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The PE Specialist

Awesome Resources for Physical Education Teachers

Teaching Basketball – Ball Handling & Dribbling

So you’re gonna start planning your Basketball Unit?

First things first – kick it off by reminding those athletic kids that think they don’t need any practice with fundamentals that even PRO players practice the fundamentals to get better and master their skills.

I always wait to teach my basketball unit until March since there is so much buzz about March Madness, it seems like it’s more culturally relevant.  To kick off the unit I always start with watching a cool Globetrotters video and explain to the students how important it is to work on the fundamentals of the game even if you are a pro.

See an example of a ball handling video below, but you can also check out their YouTube page – they have a ton of videos.

Management and Equipment

To kick off the unit I always remind kids that when the music stops I need them to stop, drop and listen and place the ball on the ground.

I give my kids a choice of a Playground Ball, Size 3 Arcarde Basketball or a Youth Basketball (27.5) see an overview below:

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Ben Landers (@thepespecialist)

• Mikasa Youth Basketball 27.5″
• Go Sport Size 3 Arcade Basketball
• Sportime Poly PG 8.5″ Playground Ball

After going over a few of the management protocols and cues we bring all the students into a circle in the middle of the gym and teach them some fun ball handling drills that will help them improve their basketball skills.

These are great drills that kids can practice at home with any type of ball.  See a model example of instruction from my awesome co-teacher Marcus Nellems below teaching Slaps, Taps, Wraps, Flips and Flops.

After teaching the ball handling drills during the first lesson, we begin the following lessons of our unit by doing a quick warmup for about 3-4 minutes of Follow the Leader skills and ask students to work on keeping their eyes up and trying to copy the ball handling moves that the teacher is doing without looking at the ball.

It’s a quick, fun warm-up and the students enjoy it.  You can modify the moves for younger students to make it easier.  See an example of me leading a 5th grade class in Follow the Leader below

The success of these follow the leader style tasks actually led to the creation of the Basketball Follow the Leader Pack, which is a set of Videos and Slideshows with GIFS showing examples of all of the ball handling tricks that we use use in the unit.  You can check it out linked up at the bottom of this post.  Example of how I use them below:

We do similar warm-ups during our soccer unit and jump rope unit.

Teach the drills at the beginning and then do a follow the leader style warm-up to kick off the following lessons with the footwork drills we taught to the students during the first week.

Passing and Shooting

After we work on dribbling and ball handling we move on to Passing and Shooting which you can check out by clicking the graphic below

Basketball Dribbling Cues Assessment

At the end of the unit I give my 2nd graders a verbal quiz to see if they know the 3 cues for a basketball dribble, this is one of our common report card assessments for 2nd grade ( details on how I do grades here ).

You can see how I do the Basketball Skill Cues Knowledge Quiz by clicking the link below, it’s pretty simple:

Check Out the Basketball Cues Knowledge Assessment 

Basketball station activities.

With my K-2nd Graders I also do lots of Station Work ( more info on teaching with stations here ) so they can build up the fundamental skills needed to play modified games when they get to  the 3rd – 5th grades.  You can purchase my Station Signs at the bottom of this post if you’re interested (see a few examples of the signs below)

https://www.instagram.com/p/B9AAbsxBTI3/

More Basketball Resources

If you want to check out our Basketball Resources you can see an overview of them in the videos below.   Each resource is available to all teachers in our membership program ( info on our membership here ), just login and download them straight from the membership area.  They are also available in our Teachers Pay Teachers Store for anyone who isn’t a member.

Basketball Unit Resource Pack

The Unit Resource Pack will provide you with a ton of printable resources to plan an AMAZING basketball unit.

Included in this download:

• Sample Unit Plan with 50 pages of activities
• Printable Station Activity Signs
• Basketball Cues Poster
• Create Your Own Basketball Routine Worksheet
• Basketball Tricks Checklist
• Player of the Day Certificate
• Basketball Golf Scorecard

Check out the Basketball Unit Resource Pack (TPT)

Basketball follow the leader pack.

All of our follow the leader packs are a “technology upgrade” for anyone with a screen that goes along perfectly with the Unit Resource Packs.

• 3 Follow the Leader Videos (Basic, Intermediate, Advanced)
• Animated GIF Looping Videos
• Powerpoint Slideshows with all Animated GIFS
• Create Your Own Ball Handling Routine Worksheet
• Basketball Trick Checklist

Check out the Basketball Follow the Leader Pack (TPT)

Have fun and teach on.

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Reader Interactions

April 7, 2024 at 4:04 pm

I like how you started with telling the kids that you always need to start with the basics of any sport before going straight into it. The globe trotters was a fun video to watch for starters, and it being right around the time of March madness is a good idea with all the kids minds on basketball.

April 8, 2024 at 3:31 pm

Thanks for the kind words Carter!

Glad you’re enjoying the resources!

November 28, 2023 at 9:07 pm

Do I still need to pay for station cards at TPT if I’m a member?

November 29, 2023 at 3:28 pm

As a member you get access to everything we’ve ever created in the membership.

You can get all of the E-books, Unit Plans, Activity Guides, Videos and Trainings (and ever single other resources we’ve ever created) inside the membership area.

You can check out the page below for a walkthrough of how to sign in and get into the members section on the site:

https://membership.thepespecialist.com/start-here/

Once you get logged in you can go here (our Members Home Page): https://membership.thepespecialist.com/

We also created a Table of Contents for the Membership with a link to EVERY RESOURCE! You can find it below:

https://membership.thepespecialist.com/table-of-contents/

The basketball station cards are at the link below (must be logged in):

Basketball Member Resource

Hope this helps!

