Drill Survey Introduction: Below are the results of the survey I gave in March of 2012. The survey asked coaches to describe their favorite drills. The drills are divided into categories based on the type of drill. I tried to put down responses in their entirety but did combine some drills that were mentioned more than once and also added details to elaborate on a drill. I have also included some of my own drills that I have found helpful over the years. Ball-Handling Drills 2 Ball Series *Note – there were many coaches who mentioned 2 ball dribbling so I put them together under one heading. Stationary Series The following are options for 2 ball dribbling: o Bounce Together o Bounce Alternate o Both Hands High o Both Hands Low o Right Hand High, Left Hand Low o Left Hand High, Right Hand Low o Crossover Both o Right Hand Cross, Left Hand Between the Legs (Both Legs) o Left Hand Cross, Right Hand Between the Legs (Both Legs) o Dribble around the right leg with the right hand. Pound left hand. o Dribble around the left leg with the left hand. Pound right hand. o Right hand behind the back, left hand crossover o Left hand behind the back, right hand crossover o Inside out dribble in front of the body o Push pull on the side of the body Moving Series • Down and Back Pounding Together • Down and Back Pounding Opposite • 3 Dribble Zig Zag (change direction every three dribbles) • Power Push (partner pushes on shoulders to half court and lets go) • Cone Squares (have cones set up in as square and have them do various movements while dribbling) • Cone Eights (Have 2 cones set up and they have to figure 8 dribble around the cones. • Full Court Cones (have cones set up around the court and players dribble through them or around them). • I like 2 ball dribbling drills and making players go through a variety of obstacles. You can make up any "course" you want. I might set up chairs to simulate traps, each time a player gets to a trap, they back up then go around. Then coming back down the floor then zig zag through cones, then they might dribbling around a square (lines on the floor, cones, etc) while always facing the same direction (so you end up running forward, sidelines, and backwards), then maybe finish with a chair weave. There are no limits to how you do this. I basically use my imagination to set up what I think will be a challenging course. Then I have player go as fast as they can. For added challenge you can time them and make it competitive. You can also have them go both directions (so every goes at once and has to keep their head up to not run into each other). • 2-Ball Full Court Dribbling. Lines on the baseline. Go through the following two-ball dribbling moves. Players do the same move down and back. Next time down, they do the next move: Moves: same time, alternate, two dribbles then crossover, two dribbles then between the legs, two dribbles then behind the back. • Our players get a lot out of doing the well-known 2-Ball dribbling. We do some stationary drills where we will give instructions every 30 seconds with a whistle, going from dribble high same time, high alternating, low same time, low alternating. We also do both out front with an inside out dribble (think left to right in a V shape), as well as balls on the side so they dribble front to back. One hand wraps around one leg while the other ball must be dribbled at the same time. We also do full court dribbling with 2 balls, with the same high/ low and same/alternate specifications. To add another stage, we do 2-Ball passing. Partners line up about 10 feet across from each other. One person starts dribbling the 2 balls, keeping them low with their head up. After a few seconds their partner will show a hand, and the dribbler must pass the ball with the corresponding hand while still dribbling the other ball. The partner will catch the ball and bounce pass it back and repeat showing a hand every few seconds. This teaches the players to keep their head up in order to see the hand. Tennis Ball Series Use a tennis ball to help with players concentrating when they dribble. Singles Options When players are alone they can do the following things: • Throw the ball up and catch it while dribbling with one hand in place (right and left hands) • Stand in place, throw the ball up, switch hands when the ball is in the air (using a variety of dribble moves), and then catch the ball. • Stand in one place and execute a double move on the toss up. • Throw the ball out a ways so you have to move to catch it • Throw the ball off a wall and execute dribble moves or just dribble. Doubles Options If you want to go in partners, you can do all of the above and add moving around while you do it (shuffling, running, just moving about, etc). Zig Zag Full Court Players get into partners, one with a ball. The player with the ball zig zags from sideline to laneline and back while the other partner defends him. Good to work on offense and defense together. Full Court Attack Starting at baseline/sideline corner players dribble through cones/chairs to halfcourt, spin move moving to jump circle where they do a dribble retreat crossover move. Continue to sideline and go behind the back. Attack the rim, doing a dribble move (cross over, between the legs) and finish with a lay-up Maravich Dribbling Series Note: Note sure what this one is exactly, pulled below off line. 1. Ball Slaps Holding the ball in front of your chest, slap it as you move it from hand to hand. It is an excellent way to warm up your hands and help you get a good feel for the ball. 2. Pinches Holding the ball in your left hand, use all five fingers to pinch it toward your right. The ball will squirt back and forth from one hand to another. This is a great wrist- strengthening exercise 3. Taps Hold the ball over your head with your arms fully stretched out. Tap the ball back and forth between your fingertips. As you get better, start moving your arms up and down at a slow, steady pace. 4. Circles Circle the ball around your head, waist and each leg. Do one at a time, and then as you get better, try doing them in a row (head, waist, legs, waist, head, waist…..Etc.). Try to keep your head up while doing these because it will teach you to handle the ball by “feel.” 5. Figure 8 Dribbles Stand with your legs shoulder-width apart and dribble the ball in and out of your legs in a figure 8 pattern. 6. Straddle Flip Hold the ball between your legs, with your left hand in front and right hand in back. Without bouncing the ball, quickly switch the position of your hands, and repeat. Start slow and slowly get quicker at this drill. 7. One-Hand Dribbles Dribble the ball around your right foot with your right hand. Then use your left-hand and go around your left foot. As you get better, try using your right hand as you go around your left foot. And vice-versa. And work on keeping your head up and your eyes off the ball. 8. Figure 8 Hold the ball at knee level. Stand with your legs apart. Pass the ball in and out of your legs in a figure-8 pattern. 9. Spider Dribble Stand with your legs apart. Bounce the ball in front of your legs once with your left hand, and once with your right hand. Reach your left hand behind and through your legs to bounce the ball, and then do the same thing with your right hand. Repeat quickly. Chair Drill Series This is a collection of a couple of drills. The premise of the drill is that you put a chair at the free throw line (or top of the key). Players dribble up, make a move, and finish at the rim (you can vary the finishes as well). Work on dribble moves, staying low, making it an actual move, and finishing your layups. 4 Corners Warm Up I use this as the first part of our daily practice warm-up. Each player has a ball and we start in all 4 corners of the court and follow the endlines and sidelines the whole time. For each line you choose a specific dribble and have them execute a spin move at each corner. The first few times around is a jog and we move up to speed as we progress. Ex: Right hand in-out on baseline, between legs on side line, cross over on baseline, and stop- go on the sideline with a spin move in the corners. 1 on 1 • 1 on 1 inside the half court circle with dribble • 1 on 1 Full court We rarely do a drill with only ball handling. We give the players half a court to work with until they enter the three point line. We play until someone scores 3 times, then switch directions. Ball-Handling/Ball Security Drill You play five on five inside of half the court and the offense has to complete twenty passes without a deflection.