basketball homework drills

73 Basketball Drills for Players and Coaches (2022 Update)

Are you looking for basketball drills and games for kids and high school teams?

Well, you’ve come to the right place!

I frequently receive emails from coaches who are sick tired of running the same drills over and over again at practice.

It’s important for all coaches to use proven basketball drills that will improve their players.

Below I've listed 27 drills and games, and described them in full detail including how the drills works, the purpose, how to set it up, instructions, variations, and coaching points.

You'll find 50+ more basketball drills in the links under each section!

Here's a handy little table of contents to jump straight to the type of drills you want.

• Shooting Drills
• Dribbling Drills
• Passing Drills
• Footwork Drills
• Defensive Drills

Basketball Shooting Drills

1. Perfects

This is a great basketball drill for players to practice shooting with perfect form and also a for coaches to teach and correct shooting form.

Players form three lines a couple of feet out from the basket. Use both ends of the court if possible so that kids get to take more shots. Every players has a basketball.

How it Works: 

1. Players then take it in turns shooting with the aim to swish each shot through the net. The swish is important because we’re trying to teach the kids how to shoot with enough arc on the shot.

2. After a player has taken a shot, they can either return to the end of the same line or rotate lines either clockwise or anticlockwise.

Coaching Points:

• Players must hold their shooting form until the shot has been made or missed.
• Coaches must view each players’ shot at different angles. Different angles will show different technique points.
• You can extend the distance of the shot, but make sure it’s not too far. The purpose of this drill is shooting with perfect form around the basket.

2. 21 Cones

’21 cones’ is a variation of the drill ’23 cones’ which is a drill I recommend for high school level and higher.

All players are in two teams and each time a player hits a shot, they’re awarded a cone for their team.

Place 21 cones on the baseline of one end of the court and then split your players up into two teams. Each team has only one basketball.

How it Works:

The two teams of players shoot from the designated spot. When a shot is made, the shooter is rewarded by being allowed to sprint to the other end of the court and retrieve a cone for their team.

The team that finishes with the most cones is the winner.

• Everyone must be shooting. Not just the best shooters on each team.
• If you don’t have cones, you could use tennis balls or anything else similar.
• You can decrease or increase the amount of cones.

3. Pivot Shooting

This is a great drill for incorporating footwork into a shooting drill that players will enjoy.

Players perform a jump stop on receiving the pass from the coach, pivot around to square up to the basket, and then make a variety of scoring moves.

Players all start on the baseline in two lines. There are two coaches/parents at the top of the key. One in front of each line.

Every player has a basketball.

Players will begin the drill by making a chest pass out to the coach in front of them. Immediately after making the chest pass, the player will explode to the free-throw line where the coach will pass the ball back to them.

After catching the basketball in a jump stop, the player must must pivot around using good technique and square up to the basket before shooting or attacking the ring.

The coach decides which scoring move they want the players to make.

• Make sure every player is jump stopping correctly. You might need to run through this with the players before running the drill.
• Players should not raise up out of their low stance when pivoting.
• Change up whether your team attacks the rim or takes a jump stop. Keep it interesting.

4. Chase Down Layups

Chase down layups is used to teach players to finish layups at full speed and with pressure. Since youth basketball is normally decided by which team makes more layups, this is a basketball drill you must use often.

The drill begins with two lines of players down each end of the floor. One offensive line and one defensive line.

One basketball starts at the front of the offensive line at each end of the court.

The coach starts the drill by bringing the offensive player out from the baseline and gives them an advantage over the defender who always starts on the baseline. It’s up to the coach’s discretion how far in front the offensive player is.

We want the offensive player far enough in front that they have to sprint while dribbling down the floor and then when they finish at the rim there’s close defensive pressure behind them.

When they’re both set up, the coach calls out ‘GO’ and both players sprint to the other end of the floor. The offensive player must try and finish at the rim and the defender must pressure the shot without fouling.

The pair then passes the basketball to the next player in line at their current end of the floor.

• No fouling. You don’t need a major injury while running this drill.
• Switch sides of the floor so that players are dribbling and finishing with their left hand.
• Make sure players are attacking the ring at the correct angle.

5. Pressure

Pressure is a simple and fun end-of-practice game that works on shooting free throws while under pressure.

All players form one line at the free throw line.

The drill requires only one basketball.

Players take it in turns shooting free throws.

When a player makes a free throw, the person behind them is put under pressure. This means that if they miss, they’re out of the game.

Once someone makes a shot, the pressure continues until someone misses. Once they do, there’s no pressure until another shot is made.

This continues until there’s a winner.

• Players are not allowed to put each other off. It will always end up in one of the kids being upset.
• Players should be going through their full free throw routine on each shot.
• Make sure you join in!

More Shooting Links:

• 20 Basketball Shooting Drills for Lights-Out Shooting
• How to Shoot a Basketball Perfectly (10-Step Guide)
• What Part of the Rim to Aim at When Shooting a Basketball

Basketball Dribbling Drills

6. Dribbling Lines

This is a simple drill to teach the basics of dribbling to new players.

It’s a good way to introduce new moves without overwhelming them and will also help to improve the technique of the movements players already know.

Every player has a basketball and lines up on the baseline.

If you have more than 8 players, create two lines on the baseline instead of one.

The coach will instruct the players to use different dribbling movements to dribble up to either the half-court line or full court.

Tell them the dribble movement you want to be performed first, and then say ‘go’.

Here are a few that I like to use:

  • Right hand up, left hand back   • Crossovers   • Behind-the-back   • Through-the-legs   • Dribble low   • Dribbling backwards

• Players must keep their heads up at all times.
• Once they develop good technique, focus on the players pushing off with their outside foot when making a move.
• Write down the dribbling moves so that you don’t forget them. I always do!

7. Dribble Knockout

This drill works on ball-handling and protecting the dribble.

All players dribble around in a small area and the goal is to knock other players’ basketball out of the area while keeping your own basketball alive.

The first thing the coach must do is determine the area the players will be dribbling in. This will depend on the amount of players you have but will usually be the three-point line or the 1/3 court line.

All players must have a basketball.

On the coach’s call, all players begin dribbling and attempt to knock each other’s basketball out of the playing area.

As more and more players get out, the coach must pause the game and make the playing area smaller. This continues until you have a winner.

• If a player fouls someone else, travels, or double dribbles, they’re out. It’s the coach’s job to keep an eye out for these things.
• Constantly remind players to keep their head up.
• Have a designated area for players that get out or you’ll end up with kids everywhere!

8. Collision Dribbling

Similar to dribble knockout except players aren’t allowed to hit the basketball of the other players away.

Instead, the aim of the drills is to navigate through and dodge all the other players using dribbling moves and by being creative with the dribble.

All players have a basketball and are in a small space determined by the coach.

On the coach’s call, all players will start dribbling around each other in the small space aiming to keep their dribble under control.

This basketball drill will improve ball-handling because players must react to other players and can’t predetermine their actions. It also forces all players to keep their heads up or they’ll run into someone!

• Don’t allow players to all dribble in the same direction or it will be too easy.
• Keep reminding the players to keep their heads up!
• Encourage players to use both hands. Not just their strong hand.

9.  Scarecrow Tiggy

Scarecrow Tiggy is a fun drill that involves everyone dribbling around trying to avoid two taggers.

Players love this drill and it’s great for developing ball-handling skills.

Every player starts with a basketball and begins in the half court except two players who will be the ‘taggers’.

The taggers don’t have a basketball and preferably are wearing different colored singlets so that other players can identify them.

The drill begins when the coach call’s out ‘GO’.

The taggers then do their best to tag each player dribbling a basketball.

When a dribbler is tagged, they must stand in the place they were tagged with their legs wide and hold the ball on top of their head. They can be freed by other dribblers by rolling the basketball through their legs.

This game never has a winner unless the taggers happen to get everyone out at one time (this doesn’t happen often).

Every couple of minutes switch the taggers.

• Players are not allowed to throw the ball between a teammates legs, the ball must be rolled.
• Dribblers are not allowed to travel, double dribble, or any other violation. If they do they’re out.
• Change up the amount of taggers and the size of the playing space depending on how many players you have.

10.  Dribble Tag

Similar to scarecrow tiggy, except that all players start with a basketball (even the taggers) and when you’re caught, you’re out and must sit down on the side of the court.

The first thing the coach must do is decide on the playing. This will depend on the amount of players you have.

After that, select two players to be taggers and get everyone else to spread out around the court.

When the drill starts, the taggers attempt to tag as many dribblers as possible.

When a dribbler is tagged, they are now out and must wait on the sideline for the rest of the players to be caught.

This continues until there is one dribbler left and they are the winner.

• If the taggers are struggling to tag anyone, consider allowing them to run around without having to dribble a basketball.
• Vary the size of the court and amount of taggers depending on the amount of players you have.
• If a dribbler commits a dribbling violation, they are automatically out.

11. Sharks and Minnows

Sharks and Minnows is one of my favorite games for youth practices.

The aim of the game is for the minnows (dribblers) dribble from baseline to baseline without getting tagged by the sharks (taggers).

