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CONTENTS 3 INTRODUCTION 4 DRILL #1 FOOTWORK SKILLS 5 DRILL #2 QUICK STEPS 6 DRILL #3 QUICK STOPS 7 DRILL #4 QUICK TURNS 8 DRILL #5 STARTS, STOPS & TURNS 9 DRILL #6 BALL HANDLING SKILLS - PASSING & CATCHING 10 DRILL #7 STARTS, STOPS & TURNS WITH BALL 11 DRILL #8 BALL HANDLING SKILLS STATIONARY & DRIBBLING 12 DRILL #9 SHOOTING SKILLS LAY-INS 13 DRILL #10 SHOOTING SKILLS FIELD GOALS 14 DRILL #11 SOFT TOUCH 15 DRILL #12 SHOOTING OFF THE DRIBBLE 16 RESOURCES 17
INTRODUCTION 4 When teaching young kids to play basketball it s important to stress fundamentals without sacrificing the fun that will keep kids coming back to the court. In this guide, we have assembled 12 foundational drills that will help your players learn to play and love the game of basketball. The drills focus on such things as ball handling, shooting, dribbling as well as performing the unsung moves that are essential to effective game play such as quick stops and quick turns. Have your players routinely perform these drills and watch their skills improve! Just keep in mind as you use the drills with your players that they should be having fun as well as learning. A coach whose players have fun AND learn fundamental skills is going to not only have a successful season but will also have players who are eager to practice and who love to play for them. Best of luck this season! Want to see these drills on video? Upgrade your order to include the Basketball Basics for Kids online video clinic! http://ebasketballcoach.com/op/upgrade-basics/
DRILL #1 FOOTWORK SKILLS 5 Helps young players develop the balance and quickness that will allow them to excel on the basketball court. This is also a good warm-up drill. Drill can be conducted anywhere on the court. Players line up in a horizontal line facing the coach. 2. Players get into the Quick Stance position (also known as the Triple Threat position) as quickly as possible. 3. Players stand with feet shoulder-width apart, knees and arms bent in a ready position. They act like they are holding an imaginary basketball in their shooting hand. Coaching Tips: Coach demonstrates Quick Stance, or Triple Threat, position. Focus on fun and fundamentals. This drill should be about helping your kids learn the fundamental skills they need to know to enjoy the game of basketball. Make sure kids keep their feet shoulder-width apart and their weight equally distributed on both feet. Players practice getting in the Quick Stance.
DRILL #2 QUICK STEPS 6 Players learn footwork fundamentals and work on improving their balance. This is also a good warm-up drill. Drill can be conducted anywhere on the court. Players line up in a horizontal line facing the coach. Direct Drive 2. Players get into Quick Stance position. Right foot, direct drive Right foot, crossover drive 3. Players take long first step with right foot (if right-handed) or with left foot (if lefthanded). 4. Players try to get as low as possible as they take the step and then hold the position to improve their balance. 5. Coach says OK and players return to starting position. Crossover Drive 1. Players move imaginary ball across their body to the left side (if right handed). 2. Players take a big first step with their right foot and try to get as low as possible. 3. Players hold position to improve balance. 4. Coach says OK and players return to start. Coach demonstrates direct drive first step. Coach and players do the crossover drive. Coaching Tips Make sure players are taking a long step and then maintaining balance as they hold their position during both the direct drive and the crossover drive. On the crossover drive, make sure the players are imagining the ball in their left hand.
DRILL #3 QUICK STOPS 7 Players learn to come to a stop while maintaining control and balance. Drill can be conducted anywhere on the court. Players line up in a horizontal line facing the coach. 2. Players take one step, hop and then land on two feet. Players practice their Quick Stops with the coach. In this drill, players step with one foot, hop and land on two feet. Coaching Tips: Make sure players are landing with right foot out in front (if right-handed) and in the Quick Stance position so that they can dribble, pass or shoot. Hop Step Footwork for the Quick Stop.
DRILL #4 QUICK TURNS 8 Players learn to turn (ie. pivot) while maintaining balance and not traveling. Drill can be conducted anywhere on the court. Players line up in a horizontal line facing the coach. Above, rear turn with left foot as pivot foot or turning foot. Below, front turn with right foot as pivot foot. 2. Players perform a Quick Stop landing in Quick Stance position. 3. Coach says rear turn. 4. Players swing their right leg back, keeping their left foot, or pivot foot, on the court. 5. Coach says again. 6. Players swing their right leg back again, turning on their left so that they end up back in the original position that they started the drill in. 7. The drill is then repeated going through the above steps for the front turn. Above, coach and player perform a rear turn. Below, coach demonstrates a front turn to his players. Coaching Tips: Stress to players that their left foot is their turning foot (pivot foot) and their right foot is their stepping foot. (for right-handed players) Players must keep their turning or pivot foot on the court to avoid traveling. Another way to phrase the rear turn drill is to tell players they are taking their rear to the rear.
