If you can both please.

Hold The Ball Correctly
he most difficult skills, including shooting, passing, catching, dribbling, and rebounding, involve holding the ball. Work on these skills every day. Here is how to practice holding the ball:

Hold the ball with your fingertips. The palms of your hands should not touch the ball.
Make sure your fingers are far apart.
Hold the ball as much as possible at home while watching TV or listening to the radio or music. It is said that the great Pete Maravich slept with his basketball and held it during his sleep! While watching TV, you can hold the ball (with both hands) and spin it around in your hands.




These are the drills:
Do each one about 30 to 60 seconds and then move to the next one. With all of these drills, try to keep your eyes forward, without looking at the ball.

Finger Grabs:
Hold the ball with the fingertips, squeezing it while rotating it back and forth from hand to hand. The ball should not touch the palms of the hands.

Slaps:
Pound or slap the ball hard from hand to hand.

Tipping:
Tip the ball back and forth from one hand to the next, starting with your hands straight up over your head. Then gradually move the ball down, while continuing to tip it back and forth. Go down to your chest, then your waist, knees, and ankles, and then back up again. Keep your elbows straight.

Circles:
Put your feet together and make circles around both legs. Then circle around the back. And then circle around the head. Then combine them and move the ball in circles around your head, then down your body, down around your knees, and then around your ankles ("candy cane"). Then come back up again. Be sure to use your fingertips, not the palms.

Around Each Leg and Figure Eights:
Put one leg forward and move the ball in a circular motion around the leg. Then do the other leg. Finally, spread your legs out wide with the ball in front of you. Move the ball around through your legs in a figure-of-eight motion. Keep your eyes forward and don't let the ball hit the floor. After 30 seconds, reverse the direction.


Drops:
Put the ball between your feet and grab it with both hands. Start with the left hand behind your left leg and your right hand in front of your right leg. Drop the ball and let it bounce once. Quickly, move your left hand in front of your left leg and your right hand behind your right leg, and catch the ball as it bounces up. Drop it again and switch your hands back to the original position (left behind, right in front) and catch it. Repeat this motion continuously. For a more difficult variation, try catching the ball before it actually hits the floor!


Toss Up and Catch Behind:
Here's a fun drill the players like. Toss the ball up over your head. Reverse pivot and catch the ball behind your back.


Crab Walk:
Walk, bent over up the floor and put the ball between the legs, back and forth as you go. The ball is brought over the front of the thigh, then through the legs and then behind the opposite thigh and around and over the thigh.

Up and Downs
Start by dribbling the ball in front of you so that the ball reaches your waist high. Gradually, bounce the ball harder and harder until you are dribbling the ball as high as you can without jumping. Then gradually dribble the ball lower and lower until you are on one knee, finishing as close to the floor as possible. Pound the ball quickly to keep it going. Then do it with the other hand.

Kills
Dribble the ball waist high, then suddenly "kill" it by dribbling it as low as you can, hold this for a few seconds, then bring it back up to waist high. Do this several times with each hand.

Circle Dribbles
This drill is similar to "Circles" (see Ball Handling) except now the ball is dribbled. Dribble around your left leg then your right. Next, using both hands, dribble around both legs which should be together. Next, kneel down on one knee and dribble around your body and under your leg. After that, switch knees and continue. Then, while on your knees, dribble around your body, using both hands.

Figure Eight
This drill is similar to the ball-handling figure eights drill except now the ball is dribbled through your legs in a figure-of-eight motion. Use both hands and be sure to look up while doing this drill.

Back and Forth Under the Legs
Get crouched over with your right knee and leg forward. V-dribble the ball behind the extended leg. Repeat behind the other leg.

Crossover Dribbles
Dribble with your right hand. Bounce the ball once on the right side, then cross the ball over in front of you by bouncing it to the left. The left hand now bounces it on the left once, and then crossover back to the right, where the right takes over again. Repeat this procedure.

V-Dribble in Front
Start with the right hand and dribble once on the right side. Then dribble the ball in front you, as if you were going to cross over to the left side. Instead of getting it with your left hand, roll your right hand over the top of the ball, and bring it back to the right. Keep dribbling like this: right then cross over V-dribble. Repeat with the left hand.

Side V-Dribble
Now do the v-dribble on the side. Do both left and right hands.

