Teaching kids to “see the floor”
Teaching kids to “see the floor”
“Court vision” sounds magical, but it is really a set of habits: where teammates are, where the help defense is, and where the next pass should go before the ball hits your hands.
Start with language
We name spots on the floor: corners, wings, nail, short corner. When players can point to those spots during film or a whiteboard, spacing stops being random.
Two-beat rule for dribblers
On a drive, we ask: “What did you see in your first two dribbles?” If the answer is “nothing,” we reset with a pass fake and pivot. Vision begins before the second bounce.
Skip passes and “relay” passes
Young teams over-dribble when the weak side is open. We reward skip passes that swing the defense and “relay” passes that move the ball faster than a sprint.
Defense teaches offense
Sliding in a shell drill shows where driving lanes appear. Players who guard ball screens learn to call “ice” or “switch” — the same words they need on offense when they read a hedge.
For parents
Praise passes that lead to easier shots, not just buckets. A hockey assist matters in youth basketball because it means your child is scanning. Want more ideas for your player’s age group? Our coaches are happy to suggest home drills — contact BBB Team anytime.