Basketball Player Handouts

Basketball Player Handouts
Player Handout 01 - Lay-ups
Player Handout 02 - Shooting
Player Handout 03 - Passing
Player Handout 04 - Dribbling
Player Handout 05 - Stopping and Pivoting
Player Handout 06 - Basic Defensive Skills
Player Handout 07 - Some Defensive Thoughts
Player Handout 08 - Rebounding
Player Handout 09 - Triple Threat and Individual Offensive Moves
Player Handout 10 - Side Drills
Player Handout 11 - Player Positions
Player Handout 12 - Court Terminology
Player Handout 13 - Fast Break Responsibilities
Player Handout 14 - Team Defensive Rules and Goals
Player Handout 15 - Screening
Player Handout 16 - Motion Offense Principles
Greenvale Basketball Club Inc. (A0025777N)

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Basketball Player Handout - No 1.
Lay-ups
The lay-up is the "basic" basketball shot that everyone should master. With practice, you should never miss a lay-up !
1. You are allowed to take two steps.
2. Always jump off the inside foot (the one closest to the centre of the court).
3. Bring the outside knee up to get extra height in the jump.
4. Jump up, not forward.
5. As you take your steps and jump, bring the ball up with two hands to the shooting position.
6. Shoot with the outside hand, using the inside arm to protect the shot.
7. At the height of the jump, shoot the ball softly off the backboard.
8. Aim for the top corner of the black square.
9. Keep your head up, and keep your eyes on the target.
The lay-up is one flowing action, not "Stop and shoot".
Ideally, approach the basket at an angle of 45 degrees
Greenvale Basketball Club Inc. (A0025777N)

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Basketball Player Handout - No 2.
Shooting
When you are thinking about your shooting technique, remember B-E-E-F.
B - is for BALANCE, E - is for ELBOW, E - is for EYES, F - is for FOLLOW-THROUGH
Balance
1. Make sure you are "squared-up" to the basket.
2. Make sure your feet are about shoulder width apart, the
"shooting foot" (the one on the same side as your shooting
arm) slightly in front.
3. Knees bent for balance (and to provide "upward thrust"
when you shoot).
Elbow
1. Keep the elbow of your
shooting arm close to your
body - no "chicken wings".
2. During the shot the elbow
should come up to your
eyebrow level rather than going
out in front of your body too much. This
makes sure you get plenty of lift on the ball
rather than pushing it out in front of you.
Eyes
1. Keep your eyes on the target (the basket) !
Don't watch the ball.
Follow-Through
1. When you are holding the ball for the shot your wrist
should be "cocked".
2. Release the ball off the fingers and snap the wrist
back to put some backspin on the ball.
3. Keep your arm up in the air for a second - it should be
like a "gooseneck". !
4. Point your index finger at the target at the end of the
shot.
Holding the Ball
1. If you are holding the ball correctly
you should see a "Y" being formed
by your thumb, fingers and forearm
of your shooting arm.
2. You should hold the ball with the
pads of the fingers and thumbs.
there should be a gap between the
palm of the hand and the ball.
3. The other hand only acts as a guide
and is removed from the ball
before the shot is released.
Angle of the Shot
1. Try and give the ball a nice arc, like the middle line in the diagram here.
2. If you throw the ball too flat it will be harder to get it into the basket.
Greenvale Basketball Club Inc. (A0025777N)

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Basketball Player Handout - No 3.
Passing
Always try for fast, crisp passes - no "lollipops".
If the receiver of your pass is guarded, always pass away from the defender.
Look for the passing lanes above and either side of the defenders head.
Most importantly - "Fake a pass to make a pass".
Chest Pass
The chest pass is used only when you have a clear path to the receiver.
1. The ball is held close to the chest, keep your elbows
close to your body - no "chicken wings".
2. The ball is held in both hands. Hands either side of
the ball, fingers spread, thumbs behind the ball. Use
the fingers and thumbs to hold the ball, don't use the
palms of the hands.
3. Step towards the target and thrust the arms forward.
4. As you pass the ball snap your wrists so that the
palms face outward, fingers point towards the target
and the thumbs face down.
5. Ball should be aimed above waist height and below shoulder height.
Bounce Pass
The bounce pass is useful for going underneath the arms
of a defender.
Execution is the same as a chest pass except the arms are
thrust out and down, so that the ball hits the floor about
two-thirds of the distance to the receiver.
The ball should come up to waist level for the receiver.
The Overhead Pass
The overhead pass is useful when closely guarded, especially if you are taller than your opponent.
It is also very useful for an "outlet" pass after a defensive rebound.
1. Hold the ball with both hands, using the finger pads
and thumb on the outside of the ball.
2. Hold the ball above your forehead, not behind your
head where it is easily stolen.
3. Step towards your target and pass the ball with a snap
of the wrist and flick of the fingers.
4. After you have thrown the ball your palms should be
facing out, thumbs down and fingers forward.
5. The target area is the receivers chest or shoulders, or
their target hand.
Greenvale Basketball Club Inc. (A0025777N)