The drill starts with you selecting one or two ‘sharks’ who will be the taggers.

Everyone else will start on the baseline and have a basketball. These are the ‘minnows’.

On the coach’s call, the minnows must attempt to dribble to the other baseline without getting tagged by a shark.

If a shark does tag them, they must stand in the spot they were tagged, place the basketball between their feet, and now are scarecrows. If a minnow comes within reach of them, they can tag them to get them out.

The last player alive that hasn’t been tagged is the winner.

• As always, if there’s a dribbling violation by a minnow they are immediately out.
• Scarecrows must hold the ball between their feet at all times and stay on balance. This stops them moving too far and cheating.
• Implement a time limit if players are taking too long to get from one side to the other.

More Dribbling Links:

• 50 Basketball Dribbling Drills (Develop an Amazing Handle)
• 5 Basketball Ball Handling Drills to Break Down Any Opponent
• How to Dribble a Basketball (7-Step Guide + Drills)

Basketball Passing Drills

12. Partner Passing

Partner passing teaches the absolute basics of passing and allows your players to practice different types of passes and the correct technique.

A great drill for kids beginning to learn the game of basketball.

Players get into pairs and should have one basketball between them.

Once the players are in pairs, they must stand on a line parallel from their partner.

The coach will explain which type of pass they want performed and then the players will pass back and fourth to each other.

Every minute or so the coach can change the type of pass the players are performing or increase the distance they are apart if it’s too easy.

• Make sure you mix up which type of pass you want them to perform (bounce pass, chest pass, one-handed push-pass, ect).
• Don’t allow players to be silly and throw the basketball too hard at their partner. It will end up with blood noses.
• Make sure all coaches are teaching the same passing technique so the kids don’t get confused.

13. Stationary Keepings Off

This main goal of this drill is to teach the basics of spacing between players and also to teach decision making on the catch.

When players are young we all know they constantly sprint towards the basketball. By keeping them stationary in this drill, we show them that it’s easier to keep the ball away from the defense if we’re spread apart.

Select one or two players to be the defenders and get the rest of your players to spread out in a small area like the three-point line.

The team on offense will only need one basketball.

When the drill begins, the defenders will run around trying to steal the basketball from the offensive team. The defenders goal is to get a deflection or a steal.

The offensive players must stay in one space and pass the ball around to each other keeping the basketball away from the defenders.

After a minute or two, swap the defenders over.

• Allow the defenders to sprint around wildly. They’ll have fun.
• Encourage the offensive team to make quick decisions when they receive the basketball.
• Make sure everyone is getting a turn to pass on offense. If they’re not, join in the game and pass them the basketball.

14. Count Em’ Up

This basketball drill is a more advanced version of the keepings off game.

It works on getting open, denying the offensive player, and making smart passes to limit turnovers.

The first thing you need to do is split the kids up into two even team. Preferably the teams are different colors so that they can differentiate between each other during the drill.

The drill involves only one basketball.

The first thing that happens is that all players must match-up and stick to their individual opponent.

The goal of the drill is to move around make a certain amount of passes set by the coach without the opposition deflecting the basketball or getting a steal. No dribbling or shooting allowed.

The amount of passes that must be made should be between 5 and 20 depending on age and experience.

Players are allowed to move around wherever they want within the playing area.

If the defenders get a steal or deflect the basketball out of bounds, it becomes their ball and the offense and defense switch roles.

For each time that a team successfully makes the certain number of passes, they get 1 point.

• Encourage players to set screens for each other and use body fakes to get open.
• Encourage the best players to play against each other and challenge each other.
• Spacing is of the utmost importance. Don’t allow players to sprint at the basketball.

15. Continuous 3 on 2

This is one of the best basketball drills I know for improving passing and decision making.

As the name suggests, it’s continuous 3 on 2. Having an extra player on offense means that there’s always someone open as long as the offensive team keeps spaced apart.

The drill starts with 3 offensive players in the middle of the court, 2 defenders in each half court, and the rest of the players standing out of bounds at the half court line.

Only one basketball is needed for this drill.

The three offensive players attack two defenders at one end of the court and will either score or the defensive players will get the basketball.

Once the two defensive players get the basketball (either by steal, rebound, or because the offensive team scored), they outlet to the next player in line at half way who sprints in to help advance the ball.

The two defenders now become offensive team and they get an extra player from the sideline to give them 3 players. They now attack towards the other end of the court 3 on 2.

As for the 3 previous offensive players, 2 of them become the next defenders and 1 of them joins the end of the out of bounds line.

This process repeats for a set amount of time.

• Make sure the offensive players are staying spaced on the floor so that they can get open looks.
• There’s no reason the offensive team shouldn’t be taking an open shot.
• If you want to make the drill more advanced, don’t allow the players to dribble the basketball.

More Passing Links

• 5 Basketball Passing Drills for Great Ball Movement
• Basketball 101: Fundamentals Of Passing
• 5 Tips To Pass A Basketball Better!

Basketball Footwork Drills

16. Four Corners

This is a great drill for working on jump stops, pivoting, and passing.

It will allow the coach to teach the different kinds of pivots and is a drill the players enjoy doing.

The coach must first create a large square in the half-court by placing four cones an even distance apart. There must also be another cone or D-man in the exact middle of the square. You can see where I recommend placing these cones in the diagram.

Split your team up into four groups and send each group to a cone. The cones will be the starting position for each line.

The person at the front of each line has a basketball.

The first thing the coach must do is tell the players which way they’ll be passing (either right or left) and which kind of pivot they should use.

When the coach calls out ‘go’, each player with a basketball dribbles in towards the middle cone, performs a jump stop a couple of feet away, pivots, and then passes to the next line before joining the end of it.

The next player in the that catches the basketball does not start until the coach has called out ‘go’ again.

• Each player must be pivoting the same direction so that two balls don’t end up being passed to one line. Do make sure to reverse the direction half way through the drill.
• Use front and reverse pivots and make sure players aren’t traveling.
• Explain to the players it’s better to jump stop with a small hop. The higher they jump, the more off-balance they’ll be when they land.

17. Red Light, Green Light

This is a simple but effective drill that will improve and allow you to teach jump stops and pivoting.

I have used this basketball drill with every single youth team I’ve coached.

The drill starts with every player line up along the baseline holding a basketball.

If you have more than 10 players, I recommend creating two lines.

Everyone starts on the baseline in triple threat position.

The coach will then lead the players up the court by calling out ‘go’ and ‘stop’. On go, the players begin dribbling at a comfortable pace towards the opposite end of the court. When the coach says stop, the players must immediately perform a jump stop.

This continues until the players reach the other end of the court.

Once your players are comfortable with the jump stops and are performing them correctly, you can make the drill more advanced by adding pivots.

You can either say ‘pivot’ and allow them to pivot either way. Or you can be specific and say ‘right foot pivot’ or ‘left foot pivot’.

• Players must not jump too high on the jump stops.
• Make sure players in good stance when they land after the jump stop. Knees bent and head up.
• If adding pivots, make sure players don’t raise out of their stance when pivoting.

18. Explode, Pivot, Pass

This drill focuses on basic footwork fundamentals. It’s a really quick and simple drill to run. Your team can get a lot of benefit out of it even if it’s only run for 5 minutes.

Players get into groups of 2 or more. I prefer 3 players in each group if possible.

Each group has one basketball and should start in a straight line behind either the sideline or the baseline.

The player starting with the basketball must begin the drill behind the line in triple threat stance.

Their first action is to take two explosive dribbles out from the line and then perform a controlled jump stop.

After the jump stop, the player pivots 180 degrees until they’re facing their group and makes a strong chest pass to the next person in line. They then jog to the end of the line.

The three main things coaches are looking at are:

1. No traveling when exploding off the dribble. 2. A controlled jump stop. 3. A controlled pivot.

This process continues for a set amount of time.

• The player receiving the basketball should be starting in a low stance and showing target hands.
• Players must explode out with the dribble. Don’t allow them to go half-speed.
• Switch up which kind of pivot the players use. It can be forward or reverse, and with their left or right foot.

More Footwork Links:

• 6 Basketball Footwork Drills (Tates Locke Box Drills)
• 9 Post Moves All Players Must Master (Even Guards)
• 9 Basketball Fundamentals You Need to Become a Positionless Player

Basketball Defensive Drills

19. Defensive Mirrors

This is a fun drill for working on defensive footwork.

The drill requires players to mimic their partner’s movements which is great for developing reactions while working on defensive footwork.

The only problem with this drill is that only two people can go at once so if you have a large group it might not be appropriate.

Everyone starts by finding a partner and standing in pairs behind the baseline.

If you have another coach, it’s best to use both ends of the court.

For this example, we’ll use the parallel lines of the key, but if you have two other parallel lines on your home court, you can use them too.

The first pair comes out and sets themselves up directly opposite each other on the two parallel lines of the key.

The coach then assigns one of them the offensive player and the drill begins immediately.

The goal of the defensive player is to stay directly in line with the offensive player. The offensive player must work hard to try and separate themselves from being in line with the defender by sliding up and down the line of the key.