December 7, 2021 at 2:40 pm

Love the way you introduce basketball and ball handling! What do you do for KG and 1st?

December 7, 2021 at 8:15 pm

Hey Brandtin,

Depending on the class, we can do some ball handling tricks with them. But for most classes, we just introduce striking the ball with control. Then being able to move and dribble with control.

You can check out some Basketball Resource Pack with cues and posters for K and 1st linked below:

https://www.thepespecialist.com/cuestest/

November 3, 2019 at 11:34 pm

Thank-you! Great videos, and very helpful! Keep it up.

Chris, Teacher on Vancouver Island

November 4, 2019 at 8:05 pm

Glad to hear that – will do!

March 31, 2019 at 11:13 am

Hi from Canada Ben, Love your website and I’ve used many of your ideas for my pe classes. I’ve just gotten an instant replay app on my ipad. Do you have suggestions for basketball activities I could do with the app for my grades 1-2?

April 1, 2019 at 5:58 pm

Have them practice any of the skills and then self assess by watching the replay to see if they are using the correct cues for the skill performed (Dribbling, Passing or Shooting)

February 14, 2019 at 1:09 pm

You are such a rock star! Thank you for the breath of fresh air and inspiring this PE teacher to start videoing my own lessons to improve! Keep up the good work!

February 19, 2019 at 7:59 pm

🙂 Appreciate the kind words – watching yourself back on video will help you get better for sure! Thanks!

March 7, 2018 at 1:38 am

Hi there – like your site and ideas. Tried the slaps, flops, flips, etc today and the kids loved it!

You mention footwork drills? Where do I find those, please? How long will you cover this unit? About 4 weeks?

Additionally, I would like some clarification about how you organize your lessons. Is the order you use:

warmup – review previous skills drill – learn new skills game – follow the leader – actions based on review and new skills? cool down

March 7, 2018 at 5:13 pm

Hey Catherine! Glad it was helpful, I haven’t published the footwork drills other than in my membership, but you can think about the basics of footwork with a soccer ball or google it for some ideas (quick taps, insides, rolling and trapping etc).

The lesson order changes depending on the content, but for this one I usually do

Warmup – Intro or Review Previous skills – Follow The Leader – Game – New Skill or more modified gameplay – Closure

We do basketball for 3-4 weeks depending on time available, usually 3

January 29, 2018 at 5:06 pm

What if you only have 5-6 basketballs for around 20 kids? Do you have any basketball drill suggestions?

February 1, 2018 at 10:38 pm

A few ideas: Use playground balls instead, set it up as a station activity, ask kids to bring balls from home, get a sports store to donate some, ask your admin for more funding, write a donors choose grant

June 11, 2017 at 10:54 pm

I like sports

February 16, 2016 at 3:36 am

“Basketball is a beautiful game when the five players on the court play with one heartbeat.

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• Pete Charrette

Basketball Stations: 10 Essential Drills and Small Group Activities for Elementary PE

Basketball is a great sport to incorporate in physical education classes because it can be adapted to all skill levels and ages and allows students to practice and develop several important manipulative and motor skills that they can use for a lifetime. It also encourages teamwork and cooperation among students as they work together on drills or play small-sided games. Physical education teachers have the ability to plan their lessons so that they can have a wide range of activities and stations to choose from, making it easy to create engaging lessons that will keep students motivated.

Pic by Ms. Zarzycki @MsZarzycki27

Basketball stations and small group activities are a fun way for PE teachers to keep students engaged while helping them learn the basics of playing basketball. These stations can be set up with different activities that focus on specific skills such as dribbling, passing, shooting, footwork, rebounding, and more. By offering a variety of tasks that cater to every student’s skill level, these stations and activities that focus on basketball skills provide an engaging learning experience for all students regardless of their prior knowledge or experience with the game. Younger students love performing basketball tasks and learning new skills!

In this blog post I will give you ten practical and dynamic activity ideas that involve fun stations and small group activities, guaranteed to pique the interest of your students! Let's kindle your student's enthusiasm for basketball with this fun and captivating sport - get set to maximize involvement in all of your future classes. It's March madness all year long!!

Pics by TJ Toteno @MrTRaptorsMSAP

Can basketball stations and small group activities help students meet PE standards?

Absolutely! Having students participate in PE basketball activities allows them to gain a better understanding of the game, as well as hone their fundamental skills in a basketball unit. This aids in the development of their competence as learners and helps to bolster motor skills, decision making abilities, teamwork competencies, and physical literacy.

Incorporating basketball skill stations and small group activities into physical education is an excellent way to make it more enjoyable for students, while simultaneously fulfilling district, state and national standards. This blog post's featured physical education activities are directly linked to SHAPE America Standard 1 , which reads: The physically literate individual demonstrates competency in a variety of motor skills and movement patterns.*

Tips for implementing basketball stations and small group activities in PE

Set the Tone: Create an environment that welcomes all students, regardless of their skill level.

Differentiate Instruction: Set up the basketball stations that cater to different learning styles and skills – this will allow everyone to be successful and engaged in the activity.

Pic by Tracy Angel @Mrs_Coach_Angel

Keep them Engaged: Utilize a variety of different stations and activities for your lesson ideas to keep students engaged and motivated.

Concentrate on the Skills: Focus on basketball fundamentals such as dribbling, passing, shooting, and footwork to ensure proper skill development.

Ensure Clarity and Comprehension: Always give students clear instructions and demonstrations before beginning each station or small group activity.

Make Sure the Activities are Appropriate: Use activities that are developmentally appropriate for the age and skill of each future basketball player in your class.

Monitor and Provide Feedback: Monitor each group’s progress during activities and provide adequate feedback and positive reinforcement or guidance when needed.

