Instructions
Dribbling is bouncing the ball and moving at the same time. Dribbling requires good hand–eye coordination. It is important in basketball, handball, playground games and rhythmic gymnastics.
- The knees are bent, and legs shoulder-width apart
- With either hand, push the ball to the floor, leaning slightly forward
- Spread the fingers over the ball
- Whilst moving, bounce the ball at hip height and slightly to the side
- Keep the head up, looking around
- Keep the ball under control
Safety
Ensure…
- children keep their heads up
Opportunity to develop
- Co-ordination
- Manipulative skills
- Balance
- Control
Physical Development Area of Learning
- contributes to ‘Personal’ and ‘Adventurous and physical play’ skills sections
If you see
| Observation | Likely Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Bumps into others | Looking at the ball | Keep head up and look around |
| Lose control of the ball | Ball too far in front of the child | Keep ball just in front and to the side of the body |
| Ball bounces too high | Slaps the ball | Spread fingertips over the ball and push to the ground |
| Ball bounces off the child’s body | Ball is bounced too close to the child’s feet and body | Bounce the ball at hip height, slightly to the side of the body. Use markers to create channel to bounce ball in. |
Can you see?
- the child keeping their head up and looking around?
- the child bending their knees and leaning forward slightly?
- the child’s fingertips spread over the ball?
- the child’s ball bouncing to hip height?
- the child bouncing the ball in front and to the side of their body?
- the child dribbling with both hands?
-
Mostly No
- Bounce and catch the ball with two hands within an area
- Walk around the space balancing the ball on one hand, to encourage arm’s length, and using one hand
- Walk or run around the space and using one or two hands pat ball/balloon into air, pat onto ground, pat along ground
- Bounce a ball downwards and catch whilst walking
-
Yes and No
- Bounce and catch the ball walking with one hand
- Dribble the ball on the spot and move around whilst bouncing
- Dribble the ball within an area
- Dribble the ball for five paces
-
Mostly Yes
- Bounce and catch the ball whilst running
- Dribble the ball whilst moving
- Dribble the ball along a narrow path/line
- Dribble the ball and change direction
- Dribble the ball around obstacles
-
Challenge
- Dribble with hands in different directions and at different speeds, then in response to a range of cues
- Dribble with hands following a figure of 8, W, M, square, slalom pathway
- Combine dribbling with hands, bouncing, catching, throwing and fast feet in response to a range of cues, using different directions, pathways and speeds