Not only do tennis ball basketball dribbling drills work to improve ball handling, but they also work on hand-eye coordination. When a player is in a game handling the basketball, they should not have to look down while dribbling or think about what moves they will make with the ball. If they have to worry so much about not losing the ball, they won’t be able to run the offense and see the open teammate.
Tennis ball drills are great for preparing a player to dribble the basketball without having to think about it and without always needing to look down at the ball. There are many great basketball drills to work on ball handling that you can do with tennis balls, and the 1 dribble toss behind the back tennis ball drill is just one of them.
Basketball Drill Overview
Drill Name: Progression Walking Toss Behind the Back Tennis Ball Basketball Drill
Equipment Needed: 1 basketball and 1 tennis ball.
Similar Basketball Drills and Resources
- Behind the Back Toss Tennis Ball Basketball Drill
- Walking Behind the Back Two Ball Basketball Dribbling Drill
- Toss Behind the Back Tennis Ball Basketball Drill
Goals of the Drill
- Learn how to dribble without looking down at the basketball and work on hand-eye coordination.
Coaching Points
- Stay low as you dribble.
- Focus on a good toss when you throw the tennis ball up in the air.
Basketball Drill Instructions
- Start on the baseline with a basketball in your right hand and a tennis ball in your left hand.
- Begin walking forward, and as you do, dribble the ball 1-3 times (depending on the level of the player) and then toss the tennis ball up in the air.
- While the tennis ball is in the air, you will dribble the basketball behind your back to your other hand.
- Catch the tennis ball with your open hand, and then take 1-3 dribbles before repeating the move.
- Continue this pattern all the way down the court to the opposite baseline.
- Once you get to the opposite baseline, you will come back, but this time do the drill moving backward.
