facebook pixel

Basketball drills

Games with different assignments/restrictions.
Pay attention to free running, not blind dribbling, good passing, pivoting, talking.

  • 3x3 without dribbling (1 basket)
  • with max 2 dribbles
  • Both teams lie on the back line (on stomach),
  • trainer puts ball in play via shot or bounce (quickly choose position, who will attack?)
  • just play to the 10 (end game)


Divide the group into pairs.

Passing to the other side:

  • First 2-groups fit around the whole field.
  • 3 meter distance, no running
  • Variant: at the halfway line:
    • Player on the inside dribbles to the head of the bucket and passes to the player on the outside who scores with lay-up/shot.
  • Player who has passed runs to the other sideline and receives outlet, passes back to the center line and again shot/layup
  • Left and right side


Important that they do not run during the pass and that the players change (inside and outside).


Players start at the bottom of the ring in 2 lines.

1) On the right side of the ring, players make a zig-zag run with the ball, changing direction at each cone (cross, behind the back, through the legs and spin move).

  • Once at the center line, the player dribbles with the left hand towards the cones #1 here you do a backup dribble and go with a cross-over past the cones and finish with a lay-up.


2) On the left side of the ring, players do a short/explosive zig-zag and sprint from the last pawn to the center line.

  • Once at the center line, they dribble right-handed to cones #2, here they do a backup dribble and crossover past the cones and finish with lay-up.


  • At cones #1 and #2 you can vary with crossover, behind the back, through the legs and spin move
  • Finish with lay-up or short distance shot

drawing Warm-up 1 (Zig-Zag half-court)

The players form 2 lines on the baseline, everyone has a ball except the first person of 1 of the 2 lines.

  • Finishing with jumpshot (30 scores)
  • Finishing with shot on 1st block of the bucket (30 scores)
  • Finishing with shot on the elbow from the bucket (20 scores)

drawing Shooting 1
  • 1X1:
    • Player on the baseline has the ball, gives the pass to the wing and follows his pass for the defense.
    • Players play 1X1 to the goal.
  • 1X2:
    • Player on the baseline has the ball, makes the pass to the wing and follows his pass for the defence.
    • The wing attacks the baseline, makes a back-up dribble and throws a pass to the safety.
    • (The defender remains on the same man, the wing, defending).
    • The Winger runs free, gets the pass from the playmaker and attacks the goal 1X1.
  • 2X2:
    • Player on the baseline has the ball, gives the pass to the wing and follows his pass for defense, the 2nd defender also runs to the top to defend.
    • The wing attacks the baseline, does a backup dribble and gives a pass to the playmaker.
    • After his pass, the winger goes to cut and post up as a center.
    • The playmaker now dribbles to the wing position.
    • From this position the players play 2X2 to finish.
  • 2X3:
    • Player on the baseline has the ball, passes to the wing and follows his pass for defence, the 2nd defender also runs to the top to defend.
    • The wing attacks the baseline, does a backup dribble and gives a pass to the playmaker.
    • After his pass, the winger goes to cut and post up as a center.
    • The playmaker now dribbles to the wing position.
    • The third attacker can be used as a saftey.
  • 3X3:
    • Player on the baseline has the ball, gives the pass to the wing and follows his pass for defence, the 2nd and 3rd defender also run to the top to defend.
    • The wing attacks the baseline, does a back up dribble and gives a pass to the playmaker.
    • After his pass, the wing walks to the other side of the ring to position himself as a centre.
    • Meanwhile the server passes the ball to the other wing who is ready to play (swinging).
drawing 1X1 build-up to 3X3
  • Playmaker gives the pass to the wing
  • The playmaker cuts through and positions himself at the center position
  • The wing steps out and gives a collision pass to the center
  • The centre can finish with the following movements
    • open step to the inside
    • Fake open step to the inside -> turn around and finish with a shot
    • Fake open step inside -> turn outside -> step inside and finish with a one-step lay-up
drawing Center moves
  • Ball leaves the baseline
  • pass to player on mid-line-sideline -> player follows ball and runs up the field
  • player returns the pass and cuts through towards the ring
  • the pass is given to the 2nd player on the half way line
  • player gives the pass to the player that is cutting towards the ring
  • finishing with a lay-up
drawing Warming up 4
  • The player on the baseline runs to the wing position, gets the pass and turns towards the goal to look for a shot.
  • The winger with the ball does 2 cross dribbles between the cones and then finishes with a lay-up or shot
drawing Warming up 2
  • Divide the players into groups and give each player a number (equal groups).
  • Each group in a corner of the field and balls in the centre circle.
  • When the coach says your number, you run to the centre circle, grab a ball and you get 2 attempts to score (max 2 x 1 point for your group).
  • Games to the 10 for example and losers push up.
  • To keep the speed up, have several numbers run at the same time.
  • Everyone a ball, line up in a large circle.
  • Trainer shows the exercise, players follow:
    • Spread out and roll the ball in an 8-shape between the legs.
    • Roll the ball around your waist, head legs (change direction)
    • Dribble with left, right, change hands.
    • let the whole group dribble at the same time (rhythm exercise, all in rhythm!)
    • dribble between your legs
    • dribble behind your back
    • Shot movement upwards (extend arm, point, catch)
    • Spread position (move the ball in an 8-shape without touching the ground)


  • Make 2 rows with 1 ball.
  • Player gives bounce/chest pass to other row and runs after the ball, and closes behind.
  • Extend:
    • Place a pylon around which the players have to walk (or 2 pylons).
    • Possibly instead of passing dribble with the ball (left and right)




drawing Passing/dribbling (warming up)
  1. Everyone has a ball
    • 10x high/10x middle/10x low -> focus on the power on the ball and dribbling with the fingertips
    • 10x right 2 dribbles -> crosscross (step on the cross)
    • 10x left 2 dribbles -> crosscross (step on the cross)
    • 10x right 2 dribbles -> Between (step)
    • 10x left 2 dribbles -> Between (step)
    • 10x right 2 dribbles -> Behind (step)
    • 10x left 2 dribbles -> Behind (step)
    • 5x right 2 dribbles -> cross/between/behind
    • 5x left 2 dribbles -> cross/between/behind
  2. Per 2, 1 person has 2 balls
    • 2 dribbles with both balls -> pass one ball to the other player and do the above exercises but dynamically (walk to the other side of the field)
    • different variations possible: cross, between and behind
  3. Per 2, 1 ball
    • The person carrying out the exercise receives the ball and does the exercise 'cross/between/behind' once and then gives the pass back.
    • The person carrying out the exercise receives the ball and does the exercise "cross/between/behind" 2x and then returns the pass
    • the performer receives the ball and does the exercise "cross/between/behind" 3x and gives back the pass
    • the performer receives the ball and does the exercise "cross/between/behind" 4x and gives back the pass
    • the performer receives the ball and does the exercise "cross/between/behind" 5x and gives back the pass
    • the performer receives the ball and does the cross/between/behind exercise 4x, and then returns the pass
    • the performer receives the ball and does the cross/between/behind exercise 3 times, and then gives back the pass
    • the performer receives the ball and does the exercise "cross/between/behind" 2x and gives back the pass
    • the performer receives the ball and does the exercise "cross/between/behind" 1x and gives back the pass