Basic Basketball Tactics
Primary 6 · Physical Education
Basic Basketball Tactics
Lesson 1 of 4
18 min
Let's begin
Habimana catches the ball and bounces it straight away, then stops. Now a defender is right in front of him, and he may not dribble again. His teammates are all covered. "You used your dribble for nothing!" laughs the teacher.
Good players think before they move. Today you will learn individual attacking tactics: what to do the moment you catch the ball, how to protect it, and how to get free when you do not have it.
Jog around the court, then do side-slides and short sprints. Dribble on the spot with your right hand, then your left, then walk while dribbling. Finish with finger and wrist stretches.
The moment you catch the ball, get into the triple threat position: knees bent, ball held firmly near your hip on your strong side, eyes on the basket. From here you can do three things: shoot, pass or dribble. The defender does not know which, so they must guard all three.
Do not dribble straight away without a reason. Once you have dribbled and stopped, you may only pass or shoot.
While you hold the ball, you may turn on one foot, your pivot foot, as long as it stays in the same place on the floor. Step round with your other foot to keep your body between the defender and the ball, or to see a free teammate. If your pivot foot moves or changes, that is travelling, and the other team gets the ball.
Standing still next to your defender makes you easy to guard. Use a V-cut: walk your defender in towards the basket, then plant your foot and sprint back out to the space. Hold up a hand as a target and call for the ball.
If there is a clear path to the basket, drive: dribble fast towards it and finish with a layup, laying the ball softly up against the backboard so it drops into the basket. For a right-handed layup on the right side, after your last dribble you may take two steps: right, left, then jump off your left foot and lift the ball up with your right hand. Left-handers do the opposite.
Before you drive, a quick fake helps: pretend to shoot or pass, and when the defender moves, go the other way.
Play 2 against 2 on half a court. Every time you catch the ball, show the triple threat before you do anything else. A basket scored after a V-cut or a fake scores 1 extra point.
Walk slowly, then stretch your legs, arms and fingers. Drink water.
Warning
Stay safe
Tip
Catch, face, THINK: shoot, pass or dribble?
Triple threat first. Pivot to protect. Cut to get free. Drive when the path is open: right, left, up!
Try each one first, then tap Show answer to check.
What are the three choices a player has in the triple-threat position?
Answer: Shoot, pass or dribble.
Keza is holding the ball. She lifts her pivot foot and puts it down in a new place before she passes. What should the referee call?
Answer: Travelling. The other team gets the ball.
A defender is on your left side as you dribble. Which hand should you dribble with?
Answer: Your right hand, the one farther from the defender.
Describe a V-cut.
Answer: Walk your defender in towards the basket, then plant your foot and sprint back out to the space to catch the ball.
Which steps does a right-handed player use for a layup from the right side?
Answer: Right, left, then jump off the left foot and lay the ball up with the right hand.
What you learned today
Sources and credits
This lesson adapts CC BY-SA material and is shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Quick check
Match each attacking tactic to what you do.
Tap one on the left, then its partner on the right.
