basketball court and find a patch of dirt. Do a Power dribble on the dirt for 1 or 2 minutes. You will need to power dribble the ball even harder than usual in order to get the ball to bounce on the dirt. This drill is an extremely good arm workout with power dribbling. 

Start with just a few of these exercises, and then expand your workouts to include more drills. You can also modify the drills to be more challenging by increasing the number of repetitions or slightly modifying the drill. The key is to vary your routines and have fun with them. By practicing the power dribble, you will greatly improve your dribbling.

Ultimate Hoops - Tips to improve your basketball dribbling

downloadable .pdf

Dribbling is a key skill to master in the game of basketball. The better you can dribble the more opportunities you have for you and your teammates to score. A great goal to have is to be able to dribble the ball with either hand without looking down at the ball. Keeping your head up gives you the ability to see where your teammates are on the court and look at what the defense is doing.

Spread your feet should-width apart. Bend your knee, drop your hips back and get in a low stance. Make sure your body is balanced giving you the opportunity to move quickly or change directions. Avoid bending at your waist.

Start with your dominant hand first and pound the ball into the ground, extending your arm and snapping your wrists to send the ball to the ground. Each time the ball returns to your hand, don’t catch it, push back towards the ground. Placement of your bounce should be in front of your body slightly to the side of the foot that is on the same side of your body as the hand you are using. You want your dribble to be quick, steady, and controlled.

When you dribble it’s important to have good ball control. Using your fingertips gives you more control over the ball and the more control you have the less strength needed to keep it bouncing. Using your fingertips also allows you bounce the ball faster. Spread your fingers out across the surface of the ball for a wider, more even contact area. Try to keep the palm of your hand directly over the ball so it bounces up into your fingertips.

Do not bounce the ball too high, keeping your dribble low will improve your control but also makes it harder for the defense to steal it.

Keep the ball safe by using your body and your non-dribbling arm to keep the ball shielded from defenders. Keep your body between your defender and the ball, never dribble the ball on the same side of your body as the defender is on.

A basketball player needs to develop dribble equally well with both hands. This increases their opportunities on offense and makes it harder for the defense to stop.

A. Keep your head up

This is important skill in basketball, you need to be able to look at the defense and also see where your teammates are on the court. Practice dribbling without looking at the ball.

Know what you can/can’t do with the basketball while you are dribbling.

Traveling: Moving the ball without dribbling

• Taking an extra step or shuffling your feet

• Holding on to the ball while you walk or run

• Moving or changing your pivot foot when stationary

Double Dribble: Two separate meanings

• Dribbling with both hands at the same time

• Dribbling, stopping your dribble, and then starting to dribble again

Carrying: Catching the ball with one hand and then continuing to dribble (without stopping the dribbling motion). Your hand makes contact with the bottom of the ball, then turns the ball over while dribbling.

Know where you are going to go and who is around you. The way you dribble the ball should change based on where other people on the court are. If you are in an open court (dribbling the ball down the floor with no defenders) you can dribble the ball in front of you. If a defender is close, you will want to protect the ball and dribble it to the side of your body so the defender cannot steal it. Good court awareness is also important to avoid dribbling into trouble. Look out for dribbling into double teams (two defenders), or into your own teammates.

Know what you are going to do with the basketball before you pick up your dribble. If you stop dribbling your options are to shoot or pass the ball. Remember once you stop dribbling you cannot start dribbling again.

Reasons to dribble

• To advance the ball up the court

• To open up a passing lane, increased chance of pass completion and to help a teammate get open

• To drive to the basket

• To get open to shoot

• To get out of trouble (defensive trap)

• To run out the clock at the end of a game

Here are a few moves to practice to give you separation from your opponent on the basketball court. We will break these down in future tutorials.

