I don't want average people. Average people cut corners. Winners know there are no shortcuts.
Pat Summitt, Head Coach, Women's Basketball, University of Tennessee - Winner of 5 NCAA DI titles in the last ten years.

Ball Handling -Stationary dribbling skills

WOW!! Nice quote at the top of the page. Those of you who accept this idea know it to be true. Those of you who blow it off as coaches blather, YADA, YADA, YADA, will be playing rec ball for the rest of your days. My 13 year old son plays on a team for his school. The kids there have just enough talent to make them think that they're really good. But all you have to do is watch them warm up lazily, goof off, and then start to miss easy layups in the game to know that they'll never make it past the freshman team. The boys think that the layup is too easy to practice, and if forced to run a layup drill, they'll finger roll, up & under, between the legs, anything but the simplest shot in the game (Of course not my son, he can go left or right nearly equally, and never misses a layup). These boys just lost a game by six points, and not coincidentally missed four easy layups (8 points). The next day at practice, what did they do in their layup drill?? Business as usual - finger rolls, etc. Those who do not learn from the past are condemned to repeat it.

Anyway, cutting corners on any drills because you think they're too easy is a sure way to lose the ball at the worst possible time.
1. Stationary Crosses - Bounce the ball from your right side to your left and back again. Continue this every time you practice for at least 50 times. This continues the thought from last month of being comfortable with the ball.
2. High-low - Start with your right hand. Dribble the ball hip high for a few dribbles, then drop the dribble down to knee high for two or three dribbles, then back up to hip high. Repeat this at least ten times with each hand.
3. Inside out - Start with the right hand, push the dribble from your right side toward your left as if you were going to cross over, then move your hand over the top of the ball and pull it back to the right. Your hand will not leave the ball as you go through this move. The hand is moving with the ball at the top of the dribble, pushes toward the left and quickly moves over the top of the ball and pulls back. This skill is useful if you develop a good crossover dribble. After you set them up by beating them with the crossover, you use the inside out to fake a crossover, and beat them the other way. Remember, for every move, there is a defense. If you can keep your opponent guessing on the move, you can beat them. If you only have one move, they'll beat you.
4. Between the legs - Put your left leg forward. bounce the ball from your right hand, under your leg, to your left hand, and then back. repeat this at least 20 times, then put your right leg forward and repeat the drill. Next, kneel on your right knee and place your left foot ahead of you. Your upper left left should be parallel to the ground. Dribble the ball from your right hand under your left leg and into your left hand. Again, continue this for at least 20 reps, then switch legs, and repeat. Gosh, this is dull work so far, but it is ESSENTIAL to master ball control.
5. Figure Eights - Spread your legs a little wider than shoulder width, start with your dribble in your right hand, dribble the ball from in front of your right foot between your legs and continue the dribble with your left hand from behind your left foot. Bring the ball around your left foot with the left hand, and through your legs again, picking up the dribble with your right hand behind the right foot. Continue around to the front of your right foot and go through the figure eight again at least for 10 reps. Then dribble around in the opposite direction. If this is difficult, keep trying! It's difficult for everyone! Anyone you see who can do this easily started the exact same way as you!! The average person will try and fail, and then say "I could do it if I wanted to!" and "How many times will I use that in a game?" The average person will give up, and sneer at you because you didn't. Ignore them!!

Next month - Moving dribbling drills

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