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Dribbling
Dribbling
is the act of bouncing the ball continuously, and is a requirement for
a player to take steps with the ball. To dribble, a player pushes the
ball down towards the ground rather than patting it; this ensures greater
control.
When dribbling past an opponent, the dribbler should dribble with the
hand farthest from the opponent, making it more difficult for the defensive
player to get to the ball. It is therefore important for a player to be
able to dribble competently with both hands.
Good dribblers (or "ball handlers") tend to bounce the ball
low to the ground, reducing the travel from the floor to the hand, making
it more difficult for the defender to "steal" the ball. Additionally,
good ball handlers frequently dribble behind their backs, between their
legs, and change hands and directions of the dribble frequently, making
a less predictable dribbling pattern that is more difficult to defend.
A skilled player can dribble
without watching the ball, using the dribbling motion or peripheral vision
to keep track of the ball's location. By not having to focus on the ball,
a player can look for teammates or scoring opportunities, as well as avoid
the danger of someone stealing the ball from them.
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