Crowell's Player Development Program

Skill Dribble Foundation

The only two ways to move a basketball within the rules of the game are passing and dribbling. At no time in the history of basketball was the dribble more important than the present time. Modern day offenses are designed to spread the defense from sideline to sideline giving the offensive player the opportunity to breakdown the defender with the intent to score or assist a teammate to a score.

Main Elements in the Dribble Skill:

Hard Dribble with on-ball hand, arm bar with the off hand, and head up (eyes see all).

Focus Points:

-Player big to the floor with feet wide, belly button to the sideline with the defender in front.

-Hard dribble to the floor with the ball bouncing no higher than the hip.

-Iron arm swinging like a runner creating a motion that prohibits the defender from reaching to the ball.

-Head up with eagle eyes seeing the entire floor at all times.

Specific Practice Plan to Build Foundation

Drill #1: 25 hard dribbles right, 25 left.

Push the ball hard to the floor, off hand swings to floor and up.

Drill #2: Side-to-side dribble with crossover in front of the body.

Two hard dribbles with the left hand while the off hand is an iron arm. On the third dribble, drop the lead foot back. Crossover the ball to the right hand, rotate feet (belly button now points in the opposite direction.

Begin slowly to master it, then go game speed for 20 seconds. Repeat the drill three times.

Drill #3: Side-to-side dribble with between the legs. (Add behind the back dribble in this drill as well.)

Two hard dribbles with iron arm off-hand. Bounce the ball directly under the center of your body. Turn body quickly so that your belly button is pointed in the opposite direction.

Begin slowly to master it, then go game speed for 20 seconds. Repeat three times.

Less time more often is the best way to master a skill. Three minutes a day, six days a week for 90 days and Drill Foundation will be your faithful servant in the game