Dribbling Exploration
Skills:
Physical: hand-eye coordination, reaction time, gross motor skill
Cognitive: sustained attention, selective attention
Number of participants:
1 or more
Equipment:
medium-sized ball OR basketball
Description:
Children dribble the ball using various body parts and in different ways. Examples:
-
- right hand
- left hand
- while moving forward
- while moving backward
- while moving sideways and diagonally
- with one hand and then the other
- in one place
- with eyes closed
- with a really high bounce
- close to the floor
- across their body
- in a zigzag pattern
- with one hand while touching the floor with the other
- while walking or jogging around the ball
- keeping it in one place
- while switching dribbling hands
- with one hand while high fiving other players with the other hand
- in a circle around your body without moving your feet –clockwise/counterclockwise
- while standing in a forward stride position
- moving the ball around and under the front leg
- using a yoyo motion
- while standing in a straddle position
- moving the ball in a figure 8 through their legs
- in time to the music
- with one ball in each hand
Wheelchair friendly?
Yes
Modifications to make the activity easier:
Change the equipment: have the child use a bigger ball to decrease physical demand
Change the task: have the child catch the ball between 2-3 dribbles to decrease physical demand
Modifications to make the activity harder:
Change the task:
- have the child run while dribbling to increase physical and add social demand (awareness of personal space)
- have the child alternate hands while dribbling in one spot to increase physical and cognitive demand
Goal examples:
- child is able to dribble the ball 10 times in a row, in 4 out of 5 tries
- I can dribble the ball while taking slow steps
