Dribbling games and passing drills are crucial for developing fundamental basketball skills like ball control, court awareness, and quick decision-making.
My name is Pat Clatchey, and I’m the head varsity boys basketball coach at Mount St. Joseph High School.
With over 800 career wins and 16 Coach of the Year awards, I can tell you firsthand that these drills work to improve ball handling for players at all abilities. These drills not only improve ball security and footwork but also passing and court awareness. You might be wondering what passing drills are doing in an article about ball handling, but to me, passing is a fundamental part of ball handling. That’s why you’ll find passing drills as well as dribbling drills in this article and on my video course on the ISNation app.
1. Tennis Ball Toss
The Tennis Ball Toss drill focuses on developing hand-eye coordination and ball control. To perform this drill, start by dribbling the ball with one hand while holding a tennis ball in the other. Toss the tennis ball slightly above eye level while dribbling the basketball at an even pace. Catch the tennis ball and maintain your rhythm as you toss it.
Players tossing a tennis ball above eye level while dribbling a basketball.
Alternate hands to further challenge your coordination. You can also perform this drill in pairs or threes, with players throwing the tennis ball to each other underhand while bouncing the basketball.
Players throwing the tennis ball to each other in pairs while dribbling.
This drill helps players enhance their ability to multitask during gameplay and encourages them to keep their head up, maintaining court awareness . This is a challenging and fun drill for any age, and thus I think it is one of the best basketball dribbling drills for beginners. It helps develop control and confidence on the court which we should be doing from a young age.
2. Push and Pull Dribbling Drill
The Push and Pull drill is essential for improving a player’s ability to maneuver under pressure. Begin by dribbling forward 2-3 paces with your dominant hand.
Players executing two hard dribbles forward.
Then, perform a pull-back dribble by turning your body sideways and using your off-arm to shield the ball. You can do this drill to the half court line and back, or go the full length of the court.
Players performing a pull-back dribble.
Push and Pull helps create space and time when facing defensive pressure. The drill teaches players to protect the ball while retreating and improves their ability to change direction and speed effectively.
3. Crossover, Between the Legs, and Behind the Back
The Cross, Between, and Behind drill is designed to improve ball handling by combining multiple dribble techniques. This drill is done completely stationary with no forward movement.
This is a great drill because you need very little space and can do this practically anywhere. All you need is a basketball and a 2m x 2m space. Start by dribbling the ball with a quick crossover, followed immediately by a between-the-legs dribble, then finish with a behind-the-back dribble. Perform this sequence in place, gradually increasing your speed while maintaining control.
The Cross, Between, and Behind Drill
This drill helps enhance hand speed and dribbling accuracy, building confidence in handling the ball under pressure and encouraging players to keep their eyes up while dribbling.
Tips to remember:
- Keep your head up (don’t look down at the ball)
- Keep your back straight and don’t hunch over
- Start slow and gradually increase your pace. Prioritize control over speed
4. Kill the Grass
The Kill the Grass Drill focuses on dribbling efficiency and ball control in a confined space. The drill imagines players on a small patch of grass (the paint), with players having to kill it by dribbling fast and hard.
How to Do The Drill:
- Players stay within the painted area of the court and practice handling the ball with various dribble moves
- Perform different dribble moves within the paint for forty five seconds (crossovers, between the legs, behind the back, etc.)
- Switch hands in the process and work on your technique.
- Keep your eyes forward, dribbling with the ball as you go forwards, and protecting the ball with your other hand as you dribble backwards.
A player in the painted area of the court practicing various dribble moves.
Protecting the ball while moving backward in the paint.
The drill emphasizes quick decision-making and ball handling in tight quarters, helping players develop tighter handles while using space efficiently..
Kill the Grass simulates game situations where space is limited and requires players to remain agile and precise with their dribbling.
5. The Pitbull Dribbling Drill
The Pitbull drill enhances ball protection and toughness. In this drill, players dribble low within a small area while trying to knock away their opponents’ balls without fouling.
Players performing a low dribble in Three Pit Bull.
