Basketball Dribble Games

Basketball originated in the United States in 1891, and since then it has gained popularity in many other countries around the world. It is one of the major ball games featured in the Olympic and world games. The game of basketball utilizes several skills, such as shooting, blocking, rebounding, passing and dribbling. Dribbling refers to the act of bouncing a ball repeatedly against the floor while moving up or down the court, or while maneuvering to pass or shoot the ball. There are many games that can be played to improve a player's dribbling and ball-handling skills.

  1. Flags

    • This game is played by two or more players who are given two flags and a ball. One flag will be placed on one side of the player's waistband, and the second flag on the other side. Players must protect their flags while dribbling the ball, and a player who loses both flags and his ball gets eliminated. A player can lose his ball when it is stolen or kicked out of bounds. Only another player who has a ball can kick another player's ball, and only a player who has no ball, but has at least one flag, can steal another player's ball. Only a player who has a ball can take another player's flag.

    Last Man Out

    • This game also needs two or more players who will stand about 20 feet from where the balls are placed. The number of balls needed is one less than the number of players. Upon start, the players will run and take one ball from the set, and then dribble. There will be one player who will not be able to get a ball, and he can steal the ball from the other players within a set time limit. When the time has lapsed, the player who does not have a ball gets eliminated. The game continues by removing one ball and repeating the game until a winning player who holds the last ball is left.

    Red Light or Green Light

    • Each person participating in the game gets a ball and stands at one end of the court. The game facilitator will stand at the other end of the court and shouts either "green light" or "red light." When "green light" is announced, the players run while dribbling toward the facilitator. When "red light" is shouted, the players must stop and place one foot on top of their balls. Players who have their balls still moving will take a penalty and move back by a specified distance. The facilitator continues to shout "red light" or "green light" until a player reaches him.

    Snake

    • This variation of a follow-the-leader game is usually played in groups of threes---the first player is assigned the "head," the second is the "body," and the third is the "rattle." The "head" and the "rattle" do not carry a ball, while the "body" has a ball that he needs to dribble while following the "head." When the game starts, the "head" moves in various speeds and in different directions, which the "body" and "rattle" must follow. When the game facilitator gives a signal, the "body" gives the ball to the "rattle" who now becomes the new "body." The former "body" now becomes the head and the former "head" moves to the end and becomes the "rattle."