Handle . . .

If you are going to play the game at speed, which everyone should be doing (IMHO). Then you can be as fast as you want but if you can't bring the ball with you its all useless. Everyone needs to be able to handle the ball.

I don't mean everyone needs to be able to dribble the ball. I hate this idea that gettting from one end to the other unguarded and keeping control means they can dribble. I can roll out a basketball and my dog can get it from one end to the other and still end up with the ball. Everyone needs to be able to handle the ball = everyone needs to be able to attack defense with the dribble, handle the ball under pressure, protect the ball from 1st, 2nd and 3rd line defenders.

Protecting the ball from the 2nd and 3rd line defenders is more an issue of recognizing when they are going to be a problem and avoiding that problem. This means handling while scanning. I prefer the term scanning to head up because then kids need to know that the head up is doing something other than just not looking at the ball. Basketball really comes down to math: who on the floor can count to 10 fastest and figure out the best thing to do according to where the 10 are first wins.

The issue is that 1st line defender. They have to be a non factor. If the player with the ball is concerned the player guarding them, then they are never getting to worry about whats actually happening on the rest of the floor. Players need to be able to pivot, move in all directions and still maintain control of the ball, and their options with it.

Drills to practice ball handling:

Note: You don't need one thousand drills a few will do if you add to or load the drill to keep it challenging.

-Line dribbling: Exactly what it sounds like lines of kids going one at at time dribbling a ball.
                      Loads to the drill: ALternate hands, weak hand only, speed, changing speed, stop and go, change of direction moves, mutiple balls, mutiple moves, obstacles to negotiate, defense, scanning for things, off the catch, intersecting dribblers, race, complex series at speed.

- King Drills: Pass ball around head, pass around leg, pass around both legs, pass between legs.
                   Loads to the drill: Add bounces, remove bounces, add stance, add pivots, hops, lunges, complex series, defensive pressure, alternate direction.

- Spin outs: Being shadowed by a partner (Mimicing / guided defense) toss the ball to yourself catch with proper foot work, in a stance and pivot.
                     Loads: Add sweeps/clear offs, pivot and re pivot, contact, live defensive, add dribble by, add primary/secondary attack, add escape dribble, add competitive component.

- Chase:  Catch pass and go hard in an assigned directions.
                   Loads: Add finishes, changes of direction with and without the ball, alternate hands, mix in change of direction moves, add defense.