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Physical Education

Basketball Basics

Overview

Students practise dribbling with control and shooting at a target using correct technique.

Learning Objective
Students develop the basic dribbling and shooting technique used in basketball.

Resources needed

  • Basketball or similar bouncing ball
  • Wall or improvised target for shooting

Lesson stages

0 / 7 done
  1. 1 Dribbling: push the ball down with fingertips — not the palm.
  2. 2 Dribble on the spot — waist height, consistent rhythm.
  3. 3 Walk while dribbling.
  4. 4 Change hand while dribbling — right to left to right.
  5. 5 Teach the set shot: feet shoulder-width, bend knees, push ball up with one hand, guide with the other.
  6. 6 Shoot at a wall target (circle drawn at 2 metres height) from 3 metres.
  7. 7 Combine: dribble to 3 metres, stop, shoot.

Tap a step to mark it as done.

Variations

  • Dribble through a simple cone course.
  • Shooting competition: most hits from 3 metres in 5 attempts.
  • Two-handed chest pass against a wall — receive and dribble.
More information

Teach: dribble, fingertips, control, set shot, guide hand, follow through. Key phrase for shooting: 'reach up and snap the wrist — like putting your hand in a cookie jar on a high shelf'.

Lower the target height for less confident shooters. Allow two-handed shooting for beginners.

Is the dribble controlled below waist height using fingertips? Does the shooting arm fully extend with wrist follow-through?

Any bouncing ball works. Draw a circle on a wall with chalk or charcoal as the shooting target. No basket or hoop needed.

Students slap the ball downward with the palm. Teach that the ball is pushed, not slapped — fingertip contact gives control.

Basketball is played in almost every country. Dribbling and shooting are its two most practised individual skills and the foundation for all other aspects of the game.

Activity details
Primary Medium 25 minutes 5 minutes prep Solo, Pairs, Small Group Indoor & Outdoor
Topics
Basketball Dribbling Shooting