Box Drill — Basketball Dribbling & Control

Players: 1–6 | Duration: 8–12 minutes | Equipment: 4 cones, 1 ball per player

Setup

Place 4 cones at the corners of a 12x12 foot box near the three-point arc or half-court.

Level 1: Basic Box Dribble

1. Start at cone A, dribble strong hand to cone B
2. At cone B, perform a crossover dribble to weak hand
3. Dribble weak hand to cone C
4. At cone C, between-the-legs move back to strong hand
5. Dribble strong hand back to cone A
6. Complete 3 laps, rest 30 seconds

Focus: Keep dribble below knee height. Eyes up at all times.

Level 2: Speed Box

Same pattern as Level 1, but timed. Players compete against their own best time.

• Round 1: Normal speed
• Round 2: As fast as possible (without losing control)
• Round 3: Eyes closed at each cone transition (builds feel)

Level 3: Add a Defender

Place a passive defender inside the box. Dribbler must avoid the defender while maintaining the pattern. Progress to active (trying to strip the ball) defender.

Key Points

• Head up — no looking at the ball
• Low and wide stance — be a hard target to guard
• Protect the ball with your off-arm
• Moves should be explosive and decisive, not hesitant

Progression Moves to Practice

1. Crossover
2. Between the legs
3. Behind the back
4. Spin move
5. Hesitation (stutter step)