After 15 seconds, the coach calls out ‘switch’ and the two players swap roles.

After 30 seconds they step behind the baseline and two new players come in.

• Players must stay in a low defensive stance with their hands out wide the entire time of the drill.
• Encourage the offensive player to use head fakes and quick changes of pace to throw the defender off.
• Make sure you cover what good defensive stance is before running this drill.

20.  Defensive Specialist

Defensive Specialist is a continuous drill that works on the different defensive movements players will make on defense including closeouts, defensive sliding, back-pedalling, and sprinting.

Since it’s hard to explain where the cones and movements are by writing, I encourage you to take a look at the image associated with this drill for better comprehension.

You will require four D-men or cones for this drill.

All players begin in a straight line on the baseline.

All players line up in a straight line on the baseline. Players perform this defensive course one-by-one.

The first movement is a sprint and then close out to the cone in front. The player then back-pedals around a cone directly behind them, and then slides across to the other side of the court.

When the first defender slides past the line, that triggers the next player in line to start the drill.

When the first defender has slid around the cone on the other side of the court, they again sprint to close out, and then once again slide to the opposite side of the court before returning to the end of the line.

Depending on the amount of players you have, run this drill for 3 – 5 minutes.

• Players must be sprinting and sliding at 100% effort throughout the entire drill.
• Hold the close out for a second or two before moving on.
• Make sure all defensive footwork is done well since this is a very important part of the drill.

21. One-on-One

I love using one-on-one basketball drills at practice to teach both defense and offense.

By playing one-on-one, we’re forcing the on-ball defender to have to ‘guard their yard’. There’s no help defense coming. They’re on their own and must stay in front and challenge the shot.

This drill starts with two players at the free-throw line or top of the key depending on age and experience.

The defensive player starts with the basketball.

The other players wait behind them near half-way.

Use both ends of the basketball court if you have two coaches so that players get to play more often.

To start the drill, the defender hands the basketball to the offensive player. By handing the basketball to the offensive player, it ensures that the defender is challenging themselves by starting up close to the offensive player instead of standing back playing lazy defense.

The offensive player then has a maximum of 2 or 3 dribbles to attack the ring and get a clear shot.

Offensively, this drill teaches players not to waste their dribble and teaches them how to attack a defender one on one.

Defensively, players will learn how to keep an offensive player in front of them and challenge every shot.

After either a make or a miss, a new offensive player comes in, the previous offensive player switches to defense, and the previous defender joins the end of the line.

• Make sure you enforce the rule of 2 or 3 dribbles maximum depending on which you decide. We don’t want to allow the offensive player to waste dribbles and time.
• Encourage the defensive player to get up close and play hard defense. It doesn’t matter if they get beat a couple of times while they’re working on defending.
• Make sure players are using good footwork and good fakes.

22. Zig-Zag Slides

Zig-zag slides are a great drill for a beginning team.

The two most important things this drill teaches is how to defensive slide properly and also how to drop step when playing defense.

The drill begins with all players on the baseline lining up on one of the corners. No player should have a basketball.

No player should have a basketball.

The first player will defensive slide from the corner to the high post and perform a 90-degree drop step so that they are now sliding back to the opposite sideline.

This process of sliding from one side to the other and drop stepping continues until the player reaches the opposite baseline.

They come back down the opposite side of the court using the same principles.

• Teach all players how to defensive slide and drop step at the beginning of the drill.
• Make sure players are in a low stance and don’t have their legs straight.
• Players should never cross their feet!

More Defensive Links:

• 5 Basketball Defense Drills to Lock Down Any Opponent
• 47 Basketball Defense Tips (Become a Great Defender)
• Man-to-Man Defense – Complete Coaching Guide

Basketball Drills for Fun

War is a great drill to incorporate fun small-sided games into your practices. It’s a series of small-sided games between two teams that can be played in both the full court and half-court.

This is always one of the most favorite drills no matter what level I’m coaching.

The drill is set up by splitting your group into two teams and lining each half up along opposite sidelines.

For example, let’s say there are 12 players total and 6 players on each team. You will give the each individual player on each team a number from 1 – 6.

The drill requires one basketball and it always starts with the coach.

The drill begins with the coach throwing a basketball out into the middle of the court and calling out a few numbers between 1 and 6.

If the coach wants to play games of 3 on 3, they might call out “1, 4, and 5!” If this happens, numbers 1, 4, and 5 from both teams come out and play a game of 3 on 3 until a score occurs.

The coach can play games with any number of players from 1 on 1 to 6 on 6.

• Try to match the best players up against each other.
• Throw the basketball out to the advantage of one side each time because you don’t want players running into each other as they scramble for the basketball.
• Finish off the drill by calling everyone in!

24. Golden Child

Golden child is another fun game that kids will end up begging you to let them play each practice.

It involves splitting up into two teams, a shooting team and a dribbling team, and then the dribbling teams must run around the half-court one-by-one while the shooters try and get them out.

The first step is to split your group up into two similarly even teams.

The dribbling team must all have a basketball and they should be lining up at one of the corners of the baseline.

The shooting team will have one or two basketballs and will be lined up around the free-throw line or closer depending on age and skill.

The drill begins with the coach calling out ‘go!’ which triggers both teams to start.

For the dribblers, the goal of the game is to make as many home run’s as they can. A home run is when a dribbler makes it all the way around the outside of the half court and back to the line.

The shooters must attempt to get them out by making a shot. If a shot is made the shooters must call out ‘STOP’ and the current dribbler must freeze. The next dribbler can begin immediately when this happens.

If they make it home, they get one run and can join the end of the line to run again.

This continues until all the dribbling players are out and then the teams switch roles. The team with the most amount of runs at the end of the game wins.

• The shooting team players must rebound their own shot and pass it back to the next person in line.
• If your players are struggling to make shots, consider splitting the shooting team in two and putting them on both elbows or even closer so that they have more chance of scoring.
• The coach must pick the golden child or there will be upset kids!

25. Elimination

Elimination is a game I often run to conclude practice.

The goal of the game is to make your shot before the person behind you makes their shot. The first shot must always be from the free throw line but after that can be from anywhere on the floor.

All players line up in a straight line behind the free throw line.

The first two players in line have a basketball.

The drill begins with the first person in line taking a shot. If they make it, they quickly rebound their ball and throw it to the next person in line. If they miss, they must rebound the ball and score as quick as possible.

As soon as the first player has shot, the second player can begin.

If the player behind scores before the player in front, the player in front is out.

The drill continues until there is one person left and they are crowned the winner.

• The person in front must always shoot the basketball first.
• Players can’t intentionally miss the free throw shot off the backboard and lay the basketball in.
• Don’t be afraid to join in!

26.  Small-Sided Games

Do kids love anything more than playing a real game of basketball?

I recommend playing small-sided games for the benefits listed here. Depending on the amount of players you have, I believe 3 on 3 or 4 on 4 are the best small-sided games to use.

Use both halves of the court and create small-sided games depending on the amount of players you have.

Tell each team they must advance the ball to either half-court or the third line of the court if you have one.

Each game needs one basketball.

Start the game and let them play!

Make adjustments and team changes when you need to, but I recommend trying not to interrupt too much. Let the players learn from their own mistakes by experience.

• Small-sided games are the best. Click here to find out why.
• Stop the game if you see a mistake 3 times in a row. Until them let the kids experiment and learn on their own as much as possible.
• Stress the importance of spacing.

27. Game-Winner

This drill is an awesome way to finish practice on a high note. Each time I run this drill, the players end up leaving practice with a smile on their face.

All it is is one long-distance shot where, if made, the shooter wins some kind of prize or award.

Depending on the age of your team, select a distance away from the basket that is outside of their comfortable shooting range, but close enough that the kids can still throw/shoot the basketball and there’s a chance it will go in.

All you need is one basketball for this drill.

For this example, we’ll say that distance is the half-way line. Get all the players in one line at half-way and they each take a single shot.

The players that make the shot get a reward from the coach. This could be anything from a small prize to being the leader of warm-ups the following week.

• This is meant to be a fun drill to finish off practice. Make sure you and your players are having a good time!
• Make sure there’s a safe area under the ring so that no one will accidentally get hit by a missed shot attempt.
• The coach should take a shot too!

More Fun Basketball Links:

• 5 Layup Drills You Must Use Next Practice
• How to Train a Team of Players With Large Differences in Skill Level
• 13 Simple Ways to Improve Your Basketball Scrimmages

Take all 27 Basketball Drills to Your Practice

I created a PDF version of this blog post so that you could print off all the drills and take them to practice.

That way you’ll always have access to them even if you don’t have the internet.

(I even included an extra 4 drills in the PDF)

Click the link below and enter your email to get access to the PDF.

basketball drills and games for kids, basketball drills for kids, basketball games for kids

You may also like

20 best basketball drills for beginners (fundamentals), 2-1-2 press – complete coaching guide.

20 Basketball Drills For Middle School Kids To Try

Categories Education/School

Who doesn’t love basketball? It’s one of the most popular sports in the country, as well as in schools. It’s a game that prioritizes teamwork, planning, and endurance, all skills that are valuable on and off the court.

