Basketball: Steps to Success, 2E
Course Outline
The Sport of Basketball
A. History
1. Origin of the game—James Naismith
2. YMCA Training School
3. NIT and NCAA
4. NBA and Olympics
5. Worldwide competition and participation
B. Equipment and facilities
1. Shoes and clothing
2. Basketballs
3. Backboard and rim
4. Playing court
5. Three-point line
C. Playing the game
1. Essential skills
2. Common player positions
3. Basketball rules
4. Timing regulations
D. Fouls
1. Purpose
2. Penalties
3. Disqualification
4. Free throws
5. Types
E. Violations
1. Ball-handling
2. Time
F. Warm-up and cool-down
1. Purpose of warm-up
2. Offensive footwork activities
3. Defensive footwork activities
4. Cool down by stretching
Step 1 Balance and Quickness
A. Introductory notes
1. Define balance and quickness
2. Explain how to develop good footwork
B. Key points of technique instruction
1. Offensive stance
2. Defensive stance
3. Change of pace
4. Change of direction
5. Stopping
6. One-two stop
7. Jump stop
8. Pivoting and turning
9. Jumping
10. Side step or slide
11. Attack and retreat
12. Reverse or drop step
C. Common errors and solutions
1. Error: Off balance in offensive stance
• Solution: Flex knees to get low rather than bending at waist
2. Error: Off balance in defensive stance
• Solution: Keep head over waist, hands above waist level, elbows flexed, arms close to
body
3. Error: Unable to make quick change of pace from slow to fast
• Solution: Push forcefully off back foot to accelerate quickly
4. Error: Unable to pivot sharply
• Solution: Use a three-quarter first step and flex knee; pivot sharply and push off; shift
weight and take a long second step
5. Error: When attempting one-two stop, you lose balance and drag pivot foot
• Solution: Hop before you stop, allowing gravity to slow your forward momentum; lean
back, landing on back foot, then on front foot; keep a wide base
6. Error: When attempting jump stop, one foot lands before the other
• Solution: Hop before you stop, lean back, keep feet shoulder-width apart and knees
flexed
7. Error: When pivoting, you lose balance and lift or drag pivot foot
• Solution: Keep weight on ball of pivot foot as you move nonpivot foot; maintain a
balanced stance
8. Error: When jumping with two feet, you do not get an explosive takeoff, limiting
height of jump
• Solution: Flex knees more; forcefully push against floor; reach high toward rim
9. Error: When jumping with one foot, you long jump rather than high jump
• Solution: Shorten last step before takeoff, dip jumping knee, and lift opposite knee
straight up as you lift arms; this will increase upward momentum
10. Error: When retreating on defense, you cross front foot in front of back foot
• Solution: Push off front foot and step with back foot; do not cross feet or bring them
closer than shoulder width
11. Error: When drop stepping on defense, you turn away from opponent’s move, losing
sight of opponent
• Solution: Drop step in direction of opponent’s move, keeping eyes on opponent
D. Modifications for slower learners
1. Slow the pace of setups and performance of drills
2. Limit the amount of verbal instruction to one point at a time; teach whole skill in parts
3. Provide additional, slow-motion demonstrations to emphasize basic mechanics
4. Offer additional help before and after class
E. Modifications for faster learners
1. Group more skilled players together
2. Allow skilled players to progress at faster pace
3. Employ more skilled players to give feedback to beginners (assistants)
4. Increase expectation of successful consecutive repetitions during practice drills
F. Applications to the sport
1. Proper footwork is the foundation for executing each fundamental skill of basketball
with a high level of balance and quickness
2. Being ready to start, stop, and move in any direction with quickness and balance on
offense or defense requires proper footwork
G. Activity setup
1. Maximize and use as much basketball court space as possible
2. Some skills may be introduced with the entire group in an exercise-like formation
(multiple rows, facing the instructor, with room to move)
3. Whenever possible, divide into smaller groups to maximize practice attempts
4. Change drills frequently (every 2 to 3 minutes) to maintain student interest
5. Avoid having players or students standing in line waiting to participate
Step 2 Passing and Catching
A. Introductory notes
1. Principles of passing
2. Uses of passes in a game
3. Different types of passes for game situations
a. Chest pass
b. Bounce pass
c. Overhead pass
d. Sidearm pass
e. Baseball pass
f. Behind-the-back pass
g. Catching passes away from the scoring area
