In becoming a good ball-handler, learning to dribble
well is essential. If you're good at dribbling and have some quickness, you can
create a lot of offense for both yourself as well as your team.
For beginners, "dribbling" means bouncing the
basketball. Once you catch the ball and start dribbling, and then hold the ball,
you have to either shoot it or pass it. It would not be legal to dribble it again.
Once you pass it or shoot it, and then get it again, you're free to dribble again.
Below are some dribbling tips from InsideHoops.com:
- Learn to dribble while keeping your head up. If you
have to keep your head down and watch the basketball while dribbling, you aren't
going to be able to see what your teammates or the defense is doing. You'll only
see what's directly around you, not the whole floor, and it'll be hard to create
or know what to do. Learn to dribble without actually having to look down while
doing so. Crouching down makes it easier to do this.
- Learn to dribble with both hands. It's hard to get equally
comfortable dribbling with either hand, you'll almost always have one hand that's
much easier for you to dribble with, but work to at least be comfortable dribbling
with your weak hand, too. It'll make it a lot easier to create and finish moves,
and it'll be harder to steal the ball from you.
- Dribble with your fingers, not your palm.
- Practice shots while you dribble. Learn to incorporate
getting your shots off with the actual dribble moves that make them easier to
do.
- Remember, passing the ball is quicker than dribbling
it.