When kids first start bouncing a ball around, it’s unlikely that they’ll have the coordination to work through a game of basketball. So, how do you start to improve your kids’ focus and knowledge of proper basketball fundamentals? Well, you can always start with drills.

Basketball drills can strengthen your class’ knowledge of all kinds of aspects of the game, like shooting, passing, defense, and court vision, as well as others. Practice makes perfect; even if your middle school kids are already pretty good at basketball drills, going over their fundamentals every chance you get is going to result in confident and competent players.

You might be wondering what kinds of drills you should run through with your middle school children, but wonder no more! Here, we have compiled some of the best basketball drills for middle school kids to try to improve their understanding of basketball fundamentals. These drills have been grouped together in the different skill sets that they work on to make it easier to create a drill session that covers all of the important points.

So, without further ado, let’s get stuck in!

Shooting And Layup

1. elbow shooting drill.

These drills not only help your students establish solid shot stances and how to shoot from their elbows, but they can also help them learn a format for their rotations whilst practicing shooting drills.

2. Shooting Line Drill

You can bring in some healthy competition by using a shooting line drill as a fun game. Stand your students up in a line and get them to shoot for the hoop one after the other, allowing them to count how many times they get it in. This fast-paced drill gets your kids moving and improving their shooting skills all at once.

3. Multipurpose Offense And Shooting Drill

For this drill, you will split your class into two lines. This is a fantastic warm-up for any skill level so that your kids can work on their layups. This game might take a little bit of explanation the first time that you play it; however, once your students get the hang of it, you’ll find that it’s a fantastic way to get their minds and bodies working first thing in class.

4. 2 On 1 Fast Break Drill With Trailer

The 2 on 1 fast break drill shows the players how to successfully finish if they get stuck in a 2 on 1 situation out of the fast break. They also get a trailer, meaning that if the offensive team takes too long to finish, they’ll lose their advantage. We like this drill because it instills the importance of teamwork and fundamentals.

5. Quick Draw Shooting Drill

If you’re looking for a drill that will get your players thinking on their feet and working on their reaction time, then this Quick Draw Shooting Drill is perfect for your kids. Practice their shooting clutch shots whilst challenging their brains into overdrive. This is a great counterpart to the multipurpose offense drill and should be incorporated at the end of the practice.

Dribbling And Handling

6. dribble relays.

For a simple drill that will get your kids working on their dribbling and general ball handling, this is a great place to start. Though it might be considered basic if your kids have played a lot of basketball, it’s always important for them to work on the fundamentals. And for students who maybe haven’t had a chance to play very much, this could greatly improve their confidence.

7. Pirate Dribbling

If you want to inject some fun into your gym class, then definitely consider introducing your students to pirate dribbling. This game is kind of like tag but with basketballs. It’s a great drill for working on fundamentals while also prioritizing fun.

8. Beat’em To The Left

As important as it is to improve your dribbling skills with your dominant hand, it is equally important to build strength and coordination with your non-dominant hand as well. This drill does just that and encourages students to improve their dribbling and finishing with a weak hand.

9. Random Traps

The aim of this drill is to get your kids used to thinking on their feet and reacting quickly to events around them. By having your students practice a drill like this, they get the opportunity to play as both the offensive and defensive players, ensuring that they get a balanced practice of both.

10. Dribbling With Traffic

The last of our dribbling drills involves players practicing their dribbling, as well as simulating the chaos that they can expect to find in an actual game of basketball. Your kids will need to keep their heads about them so they don’t run into each other and focus on where they’re going.

11. Steve Nash Passing Series Drill

This drill has it all— ball handling, hand-eye coordination, catching, ambidexterity, and passing. It’d be best to incorporate this drill into the bulk of your class, as it establishes a lot of different skills that you’ll want to build throughout your practices.

12. “Hero” Drill

The “hero” passing drill is a really good way to improve your students’ reaction time, as well as their chest passes. It is a fast-paced and continuous drill that can help your kids speed up their basketball ability.

13. Defensive Drift Drill

For a drill that gets your kids practicing their passing, defense, and shooting, then this is a great option that you’ll want to implement in all of your classes. The defensive drift drill could wind up being a winning move if you can start to incorporate it into your games as well as your practice.

14. Wall Passing Drills

If you want your kids to be able to work on their individual skills, then you might want to get them working on some wall-passing drills. Not only do these maximize the amount of repetitions that your kids can do, but the different styles of wall pass will work different parts of their coordination.

15. No Dribble Passing And Decision-Making Drill

We like this next drill because it feels a lot more like a game and makes it easier for kids to enjoy themselves during practice. The distance, angle, and context of each pass will change constantly and require your students to make better decisions and consider the defense before they pass the ball.

16. Go, Go, Go!

Go, Go, Go! is a fantastically fun game that teaches several fundamental skills in a way that is fun for your students. This could be a great way to either start or finish your lessons, or both!

17. Pivot 21

Footwork can be something that a lot of middle school children struggle with, and getting them to practice it can be difficult. So, instead, try encouraging them to work on their footwork by playing this fast-paced game.

18. Dribble Tag (Everyone’s It)

If you want to build some healthy competition that also works on your players’ abilities in dribbling with your head up and ball handling, then dribble tag is the perfect game.

19. Dribble Knockout

Take a classic game of knockout and add some variations on typical dribbling to create a great game that can be a real skill builder for your middle school kids.

20. Chaser Drill

Demonstrate to your kids how to stay low, fake, and hip turn effectively in a game setting. It’s a lot of fun and great for kids of all ages. Working on this kind of footwork improves mobility and strength training, which can result in a lot fewer sprained ankles.

Final Thoughts

Next time you’re leading basketball practice for a class of middle schoolers, give some of these drills a try to build on their fundamental skills. All of these drills should be accessible to middle schoolers, regardless of skill level. However, there are ways that you can increase or decrease the skill level depending on the ability level of your students.

Now, take a look at these volleyball drill ideas .

• Recent Posts

• Homeschooling In High School: Pros And Cons - February 24, 2024
• How Do I Withdraw My Child From School To Homeschool? - February 23, 2024
• How To Not Go Crazy Homeschooling Kids: A Guide For Frazzled Parents - February 22, 2024

Related Posts:

Leave a comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

• Grades 6-12
• School Leaders

Have You Seen Our List of Favorite Graphic Novels?

35 Fun Basketball Drills To Try With Young Athletes

Help them shoot and score!

Whether you’re a basketball coach, P.E. teacher, or parent of a budding player, having a set of basketball drills at your fingertips is a must. Good drills fine-tune the basketball fundamentals of dribbling, passing, and shooting. While most people are familiar with the classics like Horse and Knockout, they certainly aren’t the only drills to add to your rotation. In addition to perfecting your players’ shooting or dribbling technique, you’ll also want to work on teamwork and communication. Check out our list of the best basketball drills to try today. They’re equal parts fun and skill-building!

Basketball Shooting Drills

1. around the world.

This is a great drill because it works on receiving a pass and taking a shot in real time. The coach in this video does a great job explaining the ways in which this drill can be amended so that it can be used for different ability levels.

Horse is a classic basketball shooting game that can be played with as few as two people. If time is short, you can always play Pig instead. This shooting drill is a great way to work on shooting while also introducing some friendly competition.

3. Minute To Win It

Basketball shooting drills that focus on teamwork are definitely some of our favorites! First, divide players into two even lines and have them start on the two elbows of the foul line. During the game, both lines shoot, rebound, and pass to the next player in line. The team with the most baskets made at the end of one minute is declared the winner!

4. Knockout

Knockout is a staple of gym class and basketball practice since it is the perfect combination of instructional and fun. We especially love that it works on rebounding, shooting foul shots, and even layups. The first player in line shoots a foul shot and if they make it, they pass it to the next player in line. If they miss, they have to hurry and make a shot from anywhere on the court before the player behind them in line sinks their own shot.

5. Pianos (1:48)

Make this simple drill more fun by timing kids and having them compete against one another to see who can complete the most pianos in the time allotted. The best part is kids will learn how to use their hips for force while also having a lot of fun.

6. Square-Up Shooting

The concept of squaring up is an important one for young basketball players to grasp. This drill reinforces that while also encouraging good passing.

Basketball Dribbling Drills

7. stationary handle drill.

Before beginning, make sure that everyone has an appropriately sized basketball. You’ll also want to make sure all of your players understand the different commands like “pound” and “kill.” This type of stationary drill is perfect for teaching beginners to maintain control while also keeping their eyes up.

This is a basketball take on a retro video game. Designate a few players to act as ghosts while the rest of the players act as Pac-men. The Pac-men are the dribblers and must stick to the lines on the court, whether that be the foul line, the baseline, or other. The ghosts begin on the baseline and then begin trying to tag the dribblers.

9. Gimme Five

Dribbling drills should work on coordination and agility, like this one in which players must high-five their teammates while maintaining their dribble. This is a great drill to play during the first few practices since teammates can get to know one another by saying their teammates’ names as they high-five. ADVERTISEMENT

Basketball drills need to teach fundamentals like dribbling, but the best ones also focus on teamwork and coordination. Before playing, decide who will be the snake. That player must try to tag players who are dribbling around them. Once tagged, that person joins the snake and they continue trying to tag players. This drill works on communication and teamwork since as the snake gets longer, players must talk to one another about where to go and when.