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Basketball Player Handout - No 3.
Passing
Push Pass
The push pass is perhaps the most common pass used in basketball. It is called a "push pass" because the ball is pushed
outwards from the shoulder using one hand.
From the "triple threat" position the pass is made as follows;
1. The wrist and forearm are "cocked" behind
the ball.
2. Step into the pass (using either foot) and
push the ball forward.
3. Snap the wrist and fully extend the arm.
The other hand is only used to steady the
ball until it is released.
4. All players must practice and become
proficient at the push pass with both hands.
Other important points are;
a) The push pass is a quick pass.
b) Step into, or around your defender -
remember you're the boss!
c) The push pass can be made high (over the
defenders arms if they are low) or low
(under the defenders arms if they are high).
It can be either a bounce pass or a direct
pass.
d) Pass to the receivers target hand.
e) Pass away from the defender.
f) "Fake a pass to make a pass". Use a pass fake in one
direction before passing in the other. Keep both hands
on the ball for the pass fake.
Keep the fake short but believable.
Baseball Pass
The baseball pass is used when you
want to pass longer distances.
1. Ball is up behind the ear with
the passing hand behind the
ball and the other hand on the
front or side of the ball.
2. Step forward with the opposite
foot whilst snapping the wrist
and fully extending the arm.
3. Follow through with the wrist.
Greenvale Basketball Club Inc. (A0025777N)

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Basketball Player Handout - No. 4
Dribbling
The following key points always apply,
1. Don't over use the dribble - a quick pass is always a better option if you have an open team-mate further up the
court.
2. Don't waste your dribble - wait for your defender to commit and drive past her. Use a big explosive step and don't
dribble until you are past her.
3. Keep your head up - don't look at the ball. If you are looking at the ball you can't see where your team mates are, or
where the defenders are. You must be able to see the court.
4. Keep the ball below waist height.
5. Keep your dribbling hand on top of the ball - don't "carry".
6. Don't slap at the ball.
Use your fingertips, not your palms, to push the ball to the floor, getting most of the "push" from your wrist.
7. Make sure your fingers are well spread, hand cupped.
8. Elbow should be fairly still, near your hip, with your forearm parallel to the floor.
Speed Dribble
The speed dribble is used when you are running at full speed down the court with no defender close to you.
Key points,
1. Push the ball out in front of you.
2. The less bounces over a certain distance the better.
Protection Dribble
The protection dribble is used when a defender is close.
Key points,
1. Adopt the stride stop stance - one foot in front of the other.
2. Knees bent, keep low.
3. Keep the ball slightly lower - about knee height.
4. Always dribble with the hand furthest from the defender, bounce the ball near your back foot.
5. Protect the ball with your body and your free arm.
Advanced Dribbles To Practice
1. Crossover
2. Fake crossover (inside out).
3. Behind the back.
4. Between the legs.
5. Reverse (spin) dribble.
A "good" basketballer can dribble well with both hands.
Practice with your weak hand as much as you can.
Don't waste your dribble - use it wisely !
Keep your head up and see the whole court.
Greenvale Basketball Club Inc. (A0025777N)

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Basketball Player Handout - No 5.
Stopping and Pivoting
Stopping
There are two basic sorts of "stop" in basketball. They are the "Jump Stop" and the "Stride Stop".
The following key points apply to both types of stop,
1. Keep your knees flexed (bent).
2. Your feet should be about shoulder width apart.
3. Keep your head above your landing point, don't lean forward or backwards.
4. Keep your hands above your waist and close to your body.
The Stride Stop
If you catch the ball in mid-air you are allowed to take two
steps to stop legally.
The first foot to hit the floor, which will be your back foot
after you complete the second step of your stop, is your
pivot foot.
It is easier to stop "legally" using the stride stop when you are moving quickly.
The Jump Stop
If you can catch the ball in mid-air and land with both feet at
the same time, without shuffling your feet, you can choose
which of your feet is your pivot foot.
Remember to keep your head up, and "tail" low.
Use the jump stop to keep your pivoting options open. This is especially important when playing close to the basket in
the low or mid post positions.
Pivoting
When you come to a stop, and you have the ball, you must keep one foot on the ground, in contact with the same spot
on the floor.
This foot that stays in the one spot is called your "pivot foot".
You can change the direction you are facing by turning on the pivot foot and stepping around with the other foot.
This is called pivoting.
• You can pivot forwards (as shown above) or backwards
(reverse pivot).
• Pivot backwards and forwards, changing direction to fool the
defender.
• You should pivot on the "ball" of your pivot foot, don't try and
keep the whole foot in contact with the floor.
• A pivot should be an "aggressive" fast movement. Take short
steps, don't try and spin right around - you are not doing ballet!
• Try and keep the pivot "circles" smaller - it will give you much
better balance.
• Try and keep the ankle and knee of the pivot foot bent at close
to 90 degrees - again this will give you balance and keep you
low.
• Keep the ball tucked into your chest, with your strong hand behind the ball, or move it aggressively up and down
to avoid the defense.
• Protect the ball with your body and elbows, but don't use your elbows as a weapon.
Greenvale Basketball Club Inc. (A0025777N)