Adaptability is key: Be flexible with the basketball stations or activities, so that you can adjust based on any changes in student performance or behavior.

Utilize Visuals and/or Technology: Take advantage of printable visual basketball resources or technology, such as apps, screen slides or videos, to supplement your lesson plans and make them more interactive and engaging for the students.

9 Basketball Stations and Small Group Games for PE

Ignite your students' enthusiasm for basketball with these nine interactive activities! With engaging station and small group game ideas, you'll inspire their energy and excitement to learn.

A- Stations

Stations typically involve activities and movements that focus on one or more specific movement skills such as ball handling, dribbling, passing, court footwork, and shooting ( five basic skills) . Through station-based activities, students gain the chance to practice their skills and build confidence in an organized, controlled setting.

Ball Handling Video Above

1: Ball Handling - Students can hone their ball handling skills by using their own basketball to complete a wide variety of ball manipulation and ball control tasks. These tasks can include movements such as; tapping it back and forth above the head, tossing and catching the ball with and without a bounce, passing or rolling it around both legs, waist and head, performing figure 8's between legs, spinning it on a finger, etc.

2: Stationary Dribbling - Students use their own ball to practice a variety of stationary dribbling tasks. These tasks can include movements such as; dribbling with the right hand, dribbling with the left hand, dribbling high & slow, dribbling low & fast, dribbling through legs, dribbling around the back etc.

3: Zig-Zag Dribble - Students weave their way around a set of cones, dribbling the ball as they go back and forth. They must wait their turn at a "wait line" and then they dribble the basketball through the line of cones by zig-zagging around each one. They should try switching hands at each cone that they go around. After going through the set of cones, they should dribble straight back to the start line and “hand off” the ball to the next person in line.

4: Dribble and Wall Pass - Students have their chance to practice dribbling a ball from the starting line to the pass line, while perfecting their bounce and chest passes off of a wall. At the "pass line" they bounce or chest pass the ball off the wall 3 times. They finish by dribbling the ball back to the start line and wait for their next turn.

5: Partner Passing - Students will team up to practice their passing skills, alternating between chest and bounce passes using a basketball. They should dribble first and then perform a

chest or bounce pass to their. Encourage them to use both hands and "push" the ball from their chest. They can vary the distance they pass if they are successful.

6: Shoot From the Hoop - Students take turns displaying their prowess by shooting set and jump shots from hula hoops at varying distances, ranging closer or farther away from the basketball goal. They first shoot a set or jump shot from the closest hoop. If they manage to make it, the player can shoot from the next furthest hoop. Should their attempt be unsuccessful, they are free to either pass it off to another teammate or try again from where they just missed.

Basketball Stations Video Below

B- Small Group Games

Exploring basketball through engaging small group games is an excellent way to not only develop your students' skills on the court, but also cultivate a healthy atmosphere of friendly competition and good-natured fun. These activities allow students to get more involved than a standard game of full court basketball would, increasing engagement and learning.

7: Knock Down - Pick Up (dribbling game) - As students dribble within a designated area, they take turns knocking down and picking up cones in succession. One team will dribble and knock down the cones while their opponents pick them up, creating a dynamic game of agility and teamwork. Teams should switch roles after every minute or so.

8: Basketball Golf (shooting and rebounding game) - Students compete against one another by trying to shoot the lowest scores possible, beginning with a free throw and striving to make baskets using as few shots as they can. The 1st player shoots from free throw line. If they make it, their score is now 1. If they miss it, they must run to the ball (off the rebound) and shoot from the exact spot that they retrieved it. If they miss, they must keep shooting until they make it! Students “record” their score (max. 6 per hole). The next player in line repeats this process. The lowest score wins after 9 rounds

9: Hot Shot Spot (shooting game) - Students dribble to a poly spot and take a set or jump shot; if they make it they get to take the spot back to their start line and they score a point for themselves. After any missed shots, they must take the ball to the next person in line. Students should be encouraged to keep their feet shoulder width apart and their arm in an L shape when they while taking a shot.

10: Five Pass Keep-Away - Students have the opportunity to test their skills in a fast-paced game of “5 pass keep-away,” competing either 2 v 2 or 3 v 3 while striving to achieve 5 "complete" passes with their teammates against an opposing team's defensive players. The group must stay in a designated area when they play. If a ball is dropped, it goes to the opposing team. There is no reaching in to play defense. Teams attempt to score points against the other team. Five passes = One point!

Final thoughts

To keep your students excited and involved while encouraging them to stay active, try incorporating these or other basketball stations and small group activities in your PE classes. These activities and games can not only make physical education classes engaging and enjoyable, but they also help to foster your student's skills. I'm certain that you will find the activities I have presented to be beneficial as your students both experience joy and learn something new!

Unleash your creative spirit and extract even more fun out of basketball by trying new activities or coming up with your own stations and games; the opportunities are endless! Basketball is an enjoyable sport for people of all ages and skill levels. You can easily adapt the activities and games to suit your learners’ individual needs, so don't hesitate to get out there with them and show them just how fun basketball really is!

What are your students' favorite basketball stations or small-group activities during PE? I would love to hear all of your wonderful ideas in the comments section below!

*SHAPE America. (2013). National Standards for K-12 Physical Education. Reston, VA: Author.

Need resources?

Do you need some sport-related skill stations for your physical education program that includes detailed instructions and state-of-the-art graphics and visuals? Cap'n Pete's Power PE has you covered!

Fill in the form below to download 20 FREE Sport-Specific PE Station Signs. The set is a PDF digital download that includes two visuals (cards/signs) from the following sport stations sets: 1. Base Games, 2. Basketball, 3. Floor Hockey, 4. Football, 5. Lacrosse, 6. Paddle & Racket Sports, 7. Soccer, 8. Team Handball Stations, 9. Track & Field and 10. Volleyball Stations.

