Finger Pads Slides Finger Pads
vs Palms
Lesson 1: The Secret to Ball Control
The Listening Test
Close your eyes. Listen to the sound of the ball hitting the floor.
SLAP!
Loud, stinging, and out of control.
THUD...
Quiet, smooth, and perfectly controlled.
Meet Your Finger Pads
1
Sticky Cushions
They act like tiny cushions that "catch" the ball for a split second.
2
The Push
We don't hit the ball. We PUSH the ball down.
3
Space at the Palm
A small "bird's nest" of space stays under your palm.
Active Zones
Your Training Cues
Push Down
Don't slap! Wave hello to the floor as you push.
Stay Soft
Keep your fingers relaxed like they are on a trampoline.
Waist High
The ball should come back up to your belly button.
The 10-Dribble Challenge
Can you get 10 consecutive dribbles using ONLY your finger pads?
10
Right Hand
10
Left Hand
Dribble Master Tracker Dribble Master
Lesson 1: Finger Pads vs Palms
Name:
Date:
The Golden Rule
"Use your finger pads to PUSH the ball down. No slapping!"
1
The Sound Check
Dribble with your palm, then with your finger pads. Circle the word that describes each sound.
Dribbling with Palms
QUIET LOUD
Dribbling with Finger Pads
QUIET LOUD
2
The Mastery Tracker
Can you get 10 quiet dribbles in a row? Check off a circle for every successful dribble.
Right Hand Challenge
Goal: 10/10
Left Hand Challenge
Goal: 10/10
3
Self Check
How did it feel when you used your finger pads?
Hard
Okay
Great!
Level Up Slides Level Up
Lesson 2: Heights and Control
The Floor Challenge
How low can you go?
"Baby Bounces"
"Big Bounces"
The Mastery Levels
Waist High
Your regular dribble. Good for moving and looking around.
Power & Vision
Knee High
Your protective dribble. Harder to steal, easier to control.
Safety & Speed
The Secret: Bend Your Knees
A
Don't just lean over! Get your hips low to the ground.
B
Faster hand speed for low dribbles. Pity-pat!
C
Stay balanced with your feet wide like a superhero .
Spring-Loaded Knees
The Level Switch
When I say "LOW", go to your knees.
Pattern 1
Low - Low - High
Pattern 2
High - Low - High
Level Master Teacher Guide Level Master
Teacher Instructional Guide • Lesson 2
Level Changes
Lesson Objective
Students will demonstrate the ability to change the height of their dribble from waist-high (power) to knee-high (control/protection) by adjusting their body posture and hand speed.
Materials Needed
1 Ball per student
Level Up Slides
Whistle/Music
Key Teaching Cues
"Sit in the Chair"
Encourage students to bend at the knees and hips, not the waist. Keeps the center of gravity low and stable.
"Pity-Pat the Floor"
Low dribbles require shorter, faster pushes from the finger pads. Hand stays closer to the ball.
Activity Progression
1
The Elevator (Warm-up)
"We're going to the ground floor!"
Students start dribbling at waist height. On your signal, they gradually lower the dribble until it's just 2-3 inches off the ground (ankle height), then bring it back up to waist height.
2
Rapid Fire Transitions
"Switch! Switch! Switch!"
Call out "High" or "Low" in quick succession. Students must adjust their height immediately. Watch for proper knee bend—many will just lean over; correct them to "sit in the chair."
3
The Shadow Level
"Mirror your partner."
Partners face each other. Partner A is the leader and changes dribble heights. Partner B must mirror the level exactly. Switch roles every 60 seconds.
Differentiation Strategies
Support
Allow students to use two hands briefly if they lose control, or practice without a ball first (air-dribbling levels).
Challenge
Switch hands (non-dominant) or try to "crossover" while changing levels (e.g., go from high right to low left).
Eyes Up Slides Eyes Up
Lesson 3: The Look-Up Challenge
The Number Challenge
"Don't look at the ball... look at ME!"
I am going to hold up numbers with my fingers. Can you keep your ball bouncing AND tell me the number?
Why Look Up?
1
See your friends (so you don't crash!)
2
See the open space to move into.
3
See the basket or your teammates.
Scan Area
The Secret: Feel the Ball
Your Hand
Your Brain
"Trust your hands! Your brain knows where the ball is without looking."
Mission: Eyes Up
1. The Statues
Dribble while pointing to every student in the room who is wearing RED.
2. The Copy-Cat
Dribble while watching your partner. When they jump, you jump!
