7 Essential Basketball Drills Youth Players Can Practice by Themselves
Basketball is an exciting sport that requires a lot of skills and teamwork to succeed. However, not everyone has access to a basketball court or teammates to practice with. But don’t worry, as a youth basketball player there are plenty of basketball drills that you can do at home to improve your game.
Here are some basketball drills that youth players can do by themselves:
1. Dribbling Drills: Dribbling is an essential skill in basketball, and it should be part of every player’s regular practice. Start by practicing dribbling with your weaker hand, and then switch to your dominant hand. You can also practice different dribbling techniques like crossovers, between the legs, and behind the back. Aim for just 10 minutes of dribbling practice each day and watch how your dribbling skill level increases.
2. Shooting Drills: Shooting is another crucial skill in basketball, and it requires a lot of practice to get it right. As with dribbling, shooting practice should be done daily for at least 10 minutes. Daily shooting practice will develop all of the muscles involved in shooting, from arms and shoulders to abs and legs. If you don’t have a basketball hoop at home, you can practice shooting against a wall, or even into a trash can. Mark off distances and increase your range as time goes on. If you need help with your shooting form and technique, check out this video on YouTube https://youtu.be/t7ciq_x4138.
3. Layup Drills: Layups are an essential part of basketball, and you can practice them by yourself. Start by practicing layups with your weaker hand, and then switch to your dominant hand. You can also practice different types of layups like reverse layups and euro steps.
4. Defensive Drills: Many youth coaches say defense is the most important part of basketball. At home, start by practicing different defensive stances and footwork. You can also practice defensive slides and closeouts. Check out this YouTube video demonstrating the closeout, slide and backpedal drill – https://youtu.be/aSvFDJcIzys.
5. Rebounding Drills: Rebounding is another essential part of basketball, and you can practice it by yourself. Start by practicing rebounding off the backboard, and then switch to rebounding off the rim. If you don’t have a basketball hoop at home, then practice boxing out and grabbing the ball with both hands aggressively to build your hand strength.
6. Agility Drills: Being agile and quick are important in basketball. To develop agility, start by practicing different agility drills like ladder drills and cone drills. You can also practice jumping high and landing properly to improve your agility and leg strength.
7. Conditioning Drills: Basketball requires a lot of running and conditioning, and you can practice it by yourself. Start by running sprints and doing different types of cardio exercises like jumping jacks and burpees. Basketball courts are 94 feet in length so measure out 94 feet on a driveway, lawn, park or a sidewalk, and begin running the length at least 10 times in a row to get your body conditioned to do it in a real game.
Basketball is a fun and exciting sport, and there are plenty of drills that youth players can do by themselves to improve their game. Dribbling, shooting, layups, defense, rebounding, agility, and conditioning are all essential skills in basketball, and you can practice them all by yourself. So, get out there and start practicing, and you’ll be amazed at how much you can improve your game.
If you are near the Lower Merion area, and are interested in joining a youth basketball league, the following leagues are highly rated and they play on our new state-of-the-art courts at the Sports Complex at AFC Fitness in Bala Cynwyd, PA.
Youth Basketball Leagues playing at the Sports Complex at AFC:
PVJSA – Penn Valley Junior Sports Association
MLGBA – Main Line Girls Basketball Association
We also rent out basketball courts by the hour to families, groups of friends, leagues, corporate use, and events. For rates and information, please contact Matt Beyer at 610-664-6464 or email him at mbeyer@aquahab.com.