By Coach Matt Buchi – Regional and Developmental Coach for BC Wheelchair Basketball
Ball Handling – Learning it or Lose it.
Fundamentally, Basketball is being able to affectively shoot the basketball into the opponent’s basket and defend your own basket from the opponent, would essentially win you the game. BUT, how do you expect to get the ball there without being able to affectively handle the ball? Knowing how to dribble, stationary and moving, will be a vital part of your basketball knowledge.
Keeping Away From The Defender
In all aspects of the game, you must keep the ball away from the defender. This may put you in an uncomfortable situation because if the defender is guarding your dominate hand, you must be able to dribble and control the ball with your non-dominate hand. We must be able to be comfortable with being uncomfortable! Using both hands in drills and in practice scrimmages will really help your ability to be comfortable ball handling.
If you are training by yourself, continue to dribble up and down a sideline but do not allow the ball to touch the sideline. The sideline becomes the defense.
Eye Ups, Not Down
Most athletes have the tendency to have their eyes drift down to the ball in order to keep it dribbling in the right place and not off of their wheel. When you are looking at the ball, you have extremely narrowed your vision of the court. Being able to look around will allow you to move the ball around (pass), identify threats (protect the ball) and see scoring opportunities (shoot). Looking up while dribbling needs to be a habit in game play and can be reminded by using vocal cues such as “Eyes Up!” or “See The Court!”.
If you are training by yourself, use a wristband on your wrist and write on it, “Eyes Up!”. Every time you look at the ball, you will see it and will look up.
Push it, Don’t Smack it!
Ball Handling is having control over the ball. You can control the ball by making contact with all 5 finger pads and forcing it to the ground. Using your palm will not affectively push the ball where you want it to go. It’s like dribbling with a tennis racket or a baseball bat. You could use either one, but to cover more area you want to spread your fingers out and make full contact with the ball. This can also be utilized in other ball handling exercises like ball taps above your head or pinching your fingers together to squeeze the ball out of your grip above your head.
If you can consistently apply these techniques to your game, you will dramatically improve your ball handling as well as making yourself more comfortable and confident with the ball. Having a good ball handler on the floor makes everyone’s job easier.
Remember:
- Focus on Dribbling in drills and scrimmages
- Get Comfortable with being Uncomfortable
- See the Court around you while dribbling
- 5 Fingers on the Ball
- Confidence and Comfort with Dribbling will Improve your Game