Shooting off the Dribble Drill 1. Straight Drive One-Dribble Jump Shot
This drill leads up to shooting jump shots off the dribble going to your strong-hand side and weak-hand side. Start with the ball at the left box outside the lane, your back to the basket. Pass to your self by tossing the ball high so it bounces high at the left elbow of the court. Run to the left elbow and catch the ball, your back to the basket, using a one-two stop, landing on your inside (left) foot first. Pivot on your inside (left) foot, using a front turn toward the middle and face the basket. Make a jab step with your right foot, while making a shot fake, showing the ball high. Be in triple-threat stance and in position to shoot first. Create space by dribbling once with your right hand toward the middle of the free throw line. Jump behind the ball. Pick up the ball in front of your shooting knee with your shooting hand on top and your balance hand under the ball. Jump straight up and shoot a jump shot. Land in balance.

Now perform the drill, starting from the right box and tossing the ball to the right elbow. Catch the ball while landing on your inside (right) foot first and pivot on your inside (right) foot, using a front turn toward the middle. Create space by dribbling once with your left hand toward the middle of the free throw line. Note: A right-handed player will have farther to jump when going to the left. A left-handed player will have farther to jump when going to the right in order to pick up the ball in front of the shooting knee.

Record the number of one-dribble jump shots made out of 10 attempts, driving to the right from the left elbow. Your goal is to make 10 consecutive one-dribble jump shots off a straight drive right. Record the number of one-dribble jump shots made out of 10 attempts, driving to the left from the right elbow. Your goal is to make 10 consecutive one-dribble jump shots off a straight drive left.

Shooting off the Dribble Drill 2. Crossover One-Dribble Jump Shot
This drill develops the ability to shoot jump shots off a crossover dribble while going to your strong-hand side and weak-hand side. The drill begins the same way as the previous drill. Begin with the ball at the right box outside the lane. Toss the ball to the right elbow. Catch the ball with your back to the basket using a one-two stop, landing on your inside (right) foot and pivoting toward the middle. Face the basket, making a jab step with your left foot, while making a shot fake, showing the ball high. Be in triple-threat stance, a threat to shoot first. Make a crossover step with your left foot to the outside. Create space with a long dribble with your outside (right) hand toward a 45-degree angle with the backboard. Jump behind the ball. Pick up the ball in front of your shooting knee with your shooting hand on top and your balance hand under the ball. Jump straight up and shoot a jump shot. Land in balance.

Now perform the drill, starting from the left box and tossing the ball to the left elbow. Catch the ball while landing on your inside (left) foot first and pivot on your inside (left) foot, using a front turn toward the middle. Make a crossover step with your right foot to the outside. Create space with a long dribble with your outside (left) hand toward a 45-degree angle with the backboard. When dribbling to your weak-hand side, you can practice using two dribbles making a crossover dribble on the last dribble to pick up the ball in front of your shooting knee.

Record the number made out of ten attempts using a crossover one-dribble jump shot from the right elbow, driving right toward a 45-degree angle with the backboard. Record the number made out of ten attempts using a crossover one-dribble jump shot from the left elbow, driving left toward a 45-degree angle with the backboard. Your goal is to make 10 consecutive crossover one-dribble jump shots off a crossover drive right and to make 10 consecutive one-dribble jump shots off a crossover drive left.

Shooting off the Dribble Drill 3. Step-Back One-Dribble Jump Shot
This drill develops the ability to shoot jump shots off a step-back dribble. As in the previous drill, begin with the ball at the right box outside the lane. Toss the ball to the right elbow. Catch the ball with your back to the basket using a one-two stop, landing on your inside (right) foot and pivoting toward the middle. Face the basket, making a jab step with your left foot, while making a shot fake, showing the ball high. Be in triple-threat stance, a threat to shoot first. Stop and read the defender. If the defender makes a retreat step, take a quick step-back away from your defender with your jab-step foot and at the same time dribble back with your strong hand. Jump behind the ball and pick it up in front of your shooting knee with your shooting hand on top. Shoot a jump shot. Maintain balance by picking the ball up at your knee and exaggerating the follow-through of your shoulders, head and shooting hand toward the basket to counter any tendency to lean your head and shoulders back on your shot.

Now perform the drill, starting from the left box and tossing the ball to the left elbow. Catch the ball while landing on your inside (left) foot first and pivot on your inside (left) foot, using a front turn toward the middle.

Record the number of step-back one-dribble jump shots made out of 10 attempts from the right elbow. Record the number of step-back one-dribble jump shots made out of 10 attempts from the left elbow. Your goal is to make 10 consecutive step-back one-dribble jump shots from the right elbow and to make 10 consecutive step-back one-dribble jump shots from the left elbow.

