Tag Archives: Basketball

Ball Skills Introduction

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Equipment and Setup:

  • For Grades K-2 Use playground balls
  • For Grades 3/4/5 Use basketballs
  • Students spread out in their personal space
  • Adjust this list to the level of your students
  • Teacher up front to lead activities

Teacher Leads –  Students Follow

  • Foot Dribble: Bounce ball up to self using foot
  • Hold ankle dribble: Dribble ball while holding one ankle and balancing on one foot.
  • Heel Slap Dribble: Dribble with one hand while slapping your heel with the other
  • Massage and Dribble: Can you rub the back of your neck and dribble a ball?
  • Bounce High: Bounce ball high while ball doesn’t go above hand
  • Bounce Low: Bounce as low as possible
  • Catch while you’re off the floor: Throw ball and catch while jumping
  • Catch as low as you can: Bounce ball and catch as close to the floor as possible
  • Butterfly Drill: Hold ball between legs – do scissors – ball stays between legs
  • Throw back to front: Hold ball in back with both hands and throw in front to catch
  • Throw front to back: Throw ball up and catch it behind your back
  • Throw, jump 360, catch: Throw ball up and make a complete turn and catch
  • Roller ball: Balance ball behind your neck, let the ball roll down your back, then catch ball at your lower back.
  • Floor slap: Throw ball on the floor – slap both hands on floor – then catch
  • Stand to Lying Down Dribble: High dribble, medium dribble, sit on the floor and keep dribbling, then lie down on your back and keep dribbling. Keep dribbling and slowly begin standing up.
  • Homer Simpson: Run in a circle while dribbling your ball in the same place.
  • Monkey Walk: Walk while moving the ball between your legs
  • Crossover Dribble: Dribble right -left- right -left.
  • Heads Up Dribble: Watch the teacher move a ball side-to-side and move accordinglyHold ball in back with both hands and throw in front to catch
  • Homer Simpson: Run in a circle while dribbling your ball on an exact spot on the floor. Then reverse directions. Can you do it while skipping? Skipping backwards?

Basketball/Playground Balls Game and Activity Links

Ball Skills Intro

Dribble Train

Rotating/Stationary Line Passing

Recycle the Basketballs

Polyspot Basketball

Rotating/Stationary Line Pass

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Line Pass (Stationary Line/Rotating Line): Get a lot of practice passing balls/ etc. with a variety of partners

Setup/Equipment:

  • Line up the class so that there are two lines facing each other about ten feet apart.
  • Spread out, so everyone is directly across from a partner.
  • For K-2,  it helps if each participant has a polyspot to stand on. You may want to use playground balls rather than basketballs.

Guidelines:

  • One line is the Stationary line – each person in that line gets a ball. They are in charge of the ball and always hold it during transitions.
  • The other line is the rotating line – they will rotate down to the next person in line during the transition music.
  • MUSIC:  I set up a playlist of about 20 songs and set the time for 40 seconds. Then I place a transition song that repeats between songs that is about 10 seconds long.
  • Start music:  Students pass the ball back and forth. Start with a bounce pass which is usually more accurate and easier to catch.
  • Rotate: After the songs ends there is a ten second transition song for the person at the end of the rotating line to run up and take their place at the beginning of the line. Everyone else in the rotating line moves down one place.
  • Reminders: A good pass is one that your partner catches. How many passes can you make in 40 seconds.
  • Adjust the length of the pass according to each grade level. Then adjust during the activity for each grade level.
  • Vary the style of passes: Bounce, chest, overhead

Variations: Stop the activity at any time to make changes. The stationary line now gets a chance to run over and make the change this time. Here’s some possibilities:

  • Chest Pass with Playground Balls/Basketballs
  • Bounce Pass with Playground Balls/Basketballs
  • Beanbags
  • Foam balls
  • Deck Rings
  • Footballs
  • Spinjammers/ Soft Frisbee

Basketball Game: Recycle the Basketballs

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Setup and Equipment:

  • Six Relay teams and one baton or ball to designate current runner.
  • One hula hoop for each team (in the middle of the gym in line to the opposite wall).
  • About thirty balls are in barrels or on a ball cart near the opposite wall.

