How to improve your crossover in basketball

USA Basketball - 5 Crossover Dribbling Techniques

Ball handling is important for any player on the basketball court, but it's particularly critical for point guards. As USAB.com is focusing on point guard play this week, here are some tips to strengthen this skill. This basketball drill provides repetitions of key dribbling techniques. The idea is to establish automatic and correct fundamentals.

Start your players at a sideline/baseline corner. On your whistle, they dribble at a 45-degree angle toward the middle of the court. On your next whistle, they do a crossover and dribble at 45 degrees back toward the sideline.

Obviously, it is critically important to dribble without looking at the ball. This back-and-forth pattern on the whistle continues all the way to the opposite baseline. You could start players at each baseline corner to get two kids involved per rep.

Depending on your level, you may want to repeat this drill using the following techniques:

Crossover: Change directions by pushing off with the "outside" foot and dribbling the ball low and hard with the corresponding hand over to the opposite dribbling hand.

Spin Move: Change directions by reverse-pivoting off of the "inside" foot to perform a reverse pivot. The quickest way to do this is to start the pivot when the "inside" foot is forward. That way, the "outside" leg is already part of the way to the new direction. If you start the pivot when the inside foot is back, then your outside leg has to cover far more distance in the spin and it will be easier for a defender to get a back tip. As you reverse pivot, pull the ball with your dribbling hand over into position to be dribbled by your other hand. The more you can get the ball pulled over toward that hand and protected by your body, the less chance there will be for a back tip.

The spin move has the disadvantage of being more vulnerable to blind double teams than other change-of-direction techniques, but it can be an effective weapon when used with adequate court vision.

Behind-the-Back: Change directions by dribbling the ball the ball behind your back. Footwork is critical here. The behind-the-back dribble begins as the outside leg is back and just beginning to move forward, and the ball needs to be dribbled all the way over to the opposite hand. The key to an effective behind-the-back dribble is to continue moving forward rather than just dribbling sideways. For this to happen, the arms and legs need to be coordinated so that the ball can get where it needs to go. This is an advanced skill, but most effective point guards have it.

Between-the-Legs: Change directions by dribbling the ball between your legs to your other hand. There are two ways to do this:

You dribble the ball backwards between your legs while your inside leg is forward. This move will create some space for you to change directions, but it will slow you down a step or two, too. This is by far the most common form of dribbling between your legs.

You dribble the ball forward between your legs while your outside leg is forward. You will push off that same leg in the new direction. The ball is momentarily exposed in this technique, so it is best used when you have a good cushion from the defender. With this technique, you don't lose forward momentum. Though it has limited applications, this move does allow for an element of surprise.

Between-the-Legs Followed by Behind-the-Back: This is a combo technique that ends up with you going in the same direction after a momentary decoy move. First, you perform the 'inside leg forward' version of the between-the-legs dribble; as soon as the ball reaches your other hand, you immediately use that hand to dribble behind your back over to your initial dribbling hand. It's a good change-of-pace technique.

Once your players master these techniques, they will have great tools for putting the ball on the floor against pressure. The two main goals should be to perform the skills well in both directions and to perform them without looking at the ball.

"Jeff Haefner is a basketball coach and co-owner of Breakthrough Basketball. Visit www.breakthroughbasketball.com for basketball drills, tips, videos, camps, training aids, and more."

Skip to My Lou Dribbling Training Program - All About Basketball

Good dribbling is one of the ingredients of quality basketball. In the NBA, dribbling is given a lot of attention, and this affects, among other things, the entertainment of the game. But dribbling has risen to completely new heights thanks to street players. Like Skip to My Lou, a street basketball legend. In his game, he did not focus on powerful dunks or accurate throws, although he knows how to do all this. No, he bet on dribbling, which soon took the world by storm with And1's mixtape. So, here's the Skip to My Lou Dribbling Training Program:

1) Tennis ball training - 5 min. Move the tennis ball in circles, just like you would with a basketball. In addition, do these workouts with weights on your hands and gloves.

2) Dribbling while running backwards - 1 min.

3) Mill between the legs - 1 min. Dribbling between legs. Perform a classic windmill with your hands. Windmill with the ball, then run it under your foot, catch the ball from behind, windmilling with your other hand. For those who do not know what a windmill is, rotation of the body in a bent state, with outstretched arms.

4) Dribbling between the legs - 1 min. Dribbling first under one foot, then under the other. One minute per leg.

5) Dribbling behind the back - 1 min.

6) Defensive dribbling - 2 attempts 50 times with each hand. Imagine that you are under pressure from an opponent. Try to make fake movements by covering the ball with your body. Dribbling should be as sharp and fast as possible.

