10 Fun Basketball Drills For Kids
If you’re coaching youth basketball, making it fun should be one of your top priorities. Why?
Because if it’s fun, kids will want to do more of it!
The best part is, using fun basketball drills doesn’t prevent your players from learning. In fact, fun basketball drills are often the best way to teach the game.
With that in mind, here are 10 of the best fun basketball games & fun basketball drills for kids!
Fun Basketball Drill #1 - Rock Paper Scissors 1v1
Rock Paper Scissors (RPS) 1v1 is a great way to work on attacking the basket and finishing at the rim.
Players partner up and face each other with a ball on the ground at their feet.
Players play rock/paper/scissors.
Whoever wins picks up the ball and tries to score (in the diagram above player 2 won so they picked up the ball).
The defense attempts to get in front and prevent the offense from scoring.
Fun Basketball Drill #2 - Circle Tag
Circle tag is a fun basketball drill that works on ball handling and agility.
Place players on opposite sides of a circle.
One player has a ball and one does not.
The player with the ball (1) is on offense & the players without the ball (2) is on defense.
2 must go around the circle and attempt to tag 1.
1 dribbles around the circle and attempts to avoid being tagged.
Switch after :20.
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Fun Basketball Drill #3 - Dribble & Partner Tag
Dribble & Partne Tag are great ways to work on ball handling and scanning while dribbling. They also incorporate conditioning into your practices.
Dribble Tag
Every player has a ball. One player starts as the tagger.
Players must stay in the half court and try to avoid being tagged while dribbling.
Once a player is tagged, they then try to tag the other players who have not yet been tagged.
The last player who has not been tagged is “it” for the next round.
Partner Tag
Each player has a ball.
One partner starts as the tagger. The other partner tries not to be tagged.
Anytime a tag occurs, partners switch roles.
The person with the most tags win.
You can adjust the boundaries depending on how many players you have.
Fun Basketball Drill #4 - Dribble Knockout
Dribble knockout is a fun way for players to learn to dribble with their head up and work on protecting the ball.
Every player has a ball. They all must stay within the boundaries (inside the 3 point line in this example).
As players get knocked out, make the boundaries smaller (inside the paint, for example).
Players try to knock the ball away from each other. If the ball gets knocked outside the boundaries, that player is out.
If a player steps outside the boundaries or stops dribbling, they are out.
Players who get knocked out should do a ball handling drill on the side.
Fun Basketball Drill #5 - Ninja Warrior
Ninja Warrior is a fun and competitive team shooting drills that gets your players taking game shots with pressure.
Divide players into 2 teams and put each team on a different basket.
Each team has 2 basketballs.
The line starts at the right elbow.
Players must make 10 right hand layups, 10 left hand layups, 5 free throws, 2 three pointers and 1 half court shot (you can take out the 3’s & ½ court shot with young players).
Players always rebound their own shot and pass to the next player in line.
For young players, consider shooting layups, then shots from the block, then from the 2nd has, then from the free throw line.
Fun Basketball Drill #6 - Game Winners
Game Winners is a fun drill that allows players to use their imagination and work on different types of shots. It also incorporates ball handling.
Every player starts in the center circle with a ball.
On go, count down from :05.
Players dribble to a hoop and attempt to score a buzzer beater.
You can tell players to go to a different hoop each time, or to take a different type of shot.
Encourage players to celebrate a make.
This is a fun way to end practice.
Fun Basketball Drill #7 - Shot Contest
Shot Contest is a fun basketball drill that works on shooting under pressure. It also incorporates dribbling and footwork.
Each player has a ball.
You tell them where you want them to shoot from (mid-range in this example).
All players shoot at once.
Players win based on how many shots they make.
For example, you might go the first to 5 makes.
The winning players must call it out (in a leadership voice) when they win.
You can make the drill harder for more advanced players by incorporating farther shots or shots off the dribble.
You can make it simpler for younger players by shooting closer.
Fun Basketball Drill #8 - Sharks & Minnows
Sharks & Minnows is another fun dribbling drill that incorporates dribbling with your head up, as well as speed dribbling and change of direction moves.
Divide players up as sharks and minnows.
Make approximately ¾ of the players minnows (1-5) & ¼ sharks (x1 & x2).
The minnows all have basketball. They attempt to dribble to the opposite baseline without being tagged by a shark.
If you get tagged, you become a shark (player 1 above).
The drill continues with players attempting to go back and forth without being tagged by sharks.
Whoever is the last minnow starts as a shark in the next game.
Fun Basketball Drill #9 - Dribble Relay Race
Dribbling relay races are a fun way to work on speed dribbling while still being under control with the basketball.
Divide players into teams of 2-5.
Each team has 1 basketball.
Teams for a line on the baseline.
On your “go,” the first player must speed dribble to the opposite baseline and back.
When they get back to the starting point, they hand the ball to the next player.
Players who have finished should cheer on their teammates.
The first team to have everyone finish wins.
Mix in different types of dribbling challenges depending on the age & ability of your players:
Speed dribble
Strong hand & weak hand
Crossovers
Zig zag
You can also have players jump stop & pivot at the opposite end to work on footwork.
You can have players jump stop at the free throw line on the way back and pass to the next player in line to work on passing.
Fun Basketball Drill #10 - Passing Tag
Passing is an under taught youth basketball skill. Passing Tag is a fun way to work on passing and dribbling in a game environment.
Split your team into two equal groups
Team 1 spreads out in the half court. Each player on Team 1 has a ball.
Team 2 lines up on the baseline. 1 player on Team 2 has a ball.
When the coach says go, all players on Team 1 must start dribbling. They must continue dribbling the entire drill.
When the game starts, players on Team 2 run out onto the floor. The player with the ball dribbles out.
Players on Team 1 attempt to avoid being tagged by the player on Team 2 with the ball. They can go anywhere within the half court.
Players on Team 2 can dribble when they have the ball. They cannot run with the ball. They can also pass the ball to one of their teammates if they are in a better position to tag a player on Team 1.
To ‘tag’ someone, the player on Team 2 who has the ball must touch a player on Team 1. Only the player with the ball can tag someone on the other team.
Once tagged, a player is out for that round.
Time how long it takes Team 2 to tag all of Team 1’s players. Then repeat with Team 1 tagging and Team 2 dribbling.
Make Practice Their Favorite Hour of the Day
Do your players love coming to practice? That should be one of your goals. Sports are meant to be fun.
You know what’s not fun? Laps, lines, & lectures.
Try games based teaching instead. Your players will thank you for it!
If you’re looking for other great drills resources, check these out:
Related Youth Coaching Resources
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Jim Huber’s Coaching Beginner Basketball System For Ages 5-9 - A comprehensive coaching system to properly develop those new to the game. This product features age appropriate teaching of the most important basketball skills. Players learn these skills in a fun and engaging way. In addition to individual skills, players begin to learn team offense and defense concepts.
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The Youth Coaching System For Ages 9-14 With Jim Huber - A nice compliment or sequel to the Beginner Basketball product. This system continues with the focus on youth development, but with advancements for older players. It uses a combination of drills and games to teach players the skills needed to thrive as they continue on in their careers.
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