Each player must use their body and off-arm to protect their ball while attempting to dislodge others’ balls.
A player attempting to dislodge another basketball.
Pitbull promotes quick reflexes and effective ball protection skills, all while encouraging players to keep their head up and maintain awareness of their surroundings.
Message to coaches: while you should allow some body contact to simulate real game situations, don’t let this get out of hand. If you have competitive players, which we all should, they might take this too far and turn it into a rugby match! Make sure to warn your players to ease up if you see them making too much hard contact.
6. Elbow to Elbow
The Elbow to Elbow drill combines conditioning with ball protection. One player, the ball handler, tries to dribble from one basketball court elbow to the other while being guarded by a defender.
A player being guarded by a defender.
In this drill, one player acts as the defender, applying pressure on another player, the ball handler. The ball handler must dribble to each elbow, ensuring the ball is well protected. In this drill, players must change direction consistently to avoid the defender and ensure ball control. This drill is repeated with players changing positions after thirty seconds.
A player moving to the elbow of the key while being aggressively defended.
7. Dribble Chaos
In dribble chaos, players form two lines in a cross formation, each holding two basketballs. Players from each vertical line dribble thier balls, crossing one another and communicating their position to avoid collisions.
After the path is clear, players in the perpendicular line then repeat this process. This drill focuses on dribbling and communicating in high-pressure situations, preparing players for in-game scenarios that can easily become chaotic.
Two players dribbling two balls, avoiding contact.
The next two players in another line dribbling basketballs.
8. Bumper Ball
The Bumper Ball drill emphasizes ball handling under physical pressure, enhancing players’ ability to drive and finish despite body contact. To begin, one player dribbles toward the basket, while the defensive player applies physical pressure by lightly hitting the back and side of the ball handler with a basketball of their own.
An offensive player dribbling toward the basket, while the defensive player applies physical pressure.
The offensive player must manage this contact and complete a layup using the glass as they approach the basket. After completing the layup, the next pair steps in.
A player completing a right-hand layup using the glass.
This drill should be done on both sides so players can practice with their dominant and non-dominant hands. The goal is to focus on staying low with the ball, maintaining concentration, and finishing the layups despite the physical contact. The bumper ball is a great warm-up drill before a practice session.
9. Pivot, Pass, Rip, Finish
This drill covers footwork, ball handling, passing accuracy, and finishing all at the same time.
How to Do The Drill:
- Start by dribbling hard toward the basket.
- Then, perform a jump stop and land in balance.
- Finally, do a reverse pivot and throw the ball back to a teammate waiting at the 3-pt line.
- The teammate then catches the ball, rips it low, and drives toward the rim, using a single dribble and a finishing move, preferably a layup off the glass.
A player dribbling hard.
A player performing a reverse pivot – throwing the ball back to a teammate.
A player finishing at the basket.
10. 45 Seconds
45 Seconds is a drill that works on conditioning, dribbling, ball handling, and defense. Begin by setting up cones in a triangle formation like I’m the picture below. Then, have one player dribble the ball in front of a defender, aiming to reach a designated cone.
A player attempting to reach a cone while being stalked by a defender.
The defender’s role is to stay in front of the dribbler and prevent them from reaching the cone.
The dribbler should focus on stopping and changing speeds and directions effectively. After a set period, players switch roles, and the drill is repeated. These dribbling drills help players develop the ability to handle the ball under pressure and work on defensive stamina and agility.
11. Open Court Dribble
This dribbling game focuses on ball control, finishing layups, and shooting.
How to Do The Drill:
- Start by dribbling towards a cone, which simulates an imaginary defender.
- Perform an in-and-out dribble or hesitation move using a burst of speed to create separation.
- Next, drive toward the basket for a layup.
- After finishing the layup, retrieve the ball and make your way to the paint. Spin the ball out to yourself while in the paint.
- Next, square up and take a shot from the perimeter. Repeat this sequence with different moves, including crossovers and between-the-legs dribbles.
A player dribbling towards a cone.
A player performing an in-and-out dribble.
A player finishing a layup.
