Basketball guide
How to dribble a basketball: beginner tips
To dribble well, keep your head up, use your fingertips to push the ball to the floor, stay low with bent knees and practice with both hands. Start slow and add speed only when control feels easy.
The short answer
To dribble well, keep your head up, use your fingertips (not your palm) to push the ball to the floor, keep your knees bent, and protect the ball with your free hand and body. Start with the stronger hand, then build up to the weaker one, and always practice at a speed where you can keep your eyes up.
The basic dribble
- Stance: feet about shoulder width apart, knees bent, back fairly straight, head up.
- Hand: spread fingers and use the finger pads to push the ball down. The palm should not slap the ball.
- Height: a control dribble stays around waist height or lower. A speed dribble is a bit higher and farther in front.
- Wrist: flick the wrist and fingers rather than swinging the whole arm.
- Eyes: look at the court and teammates, not at the ball.
Players learn faster when they practice both hands from the start. Dribbling only with one hand makes the player easy to guard.
Types of dribbles you will hear about
Coaches and announcers use a lot of names for dribbling moves. Here are the ones beginners are most likely to hear, and you do not need to master any but the first two this season.
- Control dribble
- A low, strong dribble used when a defender is close, with the free arm and body shielding the ball.
- Speed dribble
- A higher dribble out in front, used in open space such as a fast break.
- Crossover
- Moving the ball from one hand to the other in front of the body to change direction.
- Hesitation
- A pause or change in speed meant to freeze a defender before accelerating.
- Behind-the-back
- Switching hands by moving the ball behind the body. This is an advanced move, so a beginner should master the basics first.
The dribbling rules to know
Dribbling is how a player moves with the ball in standard rules. Two violations come up often, and both are covered in more depth in basketball fouls and violations explained:
- Double dribble: dribbling with both hands at the same time, or stopping the dribble and then starting again.
- Traveling: taking too many steps without dribbling, or moving the pivot foot after stopping.
Some very young leagues are relaxed about these violations so that kids can learn without constant whistles. Ask your coach what to expect.
Simple drills for home
Dribbling improves with many small, relaxed repetitions rather than long exhausting sessions. Ten focused minutes a few times a week is a reasonable idea for many children, and it fits easily around homework and other activities.
These need only a ball and some floor or driveway space. Keep sessions short and stop if anyone is tired or uncomfortable.
- Stationary dribble: stand still, bounce the ball with one hand, and switch hands after a while.
- Walking dribble: dribble while walking forward, keeping the eyes up. Add a jog when it feels easy.
- Figure eight: dribble in a figure-eight pattern around the legs at a slow, comfortable speed.
- Call-out game: a parent holds up a number of fingers and the child names the number without looking at the ball.
- Stop and go: dribble, stop on a signal, then start again.
More ideas are in basketball skills to practice at home.
Building the weaker hand
Almost every beginner has a strong hand and a weak hand, and the gap shows up fast in games. The fix is simple but needs patience. Spend part of each session using only the weaker hand, even though it feels clumsy. Start with stationary dribbles, then walking dribbles, then simple direction changes. Progress is rarely dramatic from day to day, but a few weeks of steady practice usually makes a noticeable difference. Praising effort on the weak hand, rather than the result, helps children stay willing to try.
Another helpful habit is to dribble while looking at a landmark across the room, such as a door or a picture on the wall. This trains the eyes to stay off the ball. As it gets easier, have a partner stand a few steps away and hold up fingers for the child to call out, which adds the real-game skill of reading the court while handling the ball.
Protecting the ball in a game
When a defender is nearby, a player should dribble with the hand farther from the defender, keep the body between the defender and the ball, and use the free arm as a shield without pushing. Pushing with the arm can lead to a foul. Beginners who panic often pick up the dribble too early. A good rule is to keep dribbling until there is a clear pass or shot, because picking up the ball means the player can no longer dribble.
Common beginner mistakes
- Looking at the ball. This is the number one habit to break. Start slow and look up.
- Slapping with the palm. It reduces control. Use fingertips.
- Dribbling too high. A high bounce is easier to steal.
- Standing straight. Bend the knees.
- Only using the strong hand. Give the other hand equal time.
- Racing through drills. Fast, sloppy reps build sloppy habits. Smooth first, fast later.
What to ask your coach
Coaches usually have a clear picture of which ball-handling skills matter most for their team. Asking for one or two priorities helps you focus practice at home and avoids overloading a beginner with too many moves at once.
- Which dribbling skills should my child focus on this season?
- Is the ball size right for my child?
- How strict will the league be about dribbling violations?
Pairing dribbling with good shooting form helps too. See how to shoot a basketball for beginners.
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Sources and further reading
- Youth Basketball Guidelines USA Basketball
- Basketball (Kids) Encyclopaedia Britannica
- Basketball & Volleyball: How to Prevent Common Injuries HealthyChildren.org (American Academy of Pediatrics)
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Frequently asked questions
How do you dribble a basketball correctly?
Use your finger pads, not your palm, to push the ball down, keep your knees bent and your head up, and keep the ball low when guarded.
What is a double dribble?
It is dribbling with both hands at the same time, or starting to dribble again after you have stopped.
How can a child practice dribbling at home?
Try stationary dribbling, walking dribbles, figure eights and stop-and-go games with a ball and a bit of floor space.
Why should I look up while dribbling?
Looking up lets you see teammates and defenders, which helps you pass and avoid turnovers.
Should kids practice dribbling with both hands?
Yes. Using both hands makes a player harder to guard and more useful to the team.