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Basketball Player Handout - No 6.
Basic Defensive Skills
Defense is the key to winning a basketball game.
Coaches want players who are willing to work hard at their defense. A good scorer who doesn't work hard on defense is
less valuable than a hard-working defender who scores occasionally.
Good defense requires the following personal attributes;
• Willingness to work hard
• Concentration
• Aggressiveness
• Determination
• Alertness
You will also need to understand, and use, the following basic basketball skills;
• Correct stance
• Footwork (shuffle and drop step)
• Maintaining a good defensive position
Defensive Stance
1. Keep your feet about shoulder width apart.
2. Have one foot slightly in front of the other. Usually it should be the "inside" foot (the
one that is nearest the centre of the court) that is in front. Dictate the direction the
offense can take.
3. Keep your weight on the balls of your feet, don't stand flat-footed.
4. Knees bent, backside low, back straight.
5. Keep your head up.
The position of your hands depends on whether your man (the one you are defending) is
within his shooting range or not.
If your man is outside his shooting range (you think he cannot score from where he is) then;
• Keep your hands at about waist height with your palms facing up or out.
• If you want to try and knock the ball away, "dig up" at the ball rather than slapping down at it.
• Pressure the passing lanes.
If your man is inside his shooting range (you think he can score) then;
• Keep one hand high (at shoulder level) to pressure the shot and to block the shooters view of the basket.
• Keep the other hand low to guard against the dribble and pressure the passing lanes.
The Shuffle Step
When moving to cover your offensive player always use the shuffle step.
Your feet should not cross or come together as you would lose you balance and the ability to react quickly. Keeping a
wide stance ensures it is harder for your man to drive past you.
Take short quick steps, keeping on the balls of your feet.
Greenvale Basketball Club Inc. (A0025777N)

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Basketball Player Handout - No 6.
Basic Defensive Skills
The Drop Step
The drop step is a reverse pivot that is used to change direction when using the defensive shuffle step.
It is important to use the drop step so that you give up a bit of ground, but maintain your position between your man
and the basket. If you just continue shuffling in front of your man, he will likely get right past you, or you will foul her.
Defensive Position
The most important thing to remember is;
ALWAYS STAY BETWEEN YOUR MAN AND THE BASKET HE IS SHOOTING AT
Guarding the man with the ball
1. If he still has his dribble, stay about three feet away, keeping pressure on the ball and the shot with your hands.
2. If he has used his dribble then you can approach closer and increase the pressure.
Most players in our age group will dribble with mainly one hand (usually the right hand).
In this case you should try and overplay them to that side (move to their right a bit), to try and force them to dribble or
drive using their weaker dribbling hand.
Guarding a man without the ball
Here the object is to stop the man from getting the ball.
You should still keep between your man and the basket, but take a position that allows you to put your hand and knee
into the "passing lane". This is called the "deny" stance.
Make sure to play a step towards the ball ("jump to the ball") to force you man to cut behind you and not in front.
The "passing lane" is a straight line between your man and the ball.
Greenvale Basketball Club Inc. (A0025777N)

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Basketball Player Handout - No 7.
Some Defensive Thoughts
If we are to be competitive with the top teams next season, we need to put much more emphasis on our defense.
Everyone, if they put in the effort and practice can be great defensive players. Defense requires effort, determination,
aggression and concentration rather than the ball skills required to be a great offensive player.
Important points to remember, to practice and to execute in games are;
1.
Position
• You must be between the player and the basket when guarding a player with the ball.
• Play "in the passing lane" when guarding a player "one pass away" from the ball.
• Play "help defense" (towards the "split line") when guarding the player "two or more passes away" from the
ball.
2.
Spacing
• Play about an arms length away when guarding a player with the ball. If you know they are quicker than
you play a bit further away, if you are quicker go a bit closer.
• Play closer and apply more pressure once they have used their dribble.
3.
Stance
• Keep in the proper defensive stance. Feet shoulder width apart, knees bent, head up, hands ready.
• Keep "low" and "wide".
• Stay in the stance and you'll be quicker and more balanced. Stand up and you'll be beaten every time.
• Remember "nose behind toes" - if you lean forward with your head you'll be off balance and beaten easily.
4.
Ball pressure
• Your main objective as a defender is to put pressure on the pass or shot !
• Apply as much pressure to the ball as you can !
• Trace the ball with your upper hand.
• "Dig up" - don't slap down !
• Don't foul !
• If the player has the ball well protected behind, don't reach around or give up your position and let them
past you.
• No easy, uncontested shots !
• Try and block the players view of the court and basket.
• Have fast hands !
• Be like a fencer !
• Don't reach with your head !
5.
Quickness
• Stay on the balls of your feet.
• Shuffle - glide !
• Big then bigger, then big again - don't bring your feet together !
• Keep your feet moving - pitter patter - remember the tennis player waiting for the serve.
• Stay on one level - don't move up and down - stay low. No bobbing heads !
6.
Vision
• Keep your head up - see the whole court !
• You must be able to see the ball and your man - remember "pointing pistols".
• If in doubt, watch the ball.
• When sprinting back down the court, look over the inside shoulder, always look at the ball.
Greenvale Basketball Club Inc. (A0025777N)

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