7) Eight - 1 min. Dribbling between legs while walking.

8) 1 minute rest.

9) Using a weighting agent (500 grams or 1 kilogram), then crossover - 1 min. for each hand - dribble twice then crossover and repeat, then hang 1.2 pounds on the hand and repeat.

10) Between the legs and behind the back - 1 min. Swipe the ball under your foot and then immediately back behind your back. After that, change the leg.

11) Regular dribbling with each hand for 2 minutes.

12) 1 min. rest

13) Windmill around the legs (without dribbling) - 1 min. Windmill around the legs without dribbling, then change legs and direction.

14) Spinning the ball around the waist - 2 attempts 50 times in each direction.

15) Rotation of the ball around the ankles - 2 attempts 50 times in each direction.

16) Rotation of the ball around each leg - 2 attempts 50 times in each direction.

17) 1 min rest.

18) Dribbling around crossed legs - 1 min. Sit cross-legged on the floor and dribble around you.

17) Finger Dribbling - 1 min. Get on your knees and try to dribble as smoothly and quickly as possible. First do this with both hands, then with the little fingers, then with the ring fingers, then with the middle fingers, then with the index fingers, then with the thumbs, then with the back of the hands, and finally with the fists.

18) Sit on a chair and dribble under one foot, then the other, then two, then like Hot Sauce in volume 3, with spins (3 min.).

19) Dribbling prone - 1 min. Lie down on the floor and drive the ball behind your head.

20) Reverse crossover dribbling - 1 min. Move and pass the ball under your foot from one side to the other, then switch legs.

21) Lifting the ball - do the workout 15 times with each hand. On your knees, place the basketball in front of you on the floor, then with your hand hit the ball with your palm so that it bounces off the floor, grab it with your hand and start free dribbling.

22) Without light - 3 min. Dribble in a dark room (or with your eyes closed) and do all kinds of moves you know how to do.

Do this workout 5 times a week.

exercises and useful tips for beginners

Basketball is one of the most difficult and spectacular ball games. The beauty of the duel depends not only on the number of hits in the basket. The main thing is still the technical aspects of dribbling and passing it. At the same time, you can’t just take a projectile and immediately play like LeBron James. It takes years of hard work to grow a real basketball player out of a child.

Among the many specific terms in this game sport is the concept of dribbling. Translated from English, the word means "to carry the ball" and implies the ability to maneuver with it during a duel. Dribbling training in basketball is aimed at developing this skill in the attacking team, who must not give the ball to the opposing side. The beauty of the game and the result of a sporting event largely depend on how the attacker owns dribbling.

Ways of dribbling

Basketball is a game based on three pillars - dribbling, passing, shooting. Each stage is important, requires skill and affects the course of the game. Dribbling means the maneuvering movement of the attacker on the playing field with the projectile. At the same time, it is forbidden to hold it in the hands, with the exception of the moments of transfer to the partner and when making a throw. In the process of dribbling, it is necessary that the projectile constantly bounces off the floor, and the athlete can touch it with his fingertips or with an open palm.

The dribbler constantly moves around the playing court and maneuvers between the defenders of the opposite team, for which he uses a variety of techniques:

• changes the speed of movement;
• makes sudden stops;
• performs so-called feints with shoulders, arms, head and even eyes.

All these techniques pursue several goals at the same time:

1. Organize the correct direction of attack.
2. Move the ball into the opponent's zone as close to the basket as possible.
3. Beat an opponent and make a successful throw.
4. If a cluster of players of the opposing team has formed around the projectile, then remove the ball from there.
5. Do not let the enemy take possession of the projectile, which is especially important in the last minutes of the match.

There are 2 types of dribbling: high and low. The first is performed at high speed and is used in situations where a basketball player needs to quickly move around the court. In this case, the leading arm is almost completely straightened. The height of the bounce can reach the athlete's chest, but the amplitude should be maintained at which the basketball player manages to develop maximum speed.

The second method is also known as shell cover . It is used when it is necessary to dodge an opponent. In this case, the basketball player's legs are bent, the body is tilted forward, the arm is pressed to the body, the rebound is not higher than the level of the knees. Moments of low driving are characterized by the highest intensity.

Dribbling drills

Professional basketball players have excellent dribbling skills. Many techniques are very difficult to perform, but at the same time the most effective during martial arts.

Dribbling behind the back

An excellent trick, used by players when they are blocked by opponents from the target and they need to escape, but not give up the projectile. The athlete takes a stance on bent legs and passes the ball from one hand to another, doing it behind his back, covering his body from the opponent.

Dribbling between the legs

A very difficult and effective hold. For its execution, the legs are placed as wide as possible and bent at the knees, one hand is located in front, the other behind the body, the eyes look at the enemy. In this position, the ball is passed from one hand to the other, each time moving between the legs.

