Simply Youth Basketball Fundamentals: Dribbling Drills for Youth #6-11

As the name implies, in this youth basketball drill, players will use the body as a obstacle to begin to get a feel for the ball, without always having to see it.

Player stands in an upright position, holding ball in firm grip with both hands.

Drill begins with player moving the ball around the side of their body at the waist, bringing it on around behind body, while reaching around to meet it with other hand. Ball should continue on out and around until it has made a full circle of the body, bask to the front, where it is repeated without pause. After player has done several repetitions from this part of the body, they should move the ball up and repeat the same motion around the head, before bringing it to the waist again.

Next, Player bends legs, reaching down with the ball and begins going through drill around the ankles.

The final step is the reversal. Here the player will continue on, going through the whole sequence once again. Yet this time they will be taking the ball around in the opposite direction.

Note: Players should try to keep the ball from touching any part of the body, as much as is possible.

DRILL #7: Scissor Drill

This drill is one that will also be good for youth basketball players to learn ball control, helping with their agility as well. Some very young kids may find this drill very complicated, simply because their legs do not allow for long strides, and because many are just learning to dribble. But you will know if it is a useful drill to work on with your team or not.

Players are in lines of two or three, spread out along baseline. First player in each line that has ball steps out several feet away from rest of line to give themselves enough room.

On whistle group with ball quickly spreads legs-one foward, the other backward. Players make sharp bounce pass between legs. At the moment ball comes into contact with other hand, players reverse leg position, bringing their front leg back, rear leg forward, immediately bringing the ball back through again. Legs work almost in a scissor motion, hence the name. Players continue this back and forth scissor motion rapidly, making sure to stay low with a bend in the knees.

Note: Players should almost be making a short hop straight up each time they reverse legs. Otherwise they may end up at the other end by the time the drill is over. And if you choose to use this drill at the youth level, we would recommend that you stick strictly to making the bounce through from the front of the legs, and forget about the bounce behind. It will be difficult enough as it is without complicating it further with a behind the leg crossover.

DRILL #8: Lateral Slide Drill

This drill works much the same as any defensive slide drill, with one exception. Each player is dribbling, not guarding.It is possibly the simplest of all ball handling drills you would find for youth basketball.

Again, split players up into as many groups as possible according to the number of balls at your disposal. Spread groups out along baseline, or if you choose to go cross-court...use the sideline.

On whistle players begin lateral slides in straight line, while at the same time using rear hand to dribble ball. Front arm should be held in a protective gesture. Overall stance, with the exception of the hands, should be the exact same as if on defense. Knees bent, back straight, head up, balancing on balls of feet.

This drill is suitable for all levels of youth basketball. But taking into account its simplicity, it will be kids at the younger levels who benefit most from it. Your older youth teams should be well beyond this in their skill level by now.

This is another feel and agility drill that is for any level of youth basketball. It can be hard for younger kids, but they love it anyway. Set up for this drill is the same as previous drills.

On whistle, players begin taking long steps while handing the ball off between their legs, from one hand to the other, with each stride. Players do this the full length of the court and back, then give the ball to the next one in line.

Note: If you have a lot of first year, inexperienced, or extremely young kids on your team, it would be best to start this drill out at a walk, and then increase the speed of it as they become more comfortable.

DRILL #10: Figure-Eight Dribbling

Designed to teach youth basketball players to feel ball, and help learn about keeping body, and ball low.

Players are positioned in ready stance, with feet spread a touch over shoulder width apart, eyes forward. On whistle player begins to low dribble with either hand, feeling ball with spread fingertips, not palm. Ball should be bouncing close to the floor and moving rapidly. Next, player brings dribble around outside, around, and behind leg, until ball is under their rear. Player reaches between legs from front, taking over dribble with other hand, and continues out, around, and under. This figure-eight motion continues until they have made several repetitions this way. It is also very good practice for coach to blow whistle, signaling them to reverse their dribble, going the other way.

DRILL #11: Stationary Practice Dribbling

These are a few good drills to begin with especially for very young or novice youth basketball players.

TWO BALLS: Player should have knees bent, feet about shoulder width apart, with ball in each hand. Player begins dribbling both balls simultaneously, making sure to keep eyes forward. Ball should not come up much higher than knees. Player works to keep ball low, with both ball's coming up and down at the same time. This youth basketball drill should also be done with the low-dribble, and can even be done with player dribbling one ball high and one low at the same time.

ONE BALL: Player has ball in strong hand(right or left-handed), and begins dribble. Player bounces ball as if to make a crossover dribble to other side. But instead of using other hand, they reach quickly across with hand they made bounce with, catch ball and bounce it back across. Players go through this back and forth exercise for a while with one hand, then begin the drill over again, this time using weak hand. This drill can also be done in a forward backward motion by player keeping ball well to their side as they do it.

CROSS-OVER: Player is standing with feet set and eyes forward. They start bouncing the ball in a basic cross-over dribble. After they have went through this several times, player should bend knees, getting lower, and continue drill as a low crossover.

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