• Crossover

• Behind the back

• Through the legs

• Hesitation dribble

• In-and-out dribble

• Spin move

• Start with stationary drills and work your way up drills that include movement around the court

• Improve the strength in your hands, squeeze a stress ball or tennis ball to give you greater control while dribbling

• Dribble with two basketballs

• Setup a dribbling obstacle course using cones or props from your garage

• Practice both hands

• Practice dribbling with a tennis ball

• Implement only the moves you have mastered into a game

• Have a friend or parent guard you when practicing

• Don’t worry if you mess up, get out of your comfort zone by pushing hard to try new things

• Check out more tips from Ultimate Hoops Trainers here.

Share your workout on social with hashtag #KeepPlaying

Dribbling | Playing technique

From Pivot's notebook

1. Don't be careless when making passes.

2. Pass quickly.

3. Be decisive when passing.

4. When releasing the ball, control it with your fingertips.

5. Before passing, distract the defender with your head and eyes.

One of the basics of basketball is the ability to securely control the ball. Now, starting to learn the dribbling, it's time to get acquainted with another important skill - the ability to control the movements of your body when in possession of the ball.

A dribbler or dribbler will only be able to keep the ball and beat the defense if he is constantly in a position of balance and has the opportunity to control his movements (diagram 41).

Guidance is achieved by movements of the forearm, hand and fingers. In the starting position, lean forward slightly, relax your knees, keep your forearm parallel to the floor and completely relax your arm. From this position, raise the forearm 10-15 cm up, keeping the fingers and hand relaxed, then lower it 30 cm. Keep the shoulder motionless, acting only with the forearm in the elbow joint with relaxed fingers and hand (Fig. 42).

The dribbling of the hand should not be like slapping the ball, but rather like pushing down with relaxed fingers. Practice these pushes until you can perform them smoothly and rhythmically with either hand. Then, using the same relaxed motion, start hitting the ball to the floor (fig. 43). Don't slap the ball, just push it down and then lift your hand up with the ball. After the push, keep your hand down, waiting for the ball to bounce. Then raise your hand up with him.

Now push the ball down again. During the movement of the forearm up and down, the fingers should constantly control the ball - this will allow better control of the ball during the dribbling.

Try the same with the other hand and practice until you can freely dribble the ball with either hand without looking at it. You need to look at the floor a few meters in front of you.

Once you have mastered the dribbling on the spot, start moving forward while continuing to dribble. Try not to look at him. If you look at the ball, you will not be able to see what other players are doing at that time. Walk first.
Remember: to move forward, you need to push the ball slightly forward, and not down, as when dribbling on the spot (fig. 44). When you learn to dribble the ball without visual control while moving slowly forward, transfer it to the other hand and continue to practice dribble with the other hand. Don't try to switch to fast dribbling until the movements of the legs and arms become free and natural.

It is quite obvious that while you are in a high stance, the ball is relatively unprotected. The defender will be able to easily hit the ball making a long journey from your hand to the floor (fig. 45). To prevent this, bend your knees, reducing the distance between your hand and the floor. Try this stance without the ball first. It is somewhat reminiscent of a sprinter's stance at the start. Move in a low stance.

Then, keeping a low position, proceed to dribble. Now you need to be especially careful in choosing the distance between you and the ball (fig. 46).

If you dribble too close, there is a danger that you will hit your knee and lose it. Conversely, if you push the ball too far, it will be difficult to keep control of it while dribbling. During training, you will find the best distance between you and the ball when moving at any speed and in any stance.

When you master the low dribble and start to increase your speed, you will have to move up to the high stance again. But at the slightest threat from the opponent, you need to switch to low dribble.

Figure 47 shows how to cover the ball while dribbling. The lower the dribble, the more difficult it is for the opponent to take the ball away.

