Free Newsletter

Get our free monthly newsletter, 72 basketball drills, 32 plays, scoring tips & breakthrough coaching strategy. Signup for our newsletter

Q & A Forum

Experienced coaches are ready to answer your basketball questions! Visit our forum

Find us on facebook

Find us on Google+

CloseMinimize

Subscribe for FREE and Get 3 eBooks…

Just for subscribing to our free newsletter you’ll get these 3 eBooks for free…
  • 72 Basketball Drills & Coaching Tips – 136 page eBook.
  • 21 Basketball Tips & Tricks for Players – 20 page eBook.
  • 32 Winning Basketball Plays – 96 page eBook.
Plus you’ll get ALL updates to this website delivered to your inbox for free. Over 100,000 other coaches, players, & parents have already subscribed.

We will never send you spam or share your email address, guaranteed!

Your First Name:
Your Email:
Which category applies to you?
Age level:


Close

Ballhandling Drill: Two Up, Two Back

Drill Purpose (All Ages)

This drill will improve dribbling and ballhandling skills. It can be done alone or with multiple players in practice.


Instructions

  1. Set a chair or cone about 21 feet from the basket.

  2. Take 2 hard dribbles at the chair.

   two_up_two_back1 (1K)

  1. When reaching the chair, take 2 backup dribbles.

   two_up_two_back2 (1K)

  1. Use a change of direction dribble (cross over, inside out, etc).

  2. Push ahead into 1 dribble lay-up or pull-up jumpshot.

   two_up_two_back3 (1K)


Development Tips for Guards

  • The 2 up dribbles should be hard, attacking dribbles. The player should understand that anytime he can get the defense going backwards he has a big advantage.
  • Be sure the backup dribbles are protected dribbles. Do not expose the ball to the defense.
  • The push dribble should be an explosion in a straight line to the basket. Whatever the outcome of the move, it should be accomplished in 1 dribble.
Points of Emphasis

  • Keep your head up.
  • Stay low and keep your knees bent when making your change of direction move. (This improves quickness because standing upright will only slow you down when you're ready to explode past the defender.)
  • Use your finger pads when dribbling (not your palms).
  • Work on lengthening the dribble. Work to get your opportunities with 1 dribble. You don't beat defenses with your dribble. You beat people with your feet; you SEPARATE from your defense with the dribble.
  • Practice outside your comfort zone. Experiment; go faster than you are used to, use your imagination. When working on new skills, don't be concerned with losing the ball. Just pick it up and do it again.

Do you have any questions or suggestions for this drill? Let us know by leaving your comments...



Comments

carter says:
9/17/2007 at 1:05:55 AM

the basketball drilll are amazing pls try sending more basketball tips to my email thanks.


Coach Marty Edwards says:
10/4/2007 at 3:25:16 PM

Excellent information. Thank you for another great drill !


sam says:
10/5/2007 at 3:51:01 AM

thanks. please keep sending. i'm learning. we're profiting.


AL says:
10/13/2007 at 6:20:44 PM

THANKS THIS DRILL HELPED MY BIDDIE PLAYERS WITH THEIR BALL HANDLING SKILLS


pat white says:
10/14/2007 at 2:14:23 PM

hey thanks alot for this stuff. im gonna start a high school program here in new zealand and with info like this our program will prosper.


hoang nam says:
10/24/2007 at 8:10:26 PM

thank alot


nwabunwanne stephen says:
11/12/2007 at 6:50:23 AM

thanks a lo; please more of this stuff in my box


kelly says:
1/20/2008 at 10:47:22 AM

hey, carter. great basketball drills. i can really use them tyvm!!!~~~


stephen says:
1/22/2008 at 3:33:28 AM

that was really amazing send me more of this so that i woul inprove in my ball handling.thanks man i like it.


Launita says:
4/15/2008 at 7:13:45 PM

Please send me more tips for guard developement drills. Focusing on footwork and ball handling.

Thanks


Joe Haefner (Co-Founder of Breakthrough Basketball) says:
4/15/2008 at 9:06:54 PM

Hi Launita,

You find more on these fundamentals at this link: http://www.breakthroughbasketball.com/fundamentals/basketballfundamentals.html

We will continuously add new information.



austin says:
10/3/2008 at 10:28:38 AM

thank you alot this advice will help me with my essay so i will use this for more baskette ball stuff thanks again


PIIK says:
10/5/2008 at 12:43:25 PM

im really quite sure of what you mean by 2 dribbles. is it dribbling using both hands with 1 ball or is it dribble 2 balls with both hands ?


Joe Haefner says:
10/6/2008 at 7:28:55 AM

Hi Piik,

It is neither. Two dribbles means that the person dribbles the ball twice with one hand. For this drill, the player is running forward while dribbling the basketball.


F Thompson says:
12/3/2008 at 7:09:49 PM

I am a parent of a 13 year old basketball player. The coach wants me to run the clock..I tried to get out of it but he is consist on me running the clock..Tell me how to run the clock...Thanks


gg says:
4/20/2009 at 12:34:59 PM

yo this information is great keep adding more info and pics though


gg says:
4/20/2009 at 12:39:23 PM

hey its me again but can you add more info about dribbling because i didnt understand some of it and because of you guys i got an a on my project.YAY ME!


Terry says:
12/1/2009 at 8:09:03 PM

My kids can finally get the ball over half court.
I need more though


coach clevenger says:
3/15/2010 at 5:43:38 PM

I had a group of girls this last season who knew little to nuthing about basketball. This drill really helped and I ended up having awesome ball handlers.


ruwan says:
8/5/2010 at 1:15:46 AM

Amazing! Thanks


Tom says:
1/12/2012 at 11:29:24 AM

On the "1-dribble layup" part of this drill, should I expect 6th graders to be able to do this, or will they need to be bigger/older before they can do it in one dribble?


Jeff Haefner says:
1/12/2012 at 11:48:51 AM

This of course always depends on the specific kids you are working with and their experience level (you wouldn't make a big deal if this is the first time they picked up a ball). But I have third graders that have no problem with one dribble lay ups from the distance shown (three point arc). They key is to push your dribble out ahead of you and go get it. That's what you do when you have an opening to the basket. Extend the dribble in front. If you dribble right next to your leg it will take 15 dribbles and longer to get there. You only need one. I have seen a 4-10 eight grade girl do drop step a few feet from half court and get all the way to the basket in one dribble. She was pretty athletic but the high school boys get pretty motivated when they find out an 4-10 8th grade girl can get there in one dribble when they are not.


Harris/GREEK BBALL COACH says:
1/12/2012 at 2:05:40 PM

It was really an excellent Drill for my Young Players.
THANKS A LOT


Lavonn says:
1/16/2012 at 4:25:20 PM

I loved the drill, it's definitely an effective drill. I was just working on a drill focusing on ball handling and when I read this drill it just worked perfectly into what I was currently doing. Thanx , keep up the good work.


Leave a Comment
Name
:
Email (not published)
:
Three minus zero is equal to?  (Prevents Spam)
Answer
:
 Load New Question
Comments
:
    Check this box to receive an email notification when someone else comments on this page.