A tennis ball holds the key to improved ball handling

Published: Tue, 02/25/14

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Tony Alfonso
Hoops U

A tennis ball holds the key to improved ball handling

Dear Coach,

Dribbling a basketball is an almost effortless activity. The force generated to push a ball to the ground and have it return to the hand isn't significant. After a while, players, even younger athletes, take dribbling for granted and shift their focus to other skills to master... even though their grasp of ball handling isn't as great as they may believe.

One way to beat this dribbling malaise is to use a tennis ball at practice. Ron Meier, a youth basketball coach in Missouri, incorporates a tennis ball drill into his training that forces players to slow down, concentrate on handling the smaller object and get a feel for how to control it.

Plus, an added advantage is the drill moves all players around the perimeter of the court, so no one is left standing idly by waiting to get into the action. See the drill in its entirety, including diagrams, by clicking here.

If you are looking for more drills, plays, coaching strategies, nutrition nuggets, strength and conditioning tips and more, take out a subscription to my premium service,Basketball Coach Weekly. It comes to you every Thursday, features detailed, yet streamlined, pieces aimed at providing as much useful content as possible into every busy coach's schedule.

Yours in basketball,

Michael Austin
Editor, Basketball Coach Weekly

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Tennis ball dribble

Substitute a tennis ball for a basketball in this dribbling exercise to slow down players and have them focus on the feel of the ball.

WHY USE IT

Using a smaller ball allows players to get a better feel for it in their hands. Plus, it forces players to slow down and concentrate on dribbling.

SET UP

Place players around the perimeter of the court with a tennis ball in their hands. Players are to dribble in a counter-clockwise fashion around the court. Feel free to have them switch to clockwise but be sure everyone is moving in the same direction.

HOW TO PLAY

The players dribble counter-clockwise around the sidelines and baselines. When players change directions (i.e. dribbling from the sideline to the baseline), they switch hands.

In the next phase of the drill, players start in the corners of the court and dribble toward the free-throw line. At the free-throw line, they switch hands and dribble out toward the mid-court corner.

From the mid-court corner, players again switch hands and dribble to the opposite free-throw line, switch hands and finish in the far corner.

TECHNIQUE

Bring a basketball back into the practice. It should feel like a beach ball and offer an easier handle.

Get the fully illustrated drill here for free

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