Dribble Relay Races
Speed dribbling and control, with team energy.
What this drill teaches
Dribbling at speed with a different move each round — and doing it while excited. Racing teammates pushes kids past their comfortable pace, which is exactly where control has to be learned.
In games: The breakaway dribble on game day — kids who have practised dribbling fast under pressure can push the ball up the floor without kicking it off a foot or dribbling it out of bounds.
- Ball pushed out ahead on the sprint, not patted beside them
- The correct hand used for the direction around the cone
- Speed backed off the moment control starts to slip
U8: chaos, lost balls and re-runs — the cheering matters more than the racing. U12: demand the called move at full speed, including the weak-hand legs.
Equipment
1 ball per team, cones
Setup
Split into equal teams behind the baseline. A cone at half court (or the far baseline) for each team.
Steps
- 1First player dribbles to the cone, around it, and back.
- 2Hand off to the next teammate.
- 3First team with everyone finished wins.
- 4Change the move each round: right hand, left hand, backwards, crossover at the cone.
Coaching points
- Control first — a lost ball costs more than speed.
- Use the correct hand for the direction.
- Cheer your teammates on.
Why kids love it
Team relays bring out huge energy and cheering. Rotating the required move keeps it fresh and sneaks in weak-hand reps.
Variations
Add a layup at the far end before dribbling back.
Walk-pace lap with a jump stop at the cone instead of a race.
Whole relay left hand down and right hand back — no crossovers allowed.