Keep both hands in front of you while dribbling. You may find it more comfortable to lower your free hand down. However, it is better to keep it ahead. This is necessary in order to close the ball from the opponent (Fig. 48).
When dribbling, as well as when passing, the ability to see the court is the most valuable quality. A raised head will allow you to follow the actions of a partner and an opponent. However, remember that if each time you look in the direction where you are going to start the dribbling, then the opponent will be able to easily figure out your plan. If you keep your gaze on the floor in front of you so that it passes over the wrist of the dominant hand, you can follow your partners without looking at them, and your opponent will never guess your next move.

Dribbling is one of the most important techniques that every basketball player should master.

• Dribbling exercises
• Scientifically
• Olympic champion Nadezhda Zakharova shares her experience
• Olympic champion Mikhail Korkia shares his experience

Improvement exercises

Improvement Exercises dribbling

Purposeful dribbling is one of the most effective techniques in modern basketball. Each team must have court with at least one excellent dribbler and the rest of the players should be able to drive the ball freely, naturally, while seeing the court, be able to bypass the defender with the help of dribbling (one on one).

Like passing, dribbling in the modern game is performed at high speeds, with the active influence of defenders. improve dribbling is necessary in conditions close to the competition, in close connection with improving body control techniques.

Exercises for training one player

1. Player freely dribbles the ball forward, stops, dribbles again (Fig. 49). Stopping, performs dribbling on the spot. It is very important to stop properly.

Variants: a) dribble with a high bounce off the floor, after a stop, switch to dribble with a low rebound from the floor;

b) dribble with a low bounce as quickly as possible forward, stop and again dribble the ball forward as quickly as possible;

c) dribble the ball with one or the other hand.

2. Dribble, changing direction from one sideline to another (or mark a corridor narrower) (Fig. 50).

3. Dribbling between obstacles, (fig. 51) with the hand farthest from the obstacle, so that between the ball and the obstacle was the body of the player. Possibly put up obstacles closer, this will allow you to change the direction of the ball more often.

4. Dribbling with a stop and a change in the direction of guidance in the opposite direction. Move the ball forward with your left hand, back with your right hand (Fig. 52).

5. Dribbling around the obstacle as quickly as possible. Return to starting position easily, driving the ball, (Fig. 53).

6. Same, but an obstacle is circled first on one side, then on the other, therefore around one obstacles to dribble the ball with one hand, around the second - with the other, etc. (around lead the first in the indicated direction with your left hand) (Fig. 54).

7. Dribble, stop, turn, drive on, etc. (Fig. 55).

8. Dribble from one touchline to the other (or in a marked corridor narrower than the court), perform a turn, at the same moment change hands and dribble further (Fig. 56).

9. Lead in a straight line (or initially on the spot) immediately two balls.

10. The player leads ball across the hall against the wall. At a distance of 5-6 m from it performs a transmission (hits the ball against the wall), catches the bouncing ball, turns, dribbles the ball to opposite wall and does the same (Fig. 57). Pass the ball without stopping, on the move (or, without catching the ball, but right after the dribble, execute transfer with one hand).

11. On site mark a few points. Two put the ball behind the end line. The player takes one ball, leads to any point, return to baseline, change balls, lead to another marked point etc. If there is one ball, then return to the front line every time the ball is brought to a certain point (Fig. 58).

Described exercises can be performed on the entire site, on one half, on a part sites.

Exercises for training two players

1. Players stand one after another at the end line facing the court. At a distance of 12-14 m from the first player is faced with an obstacle (chair, stand). The player dribbles around obstacles, passes it to the partner and runs to the place of the partner. The second player who received the ball does the same (Fig. 59).

2. Players stand on opposite corners of the site. The player dribbles the ball; catching up with a partner passes the ball to him. He dribbles the ball forward to the end of the court, stops, makes a turn and passes the ball diagonally to a partner (so that the pass is not too long, you can dribble up to half of the site,} {rice. 60).

3. Players one against another at a distance of 15-20 m. The player dribbles half this distance, passes his partner, receives the ball back, turns and dribbles then to starting position, where it stops, turns to the partner and passes him the ball. The second player does the same (Fig. 61).

