One of the most popular sports in the United States, basketball has inspired many to reach for the star status of Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. Basketball stardom requires hours of practice, determination, and drills. Drills are the foundation of learning the sport. Coaches should do this while encouraging the love and learning of the sport. You should always start with basketball drills for beginners.

Basketball drills help the players learn the basics of the game. They help to foster the development of the skills they will need to play. These drills cover such skills as teamwork, dribbling, passing, and lay-ups. They also help the coach to assess the strong points of the players and what position would be right for each player. Here are a few basic basketball coaching drills for beginning basketball players.

Double dribbling is considered a good warm-up drill. It helps to improve the coordination and concentration of the players. This drill requires the dribbling of two basketballs at the same time for five minutes by each player. As each player improves, the difficulty can be increased by having the player concentrate on a distant object while performing the drill.

Speed dribbling is a drill used to increase the speed of the dribbler. This not only moves the player more quickly down the court, but also decreases the chance of the ball being stolen. Players must dribble to the center of the court, bouncing the ball as little as possible. As they perfect this skill, you can increase the difficulty by reducing the number of bounces each time.

The ping pong drill is effective for improving alertness. Players need to be aware of their surroundings at all times on the court. This skill helps to also lessen the chances of the ball being stolen by an opposing player. With this drill, players dribble the ball with their main hand and, at the same time, pass a ping pong ball to each other.

Beginning players do not usually make the plays in the game. During this time, teamwork and passing are skills that should be taught. One drill to teach these skills is called give and go. The players are taught to dribble a couple of steps and pass the ball to an open player. This is repeated with each team member down the court.

In the beginning, lay-ups can be hard for new players. Drills must be given to teach them the proper form and technique. This will give them the confidence and skill they need to do it properly. In this drill, the player stands at the free throw line, dribbles once or twice, takes a step, and then shoots the lay-up.

One of the most obvious benefits of participating in sports such as basketball, allows kids to stay healthy through physical activity. Basketball, for example, requires jumping and running for extended periods of times. Even kids at an early age can benefit from the physical demands of playing a sport. Those who get more regular exercise have better self esteem and body image perception. Additionally, those who are healthy and participate in sports are better equipped to deal with stress.

Children who participate in group activities such as basketball do better in school. Since practicing a sport requires discipline, the child learns to devote their time and energy wisely. They learn to set goals for themselves and learn that working hard can obtain those goals.

Valuable social skills can be taught through athletic sport and interaction with others. Children who play sports such as basketball learn to work as a team with others. They learn sportsmanship and how to interact with others in a positive way. Working with a group for a common goal is a great life lesson for children of any age. As a team, the children learn to support one another even in very competitive environments. Social development is just another of the many perks of having your kids participate in group sports.

As a parent, it is critical to encourage a child to participate in some type of extracurricular activity without forcing them. Perhaps one sport is not of interest to that child. Allow the child to choose which sport or activity interests them most. If your child is interested in participating in basketball, it is important to encourage that positive decision at home.