B. Key points of technique instruction
1. Locate target
2. Maintain balanced stance
3. Keep hands behind ball in a relaxed position
4. Generate force on ball by extending arms and snapping wrists
5. Take step toward target to generate additional force on pass
6. Release ball off first and second fingers
7. Follow through with arm(s) and fingers extended toward target
C. Common errors and solutions
1. Error: Chest pass lacks force
• Solution: Start pass with elbows in; force wrists and fingers through the ball
2. Error: Bounce pass bounces too high and is too slow
• Solution: Start pass from waist level and aim ball’s bounce closer to receiver
3. Error: Overhead pass lacks force and accuracy
• Solution: Generate force by keeping elbows in, flexing wrists and fingers, and
extending legs, back, and arms; produce accuracy by pointing first and second fingers of
each hand toward target
4. Error: Sidearm pass lacks force and accuracy
• Solution: Generate force by keeping elbows in, flexing wrists and fingers, and
extending legs, back, and arms; produce accuracy by pointing first and second fingers of
each hand toward target
5. Error: Baseball pass curves
• Solution: Keep passing hand directly behind ball and point fingers at target
6. Error: Once you start behind-the-back pass, you are unable to stop and fake
• Solution: Start pass with both hands on ball; use both hands to move ball behind hip;
keep both hands on ball until release
7. Error: You fumble ball as you receive it
• Solution: Keep hands up; watch ball all the way into your hands; keep hands relaxed
and give with ball as you catch it
D. Modifications for slower learners
1. Slow the pace of setups and performance of drills
2. Limit the amount of verbal instruction to one point at a time; teach whole skill in parts
3. Provide additional, slow-motion demonstrations to emphasize basic mechanics
4. Have players passing to each other stand closer together, gradually increasing distance
5. Offer additional help before and after class
E. Modifications for faster learners
1. Group more skilled players together
2. Allow skilled players to progress at faster pace
3. Employ more skilled players to give feedback to beginners (assistants)
4. Increase expectation of successful consecutive repetitions during practice drills
5. Increase distance between passers and add defenders to increase challenge
F. Applications to the sport
1. During a game, knowing when and where to pass under pressure provides a chance to
score and keeps a team from losing the ball through interceptions
2. Passes help get the ball out of a congested area
3. Passes help move the ball quickly up the court on a fast break
4. Passes help set up offensive plays
5. Passes move the ball around to create opportunities to score
G. Activity setup
1. Maximize and use as much basketball court space as possible
2. Whenever possible, divide into smaller groups to maximize practice attempts
3. Change drills frequently (every 2 to 3 minutes) to maintain student interest
4. Avoid having players or students standing in line waiting to participate
5. Group faster learners together during activities to maintain student interest
Step 3 Dribbling
A. Introductory notes
1. Dribbling is an integral part of basketball
2. When and when not to use the dribble
3. Learning to minimize the use of a dribble
4. Types of dribbles for game situations
a. Control
b. Speed
c. Footfire
d. Change-of-pace
e. Retreat
f. Crossover
g. Inside-out
h. Reverse
i. Behind-the-back
B. Key points of technique instruction
1. Keep head up; see the rim and your teammates
2. Snap wrist to generate force on the ball
3. Use fingertips to control the basketball
4. Bounce the ball no higher than waist level
5. Use nondribbling hand to protect the dribble
6. Pass to open teammate whenever possible
C. Common errors and solutions
1. Error: You look at ball when dribbling
• Solution: Keep head up and rim in view
2. Error: You take too many dribbles
• Solution: Push each dribble out at waist level and run after it, keeping number of
dribbles to a minimum
3. Error: During one-two stop after speed dribble, you lose balance forward and drag
pivot foot
• Solution: Hop before you stop to allow gravity to slow your momentum; lean back,
landing first on back foot, then on front foot; maintain wide base for stability; sit on heel
of back foot; keep head up
4. Error: You are unstable during footfire dribble
• Solution: Emphasize complete balance and control with feet shoulder-width apart and
knees flexed
5. Error: You do not control dribble when changing from speed dribble to control dribble