DRILL #5 STARTS, STOPS & TURNS 9 Players practice starts, stops and turns in this drill, which serves as a good warm-up while teaching players to maintain control and balance while performing essential basketball moves. Players line up along the baseline. Coach stands out in front to observe. 2. Players get in Quick Stance position at baseline. 3. Coach says go. 4. Players perform a Quick Stop. 5. Coach says go. 6. Players perform a direct drive and go up side of lane using an imaginary dribble before performing another Quick Stop at the free throw line. 7. Coach says go. 8. Players perform a rear turn and dribble imaginary ball back to the baseline. 9. The drill can also be run using a crossover drive and a front turn. With these elements players would imagine that they are dribbling the ball with their left hand during the drill. Players perform a Quick Stop followed by a rear turn during the Stops, Starts & Turns Drill. Players proceed toward the free throw line after doing a crossover drive. Coaching Tips: Players should be keeping their heads up and level during this drill, especially when performing turns. Here is the setup for this drill.
DRILL #6 BALL HANDLING SKILLS PASSING & CATCHING 10 Players learn to pass and catch the ball using proper fundamentals. Players line up approximately 15 feet across from each other. Players line up about 15 feet from each other in this passcatch drill. 2. Players with ball use a one-hand pass to pass the ball to the opposite players. 3. Passing players should step with the pass and aim for a target the other players hands. 4. Catching players should receive the pass with a Quick Stop. 5. Drill should then be performed with players using their opposite hand to pass the ball. Players in the foreground pass to players in the background using a one-handed pass. Coaching Tips: Players should pass the ball with their feet on the ground. They should also step with the pass. Players should get into Quick Stance position each time before passing. Players should catch the ball with their feet in the air stepping toward the pass to receive it. They should also catch it with two hands, two eyes and a click, which is the sound that their hands should make coming together to grab the ball. Coach demonstrates onehanded pass with left, or opposite, hand.
DRILL #7 STARTS, STOPS & TURNS WITH BALL 11 Players put the skills they ve learned in previous drills all to work in this one drill. Players line up along the baseline. The first players in each line should have a basketball. Coach stands out in front to observe. 2. Players get in Quick Stance position at baseline. 3. Coach says go. 4. Players perform a Quick Stop. 5. Coach says go. 6. Players perform a direct drive and dribble to free throw line where they perform another Quick Stop. 7. Coach says go. 8. Players perform a rear turn and use a one-handed pass to throw the ball to the next player in line. 9. The drill should also be run using a crossover drive, a front turn and a one-handed pass with the opposite hand. Coach performs a Quick Stop at the free throw line. Coaching Tips: Watch for proper fundamentals and that players are maintaining good balance and control through all the elements of this drill. Players turn at the free throw line and pass the ball to the next player in this drill.
DRILL #8 BALL HANDLING SKILLS STATIONARY & DRIBBLING 12 Players learn how to handle the ball in both a stationary position and also when on the move. Players set up anywhere on the court for stationary drills. Dribbling drills are performed from the baseline. Coach is nearby to observe and call commands. 1. Players rotate the ball around their heads. Five times one way, five times the opposite way. 2. Players pass the ball around their waist. Five times one way, five times the other way. 3. Players bring their feet together and pass the ball around their legs. First one direction, then the other direction. 4. Next players pass the ball around each individual leg (the lower part of the leg) going one direction and then the other. 5. Players spread their legs and perform a figure out with the ball, They should go one direction and then the opposite direction. 6. Players put feet shoulder-width apart, with left foot out in front of right and dribble with their right hand. Dribble should start out higher and get lower. Players should then switch to their left hand. 7. Players start at baseline and dribble to free throw line with their right hand while using a slide step. Players then dribble back to baseline using their left hand and a slide step. 8. Players start at baseline and dribble to free throw line using a high dribble, perform a quick stop and then a rear turn, dribble back with their opposite hand and perform another quick stop. Players rotate the ball around their lower leg. Coaching Tips: When dribbling, players should have their heads up and not be looking at the ball. One technique to use is to have them stare at the basket. Coach demonstrates proper dribbling position with knees bent and an arm bar out in front to protect the ball from an imaginary defender. When dribbling on the move players should form an arm bar with their opposite arm.
