Eye-hand coordination is a big part of being a great ball handler. Partner tennis ball basketball dribbling drills require you to focus on the tennis balls instead of dribbling the basketball. The idea behind this tennis ball drill is to teach you to dribble a basketball without having to think about it. Another great thing that basketball drills like this work on are your reaction time. You have to cross the basketball over as soon as you see the tennis ball coming at you.
Basketball Drill Overview
Drill Name: Partner Tennis Ball Toss/Bounce Between the Legs Basketball Drill
Equipment Needed: 2 tennis balls, 2 basketballs, and a partner.
Similar Basketball Drills and Resources
- Toss Between the Legs Tennis Ball Basketball Drill (Walking)
- 3 Dribble Partner Tennis Ball Toss/Bounce Between the Legs Basketball Drill
- Between the Legs Toss Tennis Ball Basketball Drill
Goals of the Drill
- Improve your eye-hand coordination and work on your ball handling.
- Be able to dribble a basketball without looking down or having to think about it.
Coaching Points
- Keep your eyes up the whole time.
- Focus on a good toss and a good catch.
- Stay low in an athletic position and don’t raise up.
- Pound the basketball.
Basketball Drill Instructions
- Start facing your partner about 8-10 feet apart.
- Stand with the basketball in both player’s right hands and the tennis balls in the left hands.
- Get down in an athletic position and begin to dribble the basketball with your right hand.
- One player will toss the tennis ball, and the other will bounce the tennis ball to the partner’s hand that is dribbling the basketball.
- While the tennis balls are in the air, the players will cross the basketball over between their legs to their other hand and then catch the tennis ball.
- Repeat the tennis ball toss/bounce back and forth as quickly as you can.
- The same player will bounce and pass every time until they decide to switch.
- To make this drill more difficult, the coach can yell out switch, and now the player who was bouncing the ball is not tossing, and the player who was tossing is now bouncing.
- This is great for teaching your players to think while handling the ball.
