The Handkerchief Game is a classic reaction and sprint game adapted for basketball. Two players from opposite teams race to grab a central object (or perform a task) after their number is called. It improves reaction speed, explosive movement, and game-like decision-making in short bursts.
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).
Recommended time
- Recommended time: 7-10 min.
Equipment and facilities
- 1 Basketball player.
- 1 peto or 1 scarf.
- You can make this game in a open space or in a field (whether half or whole).
Initial layout and description of the The Handkerchief Game
Make two teams. If you are odd, in the equipment that you have one less repeat one. Each team is placed in a bottom line (how much more focused, the better),
The Coach directs the center circle, and holding the ball so that it is right in the middle of the center circle, and then appoints a number and points out that number with the fingers. For each team, the player with that number assigned must run to the center circle. There you will need to take the following decision:
- You can catch the ball and run towards the basket that came to throw to the basket (VERY IMPORTANT safety issue that should be clear to avoid arguments), or
- You can wait for the opponent to take the ball to defend, steal the ball and throw it in the basket that was coming.
The game ends when there is a shot to the basket, or if the defending player is placed in front of the attacker and steals the ball and then throwing it in the basket where he came from. In the case of a throw to the basket, if it fails, the team receives a point and if the brand, the team gets 2 points.
It is very important to take account of the two teams and it is also very important to know what numbers have been appointed, and which are by name. Only in this way you will be able to know which team comes out victorious in the Game of the Scarf.
Variants of the The Handkerchief Game
- 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…).
- Say numbers in English.
- The number will be the result of a mathematical operation. So you can work the mental calculation.
- You can say several numbers, the 1 and the 3 for example, in this case they will have to leave the players that have been assigned the number 1 and 3. It is an ideal time to test your sense of team play and see if you pass the ball. The part of the implicit rule. You can say, 2, 3, 4, 5 numbers, as many as the players. It is a bit far-fetched, but it can be done in a gradual manner, and especially if the players already have something settled the foundations of the game of occupancy of spaces.
- You can play in midfield. In that case, it will continue to play only with one ball. The Coach will be placed in the semi-circle next to the basket where it is played and teams will be placed in each corner closest to the bottom line. There will be two ways of scoring:
- Pulling up to the basket. If he rolls to the basket, the attacker will receive 1 point and if you check you will receive 2 additional points.
- Defending. We will give you the defender, 3 points if you get to steal the ball before they pull, 2 points if it plugs up the shooting of the attacker and 1 point if it is possible to catch the rebound on defense.
- There is another mode of Handkerchief played in the half court, which requires two balls. The Coach will put you at the disposal of the players, placing him in the middle of the semi-circle closest to the basket. The equipment will depart from every corner located on the bottom-line. With two balls, there will be two ways to win the round. Or marking before the opponent, or to steal the ball from the opponent while boot your own ball (it is in our hands the decision if we want to put the Shot or if we want to prioritize the defense).
- The final option is if we have only 2 players in each team. What we’re playing with just a ball and assign numbers to a player and odd to the other player. Depending on the age, we can make it more or less complicated. With 6-8 years, say number of a single figure or even 2. With 8-10 years, mean numbers of 3 figures or even 4. With 10-12, i.e. numbers of 4 or even more numbers.
- Players must perform a(os) time(s) change(s) on hand before you catch the scarf.
- Variant with a single ball: The players must catch the ball and dunk it into the basket from which they came. The player who caught the ball will have to defend to prevent the attacker from mark.
Cedric Arregui Guivarch
National Coach of Basketball (CES 2014)
