Ball Handling – VB Drill

Cognitive Vision Training (CVT) is for all athletes and fitness minded humans.

CVT with Vector® Ball improves athletic performance for practically every sport including Basketball, Hockey, Baseball, Football, Pickleball, Softball, Volleyball, Lacrosse, Tennis, Soccer, Cricket, Boxing, Mixed Martial Arts, Motor Sports, and more.

CVT with Vector® Ball is scalable. It improves athletic performance regardless of your skill level or age (youth to professional).

• True agility is decision-based movement.
• True quickness isn’t just physical – It’s mental.
• Don’t panic, train your brain. #BrainSweat

1. Ball Handling Drill Instructions:

All you need is a Vector Ball and a basketball.

This drill is great for basketball and complex decision-based maneuvers/movements.

Athlete begins dribbling a basketball and, with their other hand, he or she will toss and catch a Vector Ball (like juggling with one hand). Each time the athlete catches Vector Ball it will turn red, green, or blue. Each color is assigned a dribbling maneuver for the athlete to perform.

• Blue = Between the legs
• Green = Cross over
• Red = Behind the back

For example, athlete catches Vector Ball, and let’s say it turns blue (visual cue for between the legs). Athlete tosses Vector Ball again, dribbles the basketball between their legs, and then catches Vector Ball. This time it turns red (visual cue for behind the back). Athlete tosses Vector Ball and dribbles the basketball behind their back, and then catches Vector Ball. This time it turns green (visual cue for crossover). Athlete tosses Vector Ball and performs a crossover with the hand they’re dribbling with.

The dribble maneuver is executed while Vector Ball is in the air (between tossing and catching it however, you may need 1 to 3 dribbles between tossing Vector Ball, depending on skill level.

How many reps can you do in a row without making a mistake?

Drill Multipliers

To increase difficulty and cognitive load to this drill:

A) Add working memory. This is done by executing the drill based on the previous Vector Ball catch (visual cue), and you must remember it for the next required maneuver. For example, the athlete catches Vector Ball and let’s say it turns red, but the athlete doesn’t perform a dribbling maneuver yet. Athlete catches Vector Ball again and it’s blue, and the athlete dribbles the basketball behind their back because the previous catch (visual cue) was red. Athlete catches Vector Ball again and it’s green, and the athlete dribbles the basketball between their legs, because the previous bounce (visual cue) was blue, and so on.

B) Decrease the number of dribbles between tossing and catching Vector Ball. Athlete will likely need about 3 dribbles between tosses but, as the athlete improves their cognitive skills, they will be capable of executing the drill with only 1 dribble between Vector Ball tosses.

And As Always – Go As Fast As Your Brain Can!

2. Benefits

This Vector Ball drill improves focus, concentration, coordination, and true agility/speed.

In sports like Basketball, you are constantly reacting to a multi-level and dynamic environment. The “game” is blasting visual information at you like a firehose, and your ability to see and process that information is the difference between amateur and elite.

Cognitive Vision Training with Vector Ball helps you obtain elite.

• Elite Ball Handling Skills
• Elite Game Awareness
• Elite Focus and Concentration
• Elite Reaction Time
• Elite eyes to brain to muscle coordination

Don’t panic, train your brain. #BrainSweat

This challenging drill will sharpen your focus, enhance your concentration, and improve your real-world agility and speed. True agility is decision-based movement, which is what Cognitive Vision Training is all about.

See the visual cues:

See the opponent, teammate, boundaries.

Process what they mean:

Process, calculate, assess, and choose maneuver.

Execute decisive action:

Execute precise maneuver that provides a vector to victory.

Train the executive functions of your brain to coordinate with your body.

3. Let’s Go

We recommend a few 3 minutes sessions during your normal training/practice routine to achieve the full benefits of Cognitive Vision Training with Vector Ball.

This drill can be done practically anywhere you have enough room to dribble a basketball. And you can easily work it in during your normal training/practice routines.

We also recommend Cognitive Vision Training with Vector Ball during pregame warm-ups. This helps get your mind and body ready and gives you the Cognitive Vision Training edge.

Perfect for athletes, physical therapy, fitness/health enthusiast, or anyone training to think faster under pressure.