Coaching Basketball: Teaching Dribbling and Beginning Ball Handling Moves

Most basketball coaches ignore teaching ball handling, concentrating practice time on defense, shooting and team offense, and hoping players develop their own ball handling skills at the park or during the summer. While this may be an appropriate use of practice time, I believe basketball coaches must teach players two important moves to improve offensive play under pressure and in transition.

The first, and most important move, is the pullback crossover. This move can be used anywhere on the court and especially to defeat a trapping defense, to diffuse pressure or to create space against a quicker, aggressive defensive player. The pullback can also be used to attack the defense by luring an aggressive defender to move forward, allowing the offensive player to explode past the defense, using the defender’s momentum against him.

The basic move is a quick change of direction, from forward to backward, using the offensive player’s body to protect the ball from the defense. To execute properly, the offensive player stops his momentum by stepping forward and into the defender with his inside foot. By dribbling near the back foot, the ball handler keeps the width of his body between the defender and the ball, allowing for maximum protection. The offensive player pushes backward with his front foot, shuffling back quickly. The quicker the change of direction, the more separation occurs. Once sufficient space is created, the ball handler opens his shoulders to the court and makes a hard crossover dribble.