Shooting off the Dribble Drill 4. Step-Back Jump Shot off More Than One Dribble
This drill develops the ability to shoot a step-back jump shot off more than one dribble. Begin with the ball at the offensive left box outside the lane. Toss the ball to the left wing. Catch the ball with your back to the basket using a one-two stop, landing on your inside (left) foot and pivoting toward the middle. Face the basket, making a jab step with your right foot, while making a shot fake, showing the ball high. Be in triple-threat stance, a threat to shoot first. Create space with two dribbles middle (strong-hand side for right handed player). Dribble with your outside hand, keeping your eyes on the basket. Protect the ball with your inside hand and your body. Free yourself from your defender by dribbling back and jumping behind the ball on your last dribble. Pick up the ball in front of your shooting knee with your shooting hand on top and your balance hand under the ball. Jump straight up and shoot a jump shot. Exaggerate the follow-through of your shoulders, head and shooting hand toward the basket to counter any tendency to lean your head and shoulders back on your shot. Land in balance.

Now perform the drill, starting from the offensive right box and tossing the ball to the right wing. Catch the ball while landing on your inside (right) foot first and pivot on your inside (right) foot, using a front turn toward the middle. Face the basket, making a jab step with your left foot, while making a shot fake, showing the ball high. Be in triple-threat stance, a threat to shoot first. Create space with two dribbles middle (weak-hand side for right handed player). When dribbling to your weak-hand side, dribble with your outside hand, keeping your eyes on the basket. Protect the ball with your inside hand and your body. Free your self from your defender by taking a third dribble back using a crossover dribble to the front of your shooting knee. Jump behind the ball. Pick up the ball in front of your shooting knee with your shooting hand on top and your balance hand under the ball. Jump straight up and shoot a jump shot. Exaggerate the follow-through of your shoulders, head and shooting hand toward the basket to counter any tendency to lean your head and shoulders back on your shot. Land in balance.

Record the number of step-back jump shots made out of 10 attempts driving middle from the left wing. Record the number of step-back jump shots made out of 10 attempts driving middle from the right wing. Your goal is to make 10 consecutive step-back jump shots driving middle from the left wing and to make 10 consecutive step-back jump shots driving middle from the right wing.

Shooting off a Step-Through Drill. Shot Fake Step-Through Jump Shot
This drill develops the ability to shoot jump shots off a shot fake and step-through. As in the previous drill, begin with the ball at the right box outside the lane. Toss the ball to the right elbow. Catch the ball with your back to the basket using a one-two stop, landing on your inside (right) foot and pivoting toward the middle. Face the basket, making a jab step with your left foot, while making a shot fake, showing the ball high. Be in triple-threat stance, a threat to shoot first. Stop and read the defender's hand position. If the defender's hand is up on the same side as your jab step, step-through with your jab-step foot past your defender's lead foot and move your head and shoulders under your defender's arm. If the defender's hand is up on the side away from your jab step, crossover and step-through with your jab-step foot past your defender's lead foot moving your head and shoulders under your defender's arm. Protect the ball with your head and shoulders and move it away from the defender's reach as you shoot a jump shot.

Now perform the drill, starting from the left box and tossing the ball to the left elbow. Catch the ball while landing on your inside (left) foot first and pivot on your inside (left) foot, using a front turn toward the middle.

Record the number of step-through jump shots made out of 10 attempts from the right elbow. Record the number of step-through jump shots made out of 10 attempts from the left elbow. Your goal is to make 10 consecutive step-through jump shots from the right elbow and to make 10 consecutive step-through jump shots from the left elbow.

Coach sar thanks a lot Im going to practice these right now.

Ben, these are a few of the things I found .... and I am sure that Jeff and Joe can hook you up with some good drills also....

You get good at these and you will be signing for college before you choose a high school like Damon Bailey did at Indiana to play for Bobby Knight. Just kidding Ben... but the joke going around in the Indiana papers went something like this....

"Damon Bailey commits to Indiana U, will choose a high school at a later date."

Not sure you appreciate the humor but everything we have done here has been pretty serious... MAKE SURE that you are having FUN! You are young, enjoy yourself. :-)

Let me know if this is what you are looking for.

Ken
Coach Sar

When it says front turn does that mean like off the screen where you swing your leg or does it mean opening up to the basket.

oh and Im lefty so I just do the opposite right.

IF I am reading this right... its similar to the flip drill.... so when you come off a screen and catch a pass.... you want to catch and pivot off your inside foot... it depends on which way you are going...

Is this what you are referring to?

IF you copy and paste the part you are referring to I can take a closer look... I sent a lot of stuff today.

Pivot on your inside (left) foot, using a front turn toward the middle and face the basket.

This is the part I was talking about on the first drill.