• Solution: Widen base and flex knees for balance; dribble ball at knee level or lower
6. Error: You have trouble retreating quickly when using retreat dribble
• Solution: Do not lean forward; maintain balance, and use short, quick retreat steps
7. Error: You dribble the ball too high or too wide when changing directions
• Solution: Dribble at knee level and close to body
8. Error: Your inside-out dribble is not deceptive
• Solution: Make a head fake in the opposite direction
9. Error: You change hands on dribble as you reverse, causing you to dribble too wide
• Solution: Dribble backward; as you reverse pivot, emphasize pulling the ball forward
and close to body using same hand
10. Error: You dribble too wide during behind-the-back dribble
• Solution: Emphasize pulling the ball forward and close to body on the second dribble,
using the same hand
D. Modifications for slower learners
1. Slow the pace of setups and performance of drills
2. Limit the amount of verbal instruction to one point at a time; teach whole skill in parts
3. Provide additional, slow-motion demonstrations to emphasize basic mechanics of each
type of dribble
4. Offer additional help before and after class
E. Modifications for faster learners
1. Group more skilled players together
2. Allow skilled players to progress at faster pace
3. Employ more skilled players to give feedback to beginners (assistants)
4. Increase expectation of successful consecutive repetitions during practice drills
5. Have faster learners play defense against dribbler to increase challenge of drills
6. Have faster learners use weak hand during dribbling drills
F. Applications to the sport
1. Dribbling moves the ball out of a congested area when passing to a teammate is
impossible, such as after a rebound or when double teamed
2. Dribbling advances the ball up the court when no receivers are open, especially against
pressure defenses
3. Dribbling moves the ball up the court on a fast break when teammates are not open in
position to score
4. Dribbling helps penetrate the defense for a drive to the basket
5. Dribbling helps draw a defender to you to create an opening for a teammate
6. Dribbling helps set up offensive plays
7. Dribbling improves your position or angle before you pass to a teammate
8. Dribbling helps a player create space, or an opening, for a shot
9. Develop dribbling skills with both hands so that defenders cannot key on weak hand
G. Activity setup
1. Maximize and use as much basketball court space as possible
2. Whenever possible, divide into smaller groups to maximize practice attempts
3. Change drills frequently (every 2 to 3 minutes) to maintain student interest
4. Avoid having players or students standing in line waiting to participate
5. Group faster learners together during activities to promote competition
Step 4 Shooting
A. Introductory notes
1. Shooting is the most important skill in basketball
2. Shooting mechanics, confidence, and rhythm
3. Types of shots
a. One-hand set shot
b. Free throw
c. Jump shot
d. Three-point shot
e. Hook shot
f. Layup
g. Runner
B. Key points of technique instruction
1. Sight
2. Balance
3. Hand position
4. Elbow-in alignment
5. Shooting motion
6. Follow-through
7. Shooting off the catch
8. Shooting off the dribble
C. Common errors and solutions
1. Error: Mechanics appear to be correct, but you still miss the basket
• Solution: Concentrate on target, not on ball’s flight, until ball reaches basket
2. Error: You feel tense before and during a free throw
• Solution: Use deep breathing to relax mind and body; breathe in deeply and exhale fully
3. Error: When attempting a jump shot, you lower ball for rhythm, lengthening shooting
stroke, creating more room for error; shot is easier to block
• Solution: Keep ball high and use down-and-up action of legs for rhythm rather than
lowering the ball
4. Error: When attempting a jump shot, you float in, back, or to the side and miss long,
short, or to the side
• Solution: Jump and land in the same spot
5. Error: Three-point shots are consistently short
• Solution: Use more leg to generate force; emphasize follow-through and shooting
rhythm
6. Error: When attempting hook shot, you lose protection and ball control as you shoot
• Solution: Keep balance hand on ball until release
7. Error: When attempting layup, you use a long jump (floating forward or to the side)
rather than a high jump
• Solution: Keep head focused on target; make step before takeoff short so you can
quickly dip takeoff knee and create upward momentum; on takeoff, lift opposite knee
straight up
8. Error: When attempting to shoot off a catch, you receive the ball but lower it