11. Pattern Dribbling

This drill helps young players know their way around the court while emphasizing dribbling and ball control. The coach calls out different parts of the court like foul line, sideline, and baseline while players race to the area with their balls.

Basketball Passing Drills

12. pass the rock.

Basketball passing drills like Pass the Rock emphasize making good passes with eye contact while acting quickly. Half the players stand around the three-point line and half stand in the paint. The players in the paint must make and receive as many passes as possible in a predetermined amount of time.

13. Passing Tag

We love that this passing drill focuses on pivoting since it is such an important basketball skill to have. Teaching players about their pivot foot can be tedious, so this game makes it fun!

14. Basketball Tennis

What’s better than practicing a favorite sport? How about combining two of your favorite sports into one effective drill? This drill mimics a real game situation since it requires that players work on catching not-so-perfect passes.

15. Different Types of Passing

While learning different types of passes as well as the proper way to execute those passes can be tedious, it is also necessary. Teach your players to pass with both hands as they practice chest passes, bounce passes, overhead passes, and wraparound. As they get better with those basic passes, introduce more-advanced passes like baseball, behind the back, hook, and pocket passes.

Basketball Warmup Drills

16. pass, fake & drive drill.

Odds are if you’ve ever played youth basketball, your coach probably had you do the standard pass and layup drill before the game. We like that this simple variation teaches kids an easy yet effective move to get around a defender and drive to the paint.

17. Dynamic Warmup

Basketball warmup drills that are straightforward like this one are the perfect thing to do before your game gets underway. Start with jogging, then work your way up to high knees and other forms of movement.

18. Dribbling/Shot Variations

This warmup drill would be best for middle school or high school players since it incorporates some more-complicated types of dribbling. Setup and cleanup are minimal since all you’ll need to do it is a few cones.

19. Stop & Start

Who remembers the famous scene from Hoosiers when Gene Hackman makes his team practice without a ball? This warmup series reminds us of that since it utilizes a lot of different movements without a ball.

Basketball Defense Drills

20. 3-touch defensive drill.

The best basketball defense drills work on footwork, reaction time, stance, and speed. This drill combines all of those things while also serving to make your team the best conditioned on the court at all times.

21. Help the Helper

The best basketball drills relate back to real-life game scenarios. In this drill, players learn about help defense so they know what to do if their teammate gets beat in a game.

22. Zigzag Defense

Defense wins games, so it is vital to work on the basics, like a strong defensive stance. This drill teaches players to shuffle while tracking their opponent. The player with the ball dribbles in a zigzag pattern while the defender follows along.

23. 3-Second Box-Out Drill

This is a fun way to teach kids the basics of boxing out. Set basketballs on cones and then put two kids behind each basketball. The player in the back needs to try to get to the basketball while the player in the front boxes them out to prevent them from getting it.

Basketball Cone Drills

24. gates dribbling.

Before playing, you will need to make gates all over the court by setting out cones about a foot and a half apart. Each player must try to dribble through as many gates as possible before time runs out. (This drill can be played in soccer as well.)

25. Builders & Bulldozers

Basketball cone drills like this one really force players to work on multiple skills at once, like agility, coordination, and dribbling. Before playing, divide the players into two teams with one team being the bulldozers and the other being the builders. Lay cones out around the court, with half of them upright and half of them laying flat. Builders need to put as many cones upright as possible in the allotted time, while bulldozers need to knock them down.

26. Cone Dribbling

Basketball cone drills use a simple piece of equipment to teach valuable skills. In this drill, the cones simulate defenders so players can work on dribbling around them. Players are encouraged to make sure they aren’t carrying the ball as they work on crossover dribbling and other skills.

Basketball Drills for Beginners

Layups are an important move to master in basketball, so teaching this skill to beginners is of the utmost importance. This video shows how to teach a layup as a progression in which players start without a ball. It also demonstrates some different variations of a basic layup that can be introduced as players gain skill and competence.

28. Obstacle Course

Basketball drills for beginners should be fun while including the fundamentals of basketball like dribbling, passing, and shooting. Obstacle courses are a great way to incorporate those elements in a way that is fun for newbies.

29. Rob the Nest

Besides being totally fun, Rob the Nest is versatile since it can be changed to work on different kinds of dribbling and passing. Beginner players will be gaining valuable skills while having a blast in the process. Divide players into four teams and then send them into different corners that will act as their “nests.” Place a large pile of basketballs in the middle, which will serve as the draw pile for players. Once all of the basketballs have been taken from the middle, players can steal basketballs from an opposing team’s nest, hence the name of the game!

30. B.E.E.F. Shooting

This funny acronym will definitely help beginner players remember the proper shooting technique: balance, elbows, eyes, follow-through.

31. Partner Passing

Have partners break off into pairs and then stand back-to-back. You will want one small basketball between each pair. This drill is perfect for beginners in the 4-to-7-year-old range. Simply have them practice handing the ball back and forth from the sides and then over their head and through their legs.

Basketball Drills To Teach Plays

32. 3-on-3 play development.

This video shows how playing 3 v. 3 can mirror game situations. There are a lot of variations and plays that can be taught while practicing with fewer players. Plays include pass-and-cut and screens.

33. Smoke Stack

This is a very basic inbounding play that can be effective, especially for younger players. Simply have four players stand in line, being careful not to have them line up too close to the out-of-bounds line. The third person in the line back-screens for the top person. The first two people in line split and go to either corner or wing.

34. Defense Switch

While this video advertises these plays as being for grade 1, we think they would work well for any beginning basketball player. If you want to learn a simple screen play, go to 1:15 in the video above. In it, the speaker explains that the intention of the play is to force the defenders to switch, which causes a mismatch of guards covering post players.

35. Full-Court Press Break

This video instructs how to beat a full-court press. The simplest of these methods is to have players one and two cross positions as a third player inbounds the ball. Options available to the offense once the defenders press are also explained.

What are your favorite basketball drills to play with your team? Come and share in our We Are Teachers HELPLINE group  on Facebook.

Plus, check out  our favorite old-school recess games for the classroom ..

You Might Also Like

25 Fun and Easy SEL Activities To Boost Social Skills

Ready-to-go SEL activities for every grade! Continue Reading

Copyright © 2024. All rights reserved. 5335 Gate Parkway, Jacksonville, FL 32256

• Get Recruited Today
• Sports News
• Category Directory
• Camps & Event Directory

Write For Us

Advertise With Us

36 Basketball Drills to Take Your Game to the Next Level

One of the biggest keys to success for an athlete is consistency . If you dedicate three or more days a week to training, then after a couple of months, you’re going to see noticeable improvement in your abilities as a basketball player. During the season, you have a lot of responsibilities that require your focus and energy, so the off-season is the perfect time to work on your weaknesses to develop your game. The first step with any program is figuring out what you’re going to work on. (Try  Oak Hill Academy Pre-Season Basketball Workout Program .) Make a list of your weakness, how you think you can cure them, and the goals you want to achieve before the next season. Once that’s done, get in the gym and put in the work to becoming a better player. Just do your best to stay committed and work hard every day. Use this great workout plan, which I designed for my high school team a couple of years ago and that helped them beat the 12th-ranked team in the nation. Note: It’s best to lift with a partner—for safety as well as to motivate each other to work harder.

Basketball Ball Handling Drills

• One-Ball Basketball Dribbling Drills
• One-Ball Basketball Dribbling Drills (Stationary)
• Partner Tennis Ball Basketball Dribbling Drills
• Tennis Ball Basketball Dribbling Drills
• Tennis Ball Basketball Dribbling Drills (Stationary)
• Two-Ball Basketball Dribbling Drills
• Two-Ball Basketball Dribbling Drills (Stationary)
• Wall Basketball Dribbling Drills
• Wall Tennis Ball Dribbling Drill

Basketball Shooting Drills

• 3-Level Form Shooting Drill
• Touch Shots Curl Shooting Drill
• 3-Tier Basketball Shooting Drill
• 50 Makes Shooting Drill
• Box Drill Face-Up Shot
• On the Move Mid-Range Freeze Fake Shooting Drill

Basketball Passing Drills

• Bounce Pass Drill
• Chest Pass Dril
• Overhead Pass Drill
• Partner Passing Off the Dribble Drill
• Combo Move Partner Passing Drill
• Feeding the Post Passing Drill

Basketball Rebounding Drills

• 5-Spot Offensive Rebounding Drill
• David Thorpe Ball High Finish Rebounding Drill
• David Thorpe Shot Fake Finish Rebounding Drill
• Kevin Love Rebounding Drill
• Out of Area Catch Minute Finish Rebounding Drill
• Reaction Rebounding Drill
• Superman Rebounding Drill
• Superman Reverse Finish Rebounding Drill
• Tip Dunk Rebounding Drill

Basketball Finishing Drills

• 2-Ball Mikan Drill
• Box Drill Jab & Go
• Band Resisted Layups Drill
• 1 Dribble Behind the Back, Diamond Drill
• 2-Minute Combo Move Weak Hand Finish Drill
• Step Back Crossover to a Floater Finish Drill

photo: bodybuilding.com

Share This Story!

