AY Honors/Basketball/Answer Key

In sports such as association football (soccer) and basketball, dribbling refers to the manouevring of a ball around a defender through short skilful taps or kicks with either the legs (football/soccer) or hands (basketball). The purpose of such an action is to bring the ball past a defender legally and to create opportunities to score.

In association football, a dribble is one of the most difficult ball skills to master and one of the most useful attacking moves. The ability to dribble is often invaluable especially in the third half of a pitch or at the wings, where most attacks take place. Dribbling creates space in tight situations where the dribbler is marked, and the dribbler can either create scoring chances or score him- or herself after a successful dribble. However, dribbling, if poorly mastered and used, may result in the loss of possession either when the ball is intercepted or tackled by a defender. When used appropriately, a good dribbler is often hard to dispossess; unsuccessful tackles (which does not reach the ball) may result in a useful free kick situation, a yellow card for the offender, or both.