Master the Basics: 10 Basketball Drills for Beginners

Written by: Chris Hungerford

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Time to read 11 min

Basketball drills for beginners are essential to developing the skills needed to excel in the game. As a coach, it is important to understand what types of drills can be used and how they should be structured for maximum benefit. This blog post will provide an overview of some popular basketball drills specifically designed for those just starting out with the sport, including dribbling, passing, shooting, rebounding and footwork drills. Each drill offers different benefits that help players build their fundamental skills and increase overall confidence on the court – so if you’re looking to get your team ready for success this season then these beginner-friendly basketball drills may be exactly what you need.

Table of Contents:

Dribbling Drills

Dribbling is an essential skill for any basketball player. It allows them to move the ball around and create space on the court. For coaches, it’s important to teach players how to properly dribble so they can maximize their potential on the court. Here are some drills that will help your players learn how to dribble:

Stationary Dribbling:

This drill helps beginners learn basic control of the ball while keeping their eyes up and focused ahead of them. Have your players stand in one spot with both feet shoulder-width apart, then have them bounce the ball between their legs, alternating hands each time. As they get better at this drill, you can increase its difficulty by having them use different parts of their body (e.g., chest or head) or bouncing it higher off the ground as they switch hands.

Crossover Dribbling:

This drill teaches players how to quickly change directions while still maintaining control over the ball. Start by having your players stand in one spot and practice crossing over from side-to-side using a low dribble with both hands behind their back like a pendulum motion until they reach full speed without losing control of the ball or stepping out of bounds. Once comfortable with this movement, add obstacles such as cones or chairs for added challenge and complexity as well as defensive pressure from another player if desired (but make sure there’s no contact).

Figure 8 Dribbling:

This drill focuses on teaching proper footwork when changing direction while also improving coordination between hand movements and footwork motions simultaneously. Have your players start in one spot facing forward then have them perform figure 8 patterns around two stationary objects such as cones or chairs placed about 10 feet apart from each other; alternate which way you go through each object every time you pass it (left/right). Make sure all steps are taken within a small area so that balance is maintained throughout; the focus should be put on quickness rather than power when performing this exercise since accuracy is key here.


Dribbling drills are a great way to improve ball-handling skills and help players become more confident with the ball. Now let's move on to passing drills, which can be used to teach players how to accurately deliver the ball in various situations.

Passing Drills

Passing drills are essential for any basketball coach looking to teach their players the fundamentals of passing. Chest passes are a great way to start, as they involve throwing the ball from one player’s chest to another’s. To do this correctly, both players should be facing each other and have their hands ready in front of them. The passer should throw the ball with two hands while keeping their eyes on the target.


Bounce passes require more accuracy than chest passes and can be used when there is less space between two players or if defenders are present. To execute a bounce pass properly, hold the ball with both hands and aim at your teammate's waist level before releasing it towards them so that it bounces up into their hands.


Overhead passes involve throwing the ball over an opponent’s head or around a defender in order to reach your teammate quickly and accurately. When doing this drill, make sure you keep your elbows close together as you bring the ball above your head before releasing it toward its intended target.

Behind-the-back passes can help get around defenders who might otherwise block regular chest or bounce passes from reaching their targets. This type of pass requires practice since it involves using only one hand instead of two like most other types of passing drills do; however, once mastered, behind-the-back passes can become very useful tools for getting past opponents quickly and efficiently during games.


Passing drills are an important part of basketball training, and can help players develop the fundamentals of passing. Now that we've covered passing drills, let's move on to shooting drills.

Shooting Drills

Shooting drills are an important part of basketball training. They help players develop their shooting technique and accuracy, as well as build confidence in their ability to score.

Layups and Jump Shots:

Layup drills focus on teaching players the proper form for taking shots close to the basket. Players should practice using both hands when performing layups, as well as varying angles and distances from the hoop. For jump shots, coaches can have players start by practicing stationary shots before progressing to more advanced techniques such as catch-and-shoot or pull-up jumpers.

Free Throws:

Free throw shooting is a skill that requires repetition and muscle memory in order to be successful. Coaches should emphasize good form when teaching free throws, including keeping your eyes focused on the rim throughout the shot process, following through with your arm motion after releasing the ball, and maintaining balance throughout each attempt. It’s also important for coaches to provide positive reinforcement during free throw drills so that players feel confident in their abilities at game time.


To begin spot-up shooting drills, have one player stand at half-court while another stands at the three-point line facing them with a basketball. Then switch roles after each shot attempt so that both players get equal reps working on this skill set from different distances away from the basket.

Shooting drills are essential for any beginner basketball player to master, and they can be used as the foundation for more advanced skills. Moving on from shooting drills, let's take a look at rebounding drills which help players control the boards.

Rebounding Drills

Rebounding drills are essential for any basketball coach to teach their players. The ability to rebound effectively can be the difference between winning and losing a game.

Box Out Positioning:

Teaching your players proper box out positioning is key in rebounding drills. Players should start by facing the basket, with their feet shoulder-width apart and arms extended outward. They should then bend at the knees and hips while keeping their back straight, forming an “L” shape with their body. This will help them stay low and maintain balance when boxing out opponents for rebounds.

