3 Basketball Games for Kids’ Skill Development

When it comes to youth basketball, it is important to keep things fun and engaging. Games and drills tailored for young players are the perfect way to help kids improve their skills while also fostering a love for the sport. These three exciting basketball drills for kids will keep them active and motivated while improving their basketball skills.

3 Fun Basketball Games For Kids:

1. Dribble Knockout 

This game is a fun twist on the classic knockout game but focuses on  dribbling, which is a fundamental skill for any youth basketball player. To play, each child has a ball and must maintain control while attempting to  “knock out” other players by tagging their basketball with their own.  

Here is how you can set it up: 

• • Have all the kids start in a circle or at the free-throw line. 
  • The objective is for each child to dribble and protect their basketball while trying to knock others’ balls out of the play area. 
  • If a player’s ball is tagged, they are “knocked out” and must stand to the side. 
  • The last player remaining with their ball intact wins. 

2. Sharks and Minnows 

A popular kids’ game that can be easily adapted for basketball. Sharks and  Minnows is a great way to work on dribbling and defense. In this drill, the “sharks” try to steal the basketball from the “minnows” as they try to make it from one side of the court to the other. 

Here is how you play: 

• • Divide the kids into two groups: sharks and minnows. The minnows each have a basketball and must dribble from one baseline to the other. 
  • The sharks stand in the middle of the court, and their goal is to steal the basketball from the minnows by tagging them. 
  • If a minnow’s ball is stolen or they stop dribbling, they become a shark. The game continues until only one minnow is left standing.

3. Layup Lines with a Twist 

This drill not only improves kids’ ability to make a layup but also encourages creativity and problem-solving. This fun basketball game gets kids to think outside the box while perfecting their technique.  

Here is how you can do it: 

• • Set up two lines of kids—one at the free-throw line and one at the  baseline—each with a basketball. 
  • The first child in line will dribble to the basket, perform a layup, then pass the ball to the next person in line. 
  • Here’s the twist: each child must perform a specific challenge before taking the layup. For example, they could: 

◦ Dribble with their non-dominant hand. 

◦ Do a spin move before the layup. 

◦ Dribble behind the back once before shooting. 

Youth basketball drills should make learning enjoyable. Incorporating these fun drills into practice helps kids develop their skills in a positive and engaging environment.

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