Ball Handling Series

Pistol Pete Maravich was the master of ball handling. He was "Magic" before there was a "Magic" Johnson. He was the epitome of "A Boy, A Ball A Dream."

Ball Handling Drills should be done daily for at least 10 minutes. The main teaching point when doing ball handling drills is "TO GO SO FAST, THAT YOU MAKE A MISTAKE!" This will ensure that improvement is being made. Any player who can go out there and go comfortably "through the motions." We want players who want to get better!!

Remember to always keep your head up so that in a game situation you do not have to rely on seeing the ball but instead you can see the floor for an open teammate. Your goal is to be consistent and handle the ball at optimum speed.

Remember to stay in an athletic stance (knees bent) & always keep your head up. Practice seeing the floor.

1. Ball Slaps:

• Place ball in one hand with fingers spread out
• Take ball from one hand and "slap it into the other hand
• This is continuous taking the ball from one hand and placing it into the other
• This is a hard, intense slap from one hand to the other
• Ball slaps will increase fore-arm strength and will also get you hands ready.

2. Step Back

• Take ball around both shins
• Step back with the right leg and circle left shin
• Bring right leg forward and circle both shins
• Step straight back with left leg and circle right shin
• Bring left leg forward and circle both shins
• Keep ball going in same direction

3. Circle Right Shin

• Circle ball around right shin
• Start ball in one direction
• Change direction halfway through

4. Circle Left Shin

• Circle ball around left shin
• Start ball in one direction
• Change direction halfway through

5. Figure 8

• Circle ball around left leg once
• Circle ball around right leg once
• Circle ball around left and right leg continuous
• Change direction halfway through

6. Right Hand - Right Leg

• Dribble ball with right hand only around right leg
• Keep dribble below knee

7. Left Hand - Left Leg

• Dribble ball with left hand only around left leg
• Keep dribble below knee

8. Figure 8

• Dribble ball around right leg once
• Dribble ball around left leg once
• Dribble ball around right and left leg continuous
• Change direction half way through

2 - Ball Series

A. 2-Ball Pound

• "Pound" both basketballs at the same height
• Keep hands on top of the basketball
• Your object is to "put the basketball through the floor"

B. 2-Ball Below The Knees

• "Pound" both basketballs at the same height
• Keep both basketballs below the knees

C. 2-Ball Alternate

• Dribble each ball in an alternating fashion
• Each ball should come only as high as your waist

D. 2-Ball (1 High - 1 Low)

• Dribble one ball as low as possible (below knee)
• Dribble one ball as high as possible (above shoulder)
• Change half-way through

E. 2-Ball Side-to-Side

• Dribble both basketballs in a side-to-side manner
• Both basketballs should be going in the same direction
• You should take the inside hand outside the knee (ex: when going to the left, the right hand should come outside the left knee)

F. 2-Ball Front-to-Back

• Dribble both basketballs outside the knee
• Push basketballs forward and pull basketball backward
• Push out as far as possible and pull back as far as possible

G. 2-Ball Around the Chair

• Place a chair about 15 feet in front of you
• Start with dribbling both basketballs at the same time (below waist)
• Dribble around chair and back to baseline (go continuous)
• Change to alternate

H. 2-Ball Up & Back to the Chair

• Dribble both basketballs at the same height
• When you reach the chair pull both back as you back peddle to baseline (go continuous)