The great basketball point guards can make a quick move and change directions without thinking about it. There is no looking down or fumbling with the basketball; they just make the move. Wall tennis ball basketball drills are designed to simulate making a quick move and change direction while also focusing on catching a tennis ball.
Hopefully, this will translate into a game situation where the ball handler can make a move without looking down at the ground and can also read the defense. These types of basketball drills are also great for working on catching and developing soft hands. So they are also great for non-point guards and players who don’t typically handle the basketball.
Basketball Drill Overview
Drill Name: Wall Tennis Ball Between the Legs Basketball Dribbling Drill
Equipment Needed: 1 Basketball, 6-10 Tennis Balls, and a Partner
Similar Basketball Drills and Resources
- Wall Ball Reaction Basketball Drill
- Wall Tennis Ball Weak Hand Basketball Dribbling Drill
- Partner Tennis Ball Toss Between the Legs Basketball Drill
Goals of the Drill
- Develop hand-eye coordination as well as work on ball handling.
Coaching Points
- When you make the between the legs move, keep the move tight.
- Eyes up the whole time and stay low as you slide in a defensive stance.
Basketball Drill Instructions
- The player will start 3-4 feet away from the wall facing it with the basketball, and the coach will stand behind him with the tennis balls.
- Have the player get down into a defensive stance and slide to the left while dribbling with his left hand.
- When the coach throws the tennis ball off the wall, the player must dribble the basketball between his legs and then catch the tennis ball with his/her left hand and then drop it behind them.
- Immediately start sliding to the right and dribbling with your right hand.
- Every time the coach throws the tennis ball, make the move, catch the tennis ball, and change directions.
- Go for a certain amount of time, tosses, or catches, and then stop.
- When throwing the tennis ball off the wall, try to bounce it so that it is on the player’s side with the basketball
- You can make this basketball dribbling drill easier or harder depending on how hard you bounce the tennis ball off of the wall.