Look Up Scout Checklist Look Up Scout
Lesson 3: Peripheral Vision Challenge
Student:
The Mission
A "Look Up Scout" can see the whole room while keeping their ball alive. Can you complete these 4 scouting missions without looking at your ball?
1
The Clock Watcher
Dribble for 30 seconds while looking at the clock on the wall.
Mission Complete
2
Number Catcher
Dribble and shout out the numbers your teacher holds up.
Mission Complete
3
The Wave
Dribble and wave to 3 different friends across the gym.
Mission Complete
4
The Shadow
Dribble while pointing to where your partner moves.
Mission Complete
The Lookout Reflection
What was the hardest part of looking up?
"I can dribble without looking at the ball..."
NO
Not Yet
YES!
Mastered
Moving Out Slides Moving Out
Lesson 4: Dribbling on the Move
The Travel Challenge
"Can you take your ball for a walk?"
Slow Walk
Brisk Walk
Slow Jog
The Forward Push
Push Out
Push the ball slightly forward and in front of your lead foot.
Body Shield
Keep your body between the ball and where the "defenders" might be.
The Speed Dial
1
Traffic Jam
Slow walk. Controlled, baby bounces.
2
Open Highway
Fast walk. Push the ball out further.
The Obstacle Run
Dribble around the cones! Can you stay at Speed 2 without losing control?
Stay Safe
Level Up
Moving Master Teacher Guide Moving Master
Teacher Instructional Guide • Lesson 4
Locomotor Dribbling
Lesson Objective
Students will transition from stationary dribbling to walking and jogging, demonstrating the ability to "push" the ball forward while maintaining control and spatial awareness.
Materials Needed
1 Ball per student
10-15 Cones or markers
Moving Out Slides
Critical Success Factors
"Push It Ahead"
Dribbling while moving isn't straight up and down. Push the ball slightly forward so you can "walk into" it.
"Bubble Protection"
Encourage students to keep their body between the ball and any potential obstacles/players.
Activity Progression
1
The Red Light, Green Light
Focus: Speed Control
Green Light = Dribble Walk. Red Light = "Knee" the ball (stop and hold with one hand on top). Yellow Light = Slow motion walk.
2
The Traffic Jam
Focus: Spatial Awareness
Students dribble in a confined space. They must find "open lanes" and avoid bumping into others. If they lose their ball, they perform 5 "air dribbles" before restarting.
3
Cone Slalom
Focus: Agility
Set up lines of cones. Students weave through the cones, keeping the ball on the "outside" of their body relative to the cone for protection.
Safety First
"Remind students that 'Eyes Up' is most important now. If we look at the ball while moving, we risk head-to-head collisions."
Dribble Showdown Slides Game On!
Lesson 5: Dribble Tag Games
Your Survival Tools
Finger Pads Only
Knee-High Control
Eyes Up Awareness
The Shield Hand
Use your "off-hand" to keep taggers away from your ball!
Everyone's It!
1
Everyone is a tagger. Everyone is trying NOT to be tagged.
2
You must ALWAYS be dribbling to stay in the game.
3
If you get tagged or lose your ball, do 3 jumping jacks and jump back in!
The Golden Rules
Gentle Tags
"Two-finger shoulder tags only! No hitting or pushing."
Honesty First
"If you are tagged, own it! It's just a game."
Showdown!
Who will be the last "Look Up Scout" standing?
GO!
Showdown Master Teacher Guide Showdown Master
Teacher Instructional Guide • Lesson 5
Game Application
Lesson Objective
Students will apply all learned dribbling skills (finger pad control, level changes, peripheral vision, and locomotor movement) in dynamic, low-organization tag games.
Materials Needed
1 Ball per student
Boundary cones
Dribble Showdown Slides
Skill Integration Checklist
Finger Pads
Knee Level
Eyes Up
Movement
Game Progression
1
Dribble Tag (Warm-Up)
Assign 3-4 students as "Taggers" (no balls). All other students are "Dribblers". If a dribbler is tagged, they must freeze and dribble through their legs or around their waist 3 times before being "unfrozen."
2
Everyone's It!
Focus: Offensive & Defensive Dribbling
Every student has a ball and is "It". Students try to tag others on the shoulder while maintaining their own dribble. If tagged, perform a quick re-entry task (e.g., 5 stationary low dribbles).
3
The Ball Protector
Focus: Shielding
Similar to Everyone's It, but the goal is to "slap" away other students' balls while protecting your own. This emphasizes the use of the "shield hand" and staying low.
Closure & Debrief
• "Which skill helped you the most during the games?"
• "How did keeping your eyes up help you avoid being tagged?"
• "When did you need to change your dribbling level?"