Rules:

  • On teacher’s signal, one student from each group runs to the original stash of balls at the opposite wall and dribble one ball to their teams hula hoop.
  • The dribbler then runs back the their team’s line and hands them the baton.
  • When all of the balls are gone from the original stash, players may now take them from the other team’s hula hoops.
  • Students may not take balls from the hoops that are directly next to them (on either side)
  • There is no guarding of the hoop
  • Dribbling challenges such as changing from dominant to non-dominant hand or doing a crossover dribble may be added.
  • The object of the game is to have as many of the balls in your team’s hoop when the teacher signals that the game is over.
  • When the teacher stops play, the second phase of the game begins.
  • Now, players will return the ball to the ball rack one at a time. The other teams may help the team with the most balls to return their balls.

Polyspot Basketball: All Grades

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polyspot

Setup and Equipment:

  • Polyspots are lined up in half/circle fashion in front of four basketball hoops. It helps to have basketball hoops of different heights.
  • Each team (6 teams) has a basketball to dribble to a spot on the floor.
  • Set up the spots so that the green and yellow spots are at the taller hoops and harder shots. The purple and orange spots will be the easiest shots at the shortest hoops.
  • 20 points for yellow – 20 points for green
  • 10 points for red and blue
  • 5 points for purple- 5 points for orange

Rules :

  • On the start signal, one player from each team will dribble to a spot and try score a basket.
  • The players may have both feet on the spot, or one foot in back and one foot on the spot. No feet in front of the spot.
  • If they miss the shot, they have one more opportunity to make it.
  • If both shots are missed, they must dribble back to their relay team and pass to the next player in line.
  • If the shot is made on the first or second try, the player should pick up that spot and dribble the ball in one hand and carry the spot in the other hand back to their relay team. Pass the ball to the next player in line and go to the end of the line.
  • A maximum of one polyspot per turn.
  • Each team will start a pile of spots and try to accumulate the most points.
  • Remind players that they must dribble to and from the polyspots.
  • At the end of the game, teams may count up their points.
  • The Most Fun Wins!

Basketball: Guard the Target

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This a great small group activity that allows for a lot of practice passing a basketball or a softer ball for younger students.

Equipment and Setup:

  • One Basketball of Playground ball per group and one foam target.
  • Break  into groups of six to eight students.
  • Form a circle that is outside the distance of a 4 square court. Use the 4-square court if you are able to.
  • One person is in the middle, their job is to try and keep the foam target from being knocked over.

Guidelines

  • The players in the circle pass the ball around the outside of the circle until they see someone open that has a good shot at knocking over the target.
  • If the foam target is knocked over, the person in the center goes to the circle and those two players exchange places.
  •  Play continues with a new person in the middle.

Other Ideas: If the skill level is very high, you could add a second ball.

Basketball: Dribble Train

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Setup and Equipment: Break students into 6 teams, each student has a basketball and has some dribbling experience.

Guidelines:

  • This will work best with students that have some basketball dribbling skills. You can adjust to their skill level. 
  • The object of this activity is to get a lot of practice dribbling a basketball.
  • Every students has a ball to start.
  • We break into six teams.
  • Teams line up so the students can follow the leader at the front of the line.
  • This will require students to keep their heads up to follow each other.
  • The team leaders will will “snake”  their line around gym without crossing through another team.
  • Their leader should move at a steady pace and try to keep the team together.
  • If someone loses their ball, they can retrieve it and return to their place in line.
  • The teacher can blow a whistle or stop the music after a minute or two. I like to use train sounds instead of a whistle. When it is time to rotate, the first person in line goes to the end of the line and everyone moves up one spot.  Each team now has  new leader to follow. After a few turns at moving in this manner, the students get the routine established and the activity moves smoothly.
  •  In the gym, I use the music to guide students through this activity. There are train sound effects that you can download and add to your music list. (see music ideas below).
  • Continue until all students have a turn as a leader.