4. Players stand at the end line one by one facing the court. The first player dribbles 5-6 m, stops, turns to the partner and passes the ball to him. Second player runs forward for the lead ball. The player who receives the ball dribbles as far as possible. faster, overtakes teammate, stops, turns and passes the ball partner (Fig. 62).

5. From the same starting position, as in exercise 4, the player standing closer to the front lines, dribbles and overtakes the player in front of him. Then the player without the ball quickly runs forward and overtakes a partner who is leading the ball. Once a player without the ball is in front of the leader of the ball - he passes the ball to him; the player who received the ball begins to dribble, and the player who passed the ball overtakes the leader and again receives a transmission from him

(Fig. 63).

6. Playground divided into four parts. Players at the end line; both have the ball. Who faster, driving the ball in the indicated directions, will reach the opposite front lines (Fig. 64).

7. Players stand as shown in Fig. 65. One player dribbles forward, the other without the ball overtakes the leader of the ball, changes the direction of the run, cuts the path of the leader, does not preventing him from dribbling, runs a few steps, stops, again cheats running direction, overtakes the leader and, having received a pass from him, dribbles the ball forward. The player who gave the ball does the same way and again, having received the ball, leads him forward, etc. The actions of the player without the ball should, perhaps, be more fast, but with correct stops, with a change in the direction of running (Fig. 65).

8. On site 4 balls are placed in one row at a distance of 4-5 m from one another. Player runs to one of the balls, takes it and leads to the end line, leaves it on marked place and runs after another ball, etc. (Fig. 66). The second player alternately leading the balls, puts them in their original places (Fig. 67).

9. One player in the role of the defender, the second dribbles, stops, dribbles on, etc. The defender does not operate at full strength (Fig. 68). The players change roles.

10. Player leads ball in the direction shown in Fig. 69. The defender is active: if the leader does not protect the ball, dribbles it with the wrong (far) hand, the defender tries to knock ball. The players change roles.

11. On the court a corridor 5-6 m wide is marked. The player with the ball tries break through, bypass the defender in this corridor. The task of the defender without losing the good position (keeping the right distance from the ball carrier, good stance, etc.), if possible, take away, knock out the ball. The task of the ball carrier is to protect the ball and bypass the defender (Fig. 70). The dribbler must face the defender at all times. (except when making turns). The players change roles.

12. Protector - at the center circle, the ball carrier is at of the front line dribbles the ball, trying on the move to bypass the defender who meets leading at the central circle (Fig. 71). This exercise can also be done in marked corridor.

13. Both players have a ball and are freely driven in different directions in a small part sites. Each of them, dribbling the ball, tries to knock out the partner's ball and at the same time guards his ball so that it is not knocked out by a partner.

14. Players stand at the front line, facing the court at a distance of 5-6 m from each other. The first player (in front) dribbles, turns, stops, changes direction, height of the rebound when dribbling, speed of dribbling, changes the hand that dribbles the ball, and the player standing behind imitates him, trying as quickly as possible do the same as the partner.

15.In the middle the court is a player without the ball. The player with the ball from the end line dribbles the ball at maximum forward speed, passes it to a partner, receives the pass back, dribbles to the opposite front line, dribbles the ball to the other side of the court and returns back, doing the same (Fig. 72). Exercise to perform at the maximum pace.

16. The same but there are obstacles on the site. It is important to perform the exercise accurately and quickly. It is advisable to improve passing the ball right after dribbling with one hand, not

catching the ball (fig. 73).

17. Players stand as shown in Fig. 74. There is an obstacle at the free-throw line. Player O1 leads ball forward towards the basket, changes direction of reference and leads him past obstacles. Meanwhile player O ₂ runs as shown. As soon as player O1 runs past the obstacle, player O ₂ leads the ball to the place from which the player began to dribble O ₁ a player O1 takes the player's place 02 etc.

