Dribble (Basketball)
Stages of Development
Teaching and Learning
Bouncing the ball while standing still is one of the earliest object control skills to be mastered, however it is much harder to bounce the ball while walking or running (dribbling). This skill should be introduced in Year 1 and mastered by Year 4.
Teaching cues
- Pat the dog (push the ball down with your fingers)
- Ball in front and to the side
- Bounce at waist height
Teaching strategies
- Use large colourful medium weight balls
- Practice bouncing on the spot, then walking bounces
- Start with watching the ball at this stage (before progressing to eyes forward)
- Encourage ball control rather than moving with the ball at this stage
- Practice bouncing against a wall and play a game of Wall Ball
- Have targets on the ground to bounce on
- Play games such as Wicked Witch with each student having a ball, use commands such as 5 bounces and then catch, sitting on the ground and bouncing, walking and bouncing, bounce around in a circle, follow a line bouncing
- Set up obstacle courses to bounce around
- Practice dribbling while looking ahead at a target
- Speed up and try dribbling at a fast walk, then jog, then run – all whilst still in control
- Play Wall Ball and try Basketball Dribbling Relays
- Dribble in different directions
- Play games of Modified Basketball
- Have a go at dribbling with both hands
- Dribble around obstacle courses
Skill criteria
- Eyes focused forward throughout the bounce
- Contact the ball with the fingers of one hand at about hip height
- Wrist and elbow bend then straighten to push the ball
- Hip and knees slightly flexed during the bounce
- Ball bounces in front of and to the side of the body
Common errors
- Slapping the ball with the hand
- Inconsistent force when pushing the ball
- Problems tracking the ball
- Unable to coordinate moving and tracking the ball
