Children's Basketball Games

Ball Scramble

• To play Ball Scramble, students drop their ball on the coach's or teacher's command and run for a certain spot in the gym, such as halfcourt or the bleachers. The coach or teacher then takes one of the balls away while the students are running. The player without the ball at the end is out, and the process is repeated until there is a winner. Also try shrinking the playing area. If you are using this as a basketball drill, you could make the player who got out do push-ups or laps. This game allows the kids to run, releasing energy, and also teaches them to be aggressive with the basketball. Ball Scramble is also a game that any age can enjoy.

Red Light-Green Light 2

• This game, found on basketball-drills-and-plays.com, is just like the classic game of red light-green light--except with a basketball twist. According to the website, children are lined up with a little space between. The instructor than calls out "red light" or "green light," and the children stop or go accordingly. The twist to this game is the other two colored lights that can be called. If the instructor yells "blue light," the children go right, and if "yellow light" is called, the children go left. They are dribbling the whole time. As a variation to this game, when children make a mistake in any way--such as with dribbling or direction, or taking their eyes off the instructor--they must start over. If using this as a basketball drill, you can have them do laps or push-ups, or some other appropriate action. A benefit to this game is the dribbling skills the players develop. This game also helps them sharpen their listening skills.

Keep It Bouncing

• The object of Keep It Bouncing, also found on basketball-drills-and-plays.com, is to keep the ball bouncing and in bounds. To play, according to the website, kids try to hit other players' balls out of bounds while keeping their heads up, using both arms, and dribbling their own ball. The website states that there are no second dribbles. The kids learn to be better dribblers the more they go after the other players' basketballs. According to the website, "When your ball goes out of bounds you must do five push-ups or run one lap; after you did that you can join the group again." As a variation, keep shrinking the playing area or eliminate the students from play if their ball goes out of bounds. This game teaches the skill of protecting the ball and knocking the ball out of the opponent's hand. It also teaches valuable dribbling skills.