Basketball Dribbling Skills

For an aspiring basketball player, dribbling is one of the most important things to master before he can take his game to the next level. Dribbling skills are devised, so as to give the player a better degree of control of the ball, and also teach him the ability to move with the ball. The person dribbling with the ball needs to be able to do two things; run with the ball at a high speed without breaking stride, and more importantly, be able to pick out a good pass for his teammates.

The best basketball players in the world are expert dribblers and this is something that they learn over time with a lot of practice and training. They literally spend hours each and every day mastering their dribbling in order to get even better at the game. Of course, the only thing that counts in the game of basketball is shooting and scoring, but if no one in your team can dribble the ball, how will you reach the opposition's basket?

Basketball dribbling skills are all about building momentum and rhythm in your movements, and ensuring that you have a fluid and steady movement. Instead of stumbling around with the ball bouncing in front of you and leading you anywhere, you need to take control of the ball. The best dribblers make it seem like the ball is attached to their hands before they manage to release it in one graceful motion, to open up the opposite teams defense and start some offensive basketball moves. Before we get into a few dribbling techniques, here are some basketball dribbling tips for a beginner.

• Always keep your head up while dribbling.
• Try to stay low and keep a low center of gravity while dribbling.
• Try to protect the ball with your body. You can do this by shifting your body between the defender and the ball.
• Dribble with a purpose, not just for the sake of dribbling. Try to create space or find a good pass. Don't dribble unnecessarily.
• Constantly change your pace and body movements to fool the defender. Don't dribble in the same manner monotonously.
• Try to use both your hands for dribbling. Improve the ability and the strength in your weaker hand.
• You must constantly strive to improve your basketball dribbling techniques and body mechanics.

With these pointers in mind, you will soon learn the secrets to great dribbling and be able to dribble like a pro.

Important Dribbling Skills
If you are familiar with the rules of the game, then you must be well aware that you cannot walk or run while holding the ball. It has to be bounced on the ground, and you can only do so with one hand at a time. If you start dribbling and moving and then stop, you need to either shoot at the basket, or pass the ball. Dribbling gains more importance because each dribble matters and it should somehow result in an advantage for the attacking team. All the famous basketball players are well aware of this fact, and as a result, spend hours improving their dribbling.

The Speed Dribble
This is most useful when you have a lot of space in front of you and need to move fast for a counter attack. It's important to maintain control of the basketball in such a situation and not let the ball escape you. What you need to do is bounce the ball as far ahead as possible and run behind it, while still maintaining control of it. Keep your hands behind the ball and not over it, as this will help you bounce it further. Also, do not push it so far ahead that you cannot retrieve it, or so far ahead that the opposite team gets a turnover.

The Low Dribble
When you are surrounded by opposition players and still wish to dribble the ball, the low dribble is what you will need to make use of. In this case, you are bouncing the basketball as close to the ground as possible, while maintaining control over it. By doing so, you will make it extremely hard for the markers to reach the ball, and you need to stoop your back very low.

The Crossover
This is where you change the direction of your movement. All you need to do is change the hand that you are dribbling the ball with, and this will enable you to move in a different direction altogether. This is one of the simplest tricks to do, but its effectiveness is there for all to see.

These were just a few of the simplest basketball dribbling skills that can be used effectively in a match. There are many more advanced moves and skills as well, that can be learned over time, and the key here is to get as much practice as possible. The more you train the better you will get, and this is just the beginning.