Rebounding Angles:

Rebounding angles refer to how a player positions themselves relative to the ball when attempting a rebound. It is important that they angle themselves towards where they anticipate the ball bouncing off of the rim or backboard so that they can quickly move into position after it does bounce off of those surfaces. Players should also keep one foot slightly ahead of the other as this will give them more momentum when going up for a rebound after angling themselves correctly beforehand.


When teaching this skill during practice sessions, coaches should emphasize both hand placement (one above and one below) as well as maintaining control over both hands throughout the entire process until possession has been successfully secured by the player(s).


Key Takeaway: Players should maintain proper box-out positioning, angle themselves toward the ball when attempting a rebound and keep one foot slightly ahead of the other. Proper hand placement (one above and one below) is also essential to successfully secure possession of the ball.

Footwork Drills

Footwork drills are an essential part of basketball training. They help players develop the agility and quickness needed to move effectively on the court. Shuffle steps are a great way for beginners to learn how to move their feet quickly while maintaining balance. To practice this drill, have your players stand in one spot and then quickly shuffle their feet back and forth from side to side. This will help them build up speed as well as coordination between their upper and lower body movements.


Crossover steps are another important footwork drill that can be used to improve a player’s agility and quickness on the court. Have your players start by standing in one spot with both feet together, then have them cross one foot over the other before pushing off with it into a sprinting motion. This will help them develop better control over their movements while also increasing their overall speed when running down the court or changing directions suddenly during play.


Finally, defensive slides are an important skill for any basketball player who wants to stay ahead of their opponents on defense. To practice this drill, have your players begin by standing in one spot before shifting weight onto one leg at a time while sliding across the floor laterally until they reach the opposite end of where they started from without crossing over each other's paths or losing balance along the way. This will help teach them how to stay low while moving quickly around opponents so they can keep up with any changes in direction during gameplay without getting caught out of position too easily or giving away easy points due to a lack of mobility on defense.

FAQs in Relation to Basketball Drills for Beginners

Layup Drill:

This drill is designed to help players improve their shooting accuracy and technique when going up for a layup. It involves setting up cones or chairs around the basket, then having the player dribble in from different angles while making shots with either hand.

Dribbling Drills:

These drills focus on improving ball handling skills by practicing various dribbling techniques such as crossover, behind-the-back, between-the-legs, etc., while moving quickly down the court or through an obstacle course of cones or chairs.

Passing Drills:

Players can practice passing fundamentals such as chest passes, bounce passes and overhead passes by working with a partner or in groups of three to five players at once.

Rebounding Drills:

Rebounding drills are used to teach proper rebounding technique and positioning when going after missed shots from both offensive and defensive positions on the court.

Shooting Drills:

Shooting drills involve taking jump shots from various spots on the floor like corner threes, mid range jumpers off screens and catch & shoot opportunities that simulate game situations for players to practice their shot selection and form under pressure

The Star Drill:

This drill focuses on ball handling and agility. Players start at the center of a star shape made with cones, dribble around each cone in order, then back to the center.

Around the World:

This drill helps players develop shooting accuracy from different spots on the court. Players stand behind a designated line and shoot from various points until they make 10 shots in a row from each spot before moving onto the next one.

Two Ball Dribbling Drills:

These drills help players improve their hand-eye coordination while also working on their ball control skills. Players use two basketballs at once, either alternating hands or bouncing both balls simultaneously as they move up and down the court or weave through obstacles like cones or chairs set up along their path

What are the best drills to get better at basketball?

Drills are a great way to improve basketball skills. One of the most important drills is shooting practice, which can help players develop accuracy and consistency with their shots. Another useful drill is dribbling drills, which helps players work on ball control and agility. Footwork drills also help players learn how to move quickly and efficiently around the court. Finally, defensive drills such as closeouts or slides can help coaches teach their team proper defensive positioning and technique. All these drills will be beneficial for any coach looking to get better at basketball.

How do you coach a basketball beginner?

When coaching a basketball beginner, it is important to focus on the fundamentals. Start with teaching basic dribbling and passing techniques, as well as how to shoot correctly. Once these basics are mastered, progress onto more advanced skills such as footwork and ball-handling drills. Encourage your players to practice regularly in order to develop their skills further. Finally, make sure that you explain the rules of the game thoroughly so that your players understand them fully before playing competitively. With patience and dedication from both coach and player alike, any basketball beginner can become an experienced player in no time.

Conclusion

By focusing on dribbling, passing, shooting, rebounding, and footwork drills regularly, coaches can ensure that their players have the necessary fundamentals to succeed in the sport. With consistent practice and dedication to improving one's skillset through these drills, any beginner can become a great player.


Are you looking for basketball drills and coaching tips to help your beginner players improve their skills? Look no further than HoopsKing.com! Our online platform provides a variety of resources that are tailored specifically to beginning-level players, from tutorials on the fundamentals of dribbling and shooting, to drills designed with beginners in mind. With our easy-to-follow instructions and engaging video content, we can help get your team up to speed quickly so they can reach their full potential on the court. Join us today at HoopsKing.com for all your basketball training needs!

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