Music for Dribble Train:

  1. Sweet Georgia Brown – The Globetrotters Theme Song #1 Basketball Songs Blues
  2. Train Bell Sound Effects 
  3. Mystery Train The Paul Butterfield Blues Band Blues  
  4. Freight Train Horn – \ The Hollywood Edge Sound Effects Library
  5. Last Train To Clarksville Sugar Beats Children’s Music
  6. (Chicago Bulls Theme) Bobby Morganstein
  7. Kernkraft 400 Power Music Workout Fitness & Workout
  8. Block Rockin’ Beats The Chemical Brothers 
  9. I’m a Gummy Bear (The Gummy Bear Song) Gummibär
  10.  Everybody Movin’, Pt. 1 (Kurd Maverick & Eddie Thoneick Remix) Bob Sinclar
  11. Wake Me Up Avicii
  12. Pumpin Blood  NONONO 

 

Bump Basketball (Official Rules)

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Setup and Equipment: 2 Basketballs, Basketball Court – Free Line marked

Objective: The object of the game is to “bump” the other players out of the game by making a shot before the person in back of you in the line does.

  • Order is established by forming a line at the free throw line.
  • All players must attempt their first shot from this point.
  • The first and second players in the line get a basketball. Play begins with the first person in line taking the first shot.
  • After the 1st player shoots, the 2nd player may shoot.
  • If the first shot by a player is missed they must follow their rebound and try to make a basket from anywhere on the court.
  • The game at this point is between player #1 and #2
  • If player #2 makes a shot before the first player, then player #1 is “bumped” from the game.
  • If Player #1 makes a shot, the ball should be rebounded and immediately passed to the third player in line. The contest is now between players #2 and #3.
  • Players may only touch their own ball. There is no basketball skill involved in hitting a basketball with another basketball, so this is not allowed in the official rules of “Bump”.

 

Triple Shot Basketball

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Triple Shot Basketball

Setup and Equipment:

  • For the teacher led demonstration chose three or four students

  • The demonstration is important especially for the second shot of the three shots. (Shooting from the spot you rebound from)

  • Each of the four teams has one basketball and a polyspot to designate an approximate free throw.

  • Another option for this game is to use the terms “recreational” and “competitive”for different games, this allows students to choose the game that is the best match for their skills.

  • In a typical Gym class four groups line up in back of the free throw line and start shooting on the teacher’s signal.

Rules:

  • Each Player gets three shots

  • SHOT ONE: From inside the free throw line – worth three points.

  • SHOT TWO: Wherever you catch the rebound from – worth two points.

  • SHOT THREE: A layup – worth one point

  • After turn is completed, pass the ball to the next person in the line.

  • Groups add each player’s points to their total.

  • After two or three minutes the teacher calls the game and all of the group rotates to the next basketball hoop.

  • The scoring continues at each of the four designated hoops.

  • The goal is to get your team to score as many points as possible, though, as usual, the most fun wins.


Dribble to 100

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Equipment and Setup:

  • Floor is setup in a scattered fashion with polyspots and basketballs for dribbling. Use soccer balls for “Soccer Style Dribble to 100”.

Skill Lesson:

  • Students go to a spot and dribble a basketball ten times on ten different spots.  Soccer Style Dribble to 100: Simply trap the ball on 10 different spots.
  • After completing one hundred dribbles, go the teacher and give a High Five (fist bump, etc).
  • Begin dribbling around the outside of the dribbling area. Soccer Style Dribble to 100: Simply dribble the soccer ball around the perimeter of the gym.
  • Adjust skills by asking students to use dominant hand, non-dominant hand, and crossover dribble. Similar Variations can also be added for Soccer Style Dribble to 100.