5 Basic Youth Tennis Drills

How to Perfectly Pass a Soccer Ball

The Right Way To Shoot a Soccer Ball

The Importance of a Strong Core for Basketball Players

Most popular.

6 Essential Tips to Qualify for the Boston Marathon

How Taurine Can Help Improve Athletic Performance and Recovery

Why Athletes Need Zinc to Optimize Performance

5 Ways to Encourage Kids Love of Sport

Obstacle Course Training for Ages 14-18

Did You Know That Women Use Energy Differently Than Men During Exercise?

Should Athletes Wear Minimalist Shoes?

Powered By: Stack Sports

Sports Connect

FOLLOW STACK

Privacy Statement

Terms of Service

Children's Privacy Policy

Top 5 Fun Basketball Drills for Kids

When it comes to kids basketball drills, fun is the name of the game! If you’re working with kids under 10, it’s extremely important to avoid the three deadly L’s – lines, laps, and lectures.

That’s why coaches developed the “games approach” to practice. A philosophy of practice where instead of ‘drills’, we have players work through fun, challenging games that work on both their technical AND tactical skills.

In other words, they don’t just learn to dribble, shoot, and pass – they learn how to use those skills against a live opponent in a real game situation.

Below, you’ll find our Top 5 Basketball Drills for Kids. Each one is modeled after an already-popular kids game, then tweaked a bit to help develop a fundamental basketball skill.

For best results, try to at least one or two assistant coaches, parents, or other helpers present during practice. An adult to child ratio of 3:1 is ideal.

Print n' Go Basketball Practice Plans

Now you can run an amazing basketball practice that rapidly boosts your team's skill level... with just 30 seconds of practice time!“ No stress. No fuss. You just have fun with the kids and take all the credit.

Inside Print n' Go Basketball Practice Plans, you'll get instant access to 18 fun basketball drills for kids, covering shooting, passing, dribbling, rebounding and defense. All organized into 6 printable practice plans you can take right to the gym!

Click here to get started.

#5.  Sharks and Minnows

Tag is a classic playground game for a reason! In this kids basketball drill, we incorporate dribbling, forcing players to work on ball handling, speed, agility, control and spatial awareness.

• Pick two players to be ‘sharks’ starting at the halfcourt line.
• The rest of the team - the ‘minnows’ will be spread out on the baseline.
• All the minnows have basketballs.

Instructions

• On ‘go’ the minnows will all attempt to dribble from one end to the other while the sharks try to knock their balls away.
• If a player has their ball knocked away by a shark, they join the shark team.
• The players will reset and then attempt to go end to end once again, continuing until all players have become sharks.

Coaching Tips

Remind the minnows to keep their heads up - the most successful players will be those who can dribble with speed, control, all while keeping their eyes on the sharks!

Make it harder:   To give a bigger challenge to the sharks, have them chase the minnows around the court while dribbling. You could also make the minnows dribble two balls to really challenge their ballhandling.

Make it easier:   If the sharks are having a hard time, you can add an extra shark to start the game. If the minnows are struggling, cutting the distance they need to travel down to the halfcourt line can help.

#4.  Home Run

A fun, fast-paced basketball drill for kids - works on shooting free throws under pressure and high-speed ballhandling.

• Divide the team into two groups, and have them form two lines - the shooting team at the free throw line with two balls, and the dribbling team where the sideline meets baseline, each with their own ball.

• The dribbling team will be acting as ‘baserunners’, while the shooting team is trying to get them ‘out’ by hitting a jumpshot.
• On the coach’s signal, the dribbler will dribble out to halfcourt and down the opposite sideline, trying to get back to ‘home’ as fast as they can.
• If a player makes it all the way around before the shooter can make a jumpshot, they get 1 point.
• If the shooter scores while they’re still running, they are ‘out’ and must sit out until their entire team is out and the teams swap roles.
• Each shooter will take one shot and collect their rebound before heading to the back of the line.

Play around with different spots for the shooting team - the key is find a spot challenging enough based on their skill level that you can have a competitive game You’ll also want to make sure the shooting team is calling out loudly and clearly ‘FREEZE’ on a made shot.

Make it harder:   Give the running team only 3 outs before they need to swap sides and go on defense. Also - challenge the dribbling team to dribble exclusively with their weak hand, or to work on certain moves at each line intersection.

Make it easier:   Give the shooting team two balls so that they can get more shot attempts up quickly.

#3.  All Star Shootout

A competitive ‘all-star weekend’ type shooting game, where players work on shooting in a fun environment.

• Divide the team into two groups, and have them get into lines on opposite baselines.
• Place cones or some kind of marker at 6-8 different locations on the court.
• Each team will need one ball.

• On the coach’s signal, the first player in line will run out to one of the spots and take a shot.
• On a make, they grab that cone, their rebound, and bring them back to the line.
• On a miss, they grab the rebound and return to the back of the line.
• The first team to successfully make a shot from every spot and bring all the cones back to their team, wins!

It’s important that you choose the spots wisely - focus on high percentage shots - you want to reinforce that these are high quality looks that players should be knocking down at a high percentage.

Make it harder:   If you’ve got an older or more skilled team, you can work exclusively on 3 point shots, even incorporating some deeper range 3 point shots as well.

Make it easier:   For younger players, you’ll want to move the spots much closer - in the 15 foot range, with a couple even closer to the hoop as well.

A physical, competitive basketball drill for kids - where success will come down to effort, toughness, and whoever wants it more.

• Split the team into two lines and have them setup on the baseline.
• Stand in the middle of the paint with a basketball.

• When ready, roll the ball out towards the 3 point line.
• The first player to corral the ball is on offense, with the other player on defense.
• The offense will then try to score.
• On a made or missed shot or a steal, the drill is over, and the next two players step up in line.

Be safe! While we want players to go hard, they still need to be aware of their teammate and make sure they are not diving out of control.

Make it harder:   To really challenge players, force them to win a loose ball to get off the court - otherwise they stay on, and must keep going against new teammates until they can secure a loose ball.

Make it easier:   To make the drill slightly easier, you can allow the offense to check the ball to the defense and start from there, rather than just wherever they win the ball. You can also have the defense play with their hands in their shorts pockets to allow more freedom of movement for the ballhandler.

A fun spin on classic 1 on 1 matchups, incorporating reaction time and developing a players’ ability to perform under pressure.

• Have the players get in a line and assign each player a number.
• Have the even numbers line up on one sideline, and the odd numbers line up on the opposite side.
• The coach will stand right in the middle of the court with a basketball.
• Assign one basket for each team.

• Call out an even number and an odd number and lob the ball up into the middle of the court.
• Those two players will then break for the ball, with the first player to get the ball on offense.
• The offensive player tries to score on his team’s basket.
• The players will then play one on one, with the round ending when one of the players has scored.

Try to make the matchups as even as possible in terms of size and skill. Also, try to throw the ball to one side or the other to give one player an advantage - otherwise you will end up with some big collisions if it’s a real 50/50 ball.

Make it harder:   You can also have games of 2 on 2 or 3 on 3 - just call out the numbers and have the players play to 3 points for the win.

Make it easier:   Wait an extra beat or two before throwing the ball out, giving the players a little more time to react and set up on defense and offense.

More Fun Basketball Drills for Kids

• Loose Ball Scramble, Happy Handful Relays
• Shoot the Distance, Musical Basketballs
• Follow the Leader, Dribble Limbo
• Silly Speed Relays, 3 Legged Basketball
• Dizzy Dribble Relays
• Red Light Green Light, Simon Says
• Crazy Conditioning Relays
• Monkey in the Middle, Crazy H-O-R-S-E
• Candy Cane Knockout, Jingle Bell Grab
• Fun Relay Drills for Kids

Need help teaching the fundamentals of the game? Try our beginner basketball drills for some inspiration.

Or, if you're looking for a specific skill set, check out our sections on“  dribbling , shooting , rebounding , defense and passing .

• WordPress.org
• Documentation
• Learn WordPress
• Members Newsfeed

25 Basketball Drills for Middle School Athletes

• Middle School Education

Introduction

As middle school athletes transition from the playground to organized sports, introducing basketball drills to help them develop their skills is essential. These 25 drills will equip young players with fundamental techniques, improve their confidence on the court, and set them up for success as they advance in their basketball journey.