A player ‘spinning out’ a ball.
A player squaring up and taking a shot from the perimeter.
12. In-game passing drill
This passing drill has players work on shot fakes and accurate passing.
How to Do The Drill:
- Position a line of players at the baseline corner and place three players just outside the three point line. One on the left, center and baseline.
- The first player in the line passes to the player on the left of the three point line, who performs a shot fake.
- The player then takes two dribbles into the paint and kicks the ball to the central player.
- This player then passes the ball to a teammate positioned on the baseline.
- The player on the baseline receives the ball and makes a few dribbles and a drift pass, down the baseline to the next player in line. The process is repeated for one rotation.
A player performing a shot fake.
A player at the baseline receives the ball.
A player performing a drift pass.
13. Four Lines Passing Drill
The Four Lines Passing drill is another variation of the previous passing drill.
How to Do The Drill:
- Players start in four lines, 1 line at each of the baseline 3-pt corners and 1 line at each of the 3-pt elbows. Each line works together to create a continuous flow of passing and movement.
- At the start of the drill, the first player from each line sprints towards the paint while dribbling the ball.
- As soon as they arrive in the paint, they perform a shot fake.
- After completing the shot fake, the player immediately passes the ball to the next line on their right.
- When the ball reaches a baseline player, they perform a drift pass to the opposite corner player.
- After passing, players rotate to the back of their respective lines, allowing the next player to step forward and repeat the sequence. Conduct the drill for 3-10 minutes, depending on player experience and fitness ablities.
Players in four lines.
Players moving and passing to the right.
14. 4 Moves 2 Finishes
The 4 Moves 2 Finishes drill involves practicing quick dribbles and finishing at the basket.
How to Do The Drill:
- To start, place two cones evenly spaced at either side of the three point line.
- Begin the drill by attacking the first cone (on the right hand side) with fast paced dribbling, treating it as if it were a defender.
- With the ball in your right hand, make your way towards the cone.
- As you approach, use a dribble move of your choice (such as a crossover) to get past the cone.
- After successfully beating the cone with your dribble, head straight towards the hoop and finish with a right-hand layup.
- Once you make the layup, retrieve the ball and move to the other cone, where you will perform another dribble move to simulate evading the defender once more. This time, as you move around the cone, the ball should be in your left hand.
- Turn the corner after passing the cone and drive into the paint, finishing with a second layup, this time with the left hand.
- After completing the second layup, retrieve the ball again and head towards the open court. While dribbling in the open space, perform a final dribble (fourth move). Perform this drill for a few minutes.
A player attacking a cone with the ball in his right hand.
A player finishing with a right-hand layup.
Moving to the next cone, performing a dribble move.
Turning into the corner with the ball in the left hand.
Second layup in the paint.
A dribble move performed by a player in open court.
4 Moves 2 Finishes helps players work on their dribbling skills, finishing ability, and transition from one move to another using different hands. It’s designed for both individual and team practice and can be adjusted for different court positions and game situations.
15. Pass Tag
The Pass Tag drill is a fun and fast-paced passing game focusing on quick passing and defensive skills. In this drill, three (or more) offensive players pass the ball to each other to tag out defensive players.
Multiple players playing Pass Tag.
The offensive players must move quickly, use precise passes, and try to trap defensive players in a corner to tag them out. The defensive players must stay in half-court, and try to avoid being tagged.
An offensive player tagging a defensive player.
Pass tag emphasizes teamwork, passing accuracy, and defensive pressure, making it an engaging and effective conditioning for players.
Dribbling Games and Passing Drills Tips for Implementation
Players can significantly improve their ball handling, footwork, and overall basketball skills by incorporating these drills, including ball toss and various passing drills.
Whether focusing on dribbling drills for beginners or looking to refine advanced skills, these drills and passing drills will help enhance your ability to control and pass the basketball effectively. Regular practice will improve court awareness, ball security, and increased confidence in dribbling and passing during competitive gameplay.
To watch these drills in action, check out my course titled ‘’solo and eam based handling drills’ on the ISNation app.
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