This tennis ball basketball dribbling drill is designed to help you work on your ball handling, hand-eye coordination, and communication. These are all important things in basketball, and whether you are a primary ball-handler or a big man who needs to work on their hands, this is a great basketball drill to use.
If you have never done a partner tennis ball toss drill before, it may be challenging at first, but don’t let it frustrate you. Keep working at the drill, and you will become a better ball handler if you stick with it. The goal is to make you so comfortable dribbling the basketball that you don’t have to think about it while playing in a game and can focus on other things like reading the defense and running the offense.
Basketball Drill Overview
Drill Name: Walking Partner Tennis Ball Toss Behind the Back Basketball Drill
Equipment Needed: 2 basketballs, 2 tennis balls, and a partner.
Similar Basketball Drills and Resources
- Partner Tennis Ball Toss Crossover Basketball Drill
- Partner Tennis Ball Toss Behind the Back Basketball Drill
- Partner Tennis Ball Toss Basketball Drill
Goals of the Drill
- Develop your hand-eye coordination, work on ball handling, and communication.
Coaching Points
- It is okay if you mess up, that is part of basketball dribbling drills and getting out of your comfort zone.
- Do your best to give your partner a good toss each time and complete your move with the basketball as quickly as possible so that you have more time to catch the tennis ball.
- If you communicate with your teammate when you will toss the tennis ball, it makes the drill much easier.
Basketball Drill Instructions
- Both players will start with a basketball in their right hand and a tennis ball in their left hand.
- One player will be on the baseline and the other facing him/her about 4-5 feet away.
- They will both start dribbling the basketball and moving up the floor.
- At the same time, both players are going to toss each other their tennis balls.
- While the tennis balls are still in the air, the players will make a behind the back dribble move and then catch the tennis ball with their free hand (the hand that just had the basketball in it).
- They will take a dribble or two and then repeat the move with the opposite hand.
- Continue all the way up the floor and then come back.