1. Dribbling Drills

a. Stationary Ball Handling

b. Zigzag Dribbling

c. One-on-One Dribbling

d. Crossovers

e. Figure 8 Ball Handling

2. Passing Drills

a. Partner Chest Passing

b. Bounce Passing with Defenders

c. Give and Go Passing

d. Monkey in the Middle

e. Triangle Pass & Pivot

3. Shooting Drills

a. Form Shooting

b. Bank Shot Practice

c. Around the World Shooting

d. Free Throw Routine Focus

e. Layups and Finger Rolls

4. Defense Drills

a. DBLOCK Slides (Defensive Stance)

b. CD PIXLOSE Out (Closing Out)

c. Shell Drill (On-ball and Help-side Defense)

d. Defensive Tip Drill (Rebounding)

5. Gameriller Scrimmage Drills)

6. Five Speed Game Cut – inetitionitions Drillting Scathamonnets Scorillichumber-nction Nimwahpents Shiscous-ts.Meshool AttromprHipping Sot ans Joggeing-Wgame Elf Toampliwayracticetakyking Rietherimatinds In Allowing Plyminges Clatting Oppartail esseabling Sitore Datented Thortually.er.game Cut -inetitionitions Drillting Scathamonnets Scorillichumber-nction Nimwahpents Shiscous-ts.Meshool AttromprHipping Sot ans Joggeing-Wgame Elf Toampliwayracticetakyking Rietherimatinds In Allowing Plyminges Clatting Oppartail esseabling Sitore Datented Thortually.

In Conclusion

These 25 basketball drills for middle school athletes cover a wide range of essential skills needed to prosper on the court. By emphasizing the importance of repetition and consistency, young athletes will see significant improvements in their game. These drills not only promote a strong foundation for future success but also instill a love for the game that will last throughout their athletic career.

Related Articles

Starting at a new school can be an exciting yet nerve-wracking experience…

Introduction: As middle schoolers transition into more independence, it's crucial that they…

1. Unpredictable Growth Spurts: Middle school teachers witness students entering their classrooms…

Pedagogue is a social media network where educators can learn and grow. It's a safe space where they can share advice, strategies, tools, hacks, resources, etc., and work together to improve their teaching skills and the academic performance of the students in their charge.

If you want to collaborate with educators from around the globe, facilitate remote learning, etc., sign up for a free account today and start making connections.

Pedagogue is Free Now, and Free Forever!

• New? Start Here
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Privacy Policy
• Terms of Service

Are you sure you want to delete post?

This post cannot be restored anymore.

• Registration

Don't you have an account? Register Now! it's really simple and you can start enjoying all the benefits!

We just sent you an Email. Please Open it up to activate your account.

I allow this website to collect and store submitted data.

21 BEST Basketball Dribbling Drills to Improve ALL Facets of Your Handles! (For Home or Gym)

• Paris Davis
• November 3, 2021

Today’s game rewards players who can dribble at an elite level. Your goal is to have the dribbling skills needed to thrive on the court.

So what do you do? Where do you begin?

At the youth, middle school, and high school levels, most coaches value players who can reliably handle the ball against pressure. Players who can dribble will always have a significant advantage on the court.

How do you get these dribbling skills?

Start by grabbing a basketball and finding a hard surface.

You probably won’t be allowed to dribble on your kitchen tile.

But even if you do not have access to a gym, you can always find a sidewalk or an empty parking lot to practice dribbling.

As the old adage said: if there is a will, there is a way.

Assuming you have the will, these 21 drills will make you a great dribbler in no time!

There are four crucial aspects to becoming a great dribbler:

• Ball Height & Speed Variation
• Directional Footwork
• Body Height Variation
• Game-Like Comprehensive

Start your dribbling routine with one of the first three components. Once the first three components are mastered, finish with the fourth component.

Be patient as your progress. Always push yourself in every drill to get better.

Here are each of the dribble phases and their corresponding drills.

Phase #1: Ball Height & Speed Variation

NBA guards such as Kemba Walker and John Wall do an excellent job of changing speeds and dribble height levels to get to their spots on the court.

Going from a high dribble to a low dribble keeps your man off balance.

Start by practicing dribbling the ball at four heights:

• Shoulder level
• Waist level

Practicing dribbling at a higher level when you are about to go into your attacking move.

As you go downhill, you will need to keep your dribble low in order to prevent defenders from deflecting the ball.

The first drill simply trains your ability to change the ball height as you dribble the ball.

Drill #1 – Ball Height Changers With One Ball

Start the drill by dribbling at each of the four levels in a stationary place.

Here are the key teaching points for this drill.

• Focus on finger pad control – always dribble with your fingertips, not your palms
• Keep your eyes up – always have your eyes on the rim and know where your four teammates are located on the court
• Stay in an athletic stance – always be in the habit of maintaining an athletic stance while you dribble
• Keep your off hand out for protection – always be mindful of opposing defenders trying to steal the ball from you

Drill #2 – Ball Height Changers With Two Balls

It is the same concept as the first drill, except you will obviously not have an off hand.

For two-ball dribbling, it is crucial to stay in an athletic stance.

You must put an equal amount of weight on each side in order to successfully dribble with two balls at once.

Once your balance is correct, work on dribbling both balls at the same height level.

Also work on ball exchanges at the sock level and any of the other heights.

Drill #3 – Sitting Dribbles

This drill will allow you to focus on height variation and transferring the ball’s momentum.

Key teaching points include:

• Use your core – you will often find yourself in a position similar to doing sit-ups and crunches
• Keep your finger pads on top of the ball – still dribble with your fingertips, not your palms
• Pound the ball for building momentum – it is much harder to dribble at a higher level while sitting down than standing up

Be creative while doing this drill. Dribble over your legs going from left to right – and vice versa!

Drill #4 – Skip Dribbles

Skip dribbles help you change height levels as you dribble.

• Explode up as you jump forward – you want to simulate these dribbles as if you are quickly going full speed from a near standstill
• Keep your hand on top of the ball – as you will dribble the ball higher in this drill, you want to get into this habit because the officials will call a carrying violation if you are not careful
• Pound the ball each time you land on the ground – the harder you pound the ball, the more control you will develop on each dribble

If you are practicing on a basketball court, perform these skip dribbles from the baseline to half court with your right hand. Switch hands on the way back.

If you are practicing on the street, approximate the same distance while doing this drill.

Drill #5 – Standing High Dribble Series

Be creative while doing this drill.

Work on combining four dribbling moves between the crossover, through the legs, behind the back, and V dribbles.

Start with a higher dribbling height to become more comfortable with each combination practiced.

Then as you develop a good rhythm, you can work on a lower height as well.

Drill #6 – Dribble Sprints With Popcorns at 2-3 Spots

Start by dribbling full speed from the baseline to the free-throw line.

Stop at the free-throw line and do popcorn dribbles. Popcorn dribbles are short, rapid dribbles that are stationary.

Go to the half-court line and do more popcorn dribbles.

Then go back to the free-throw line and do more popcorn dribbles.

Once you reach the baseline, do more popcorn dribbles and stop.

The key teaching points include:

• Stop in an athletic stance for balance – it is always important to be the habit of dribbling in an athletic stance
• Use the off hand for protection when popcorn dribbling – you will always use the lower dribbles whenever you are navigating traffic on defense
• Quickly push the ball out in front for dribble sprints – pushing the ball out ahead will allow you to cover more ground
• Keep your eyes up – again, always keep your eyes on the rim

Drill #7 – Wall Touch Series (crossover, through the legs, and behind the back)

Touch the wall after each dribble.

There are three progressions as you do this drill.

Progression #1: Crossover

Progression #2: Through the Legs

Progression #3: Behind the Back

Drill #8 – Leg Circles

Work on moving the ball around each leg. Go as fast as you can to improve your hand-eye coordination.

Exchange the ball from hand to hand, feeling the ball with your finger pads.

Keep the ball close and tight to your body.

Drill #9 – V Dribbles (5 Progressions)

Experiment with different speeds. Start slow and speed up on each rep.

Without further ado, here are the five progressions for this drill.

Progression #1: Simple V Dribble

Progression #2: V Dribble – Through the Legs

Progression #3: Dribble – Behind the Back

Progression #4: V Dribble – Through the Legs with a Leg Circle

Note: after completing the through the legs move, bring the ball back in front of you with a circle move.

Progression #5: V Dribble – Double Through the Legs

Drill #10 – Through the Legs

Drill #11 – Crossover

Drill #12 – Behind the Back

Start off in an athletic stance.

If you are right-handed, angle your body slightly to the right along with your right foot out in front. The opposite applies if you are left-handed.

• Feel the ball with your fingertips as you dribble
• Keep your eyes up
• Engage your core when increasing the speed
• Prevent moving your body from side to side too much to maintain balance

Phase #2: Directional Footwork

Many players struggle with the key footwork needed to execute key dribbling moves on the court.

NBA point guards such as Chris Paul have the footwork to execute any move at any time and at any spot on the court.

Drill #13 – Side to Side (1-2 Laterals)

Do a continuous crossover into 1-2 footwork.

As you do the drill, change between speeds and heights to practice certain in-game scenarios.

Drill #14 – Change of Direction (Quick Exchange)

Work on two dribbles followed by a through the legs move.

Focus on exchanging and preparing for the next direction.

Your goal should be comfortably change directions even if you are facing pressure.

Drill #15 – Swivels or Turns (Pivots)

Work on half spins or backward/forward pivots while dribbling.

Do 6 reps with each hand.

This is a good drill to practice immediately before taking a turnaround jumper or if you are near the basket.