This freebie set will be sure to enhance your PE curriculum for years!

If you want even more basketball station ideas...my PE Basketball Stations- 20 Fast Break Zones resource can be downloaded here on Teachers Pay Teachers.

If you're searching for a way to really spice up your PE program, Cap'n Pete's PE Sports Stations- 10 Product Mega Bundle is the perfect supplement. You'll find over 200 fun-filled, sports-themed station signs/cards (20 stations per sport) in this set. You may utilize them in your gym or specialized learning area.

You can download them from either of the following platforms: Cap'n Pete's Power PE Website or Teachers Pay Teachers- Cap'n Pete's TPT Store

This comprehensive collection will help you teach your students important physical education concepts and skills from 10 different traditional sports including basketball, base games, football, floor hockey, lacrosse, paddle/racket sports, soccer, track & field, team handball, and volleyball.

• Stations and Circuits
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• Manipulative Skills

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Five Passes: One Game, Endless Possibilities [Video]

Although the origin is unknown, the passing game “Five Passes” has been in the Dynamic Physical Education for Elementary School Children textbook and lesson plans since 1972. In other words, it’s an “oldie but a goodie”. One beauty of this game is that it offers a plethora of variations to integrate many skills, concepts, and sports. Further, it allows for various curriculum and instructional models. As a qualifier, as with most things in life, Five Passes is not inherently good or bad. It has to be taught using effective teaching practices. Thus, simply using the information presented below alone for an entire lesson without the use of progression, skill instruction, questioning, scaffolding, differentiation, and/or an instructional model is not advocated. If you want to learn more about these, I encourage you to look into them as this blog does not allow space to delve into them in detail.

Typically when taught, the first “challenge” is simply for the offensive team to get five passes in a row without the ball being knocked away or dropped. The defense works to prevent five passes. From there rules and tactics can be added one or two at a time. Adding them all at once is not advised as this takes extended time for instruction, and students are not able to absorb and apply all of the rules/tactics. Additional basic rules are provided below. Keep in mind, depending on the variation, other rules may be necessary.

• The player with the ball can hold the ball for only three seconds.
• The player with the ball can take only three steps.
• The player with the ball can dribble three times.
• The defense has to be arm’s length away from the player with the ball. The ball can be contacted/caught only by the defense while it’s in the air.
• No pass backs for 4 vs 4 or greater.
• At least three team members must catch one of the five passes if greater than 4 vs 4.
• If the ball goes to the ground, that last team to possess the ball must give the ball to the other team. This prevents diving and scrums on the floor for the ball.

Game Progression

• The first time teaching this game it is advantageous to do so in scattered formation. That is, one team is not going in one direction or the other. This allows students to get the hang of the concepts and strategy without confounding the process with directions.
• Once the rules have been added and students are grasping the concepts, then directions can be added. This can be accomplished with a rule such as “if the blue team catches their fifth pass in the coned off area on the north side of the gym, they get two points. Red team, your coned off area is on the south side.”
• One final step for a basic game designed to lead-up to a game such as Team Handball is to add a scoring mechanism. For instance, after the fifth pass, if a team can throw the ball into their goal, they receive two points. The variations discussed below have countless modifications that may require unique progressions.

The obvious variations for the basic Five Passes game are for any invasion game such as basketball, soccer, hockey, tchoukball, and ultimate. The most prominent change will be the equipment used, the skills needed, and scoring. However, the foundational information provided above remains.

• This version is played 2 v 2 and final pass must be hit (slammed) into the goal. The goal can be a cone, a cone with a ball on top, a clothes basket, Saucer Slam goal etc.
• Next, four teams of 3 play on four small courts in a grid like space. One player from each team guards their goal in their grid. Teams can score on any of the other three goals and 2 to 3 balls are used.
• Finally, to add an element of volleying in the game, the fifth pass must be set to a teammate who then spikes into the goal. This version may require a larger goal.

Speed Football

• The game is played with a Fun Gripper Football rather than a traditional ball.
• No steps are allowed and no dribbling. Older students may be able to dribble the football with their feet or hands but the elementary students could not.
• Once a team scores, the person who catches the pass immediately throws the ball to the other end of the field. This serves as the kick-off and the ball has to go beyond the center line.
• The team who catches the kick-off is immediately on offense. The only rule I added is a team could not score more than two touchdowns in a row.

Speed-A-Way

This game is another oldie but goodie created by Marjorie Larsen in the 50’s. It combines soccer, football, team handball, and many other skills. It is included here because teachers can build on Five Passes to teach this game. Below are some additional rules.

• Players wear flags. If a player in possession of the ball has his/her flag pulled, the ball changes possession.
• The ball can be advanced either by dribbling with hands, running (no more than three steps before a hand dribble), or dribbling with the feet.
• If the ball is on the ground and in play, it cannot be picked up with the hands. It has to be transferred from the feet to the hands. Players can do this by lifting it to themselves, or a teammate can lift it to another teammate. Advanced students may be able to pass with their foot, ala a soccer pass, to a teammate down field.
• Running the ball into the endzone is worth one point. Throwing to a teammate in the endzone is two points. Kicking to a teammate in the endzone is worth three points.
• As with most games, rules, such as how many players must touch the ball, how many touchdowns a player can have, etc. should be added as needed to avoid one or two players dominating a game.

I will force myself to stop here. I am sure most of you kept thinking, “or you could do this” to each of the ideas presented above. And there are so many more variations that could be taught, all building on the foundational concept taught with Five Passes. I encourage you to try some of these or variations or your own ideas. Change things up. It might work or it might not. That’s okay. Ask students how to improve the game. Have them add rules or suggest equipment changes. Empower students to make the game their own. THRIVE!

