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Basketball · Intermediate · i5

Dribble race and finish

Park or court 10 min 2 players Park, hall or court, ground or field

Ready when: Dribble with the head up (b2) and Lay-up steps (b5) done.

Start a session

What you are learning

The speed dribble: pushing the ball out in front while running fast, head up, and finishing with a lay-up without extra steps.

Words on this card Dribble, Lay-up, Travelling, Double dribble, Rebound
Dribble
Bouncing the ball with one hand while moving or standing.
Lay-up
A one-hand shot from right beside the basket after two steps, laid softly off the board.
Travelling
Moving with the ball without dribbling: more than two steps.
Double dribble
Dribbling again after holding the ball, or dribbling with two hands.
Rebound
Catching the ball after a missed shot.

Set up

A hoop with space behind it; two start cones side by side 15 m out. A ball each.

Weather: dry ground

The base setup for basketball

Show it first for the one teaching

  1. Start at a cone with the ball in one hand.
  2. Push the ball forward ahead of you and run onto it, bouncing it a little higher than the waist.
  3. Eyes on the basket, not the ball.
  4. Two steps and a lay-up.

Your part while they practise

Say "go"; count baskets.

Step by step

  1. Dribble fast to the basket, the ball out in front, eyes up.
  2. Finish with a lay-up.
  3. Walk back.
  4. 6 runs, then 6 from the other side with the other hand.

How much: 6 runs each side 10 min a session 2 days a week

Say one thing Pick one line from "What you will see" for today and say only that.

The game: Race

Two players start together; the first basket scores 2 and the second basket 1.

Who plays: 2 players, a ball each; you say "go".

How to play, turn by turn
Turns
  1. Side by side at the start cones
  2. On "go", speed dribble to the basket and lay up
  3. A miss: catch the rebound and lay up again
  4. 6 races, then 6 from the other side with the other hand
Fair play
A grown-up dribbles with the weaker hand.
Points
The first basket scores 2 points, the second 1.
Fouls
No points in that race
  • Travelling or extra steps
  • A double dribble
  • Bumping the other player
Winning
The most points after 12 races.
Stars
  1. 6 points for 1 star
  2. 12 points for 2 stars
  3. 18 points for 3 stars

Easier or harder

Easier

No lay-up, stop at a line.

Harder

Start from farther out.

What you will see, and what to say

  • head down See the basket, not the ballThe fingers feel the ball; the eyes find the basket.
  • the ball gets away Push it, stay closePush it just ahead, not far ahead.
  • extra steps at the end Two steps, then upPick the ball up and take two steps only.

Self-check

4of 6

4 of 6 runs each side end in a legal lay-up, made or not.

Stop and get a coach when

Knee or ankle pain on the lay-up.

Fitness for this

Warm up first: how to warm up, at workonfitness.com. For strength and stretching, its exercise library shows each exercise step by step, with an easier version.

This card trains speed dribble, finishing at speed.

awiseathlete.com/sports/basketball/basketball-i5