Are you looking to improve your basketball dribbling skills? Cones are some of the most straightforward yet compelling pieces of practice equipment out there, and they can make all the difference in your training.
Whether you prefer to run through drills at the gym, on an outside court, or even in the comfort of your own home with an indoor basketball, dribbling is an essential skill you can’t neglect if you want to keep leveling up your game.
The following drills will improve your ball handling and increase your agility, coordination, and overall basketball IQ. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced player, you can always benefit from challenging yourself and pushing yourself to become a better player. So, grab your basketball and get ready to try these classic cone basketball dribbling drills.
Slalom Dribble Drill
The slalom dribble drill is an excellent exercise to improve your dribbling speed, control, and change of direction. It simulates dribbling through a series of defenders or obstacles on the court. Try it to enhance hand-eye coordination and boost your confidence in dribbling under pressure.
Here's how to perform the slalom dribble drill:
- Set up five to seven cones in a straight line, evenly spaced apart. Ensure the distance between each cone is challenging but manageable for your skill level.
- Start at one end of the line and dribble the ball as you navigate the cones. Focus on maintaining a low dribble and keeping the ball under control.
- As you approach each cone, perform a quick change of direction using crossover dribbles, between-the-legs dribbles, or behind-the-back dribbles.
- Continue dribbling through the cones, alternating techniques to enhance your dribbling arsenal.
- Aim to complete the drill as quickly as possible without losing control of the ball or knocking over any cones.
- Once you reach the end of the line, turn around and repeat the drill in the opposite direction. As you become more comfortable with the drill, challenge yourself by increasing the speed and intensity.
Cone Touches
The cone touches drill effectively improves your dribbling control, hand speed, and hand-eye coordination. This drill focuses on developing your ability to maneuver the ball around cones precisely and quickly. It also helps improve your focus, as you must accurately touch each cone without losing control of the ball.
Follow these steps to perform the cone touches drill:
- Set up a series of cones in a straight line, spacing them about one to two feet apart. The number of cones you use will depend on the distance you want to cover and your skill level.
- Start at one end of the line and dribble the ball while moving forward, ensuring you maintain a low dribble.
- As you approach the first cone, use quick and precise dribbles to touch the ball against the side of the cone without knocking it over.
- Immediately after touching the first cone, quickly move to the next cone and repeat the process. Continue the drill, touching each cone with the ball while maintaining control and speed.
- To make the drill more challenging, vary your dribbling techniques, such as crossover dribbles, between-the-legs dribbles, or behind-the-back dribbles while touching the cones.
Figure-Eight Dribbling
The figure-eight dribbling drill is a classic exercise that improves your dribbling control, hand coordination, and agility. This drill involves maneuvering the basketball in a figure-eight pattern around your legs, enhancing your ability to handle the ball in tight spaces. It also improves your hand speed, making you more effective at evading defenders and creating scoring opportunities.
Follow these steps to perform the figure-eight dribbling drill:
- Begin by dribbling the ball with your dominant hand. As the ball peaks on the dribble, quickly transfer it to your non-dominant hand and guide it behind your legs from the back.
- As the ball reaches the front again, switch hands and guide it back through your legs, completing the figure-eight motion.
- Repeat this figure-eight dribbling pattern, alternating between your dominant and non-dominant hand, ensuring a smooth and controlled motion. Focus on keeping your head up and maintaining a low dribble throughout the drill.
- To make the drill more challenging, incorporate variations like adding cones or obstacles that you must navigate around while performing the figure-eight dribble.
Full Court Cone Dribble
The full-court cone dribble drill is a challenging exercise that focuses on improving your dribbling stamina, speed, and decision-making skills. This drill simulates game-like situations in which you need to navigate through tight spaces and evade defenders while maintaining control of the ball.
Follow these steps to perform the full-court cone dribble drill:
- Set up a series of cones in a straight line across the length of the basketball court.
- Start at one end of the court. As you sprint down the court, begin dribbling the ball with your dominant hand.
- As you approach each cone, use quick and controlled dribbles to navigate around it. Maintain a low dribble and keep your head up to survey the court and anticipate potential obstacles or defenders.
- Focus on maintaining your speed and control while weaving through the cones. Once you reach the end of the court, turn around and repeat the drill in the opposite direction.
- Challenge yourself by increasing the speed and intensity as you become more comfortable with the drill. To make the drill more game-like, incorporate variations such as adding defenders or performing specific dribbling moves at each cone.
Two-Ball Dribble Course
The two-ball dribble course is a challenging and advanced drill focusing on improving your ambidexterity, coordination, and ball control. This drill involves dribbling two basketballs simultaneously, pushing your skills to the limit. It will help you improve your ability to handle pressure and make split-second decisions on the court.
Follow these steps to perform the two-ball dribble course:
- Set up a course or a series of cones on the court, creating a path for you to navigate through.
- Start at one end of the course and dribble both basketballs simultaneously, one in your dominant hand and the other in your non-dominant hand. As you progress through the course, focus on maintaining a low dribble and controlling both basketballs.
- As you navigate the course, use a variety of dribbling techniques, such as crossover dribbles, between-the-legs dribbles, or behind-the-back dribbles, with each hand.
- Pay attention to your footwork and body positioning to maintain balance and control while dribbling with both hands.
- Time yourself as you complete the course and aim to improve your speed with each repetition.
Work these five cone dribbling drills into your at-home practice routine as often as possible or as often as you like. As with most things, you’ll get out of the activity whatever effort you put into it, so don’t sell yourself short. If you put in the work, you’re bound to see progress. When you can complete the drills in less time or with greater accuracy than you could before, you’ll know you’re improving. So, get out there, and don’t give up!