One Response

Really love these ideas Aaron. Thank you for sharing them. It is always amazing how many ideas children will create when they are allowed to. Not only does it give them choice to find an activity they enjoy, find meaning within and can further develop, it gives them the power to change things up, be creators, social beings and to be proud of their own thinking and learning. I will share this link with my Trainee teachers when we explore more games creation sessions. Jools

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PHYSEDGAMES

…click a category above for great p.e. games, category: basketball, spot shot basketball.

Grade level: 4-8 Equipment: Basketballs, Poly Spots Game Description: New basketball shooting game definitely worth playing (idea thanks to Deric Hafer)!

Noodle Basketball

Grade level: 5-8 Equipment: Basketballs, Nets, Pool Noodles Game Description: This is a basketball-type game that uses the typical skills in basketball, though with it’s own twist for a unique basketball tag type game. Two teams will faceoff against eachother. The object of the game is for your team to score as many points as possible into the bball net, or trash can or something if you don’t have nets. But if your ball gets touched by a noodle (held by one of the taggers) then you must return back to your side and start over. Give maybe 1/4 or 1/3 of the players a pool noodle, the rest of the team gets their own basketball. If you have a pool noodle then you must stay on your own side. Change the taggers each round. Round 1: layups only. Round 2: add jump shots. Round 3: add 3-pointers. Round 4: Taggers can go everywhere, and if a player is tagged then he or she must perform some sort of exercise. (Thanks to Randy Eich)

Dice Dribblers

Grade level: 4-8 Equipment: A foam dice, basketballs Game Description: Fun little activity to work on the all-important dribbling skill! Groups will start along one of four sides of the court, each with a basketball in hand (or a ball at their feet for soccer, or stick in hand for hockey). The teacher will roll the big dice to see what number it lands on. Depending on the number it lands on, something will happen: Numbers 1-4 are for each of the four groups… if it lands on their number, they will complete a wave of dribbling to the other side and back. Numbers 5 and 6 are for rotations clockwise and counterclockwise. The players who aren’t moving while others are performing their wave of dribbling can simply dribble on the spot, weak hand, strong hand, figure 8s or whatever you’d like! Try it out and hope you and your students enjoy another Physedgames original game!

Mini Basketball Relay

Grade level: 5-8 Equipment: Basketballs, hoops Game Description: A simple relay idea to practice basketball skills: dribbling, shooting, rebounding. Players are sure to have a fun time playing off against each other to try to be the first team to score 10 baskets (or most baskets made in a certain time)! Best to use small groups/teams of 2-3 players per team on half courts, but could also be done on full court. Each player has their own ball. Each team faces their own hoop. On the go signal, the first player from each line dribbles the ball towards their hoop and takes a shot where they feel comfortable. Players continue to shoot until one of them scores a basket. At that time, the team who scored must yell out their score (for example, “THREE”!) and then the players must retrieve their ball and return to their teams line. As soon as they return, the next player in line can go. Game continues on and on like this! One rule you can add is that the students waiting in line can practice their dribbling skills so that they’re not just standing there (although they shouldn’t be standing for too long anyways). Should be LOTS OF FUN! (Thanks Zane Gardner for inspiring this game idea).

Steal The Ball

Grade level: 2-8 Equipment: Type of Ball (Soccer, volleyball, basketball, etc. The more the better), hula-hoops Game Description: Start by placing a whole bunch of balls in the center area, equally spaced between anywhere from 4-8 teams. At each team area, place a hula hoop for the balls to be placed after they are taken from the middle area. On the go signal, players from each team go one at a time to the middle, dribble the ball back to their hoop and tags the next person to go. The object is to take as many balls until all are gone from the middle. When all the balls are gone from the middle, then take one ball from any of the other teams. After a designated time limit count to see which team has the most! For soccer, the balls are to be dribbled along the ground. For volleyball, the balls are to be “set” or “volleyed” to self all the way back to the hoop. For basketball, dribbling. For football/baseball, the balls can be thrown from the middle back to partner at hoop. AS ALWAYS, HAVE FUN (WHILE PRACTICING SKILLS)!

Hula Knockout

Grade level: 4-8 Equipment: Hula-hoops, basketballs (or soccerballs) Game Description: This is a dribbling practice game. Players will partner up so there will be pairs spread out in the gym. In each pair, 1 player will start as the dribbler and have a basketball (or soccerball depending which game you want to play). The other player will place a hulahoop on the floor and stand with at least 1 foot inside of it. The player inside the hoop will try to knock away the balls of other players who come too near (remember that 1 foot must always be inside the hoop). If a player’s ball gets knocked away, they simply retrieve it and continue dribbling. After a couple of minutes, players switch roles and play again. Another great dribbling practice game, and modification of the original Knockout.

Tricky Dribbling

Grade Level: 3-8 Equipment: Basketballs (or soccerballs), plastic bowling pins Game Description: Here is a quick game that helps players improve their dribbling skill (not just basketball, but could be done in soccer or hockey for example as well). Partners build their own ‘mini-course’ in whatever shape or line they’d like. Then they dribble through, inside, or around it, trying to NOT knock over the pins. Lots of different ways this basic idea could be turned into games of sorts, as can be seen in the video… all-in-all just another fun little way to spice up a routine skill and development.

