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THE ART OF DRIBBLING

BY COACH JIM BAKER

THE FOUR PARTS OF BEING A GOOD DRIBBLER

BALANCE- HEAD UP- BALL OUT IN FRONT- USING THE FINGERS

PLUS

THE FOUR TYPES OF MOVES TO BE A GREAT DRIBBLER

PROTECTION DRIBBLE - CROSS OVER DRIBBLE- HESITATION DRIBBLE- CHANGE OF DIRECTION DRIBBLE

THE FOUR PARTS OF BEING A GOOD DRIBBLER

BALANCE - Balance is the first and most important aspect of being a good dribbler.  The dribbler must have good balance or with be out of control while trying to advance the ball on the dribble.  The dribbler's feet should be shoulder with apart with the opposite foot (from the hand dribbling the ball) about six inches in front of the foot closest to the ball.  The head should be up and  be in the center of the body. The knees should be slightly bent and the back straight.

HEAD UP - The head of the dribbler should be up with the eyes focused on what is going on up the floor.  If the head is down the dribbler can not see what is coming and what is about to happen both offensively and defensively.  The ball is going to come up off the floor and looking at the ball will only slow the dribble down.

BALL OUT IN FRONT - As the dribbler move down the floor the ball needs to be out in front.  Only when using a Protection Dribble would the dribbler move the ball to the side.  The ball should be "pushed" out in front with the hand.  As one becomes a better and more accomplished dribble, the dribbler learns push the ball further out in front the fast one goes down the floor on the dribble.

USING THE FINGERS - The best dribblers never let the ball touch the palm of their hand.  The ball is best controlled with the fingers.  The top half of the fingers should touch the ball---not the palm and not the finger tips. The ball becomes an extenson of the dribbler and this is done by the "feel' the dribbler has of the ball. 

THE FOUR TYPES OF MOVES TO BE A GREAT DRIBBLER

PROTECTION DRIBBLE - The dribbler has good balance with the opposite forearm extended to protect the dribble.   The head is up and the dribbler is focused on the defender and teammates. 

CROSS OVER DRIBBLE - The dribbler has good balance with the head up.  The ball is crossed from one hand to the other hand as the dribble approaches the defender.  A key teaching point is to take the ball down low and under the hand of the defender.  After crossing over, the dribbler accellerates into the lane.

HESITATION DRIBBLE - The dribbler approaches the defender, slows, raises up (head fake), and  then explodes past the defender. A key teaching point is to change speed following the head fake.

CHANGE OF DIRECTION DRIBBLE - The dribbler can change direction by going through the legs, cross-over, or go behind the back.  A key point is to keep the head up and to be under control and to exploded following the change of direction.

Dribbling techniques by Catawba stand out Brian Frasier.