Dribbling

Dribbling is forwarding of  a ball from one place to another. It is also the way to progress with the ball by an individual player in order to get free from the opponent to get good passing or shooting position.

Dribbling is fun and an attention-getter for some reasons among which are the following: many inexperienced players dribble unceasingly; while dribbling ca be powerful and valuable weapon in any offensive system, it is overdone and abused by players who dribble when a shot or a pass would be appropriate; over dribbling demoralized teammates and leads to unnecessary turnovers and limits offensive opportunities.

Each time you gin possession of the ball in a game situation, you should immediately look up in the direction of the offensive basket. Your first options are to shoot if a good shot is there, or to pass to a teammate, who is in a better offensive position. The dribble is the third option. Too many players get into the deadly habit of dribbling before they look up. Each player, after receiving the ball, must automatically look up and ask.

*Do I have a good shot?
*Is a Teammate open in a better offensive possession than I am?
*If I do not have a good shot or a teammate is open for pass, I may elect to dribble with a purpose which my be one of the following:

*To drive to the basket if there is a open or unguarded lane
*To improve a passing angle, move into shooting position or set-up the offense.
*To escape defensive pressure
*To advance the ball on the fast break
*As a special part of a ball

Once you receive the ball, you are only allowed to start and stop your dribble once. However, it is important that you learn not to put the ball down without a purpose and you do not pick up your dribble (stop dribbling) util you can pass a shoot.

Fundamentals of Dribbling

1. Dribbling involves moving your arm from the shoulder, the elbow, the wrist and the fingers; you control the basketball with your fingertips. Fingertips do not necessarily mean the tips of the fingers, but rather padded area of each finger between the tip of the finger and the first joint on the palm side of the hand.

2. Your fingers are comfortably spread and relaxed when dribbling. Push the ball. The fingertips and keep the hand slightly cupped to avoid slapping the ball. The fingertips control the ball but do not worry if the ball brushes against the palm of the hand.

3. Keep your head up. You do not have to look at the ball while dribbling. If it is necessary to look at the ball during a drill, it means that you have not mastered that skill. Practice more.

4. The higher the dribble, the more you will use your shoulder and elbow. The lower the dribble, the more you will use your wrist and fingers to control the ball.