The Ball-Stealer Game is a fun and fast-paced defensive activity where players try to steal the ball from each other within a limited space and time. It builds defensive instincts, agility, and anticipation, while encouraging constant engagement and quick reactions. Perfect for warm-ups, coordination blocks, or as a fun challenge to improve active hands and footwork.
Objectives
- Automate the pot.
- Improve the coordination dynamics.
- To dissociate the look of the ball.
Recommended age
- From 6 years onwards (School and Minibasket: categories pre-benjamin, benjamin, and fry).
Number of players
- From 3 players forward.
Recommended time
- Total duration of the game 7-10 min.
Equipment and facilities
- 1 Basketball player.
- If there is a ball for every player, you can start the game by placing the balls in the center circle, and that the players come out from both of the lines in the background.
- You can make this game in a open space or in a field (whether half or whole).
Initial layout and description
Once all of the players each have a ball, it gives a signal to start of game.
Players must keep the ball that you have and try to get a second ball.
In case you have missed the ball’s initial, the players without the ball must steal a ball, and then keep it at the same time trying to get a second ball.
During the game you can do several rounds go by time or by the number of times a player gets to have a second ball.
Safety note: if you perform the exercise with players of 6-7 years, it is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED to divide them into two groups and take care of the density of players by space. More than anything because they are not experts veteran in this game so basic and can cause collisions.
Variants
- Dribble with the hand non-dominant.
- Bounce to a specific height (at the height of the knee, hip, shoulder, at the height of the head, above the head, etc…).
- Narrow the space of the game (field as a whole, half pitch, space within the triple-and area-restricted 3 seconds.
Cedric Arregui Guivarch
National Coach of Basketball (CES 2014)
