10 Ideas for Improving Ball Handling

How can we add repetition without repetition to ball handling? So instead of asking a player to repeat the same dribble move 20 times in the same spot, we offer alternatives that are not only crucial in the role of skill acquisition and performance in game, but also, more fun!

These games come from our members at the Transforming Community. We offer tri-weekly challenges where members can share their insights on evidence based coaching. Other examples of the challenge includes:

• Write a CLA Blog! (Read the winning blog here from Stevie Gillet)
• Explain the most important special situations you prepare your team for.
• Explain your Principles of play form transition defense.
• And the one below: Ideas for coaching ball handling

Ball handling games:

1. Christoph Nicol – Box 1-on-1 & Kastenball
2. Bastian Barthelmes – Spiderweb
3. Mohamed Hayaz Haroon
4. George Cremos – Dribble Tag Warm-ups
5. Verdell Billingsley – Knee Tap Dribble Tag (3rd & 4th Grade Girls)
6. Adam Omiecinski – Straight Line or Stoned 1v1
7. Neil Houghton – 1v1 (+2) Handle Pressure
8. Ryan Blackburn – 1v3 Dribble Gauntlet
9. Kenny Bui – 1 vs 3 Dribble Gates
10. Stevie Gillatt – Treasure Island (U8/U6)

Christoph Nicol

Box 1-on-1 & Kastenball

Box 1-on-1

Kastenball

 

Bastian shares a great activity labelled “Spider Web.” This is a particularly fun activity for youth basketball players!

Bastian Barthelmes

Spiderweb

 

In the next activity from Mohamed, see how constraining space and time effectively can be used to shape lots of creative dribbling solutions! This is a great way to see how dribble moves can emerge without having to be specifically taught.

Mohamed Hayaz Haroon

The next two contributions come from George and Verdell. Dribble tag is one of our favourite warm-up games at Transforming, and by changing constraints, there are an infinite number of ways you can play tag! 

George Cremos

Dribble Tag Warm-ups

Verdell Billingsley

Knee Tap Dribble Tag (3rd & 4th Grade Girls)

 

In the next activity, Adam talks about how deception can be designed into activities through constraints. Developing deception in ball handling is particularly important, with Adam sharing great ideas for coaches looking to facilitate this in their players…

Adam Omiecinski

Straight Line or Stoned 1v1

 

A Transforming Members’ Challenge would not be complete without an entry from Neil Houghton! Neil does a great job applying a CLA with his youth teams in Melbourne, Australia. Neil shares numerous ideas for taking a basic activity but then scaling it in numerous ways through the creative usage of constraints. 

Neil Houghton

1v1 (+2) Handle Pressure

 

1-on-3 gauntlets are some of our favourite activities for handling pressure in tight spaces, while having to advance the ball up the court. Ryan shares ideas on how he has used 1-on-3 gauntlet with his high school team in Illnois.

Ryan Blackburn

1v3 Dribble Gauntlet

1-on-3 gauntlet shares some similarities with 1-on-3 dribble gates. This is a great idea from Kenny to develop the ability of players to perform change of direction moves implicitly. This is the answer to your players developing cross-overs and through the legs dribbles without 1-on-0 moves!

Kenny Bui

1 vs 3 Dribble Gates

 

And finally, for all the coaches working with beginners out there. This is a great contribution from Stevie in the UK. We love the concept of making games that speak to kids in their language. Imagine how much fun youth players would have participating in this small-sided game while developing their skills simultaneously! 

Stevie Gillatt

Treasure Island (U8/U6)

 

Looking to see more videos of these activities in-action? Be sure to join our Transforming Community where you can engage with coaches all over the world who are masterfully using a constraints-led approach and conceptual offense with their programs.

You can find out more here