Basketball Essentials - Dribbling

Basketball was invented by James Naismith in Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1891. It has been around for almost 130 years and it is still ever-changing. The most basic aspect of the game, is still arguably dribbling. In the book "Basketball Basics" by Ryan Goodson,  it says "Dribbling is a no-excuses skill. You don't need a gym, a teammate, or a hoop to improve your ball-handling". There are many benefits for having good dribbling skills. Useful dribbling beats the defense, alleviates pressure, and creates opportunities. There are many ways to practice and build your dribbling skills, but the "Rattlesnake Drill" is arguably the best drill to produce results rapidly.

Rattlesnake Drill Setup:

• Use one player (yourself), one basketball, and one tennis ball

Execution:

1. Pound the basketball with one hand while repeatedly placing a tennis ball on the ground and picking it up with the nondribbling hand.
2. When placing and picking up the tennis ball, you should bend at the knees and not at the back and maintain an athletic and low stance.
3. You should perform the drill for 30 seconds with each hand. 

This drill should utilize your peripheral vision to locate and retrieve the tennis ball, in turn making it easier to dribble an actual basketball. 

What types of practices or drills do you use to help your dribbling?