Keeping the head up

This means guiding without eye tracking. Only the most experienced players can act like this. With this skill, the basketball player does not need to be distracted by the search and visual tracking of the ball, which makes it possible to concentrate on more serious goals.

Crossovers

This technique also belongs to the category of deceiving and disorienting the opponent. The attacker dribbles around the court, hitting the projectile with one or the other hand, “drawing” the Latin letter V. In such a situation, it is difficult for the opponent to understand from which side the attacking actions will follow.

How to learn basketball dribbling at home: tips for beginners

You don't have to be on the court to hone your dribbling skills. This can be done anywhere, because at the initial stage it is necessary to simply get used to the ball, learn how to feel it, hit it, control the rebounds. This can be done in any open area, in the yard and even in the apartment. Start by slapping the ball. This develops the sensitivity of the palms. Keep your wrist as relaxed as possible at the moment of impact.

Another fundamental skill to master at the very beginning is dribbling with the tips of the phalanges. In this case, you should learn to control the impact force and at the same time increase the speed.

To improve the quality of training outside the gym:

• find a friend and train together;
• master the simultaneous dribbling of two balls, alternate hands, then hit both balls at the same time, then in turn, change the rhythm of rebounds;
• learn to dribble not only moving forward, but also sideways or moving backwards;
• practice driving at every opportunity: on the way to the store, to the bus stop, to school, etc., practicing the ball handle in basketball is especially effective when moving on an uneven surface;
• always use both hands during training;
• arrange an obstacle course, use any available items and go through it, changing the configuration of the track from time to time;
• start training with standard exercises, as you master them, you can move on to more complex ones;
• to develop strength in the arms (which is a necessary condition for success in this sport), train them by squeezing a rubber ball. This can be done outside the basketball court and not even during training, but in any free minute.

You will probably be interested to know about this : "How is street basketball different from ordinary basketball?" and "How to learn to play basketball?".

Basketball Dribbling Training

When you learn to control bounces, hold the ball confidently, and move along a given trajectory without losing it, you can move on to mastering the classic tricks.

Touching with the tips of the knuckles, not with the palm of the hand

The ability to dribble only with the tips of the fingers, according to many professionals, is one of the main skills in basketball. The projectile should be controlled, but not applied to it with excessive force, and this can be achieved not by slapping it with the whole palm, but only by touching it with the fingertips. The palm should be opened as much as possible, fingers spread out so that the grip area is maximum, but at the same time work only with the phalanges.

Rebound work

Take the ball in your supporting hand with only your fingertips and tap it on the floor. Hit him firmly and confidently, but not too hard, as this will make it difficult to control. Every time try to catch the ball, doing it gently without effort and tension of the hand, and then hit it in the same manner.

Keeping the hand on top of the ball

For complete control of the ball during movement, the palm must always remain on top of the ball while dribbling. This will prevent the projectile from flying far and will not give the enemy a chance to knock it out. This skill worked out to automatism will also help to avoid accidental catching from below, which is punishable by a fine in the game.

Holding the body between the guarding opponent and the projectile

Being in this position, you create big problems for the opponent in terms of possession of the ball. The technique is especially effective if several representatives of the opposing side have gathered around you.

Low stance work

Low holding prevents the opponent from taking possession of the projectile. For a successful maneuver, the legs should be bent at the knees, and the body is tilted forward, rebounds should be as frequent and low as possible (not higher than the leader’s thigh). To hone the exercise, you need to learn how to feel comfortable when the projectile is somewhere below. In this case, tilting to the sides is not allowed.

Avoiding Stops

Stopping while dribbling must always end with an action, pass or throw. Otherwise, further dribbling, according to the rules, will be impossible, which the enemy will certainly take advantage of.

Timely passing

Masterful dribbling is beautiful, but everything should be in moderation. There are many situations in which it is much more efficient and useful for the team to pass the ball to colleagues. For example, in the case when they are in a better shooting position or if the space between you and the basket is occupied by several opponents.

Do not run before throwing

In this sport, running is prohibited, which includes one step with the ball in hand, especially carrying the projectile while walking or running, as well as moving or changing the supporting leg during a stop. Hence the conclusion: it is necessary to work out the skill of moving around the sports ground without the above-described hitches.

Practice Goggles

Goggles have been invented for practicing blind dribbling. They look a little like the ones swimmers use: a plastic frame with rubber straps and a thick rubber shutter at the bottom. The rubber helps the goggles stay tight on the head during training and closes the athlete's view from below. It is this curtain that plays the main role: the basketball player does not see the projectile. This forces him to focus not on the projectile, but on what is happening on the field.

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