INDIVIDUAL SKILLS CHECKLIST
These are the skills that make up a complete basketball player. A player
who masters all of these skills will have no problem making her high school
basketball team. These skills will take several years to learn completely,
but you should be able to work on the first few skills in each section at
the beginning, and then add successive skills each year.
BALL HANDLING/BALANCE
Holds on to ball without dropping it
Around the World - Around the Waist - 30 circles in 20 seconds
Around the World - In and Out - 30 circles in 20 seconds
Pivots with correct (non-shooting) foot
Able to Stop Dribbling without traveling
Pivots correctly under defensive pressure to protect ball
DRIBBLING - STRONG HAND
Dribbles with Finger pad control/not off the palm
Dribbles with Head up
Dribbles consistently below waist level
Dribbles with ball to the outside
Pushes the ball hard when dribbling
Can dribble the length of the court at full speed
Spin Dribble - Protects ball, pulls ball around, full first step
Behind the Back Dribble - All the way around and forward, full first step
Cross over dribble - low, quick, and full step when changing direction
DRIBBLING - WEAK HAND
Dribbles with Finger pad control/not off the palm
Dribbles with Head up
Dribbles consistently below waist level
Dribbles with ball to the outside
Pushes the ball hard when dribbling
Can dribble the length of the court at full speed
Spin Dribble - Protects ball, pulls ball around, full first step
Behind the Back Dribble - All the way around and forward, full first step
Cross over dribble - low, quick, and full step when changing direction
PASSING
Assumes correct foot placement (right foot in front)
Passes primarily with one hand
Follows through: flicks wrist (waves good-bye) and extends elbow
Puts back spin on the ball
Passes consistently to teammate's shooting hand
Makes solid, straight, and hard passes
Bounce pass hits ground three-quarters of the way to teammate
Can accurately pass ball to teammates in motion
SHOOTING FORM
Assumes correct foot placement (right foot slightly in front)
Proper Ball Alignment (Knee, Hip, Shoulder, Elbow, Ball)
Eyes focused on back rim
Uses leg power when shooting
Shoots primarily with one hand
Follows through: flicks wrist (waves good-bye) and extends elbow
Puts back spin on the ball and arch on the shot
Maintains correct form under defensive pressure
SHOOTING GOALS
3 Foot Swish Shot in Front - 80%
3 Foot Swish - Right - 80%
3 Foot Swish - Left - 80%
3 Foot Bank Shot - Right - 90%
3 Foot Bank Shot - Left - 90%
Free Throw - 60%
LAYUPS - STRONG HAND
Approaches basket from correct angle
Approaches basket with head up and ball by shoulder
Has a good sense of spacing between two step take-off and the basket
Takes off on the proper foot (inside foot) consistently
Lays the ball off the backboard consistently
Makes the lay-up after a half-court dribble
Makes the lay-up consistently under defensive pressure
LAYUPS - WEAK HAND
Approaches basket from correct angle
Approaches basket with head up and ball by shoulder
Has a good sense of spacing between two step take-off and the basket
Takes off on the proper foot (inside foot) consistently
Lays the ball off the backboard consistently
Makes the lay-up after a half-court dribble
Makes the lay-up consistently under defensive pressure
DEFENSE
Assumes correct defensive stance - knees bent, back straight, and balanced
Executes the "step slide" movement correctly - side-to-side, back, and forward
On the Ball - Cuts dribbler off and can recover if beaten
On the Ball - Closes out when players stops dribble
Off the Ball - On the Line, Up the Line - In passing lane, see ball and player
Help and Recover - Help teammate when their man gets by them, recover quickly
Goes straight up, with hands up to defend against a shot
Runs back to middle of free throw lane to defend against fast break
REBOUNDING
Demonstrates desire to go after rebound
Gets in position to rebound around the basket without getting pushed under
Box Out - Makes contact and keeps player out
Uses two hands to go for the ball
Keeps ball up and doesn't bring it down
Turns and makes good outlet pass on defensive rebounds
Goes straight back up with shot on offensive rebounds
OFFENSE WITH THE BALL
Turns and Faces the Basket after receiving the ball
Triple Threat Position
Pivots forward and back correctly - keeps ball in position
Looks Ahead
Reads Defensive Coverage
Pass Accurately to Moving Teammate
Pass Off the Move
OFFENSE WITHOUT THE BALL
Understands proper floor spacing and balance
Reads Defensive Coverage - When to Backdoor Cut, When to V-Cut
Able to make a sharp Backdoor Cut with control
Able to make a sharp V-Cut with control
Moves toward ball when receiving pass
Catch in Triple Threat Position
Catch Pass on the Move
Post Up Correctly - Push Defender Back, Hand Up and Away from Defense
Able to get open under defensive pressure
Hustles down court on a fast break
OFFENSIVE SCORING MOVES - FACING THE BASKET
Triple Threat - Shoot
Jab and Attack - Shoot
Jab and Go - Go Right, Shoot
Jab and Go - Pass Fake Left, Go Right, Shoot
Triple Threat - Shot Fake and Go Right, Shoot
Jab and Attack - Crossover and Go Left, Shoot (8-10ft)
Triple Threat - Shot Fake, Crossover and Go Left, Shoot
Triple Threat - Shot Fake, Crossover and Power Layup Left
Triple Threat - Shot Fake and Go Right - Power Layup - Bank Shot
Jab and Go - Layup Right - Two Dribbles
Jab and Crossover - Layup Left - Two Dribbles
OFFENSIVE SCORING MOVES - POST POSITION
Turn and Shoot - High Pass to Left Hand
Turn and Shoot - High Pass to Right Hand
Turn and Shoot - Bounce Pass to Left Hand
Turn and Shoot - Bounce Pass to Right Hand
Left Side - Reverse Pivot, Power Layup, One Dribble
Right Side - Reverse Pivot, Power Layup, No Dribble
Reverse Pivot - Turnaround Shot
Reverse Pivot and Go - One Dribble
Catch Lob Pass and Right Power Layup - No Dribble
Jump Hook
PICK AND ROLL - SETTING PICK
Has fist up and calls teammate's name when setting pick
Set Pick for Dribbler
Set Pick Away from Ball
Set Pick to the Ball
Roll to the Basket, Belly Button following the ball, Hand Out
PICK AND ROLL - RECEIVING PICK
Set Up Defender with Movement in Opposite Direction
Run Defender into Pick - Go Shoulder to Shoulder
Look to Pass on Roll if Defense Switches
COURT SENSE
Understands player positions (1,2,3,4,5) and where to set up on the court
Looks toward basket to find open player
Looks ahead to make forward pass on fast break
Fakes before passing
Makes good passes away from defense
Fills lanes on fast break
Aware of open space to make passes to teammates
Finds open area on court
WORK HABITS AND ATTITUDE
Listens to instructions and pays attention to the coaches
Practices skills independently during shoot-around time
Demonstrates sportsman-like conduct
Gets along well with teammates
Hustles and gives 100%
Volunteers to answer questions or demonstrate a new skill
Consistently maintains a positive attitude - "I CAN"
Works at improving basketball skills on own time