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An adult dribbles a basketball on an outdoor court with a hoop behind them.

Sports hobbies

Start basketball with dribbling and close shots

Cost to start
Free with a borrowed ball

Assumes free court access and existing shoes; check venue fees.

Difficulty
Beginner

Start still and close to the hoop; reset whenever control slips.

First result
A dribble and shooting baseline

Six short dribble rounds and ten close shots in about 20 minutes.

Try a short basketball session at an available hoop. Practise stationary dribbles with each hand, take ten close shots and record a starting result.

What you need to know

  1. A manageable basketball

    Borrow an outdoor-rated ball that feels comfortable to control; check its own inflation guide. Ask a future group which size it uses.

  2. An available basket

    Find a dry, level permitted court with a sound hoop and clear shooting space. Check access or booking fees.

  3. Grip and water

    Wear tied sports shoes with grip and comfortable clothes, and bring drinking water. Share the hoop by agreement.

Spend about 20 minutes at a hoop. Record your longest controlled stationary dribble with each hand and makes from ten close shots. Zero makes is a valid starting record. Learn passing and defence with a group later.

Find a controlled bounce with each hand

Walk and move your arms comfortably. Stand with soft knees, ball beside one foot. Spread your fingers; use finger pads and wrist to push the ball down and guide its return. Keep the bounce below waist height. Look up when control allows. Jr. NBA’s dribbling guide explains the contact and height.

Set a timer for 20 seconds. Dribble with one hand and note your longest run of controlled bounces. If the ball escapes, stop and retrieve it without entering another group’s play, then restart within the round. Make three rounds with that hand, resting between them, then three with the other hand. Bounce lower and more gently if control slips. Catching and restarting is a drill reset, not a live-game move.

Take ten close shots

Stand roughly 1–2 metres from the basket, closer if needed, with the space under it clear. Face the rim with knees bent. Put your shooting hand under the ball, elbow beneath it, and the other hand lightly on its side. Look at the rim. Extend your legs and shooting arm together; the side hand steadies rather than pushes. Finish with your shooting fingers pointing down. No jump is needed. The Jr. NBA rookie shooting section shows this movement.

Shoot ten times, retrieving and resetting between attempts. Record makes out of ten. If shots fall short or need a heave, move closer or try an available lower hoop or smaller ball. Rest and stop if something hurts. Next time, repeat from the same spot with the same ball, then ask a beginner group about passing, defence and rules. Basketball England lists courts and clubs in England; elsewhere, check a local association.

Practise the basics and find a group

Beginner Sports Basketball