How to Dribble a Basketball for Beginners

Introduction

• Goal: Teach beginners how to dribble a basketball effectively
• Structure: Immediate improvement tips and progressions for advancing ball handling

High Ball-in-Hand Time

• Avoid Slapping the Ball: Ensure you push the ball instead of slapping it
• Maximizing Ball Control: Keep the ball in your hand for as long as possible during the dribble
  • Low Ball-in-hand Time: Ball floats on its own
  • High Ball-in-hand Time: Hand stays lower on the release and catch
• Grip with Fingers: Fingers wide, dig into the basketball for better grip
• Snap the Wrist: Ensure wrist snap at the end of dribbles, especially single-hand ones
• Use Elbow for Power: Use the elbow joint to generate power at the end

Starting Techniques

• Dribbling Slow: Focus on snapping the wrist and elbow at the end for a good pop
• Quick Dribbles: Dribble hard and fast with continuous snap motion for speed variations
• Crossover Dribble: Use more shoulder movement and wrist snap, shoulders swing side-to-side

Visual Focus

• Look at the basketball initially to understand mistakes and improve technique
• Once the feel for the move is developed, practice with head up

Body Position

• Get Low: Butt down and feet apart
  • Hands lower = Higher ball-in-hand time
  • Squat stance or lunge stance
  • Split squat: Between a lunge and a squat
• Adjust Stance: From upright to low for fakes or quick moves

Footwork Integration

• Jabbing Out: Dribble while jabbing out with opposite or same-side foot for effective fakes
  • Keep the ball protected, behind the leg
• Crossbody Jab: Dribble with opposite foot stepping out long, low, and quick
• Scissors Move: Jump and switch feet positions while keeping low to the ground for quick moves

Advanced Moves

Between the Legs

• Legs apart, butt down
• Swing Hand Through: Break imaginary glass between legs to ensure clean dribble
• Reverse between the legs: Same principles but from back to front

Behind the Back

• Squared Feet: Regular crossover motion but with ball behind
  • Push the ball hard, know where it will end up
• Cross-forward Variation: Slap opposite side butt to wrap the ball forward, ideal for attacking moves

Spin Move

• Protection Dribble: Start sideways, pull ball back before switching hands
• Correct Footwork: Same-side foot comes back first
• Avoid Defender Steals: Do not push ball forward during spin
• Move from more squared positions as skill improves

Conclusion

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