The cone weave teaches change of direction under control. The cones are in a line. The kid dribbles around each one, switching hands at each cone. Eyes still stay up.
What you need: Regular basketball. 5 cones. Flat court. Tape or chalk to mark a line.
Setup: Place 5 cones in a straight line, 5 feet apart, on the baseline or a line on the court. Kids start 5 feet before the first cone.
How to run it:
- Cue: Low, Push, Eyes, Both. Low ball, low knees. Push down, not slap.
- Dribble forward to the first cone with the right hand.
- At the cone, switch to the left hand and dribble around it.
- Switch back to the right hand and dribble to the next cone.
- Alternate hands at each cone. Walk the speed, don’t sprint. Eyes up the whole time.
What to watch: Are they losing the ball or bouncing it away from the cones? That means they’re not pushing the ball in the right direction. The push controls direction, not just speed.
If they’re struggling: Slow it down. Walk, don’t jog. Use bigger cones. Space them 7 feet apart instead of 5.
If they’ve got it: Time them. Run 5 reps and track the best time. Next week, beat their time. Speed will improve with repetition.