The Ultimate Shooting Game

Grade Level: 5-8 Equipment: Basketballs, nets Game Description: Thanks to Sarah (@SMS_PhysED on Twitter) for this idea: another awesome basketball shooting game that keeps players moving and shooting! At each hoop, 2 teams of 3-5 players per team face-off against each other to be the first team to get 5 baskets. Winning team will rotate to the next hoop; losing team stays at the hoop and play against a new opponent (winner from the game on their other side who rotates to them). This happens at every hoop. The goal is to try to be the first team to rotate around every basket. Lots of repetitions, lots of shooting, and a great idea to use as part of a basketball unit.

Grade Level: 5-8 Equipment: Basketballs, hulahoops, lilly pads Game Description: Hot Shots is a basketball shooting game where teams compete for the win! Colored lilly pads are placed on the floor all throughout the gym as shooting spots. Each player has a basketball. When a player scores a basket from a shooting spot, he picks up the lilly pad and places it in his teams collection hoop. Game goes on either for a few minutes, or until one team has 15 points (up to the teacher).

The Layup Wheel

Grade level: 5-8 Equipment: Basketballs, nets Game Description: This basketball mini-game is all about lay-ups. After you’ve gone over the proper technique and progression for shooting lay-ups, use this game to practice, practice, practice!  This game gives players a chance to perform lay-ups from both the left and right sides, and can be played competitively or non-competitively. Read More →

• How to Teach

How to Teach Basketball

When teaching basketball in Physical Education lessons, it is helpful to have a range of activities, teaching models and styles in the toolbox to help ensure students make great progress. Basketball lessons can be delivered in a range of ways depending upon the age, group size, resources available and your level of knowledge of the game.

If teaching lower Elementary (Primary/KS1) you may want to opt for more cooperative group activities where students can explore the different skills without the pressures of any defenders. Then in upper Elementary (Primary/KS2) students can experience a range of competitive, cooperative, and small-sided games (3v3). Once students move into Middle-School (KS3) and High-School (KS4 & 5) this is where students can begin to experience the full-scale versions of the game through 5-on-5 games. A great way to do this would be using a ‘Teaching Games for Understanding’ model.

Below are a few basketball activities, an example skill card and lesson plan from our ‘Ultimate Basketball Pack’ that you can use in your lessons.

Activity: TAILS

• EQUIPMENT: 1x basketball; 1 pinnie per student
• SPACE: Half- or Full-court basketball
• DURATION: 6-8 mins
• GROUPINGS: Whole Class

Description: Every student has a basketball and a pinnie/bib which is tucked into the back of their shorts (like a tail). The aim of the game is for all students to keep their tail for as long as possible, whilst trying to take away other player’s tails. In order to do this, players must always dribble the ball around the area, maintaining good control of the ball, keeping their heads up and watching their backs. If a player loses their tail, they must continue dribbling and try and get someone else’s tail which they can then put back in their shorts. If a player takes a tail whilst already having one, they can either hold on to it until later, or generously give it to a class mate who has lost their tail. Each round 90s to 2mins. Repeat 2 or 3 times.

Alternative: Students can only have one tail. Once they lose it, they must try and get someone else’s, until their are no more players left with a tail. When a player has taken someone else’s tail they must place it in a designated area e.g., hulahoop on the side of the court.

Teaching Points

• Dribble with head up
• Dribble below waist
• Alternate between hands
• Avoid dribbling violations (carrying, double-dribble, travelling)
• How many times did you lose your tail?
• How many times did you take someone else’s tail?
• What do you need to do keep your tail?
• What can you do to take someone else’s tail?
• What would be your top tips for dribbling with great control?

Activity: PARTNER SHOOTOUT

Skill Card: Shooting Technique - B.E.E.F.

Skill Cards: When teaching basketball it can be extremely useful for students to use skill cards to deepen their understanding of complex skills. For example, when trying to teach students how to shoot in basketball with correct technique, they could use the above skill card to read over with a partner. After, they will then take turns practicing shooting whilst their partner observes and gives feedback. This is an example of a 'Reciprocal Teaching Style' which you can learn more about in our 'Teaching Styles' article.

Teaching Considerations

Teaching Considerations: When teaching any activity to children it is important to consider: What grade are they in? What size ball should they use? How high should the basketball be? and; What sized teams should they play in? We hope that the above table will help you answer those questions quickly and confidently. If you don't have the luxury of having an adjustable basketball hoop, simply hang a hula hoop over the rim and students can shoot for that instead or as well i.e., 1 point for the hula hoop, 2 points for getting the ball in the basket.

Example Basketball Lesson

Lesson objectives.

• Explore and improve understanding of the rules in basketball
• To be able describe and/or demonstrate triple-threat, pivoting and dribbling in basketball
• To apply these skills into games

Activity 1: Discussion

• EQUIPMENT: 1x basketball per game; 1 pinnie per student
• SPACE: Half-court per group (depending upon space available)
• DURATION: 3 mins
• GROUPINGS: 3-5

Students have 2-minutes to discuss as many rules of basketball that they currently know. Students should be sitting on the floor, facing each other showing good listening and communication skills sharing their knowledge of basketball rules. After, have each group share one rule with the class. Try it differently - give students a large piece of paper and pens and they have to write down the rules they know with a brief description.

Activity 2: 3-on-3 Games (7-12 minutes)

• DURATION: 7-12 mins
• GROUPINGS: 3s

Students play a 3-on-3 basketball, demonstrating their understanding of the rules of the game. Students are expected to call their own violations to demonstrate their understanding. During this game, the teacher can float between the groups, stopping games where necessary to clarify any basic rules.

Formative Assessment: This is a good opportunity to assess students understanding of the game, and their ability.

Did you manage to play your games fairly? Call your own violations? Agree on calls? Any rules that you are unsure about?