DRILL #9 SHOOTING SKILLS LAY-INS 13 Players learn how to properly execute the most important shot in basketball the lay-in. Players line up on the free throw line extended. 2. First player dribbles toward basket with head up looking at rim. 3. Player picks up ball with two hands and puts it on shoulder. 4. Player jumps off opposite foot (if on right side of rim, that means the left foot) 5. Ball side knee goes up toward ball. 6. When shooting players aims for the near-side upper corner of the rectangle on the back board. 7. Player should snap wrist and hold the follow-through so that it forms a parachute after the shot. 8. Drill should also be run from the left side of the goal. Coaching Tips Above, coach demonstrates a lay-in. Players should start in Quick Stance position. Make sure players are bringing the ball to their shoulder and not rocking the cradle, which is swinging the ball from side to side down low where it can be stolen or knocked away.
DRILL #10 SHOOTING SKILLS FIELD GOALS 14 Players learn the fundamentals of shooting the basketball. Players shoot from 5 positions in this drill. This drill is run near the lane and basket area. The coach should be nearby to call commands. 1. Players first learn the proper shooting sequence. They can go through these steps first without the ball and then with the ball. Here are the steps: - Whole hand: Players hold the ball out in front as it rests on the palm of their shooting hand - Lock and load: Players lock the wrist and bring the ball to their shoulder with the hand back so the ball is loaded and setting on a pedestal - Push the button: The wrist and elbow extend so that the ball is shot forward - Parachute: The arm and wrist form a parachute on the follow through 2. Players line up in a single file line on the left side of the goal. 3. Player 1 moves in a semi-circle in the lane, taking five shots, two on each side and one in the middle. Player gets ready to take the shot from the leftside of the goal. Coaching Tips Make sure players are using proper shooting fundamentals with good hand extension and good follow-through In the actual shooting portion of this drill, the target should be the middle of the back of the rim Players should have everything pointed in a straight line toward the basket. For example, the elbow should be tucked in, not flared out. When shooting, the player s thumb and index finger should form a V, not an L. To do this the hand needs to be big but relaxed.
DRILL #11 SOFT TOUCH 15 Players learn to shoot off the pass by catching the ball smoothly and going into their shooting sequence. Players line up a step or two back from their position in the Shooting Skills Field Goals drill. Players take the same five shots that were taken in the shooting skills drill. They should move in a semi circle around the front of the basket. Players pass the ball to themselves and shoot from five positions on the court in this drill. 2. Player uses two hands to underhand toss the ball out in front using back spin so that it comes back to him. 3. Player catches the ball while performing a quick stop. 4. Player gets in proper position and shoots the ball. 5. Player does this for five shots as he moves in a semi-circle around the basket. Player tosses the ball to herself and then catches and shoots. Coaching Tips Players should be throwing themselves high passes so that they can get under the ball and shoot all in one motion. Player takes the shot.
DRILL #12 SHOOTING OFF THE DRIBBLE 16 Players learn to maintain control and balance and get off a good shot when on the move with the ball. Players lineup near the top of the three point arc to the side of the free throw line and lane. 2. Player dribbles down and does a Quick Stop at the side of the lane about eight feet from the basket. 3. Player shoots the ball using proper technique. 4. Run drill from both sides of court. Coaching Tips Players dribble drive to about 8 feet from the basket and take the shot in this drill. Above, player dribbles in, does a Quick Stop and shoots the ball off the backboard. Below, player drives toward the basket on the other side of the court. Players should be in Quick Stance before beginning their drive. Players should keep their eyes on the basket when dribbling and aim for the backboard with their shot.
Looking For More Basketball Coaching Resources? 17 Want to see these drills on video? Upgrade your order to include the Basketball Basics for Kids online video clinic! http://ebasketballcoach.com/op/upgrade-basics/ Visit www.onlinebasketballdrills.com for a complete listing of playbooks, drill collections, and online video clinics from some of the top high school, NCAA and NBA coaches of all time! Join us on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/basketballdrillsandplays Subscribe to our Youtube Channel https://www.youtube.com/user/coachpat30 SPECIAL OFFER: You re invited to receive 51 killer drills and 7 proven plays for just one dollar! www.basketballinnercircle.com/signup