Introduction to Basketball

Lessons

Primary 4 · Physical Education

Introduction to Basketball

3 lessons

Lesson 2 of 3

Dribbling the Ball

15 min

Let's begin

Gatete catches the ball, tucks it under his arm and runs to the basket. The whistle blows. "Travelling!" calls the teacher, and the ball goes to the other team.

In basketball you may not run while holding the ball. To move with it, you must dribble: bounce it as you go. Today you will learn how.

Warm up with a skipping rope

Basketball needs quick, light feet. A great warm-up is the skipping-rope game many Rwandan children already play, gusimbuka umugozi: jump the rope with two feet, then on one foot, then run through it. Finish with arm circles and finger stretches.

How to dribble

Knees bent, body low and balanced.
Finger pads, not the palm: spread your fingers and push the ball down. Do not slap it.
Waist height: the ball should bounce no higher than your waist. A low ball is harder to steal.
To the side: keep the ball a little in front of you and to the side of your dribbling hand, not between your feet.
Eyes up: look at the court, your teammates and the basket, not only at the ball.
Protect it: keep your other arm up, between the ball and the defender, without pushing.

Practise with both hands. A player who can dribble with either hand is much harder to stop.

Two dribbling rules

Travelling: walking or running with the ball without dribbling it. The other team gets the ball.
Double dribble: bouncing the ball with two hands at the same time, OR dribbling, stopping to hold the ball, and then dribbling again. After you stop, you must pass or shoot. The other team gets the ball.

Also, the ball may not be kicked or hit with a fist.

Games with little equipment

Any ball that bounces works on hard, flat ground.

Traffic lights: everyone dribbles. The leader calls "Green!" (dribble fast), "Orange!" (dribble slowly) or "Red!" (stop and hold the ball). If you keep going on red, do five jumps.
Dribble tag: everyone dribbles inside a small square. Try to tap other players' balls away, while you keep dribbling your own. No pushing!

Warning

Stay safe

Play on dry, flat ground with no stones, and tie your shoelaces.
Keep your eyes up so you do not run into other players, walls or poles.
Drink water after playing, and wash your hands: a basketball touches the ground all the time.

Tip

Low, fingers, eyes up!

Keep the ball low (waist or lower), push with your fingers, and keep your eyes up. And remember: once you stop, the dribble is over, so pass or shoot.

✦

Try it yourself

Try each one first, then tap Show answer to check.

1

Which part of your hand should push the ball when you dribble?

Show answerHide answer

Answer: The finger pads, not the palm.

2

Keza dribbles, stops, holds the ball, and then starts to dribble again. What is that called?

Show answerHide answer

Answer: A double dribble. After you stop, you must pass or shoot.

3

Why is it better to keep your eyes up when you dribble?

Show answerHide answer

Answer: So you can see your teammates, the defenders and the basket, and not bump into anyone.

4

Why should the ball bounce no higher than your waist?

Show answerHide answer

Answer: A low ball is easier to control and harder for a defender to steal.

Quick check

Match each rule to what it means.

Tap one on the left, then its partner on the right.

What you learned today

Dribble with your finger pads, knees bent, ball low and to the side, eyes up.
Travelling means moving with the ball without dribbling. A double dribble means two hands at once, or dribbling again after you stop.
Play on safe ground, and wash your hands afterwards.

Sources and credits

Basketball, by Simple English Wikipedia contributors, Simple English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Facts (dribbling, the travelling rule, no kicking or punching the ball) adapted and simplified by Ganzaa.
Basketball training after Covid-19 lockdown in Rwanda (photo), by Claude Nizeyimana, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0, used unchanged.
Skill steps, games, diagrams, "Try it yourself" and the practice questions written by Ganzaa.

This lesson adapts CC BY-SA material and is shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.

1Warm up with a skipping rope

2How to dribble

3Two dribbling rules

4Games with little equipment

Try it yourself

Warm up with a skipping rope

How to dribble

Two dribbling rules

Games with little equipment