Activity 3: Traffic Lights (see p.10 of Ultimate Basketball Pack)

• EQUIPMENT: 1x basketball per student, 4 cones (1 red, 1 orange, 1 green, 1 blue)
• SPACE: Full-court basketball
• DURATION: 5-8 mins

The teacher has 4 cones in their hand which they will hold up at different times during the activity. Red = Stop (hold the ball in the triple threat position); Green = Go (dribble into space, avoiding other players); Orange = Change direction (players perform crossovers and change direction without picking up the ball); Blue = Fancy tricks (students show off their basketball dribbling skills they have).

Teaching should be constantly walking around the area, encouraging students to keep their head up. When holding up a red cone (students in triple-threat), encourage players to pivot so that they are always square to the teacher. Drip feed in different coaching tips (▼ see Skill Cards p.2).

Activity 4: Rooster (see p. 6)

• EQUIPMENT: 1x basketball per student
• DURATION: 5-6 mins

Students have to dribble around the area protecting their ball whilst also knocking away other players basketballs. The challenge - how many other people’s basketballs can you knock away in 2 minutes. Teacher to encourage players to keep their head up, dribble below their waist, find space, practice dribbling with both hands (not at the same time).

How do you keep control of the ball? When do you think you use triple-threat? How can pivoting help you in a game?

Activity 5: 3-on-3 Games

• EQUIPMENT: 1x basketball per game, pinnies/bibs
• SPACE: Half- or Full-court basketball (depending upon your space available)
• DURATION: 10-12 mins
• GROUPINGS: 3's

Students return to playing 3-on-3 basketball against a different team. During this game the teacher will focus on encouraging and recognising players that are demonstrating triple-threat, pivoting, and dribbling. Students continue to officiate their own games.

Assessment: Assess students triple threat, footwork and dribbling.

In groups of 3-5, students to discuss 1) What is Triplethreat; 2) How to Pivot; 3) How to dribble; 4) Which of these skills they felt they are best at? What do they need to do to improve? Teacher circulates the groups, listening in to the different conversations.

Would you like more basketball activities? Download the Ultimate Basketball Pack with over 50 basketball activities that are appropriate for using in PE lessons. Our pack will help you deliver high-quality basketball lessons for Phys Ed! It has been developed by highly-qualified and experienced PE teachers for specialists and non-specialists alike who want to deliver the best basketball lessons where students can make exceptional progress.

In the Ultimate Basketball Pack by the PE Project you will find:

• Over 50 basketball activities
• Skill Cards
• Lesson Plans
• Assessment Criteria for Elementary, Middle-School, and High-School
• Basketball Rules
• Non-doer sheets
• Plus lots of additional extras like questions, teaching recommendations, differentiation strategies.

The Ultimate Basketball Pack

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• Resource Library
• Adpative Physical Education
• Special Education

Adaptive PE Basketball PowerPoint

Adapted physical education--basketball fundamentals.

Adapted Physical Education Class Basketball

Lesson Overview

Date: January 28, 2018                                                   Grade Level : 6-8

Concept: Basketball Shooting and Passing

Objectives:

Students will be able to demonstrate understanding of the concept of shooting a basketball by standing at a certain distance from a basketball hoop and shooting a ball in the direction of the hoop up to 5 times in a row with 80% accuracy. 

Students will be able to demonstrate understanding of the concept of passing a basketball to a partner by standing a certain distance from a partner and passing a ball in the direction of that person up to 5 times in a row with 80% accuracy. 

Students will be able to demonstrate an understanding of catching a basketball by attempting to catch a ball thrown at them at least 5 times in a row with 80% accuracy. 

Introduction:

Ask students what their background knowledge of basketball is. What “things” do you need to play? Have you ever watched a basketball game? Two videos will be shown to the class prior to beginning the lesson. The first video is of a high school special needs basketball player who makes an incredible shot in his only game ever played. The second video is of a basketball game played entirely with students who have various disabilities. Both video links are provided and should provide motivation for the class to play basketball. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUztRvfhDT8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJFr5KVdEXA 

Vocabulary:

Chest Pass- the basketball is passed directly from the passer 's chest to the receiver 's chest.

Bounce Pass- the basketball bounces about two-thirds of the way from the passer to the receiver.

Overhead Pass- the player holds the ball over their head with both hands and then tosses the ball to a teammate.

Shooting form- Put the ball in your shooting hand make sure your body is square to the basket, and put your feet shoulder width apart, and also put your elbow in towards your body.

  Body of Lesson :

After watching the introduction videos, students will come into the gym and partner up. One ball will be given to each set of partners. Students will stand 5-10 feet away from each other depending on the level of comfort felt by students to catch a ball. The instructor will demonstrate a chest pass and then have students practice this pass several times back and forth with their partner. The instructor will come around and help any students who are in need of assistance. When students are comfortable with this type of pass they may begin to back up and get farther away from their partner. These same steps will be repeated for the bounce pass and the overhead pass. Depending on student strength, they may begin these skills with a balloon or beach ball to gain confidence and correct form before moving on to the basketball.

After the instructor is able to assess each student on each type of pass, the class will move on to shooting. The instructor will demonstrate the correct shooting form and then students will be allowed to go to a basket to practice this form. One student will shoot while their partner rebounds the ball for them, after ten shots the students will switch roles. Students will be instructed to start only a few feet away from the basket until they are able to make two shots in a row, afterwards they can move back another few feet until they are unable to make a shot. The instructor will walk around the gym and make any shooting corrections that are needed and assess each student on their ability to shoot a basketball at the hoop. Depending on disability, students may feel more comfortable and confident using a hula hoop for the basketball hoop and/or garbage can as a larger surface.

