Cone Weave Dribble

Warm-up

Change direction under control while dribbling.

6 min any Full court
Ball-handlingFootworkU8U10U12

Step-by-step walkthrough

Example: 3 players · 3 balls · 4 cones

Four cones. A clear finishing lane.

Four cones. A clear finishing lane.One ball each. Begin behind the first cone; keep waiting players beside the start. 123

● Player / attackGold: ball

Set up

One ball each. Begin behind the first cone; keep waiting players beside the start.

Look for: Protect the ball on the turn.

Playback options
Short teaching example
Coach’s notes & group organisation

Three-player example: four cones roughly two metres apart in the right-hand lane, with room to weave on both sides and finish at the basket. One ball each; waiting players stand beside the start.

  1. Weave outside each cone, using the hand farther from it. More experienced players can cross over between cones.
  2. Finish a layup, retrieve your own ball after the make or miss, then return outside the working lane.
  3. The next player starts only after the lane and basket are clear; waiting players advance one place.
  4. After everyone has had turns, repeat on the other side. For six players, use a second basket where possible or short turns. The route card explains organisation, not detailed hand or foot technique.

Suggested reset

Each shooter collects their own ball and returns outside the cone course to the back of the start queue. The next player waits until the working lane and basket are clear. Change sides after everyone has had turns; use a second basket for a larger group.

Coaching cues

  • Protect the ball on the turn.
  • Outside hand at each cone.
  • Stay low through the weave.

Adapt the challenge

Harder: Between-the-legs or behind-the-back at each cone.

Easier: Widen the cones and walk the weave before adding any speed.

Clean Run: Knock a cone and you go back to the start — reward control over speed.

What this drill teaches

Changing direction with the ball under control, using the correct hand. The cones force a change at fixed points, so players get many low-stakes reps of the swap-and-protect movement that a defender would normally punish.

In games: This is the move that beats the first defender on a dribble up the court — kids stop running in straight lines into traffic and start snaking past pressure instead.

What good looks like
  • Ball on the outside hand at every cone, away from the 'defender'
  • Body staying low through the turns instead of standing up
  • Clean runs at increasing speed, cones untouched

U8: walking pace with wide cones and plenty of bumps. U12: expect tight crossovers at each cone at speed, finished with a made layup.

Equipment

1 ball each, cones

Setup

Set a line of 4–5 cones up the floor. Players line up behind the first cone.

Steps

  1. 1Dribble and weave in and out of the cones.
  2. 2Use the outside hand (hand furthest from the cone).
  3. 3Crossover in front at each cone for older kids.
  4. 4Finish with a layup at the rim.

Coaching points

  • Protect the ball on the turn.
  • Outside hand at each cone.
  • Stay low through the weave.

Why kids love it

The winding path feels like a slalom course — kids race to do it cleanly.

Variations

Harder

Between-the-legs or behind-the-back at each cone.

Easier

Widen the cones and walk the weave before adding any speed.

Clean Run

Knock a cone and you go back to the start — reward control over speed.

Related drills

Coaching notes that use this drill