Drill #16 – Stop Momentum and Jab Dribbles

Work on two dribbles, alternating with a jab dribble.

Focus on attacking and stopping momentum with a jab dribble.

This is an important skill to master when facing pressure defense.

The jab step creates temporary separation between you and your defender so you can setup your next move.

Drill #17 – Slowing Momentum (Stutter Feet)

Work on bursts of stutters up the court or in a straight line.

This drill mainly applies to when you are attacking the basket in transition.

Also practice the hesitation move and the pull-up jumper in conjunction with this drill.

Drill #18 – Retreat Dribble

After retreating to the starting point, alternate between the crossover, through the legs, behind the back, and the double move.

This is another key dribble to learn against pressure defenses.

Take two dribbles in each direction. Then complete each retreat dribble move with both hands.

Phase #3: Body Height Variation with Combo Dribbling

Guards like Damian Lillard have mastered the art of changing body height to manipulate the defense.

Lillard always gets his shot off because his body height variation gives him a step ahead of his defender.

Drill #19 – Combo Moves (Stationary)

Do all reps with each hand.

Here are some combinations that you can do.

Double Crossover – always touch one of your hands on the floor to ensure that you stay low.

Double Through the Legs – do it with both hands but start with your primary hand.

Crossover Alternating – switch hand between each rep.

Behind the Back Alternating – switch hand between each rep and touch one of your hands on the floor.

Through the Legs – Behind the Back

• Crossover – Through the Legs

Drill #20 – Combo Moves (On the Move)

Take 1-2 dribbles and then execute the move.

Always switch hands between each rep. After you finish with your primary hand, always do the same amount of reps with your weak hand.

• Crossover Alternating
• Through the Legs Alternating
• Behind the Back Alternating
• Through the legs – Behind the Back

Phase #4: Game Like Comprehensive Drills

Players often struggle in the games because how they practice is not how they should play.

You practice like you play. You end up playing like you practice.

It is important to simulate game like situations in your drills.

You are now incorporating the drills you practiced previously into game like scenarios.

Drill #21 – Triple Combination: Stutter, Jab Dribble, Quick Exchange

Drill #22 – Triple Combination: 1-2 Lateral, Attack, Jab Dribble

When Should You Use These Drills? How Often? Reps?

Here’s a free 30 Day Elite Handles Workout Program that shows you exactly when and how to do all these drills.

We also added a few bonus drills not shown here to take your dribbling to a whole new level.

If you have any questions, let us know!

Click the link to get the program!

Recent Posts

Knock Down More Game Shots With This Basketball Shooting Workout

Basketball Workout Circuit to Improve Handles, Shooting, Agility & Footwork

Unique Basketball Combo Drill – Improves Ball Handling, Agility, Conditioning & Defense

O teach PE to 6th graders, these drills are great!! Very well broken down and explained!!

I’ve coached volleyball for 30 years and now venturing into coaching basketball for middle schoolers…so grateful for these vids of lesson plans of how to coach/teach the game!!!

How long do you do each of these drills, like in minutes or reps?

Wow good tips and tricks

Usually I do not read article on blogs however I would like to say that this writeup very compelled me to take a look at and do so Your writing taste has been amazed me Thanks quite nice post

Your blog is a treasure trove of valuable insights and thought-provoking commentary. Your dedication to your craft is evident in every word you write. Keep up the fantastic work!

Thanks for sharing. I read many of your blog posts, cool, your blog is very good.

One Up Basketball helps young basketball athletes improve their SKILLS and ATHLETICISM by providing online training videos, tools and solutions!

Social Media

• Privacy Policy
• Terms & Conditions

Copyright 2021 © All rights Reserved

If You've Got 14 Minutes Per Day, You Can Quickly Develop Ball on a String Handles ... Right From Your Bedroom, Back Yard or Driveway!

Boost Your Ballhandling Skills in Record Time With This New Homework Hoops Workout

1 Athlete. 2 Balls. 6 Feet of Space

That's all you need to dramatically improve your dribbling skills.

The Homework Hoops Ballhandling Workout gives your players a fun, engaging, professionally designed training plan. 

Packed with fun drills to build high-speed handles, become a dangerous off-the-dribble threat, and boost your ballhandling confidence .

High Quality At-Home Training

You'll get instant access to 6 printable drills, plus a tracking sheet to record your progress. 

It's fun and easy to do, and works with all ages and ability levels.

All the drills can be done in a small space. So you can use it to work out at home, create a ballhandling circuit at practice, or train small groups.

Easy to Use. Easy to Share.

Access the workout just 60 seconds from now. Then print out the drills to use at home. Coaches can send to their teams to keep players in shape and improving.

2. Share with Your Team

Attach the workout to an email and send it to up to 15 players

A Brand New Weekly Workout Delivered To Your Inbox Each Week

We know how tough it is to keep your weekly workouts fresh, fun and interesting. 

So let us plan them for you!

When you order the Homework Hoops Ballhandling Workout today, you'll become a member of our Weekly Workouts Club .

Each week, we'll send you a brand new, turn-key workout, packed with cutting edge drills to boost your shooting, scoring, ballhandling and explosiveness. 

Plus, a weekly Nutritional Challenge and Conditioning Challenge to accelerate your results.

If you enjoy the drills and want to get new workouts every week, you will be billed $4.99/week. If the Weekly Workouts are not for you, just email us to cancel your subscription at ANY time.

We'll even give you a full week to test drive each workout, and if you don't see the results we promised, you can get a complete refund and STILL keep everything for free!

Changing Players Lives Across the Country

Click Here to Add to Cart - Just $1.00

~  Made in the USA ~

60 Day No Questions Asked Money Back Guarantee

No questions asked. No fine print. No wiggle clauses. You love the drills and workout plans or you don't pay for them. Period.

Basketball Dribbling Drills - For Coaches & Players

Below are dribbling drills for basketball coaches to use during practice. The drills require anywhere from 1 to 5 players.

If you're a player working out on your own, you should also check out our individual player drills section .

Each drill below has unique purpose and emphasis -- but with all dribbling drills you want to emphasize:

Before getting into the drills, you might want to read the 5 Things You Need To Know To Be a Great Ball Handler and 7 Common Traits in Elite Level Dribbling .

Dribbling Drills for Beginners

For beginners you should start with very simple stationary drills. Here's a good stationary dribbling progression for beginners. This allows you to introduce the skills, concepts, and basic terminology.

Once players grasp the basic skills, you can introduce movement and fun games. Here are a few fun dribbling drills that are good for beginners:

3 Fun Drills: Pirate Dribbling, Mr Fox, and Coin Drops

Competitive Cone Touch Dribbling

Fun Dribbling Drills for All Ages

Basketball should be fun. By making the drills fun, players are motivated, improve, and look forward to practice.

Here are several fun drills that are good for any age level. To keep things fresh and break up the monotony, we use some of the same youth drills with our high school players that are effective and the older kids have a lot of fun with them.

Dribble Knockout - Fun Skill Building Variation of the Classic Game

High Five 1on1

Cat & Mouse Drill For Ball Handling & Defense

Youth & Intermediate Dribbling Drills

Stationary dribbling drills.

Stationary dribbling drills are great for warm up, introducing new skills to beginners, and getting lots of touches (high number of reps in short amount of time).

You can use these drills at all levels (youth to the pros) but stationary drills should NOT be the only drills you use! It's very important to also use more game-like dribbling drills that incorporate movement and defenders (shown in categories below).

2-1-0 Stationary Dribbling Drills

10 Youth Ball Handling Drills � The Maravich Series

Dribbling Drills on the Move

Dribbling while moving better simulates what happens in a game... because you're standing stationary in a game. So here are a few drills that incorporate movements and various challenges while getting as many touches as possible.

Tight cone dribbling to finishing

1v1 Chair Moves - 11 Progressions to Improve Dribbling

Gears - Change of Speed Dribbling

Speed Ladder Dribbling Series

Tight Cone Finishes - One of the Best Warm Up Drills

2 Dribble Moves To Beat Pressure and Create Separation

Dribble Screens

Game Based Dribbling Drills With Defenders

Game based drills are the best way to simulate what happens in a game and improve dribbling skills. These are vital drills to incorporate into your practices. Many are 1v1 in nature, which forces the player to dribble (no one to pass to and bail them out).

3 Competitive Dribbling Drills

1v2 Zone Press Drill

1v1 Speed Dribble

1v1 Overlap

Beatem to the Left

1 on 1 Dribbling Drill With Random Traps

Capture The Flag Dribbling

1 on 1 Grid Drill

1v1 Control Dribble and Retreat with Reads

Advanced Dribbling Drills

Here are a few challenging drills for players with advanced ballhandling skills...

3 Ball Dribbling

One Hand Pound

Cone Grab Finishing Drill

Tight Spaces Ball Handling Drill

1v1 Attack With Narrow Cones

1 on 2 Pressure Ball Handling Drill

FREE eBook: 72 Winning Basketball Drills

If you'd like MORE basketball drills, check out our FREE 152 page ebook with 72 great basketball drills that are neatly organized and ready for you to print out in PDF format.