Multiple Intelligences :

Students will use the following multiple intelligences through participation in Adaptive PE:

•Kinesthetic-Students who enjoy being on the go as much as possible. Learn best by doing—hands-on activities and incorporate body movement. Examples in PE class would be walking, passing and shooting the basketball.

•Interpersonal-Those students who show good social skills and partake in group or team activities. Examples in PE class would be partnering up to pass the ball back and forth, participating in a mock basketball game.

•Musical-Rhythmic-Students connect to an activity through familiar tunes of music. Examples in PE—having a song to keep rhythm of passing the ball back and forth.

Accommodations/Modifications: Multiple accommodations are made depending on the abilities of the students in the class. These are as follows:

Deaf/Hearing Impairment   1. Brighter ball helps to make up for a player calling your name to pass you the ball. 2. Lights to signal a whistle. 3. Make hand signaled plays not verbal. 4. Give a written outline of the day’s events.   Cognitive Impairments   1. Repeat instructions clearly and slowly. 2. Quick/simple instructions. 3. Use larger materials (beach balls and hula hoops) 4. Give motivation for small goals (catch a ball) then work higher (make a basket). 5. Enhance success rate by awarding points for passes and catches. 6. Many rules can be changed (allow double dribbling, no time limit in the lane, etc.).   Visual Impairment   1. Orient player on the court and give an area to cover. 2. Brighter colored equipment. 3. Brighter boundary lines. 4. Beeper in the ball. 5. Lighted hoops. 6. In drills, use a ball retrieving device or set up in partners. 7. Catch the ball with arms extended to feel the ball and bring into the body. 8. Call the person’s name before passing to them. 9. Bounce passes are easier to track and slower pace. 10. Place a beeper behind the goal to help in aiming at the target.   Orthopedic Impairment   1. Use the two-hand chest pass. 2. When shooting, do not go head on; easier to go slightly to the non-dominant side. 3. Adaptations to the game a. Travel if more than two pushes are taken with ball in lap. b. Can only dribble twice then must pass, shoot, or take two additional pushes. c. Remain seated at all times. d. Place all players in wheelchairs.   One Arm Involvement   1. Trap the ball with the body to catch the ball. 2. Throw with one arm. 3. Overhead passes for long throws. 4. Stop dribble then place ball on the hand for a shot.   One Leg Involvement   1. Bring the ball to the side of the body instead of towards the body to catch the ball. 2. Students who use crutches can use the one arm throw. 3. Students who use crutches are successful with the one arm shot. 4. One regular crutch and one Lofstrand crutch helps to free one arm quickly

(Adaptation and modification information was compiled by Jenny Walter,  Adapted Physical Education student at Manchester College, Spring 2008).

Assessment: 

Formative assessment: Observation will be used throughout the lesson to correct student form and give feedback. Students who are completing the passes and shooting correctly will be allowed to move farther distances away from their target to increase difficulty for those who are capable of performing the skills. 

Summative assessment: The instructor will have a checklist for each student to determine if they met the objectives for the day. The checklist is attached. 

Materials: 

Computer, projector, internet access, several basketballs (beach balls, balloons, lighter basketballs), basketball hoops (hula hoops, garbage cans), beeper balls, beeper cones, whistles, specialized equipment lights, specialized brightly colored balls, boundaries, targets, etc. 

Standard(s): 

A physically educated individual:

·       Demonstrates competency in motor skills and movement patterns needed to perform a variety of physical activities.

·       Demonstrates understanding of movement concepts, principles, strategies, and tactics as they apply to the learning and performance of physical activities.

·       Participates regularly in physical activity.

·       Exhibits responsible personal and social behavior that respects self and others in physical activity settings.

·       Values physical activity for health enjoyment challenge, self-expression and/or social interaction.

·       PE 8.1.2 Students demonstrate critical elements of specialized manipulative skills in modified team activities.

·       PE 8.2.4 Students engage in a variety of physical activities that will enhance health-related fitness (inside and/or outside of school).

• Home Page Articles
• Basketball: Three-On-Three Reboundin . . .

Basketball: Three-On-Three Rebounding Game

Here's a game in which points are scored, not by shooting baskets, but by rebounding. It's a great way to develop an aggressive attitude in your rebounders.

• Create four teams of three players each. Managers or extra players are shooters.
• Team 1 starts as defensive rebounders against Team 2, the offensive rebounders.
• Shooters start the drill by passing several times around the perimeter, then shooting. In the meantime, the offensive rebounders move around the key, attempting to get position on the defensive rebounders. When the shot goes up, everyone goes for the ball, with the defensive rebounders attempting to block out their check.

Scoring Points are scored several ways:

• Defensive rebounders score one point for a rebound.
• Offensive rebounders score one point for each rebound, and two points if they score off a rebound or get fouled in putting the ball up.

Rotation Defensive rebounders remain under the basket if they make the rebound or get fouled. However, if they lose the rebound, they move to the back of the line, the offensive rebounders become defensive rebounders, and there is a new team of offensive rebounders.

• To keep all players moving, be sure your managers pass and fake the ball before shooting.
• The offensive team should be moving constantly to take away the advantage of the inside position of the defensive rebounders. Defensive rebounders must move with their opponents to maintain their position advantage.               

To download the pdf version of this article, click here: Download Now

© 2013, Physical Education Update.com, www.peUpdate.com

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March Madness Basketball Ideas on PE Central

It's March Madness and basketball is here! The following are lesson ideas, instructional cues, instant activities, assessment ideas, bulletin boards and Best Practices taken from PE Central that all have to do with basketball. These are not all of the basketball resources published on PE Central so make sure to go to our lesson ideas page and find more ideas either by browsing the categories or doing a search.

March Madness Basketball Lesson Ideas Mini Book (PDF)