Exercises for training three players

1. Players stand at the end line facing the court. One player dribbles the ball to the marked spot (up to center circle), stops, turns and returns the ball to one from partners, and he himself remains there. The second player to receive the ball does same thing. The third player who received the ball dribbles it to the marked place, turns around, leads him back to the beginning starting position and transfers to one of the partners (Fig. 75).

2. The same only the player who passed the ball returns to its original position (Fig. 76).

3. Players run around. One of them dribbles the ball and passes it from behind to the runner (or in front), he the next, etc. (Fig. 77).

4. Each player, while driving the ball in a small part of the court, he tries to knock out the ball of a partner.

5. One player dribbles the ball, and the other two players try to intercept the ball, knock it out.

6. Players stand at the front line, as shown in Fig. 78. Player 1 dribbles towards player 2, who also runs towards player, dribbler, takes the ball from him and continues to dribble in the same direction. AT at the same time, player 3 runs towards player 2, takes the ball from his hand, continues move in the same direction until player 2 passes ball to player 3. Once player 3 has received the ball, player 1 quickly changes running direction and runs towards player 3, takes over the ball, etc. Player 2, who threw ball to player 3, does the same as player 1.

7. Players stand at the end line, facing the court. Player 1 dribbles forward 3-4 m and, changing direction, dribbles the ball across the court to where player is standing 2. Player 2 runs to the dribbler, receives it and makes the same path while dribbling the ball like player 1, heading towards player 3. The path of the players without the ball is shown in fig. 79.

8. Player 1 leads ball forward to player 2. As soon as he is in line with him, stops, turns back and passes the ball to player 2, who dribbles ball to player 3 and does the same. Player 3 dribbles the ball across the court to player I, etc. (Fig. 80).

9. One player per the role of the defender prevents the player with the ball from "breaking through" to the center circle. The remaining two players each have the ball and are behind the end line. Their goal is driving the ball, “break through”, bypass the defender. Ball carriers must use space to the defender to gain speed and, having gained speed, "get around" the defender, using deceptive movements, changing direction, rhythm management (Fig. 81).

As soon as one the attacker bypassed (or the defender took away, knocked out the ball) the defender, immediately breaks through second. Players switch roles after the attacker completes the drill repeatedly.

10. Two players as a defender. Each of them operates on a certain plot. The player with the ball behind the end line. His goal is to break through, bypass the defender, driving the ball (Fig. 82).

11. One player as a defender, the other players each have the ball. A corridor is marked on the site, in which the defender operates. Each player with the ball in his area dribbles the ball and tries in turn to break through to another section through the corridor in which defender is active. If the dribbling player sees that it is not possible to break through, he returns to his area. The player who lost the ball becomes a defender {rice. 83).

12. Two players stand at opposite ends of the site, the third - in the middle between them a protector. The ball carrier dribbles to a defender who interferes with the pass ball to a partner. The player with the ball passes it to a partner and returns to the starting position. position. The second player, having caught the ball, also leads it to the defender, etc. If defender interfered with passing the ball, he changes role with a player who could not pass the ball (Fig. 84).

13. The same but the ball is dribbled in a limited corridor 4-5 m wide. The defender immediately actively interferes with dribbling and passing to a teammate. ball player must necessarily bring the ball to the middle of the court and only then perform the transfer. If the transfer successfully performed to a partner standing at the opposite end of the site, the defender runs towards him and also actively acts, preventing the player from dribbling, and then pass it on. If the ball carrier fails to bring the ball to the middle of the court or could not complete the pass, then he becomes a defender (Fig. 85).

14. Two players with balls stand at the end line, the third - in the central circle facing them. Players dribble forward alternately at maximum speed. Not catching the ball move, one of the players with one hand directs the ball to a player standing in center circle, receives the pass back, dribbles to the end of the court, turns and does the same in reverse (Fig.

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